Love's Strategy

by Samantha Kane

  “She is marrying me.” Valentine’s steps didn’t slow as he answered the astonished coachman. The servants who moments before had been busy scurrying about were now quiet and watchful. More appeared as Kurt followed Valentine to the steps.

  Suddenly the front door flew open and Sir Horatio appeared with the same Captain who had been at Cantley the day they took the children.

  “What do you want, Westridge?” Sir Horatio demanded. “You are not welcome here.”

  “I want my children.” Valentine had come to a stop at the bottom of the steps, Kurt on his right. His voice rang with malice and authority, and the stance of both men clearly showed they were familiar with violence and not afraid to use it.

  Valentine saw that the Captain was armed with gun and sword, and he looked ready to take them down on the spot. Valentine was glad he’d insisted Leah stay home and let him and Kurt handle this. She didn’t need to be involved in a bloody confrontation. If he and Kurt were killed, they would at least take Sir Horatio with them, and Leah would have the children back.

  “Mr. Westridge! Mr. Schillig!” Bastian’s voice rang from inside the house. They heard running and then a scuffle, and Bastian cried out. “Bugger it, let me go!”

  Valentine could feel his rage radiating out from his body, turning the air thick with tension. Next to him, he felt rather than saw Kurt prepare to move on Sir Horatio and the Captain. After so many years fighting by each other’s side he knew instinctively what Kurt would do. The Captain’s battle experience showed as he too anticipated Kurt’s move.

  “Don’t even think about it,” the Captain snarled. “If you put one foot on these steps I have the authority to kill you, and I will do it.”

  “You are welcome to try,” Kurt snapped back. “But it will not be I dining with the devil this eve.”

  Both men took a step forward, and Valentine’s pulse sped up as he prepared to do whatever was necessary to rescue his children and protect Kurt. But further action was suspended by the rattle of carriage wheels and the pounding of horse’s hooves nearing the house.

  All four men looked to see a large ornate carriage pulling through the gates. Valentine felt the tension leave his body and breathed easier as Kurt stepped back to his side. From the corner of his eye he saw Sir Horatio put a hand on the Captain’s arm and pull him back. Good, he knew who it was too.

  Kurt stepped forward and opened the door of Freddy’s carriage before the footman could do so.

  “Kurt!” The duke’s jovial voice came from within and a second later his red head poked out the door. He shared a delighted smile with all those assembled and descended from the carriage without a care in the world. His clothes as usual were the height of fashion and impeccably tailored to accentuate his tall, leanly muscled frame. His shoulders are bigger, Valentine thought, and his eyes wiser. Freddy is growing up.

  A handsome man with curly auburn hair and a serious face looked out of the carriage, his stern gaze lighting briefly on each participant in the tableau before him. He went to step out of the carriage and Freddy turned back to him instantly.

  “Do be careful, Brett. Watch your leg.” Freddy reached a hand back to help him down the steps.

  Brett Haversham frowned at Freddy and shook his head. “You make me feel like an old woman, Freddy. Have I ever fallen out of the carriage before?” In spite of his words he took Freddy’s hand and leaned on it as he jumped to the ground.

  “No, but that’s because I always lend you a hand.” Freddy’s reply was unrepentant and accompanied by his charming smile, yet there was a hint of tension in his voice. Valentine knew Brett could not stay mad for long when Freddy looked at him that way. He thought back to their conversation with Leah and for the first time wondered why Brett denied Freddy. Clearly he cared for him. Sir Horatio’s voice brought him back to the present.

  “Your Grace, how delightful to see you.” The man’s unctuous tones made Valentine’s hackles rise.

  “Yes, yes, of course it is,” Freddy trilled. “Valentine! There you are. We come from London with Stephen at your urgent request, and arrive to find you gone! When we stopped at Cantley we were told we’d find you here.” He walked over to Valentine and the two men shook hands like old friends.

  “Freddy, it is good to see you. We missed you in London.” He turned to the carriage. “Hello, Brett.” He extended his hand and Brett limped over to shake it. He knew the other man hated when people made concessions to his injury. Freddy and Brett greeted Kurt while Valentine watched Sir Horatio seethe on the steps.

  “Sir Horatio,” Freddy addressed him, “what is this I hear about kidnapped children? Surely I have misunderstood.” Valentine started at the thread of steel in Freddy’s voice. When had he acquired that?

  Sir Horatio was made of stern stuff, however, and stood his ground. “My niece and nephew are hardly kidnapped, Your Grace. They are here safe and sound with me, as I’m sure my brother would have wanted.”

  Ah so that’s going to be his argument here, Valentine thought with satisfaction. It was weak and easily surmounted.

  “Children should be with their mother, Freddy,” Valentine smoothly countered. “My fiancée Leah, the children’s mother, is most distressed.”

  “I quite agree, Valentine, at least in this instance.” Freddy turned once again to Sir Horatio. “Bring the children to me, Marleston. I shall question them.”

  For the first time Sir Horatio seemed uneasy. “Your Grace, it would unduly distress them, to be sure. Their mother has chosen a, shall we say, unfortunate future with these two gentlemen, and the children were only too glad to be taken away from such unnatural goings-on. Your mother—”

  Freddy interrupted him with a frown. “My mother is no longer in the neighborhood. Upon hearing of my imminent arrival she very wisely took herself off to parts unknown. Produce the children.”

  For the first time the Captain spoke. “Sir Horatio speaks the truth, Your Grace. You are clearly unaware of the disgusting nature of the relationship between these two or you would not call them friends.”

  When Freddy turned to the Captain, Valentine took a step back at the regal fury in his gaze. “Do not presume to inform me of the private lives of my friends, Captain. If I desire your opinion I will address you. Until then you are to keep your mouth shut.”

  “Freddy,” Brett said quietly. Freddy’s head whipped around to him. “Do not start with me now, Brett.” He turned away, dismissing the other man in a way Valentine had never seen before. He was dismayed. What was going on between them?

  A mask of congeniality fell over Freddy’s features, and he addressed someone over Valentine’s shoulder. “Hullo. And who are you, poppet?”

  Valentine and Kurt both spun around. “Esme!” Kurt cried, and fell to his knees, his arms outstretched. The little girl flew down the stairs toward him. The Captain moved to intervene, and Esme slammed to a stop, huddled against the stone railing.

  “If you touch her, Captain, you will find yourself escorting the refuse of Newgate to Australia.” Freddy’s tone was colder than Valentine had ever heard, and he knew without a doubt that if he were ever addressed in that tone, he would not hesitate to do whatever Freddy asked. The change in the heretofore easygoing young duke was nothing short of amazing, and a little alarming. Kurt had risen to rush the Captain but was stayed by Brett’s hand on his arm.

  “Your Grace!” Sir Horatio blustered. “I have a writ of custody for the children, approved by your mother. Surely you do not rescind that?”

  “I do indeed, Sir Horatio. You seem to have forgotten the same thing my mother frequently overlooks. I am duke here, not her.” He looked down as Esme quickly scurried down the stairs past Valentine and Kurt to tug on his coat jacket. As he looked down Esme held up her arms in the age-old childish way that indicated she wished to be picked up. Freddy obliged, and she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Hmm, you’ve a smart girl here, Valentine. She knows where the man of true worth is.”

  Valentine was s
o relieved he could hear his heart pounding, and suddenly he felt the perspiration running down his temple from nerves that had been taut with tension. He laughed shakily. “Yes, indeed, Freddy. A very smart girl, like her mama.”

  The light moment was interrupted by Sir Horatio’s furious hiss. “Fine, take the girl, she is useless to me. But the boy stays. He is my heir, after all, and British law favors my custody.”

  “No!” Kurt burst out in anger. Valentine knew it had taken great self-control to keep quiet until now. “You have no claim to these children. They are ours. Leah does not want you, accept this. We will not allow you to abuse the children as you did her. For that alone I should kill you.” Brett had stepped in front of him and was holding him back with both hands on his shoulders.

  Valentine heard an indrawn breath from within the carriage and turned to see Leah leaning out. He was as surprised as he was angry. What was she doing here? He’d told her to stay home.

  “Mama!” Esme cried, and dove out of Freddy’s arms. Leah caught her as Freddy let go. “Esme, baby,” Leah said, kissing her face and hugging her tightly.

  “Ah, and so you see, gentlemen, they always return home to mother,” Freddy said dryly. “A chap has no chance against dear mama.”

  Leah laughed weakly. “Many a maid has no chance against a mister’s mama, Your Grace. She is always to be found wanting, and he is the one who runs home to her skirts.”

  Freddy made a face. “You have met my mother, haven’t you?” he asked teasingly.

  “Your Grace!” Sir Horatio’s tone was clearly admonishing. “Your mother is a great woman, and you should not malign her in front of these people.” “These people” was said in the same tone as one might say “these vermin”, and Freddy tensed again.

  “Do you dare to take me to task, sir?” Freddy thundered, and Valentine winced. He looked at Kurt and the other man’s eyes were wide in astonishment. “You who have so much to answer for?”

  “Mother?” Bastian rushed out the door, his appearance disheveled. An angry footman followed, his eye beginning to black, his wig askew. Bastian eluded him and bounded down the steps, only to be brought up short by Sir Horatio’s hand on his arm. He dragged the boy back, holding his arm tightly so only his toes touched the step.

  “Ow, you’re hurting me!” he cried, and Valentine rushed up two steps before Sir Horatio’s words stopped him cold.

  “One more step and I shall throw the boy down the stairs. He will be maimed for life.”

  “No!” Leah cried, and Kurt growled behind him. “You are a madman!”

  “It has all been decided,” Sir Horatio told them, his voice low and angry. “The Duchess promised me Leah. She said it was my duty to protect her from her base nature, to punish the children until they learned right from wrong. She promised me.” He turned eyes glowing with hatred to Leah. “She was right about you. I should have known. You were always a whore. I couldn’t beat it out of you when you were married to Thomas. I tried so hard to train you, to make you worthy of me. Look how you have repaid me.”

  Leah sobbed, and Bastian kicked out at Sir Horatio. “You bastard!” the boy screamed, struggling. Sir Horatio looked at him with distaste and Valentine’s heart stopped. He started running up the stairs just as Sir Horatio flung Bastian away. He wasn’t close enough, damn it! As if in a slow-moving dream Valentine saw the Captain reach out and snag Bastian, hauling him back from danger. With a roaring in his ears everything went back to normal, and Valentine didn’t break his stride as he rushed Sir Horatio on the steps.

  “You’re a bloody dead man,” he growled, grabbing Sir Horatio by the lapels and throwing him against the stone wall on the side of the steps. He drew back his fist and punched the smaller man with all the rage he felt and he could hear bones crunch at the contact. Sir Horatio fell to the ground, but before Valentine could hit him again he was grabbed from behind. It took a moment for the voice to register.

  “Valentine, stop,” Freddy kept saying over and over. When he was calm, Freddy released him and gently turned him away from the fallen, broken man. “Bastian is fine, and Marleston will not touch him again. I shall see to it, all right? Go get your boy.”

  Valentine walked over to the frightened boy, still huddled against the Captain. Valentine looked at the Captain, who was as pale as a ghost, his eyes wide. “I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t understand. I didn’t see.” Valentine could only nodded in acceptance, overwrought. “Thank you,” he whispered to the Captain, and knelt in front of Bastian. The boy threw himself in Valentine’s arms sobbing and Valentine held him close.

  “Valentine,” Leah sobbed, and he looked down to see her and Esme in Kurt’s arms. He picked up Bastian and went to them, went to his family.

  When Valentine and Kurt had loaded the children into the carriage, Freddy bent down and hauled Sir Horatio up. He roughly dragged him down the stairs and threw him to the ground.

  “You will leave here, Marleston. You will leave Derbyshire altogether. I do not want to see or hear from you again. Do you understand?”

  Sir Horatio spit the blood out of his mouth, the left side of his face beginning to swell. “You have no right to throw me off my land.” His voice wavered, with fear or hatred Freddy wasn’t sure, and didn’t care.

  Freddy’s vision dimmed with rage. “I am the bloody Duke of Ashland, Marleston. I not only have the right, I have the power. I have more money than God, land and influence, and when I choose to use it I can do damn near anything I want.” He crouched in front of the now frightened older man. “I could wipe you from the face of the earth right now if I so choose, and not a hand would be raised against me. Instead, I will have my agent call on you within the next day and make arrangements for you to sell your estate. I have quite a few friends who are looking for country homes. It will not be hard to find you a buyer. By the end of the month I want all trace of you gone from my domain. Do you understand?”

  When Sir Horatio made no reply Freddy stood and then suddenly kicked him in the chest, knocking him all the way to the ground. Freddy placed his foot against his throat and applied just enough pressure to make it hard for Sir Horatio to breathe. “I asked if you understood. Answer me.”

  Hatred burning in his eyes, Sir Horatio nodded awkwardly, struggling to breathe. Freddy stepped away and the older man coughed.

  “Good. Pack your things and leave a forwarding address with the footmen I am leaving here to assist you in your departure. I will have my agent call on you.”

  “Leave now?” Sir Horatio croaked. “I must take care of my affairs here first, oversee the packing of my belongings.”

  “Someone else will take care of those things,” Freddy said airily, waving his hand carelessly and already moving toward the carriage. “I simply cannot allow you to stay and ruin the wedding. Brett, do take care of it.” Freddy climbed into the carriage then leaned out to say to Brett, “We shall wait a few minutes, my dear, for you to clear this up. Then we’re off to Ashton Park.”

  Epilogue

  Valentine’s head fell back against the carriage seat as Leah moved exquisitely above him, fucking his cock slowly, trying to find a rhythm. She moaned, and Valentine hissed as she bore down deeply, hilting his cock. Kurt was busy kissing her, and his hands were touching both her and Valentine anywhere he could reach.

  They’d only just left their wedding luncheon at Ashton Park and she was still wearing her wedding dress. Freddy had insisted they be married at his ducal estate. Leah had been overwhelmed at first, but she had quickly formed a friendship with Freddy, and Brett had given her away at their wedding.

  “Oh,” Leah cried softly, pulling away from Kurt’s mouth and grinding down on Valentine. “God, I’ve been going mad this past week with you two refusing to touch me. This feels so good.”

  “Freddy locked you up at Ashton Park. And I wanted to wait,” Valentine gasped, “for our wedding night.”

  “Well, you made it to the wedding afternoon anyway,” Kurt said wryly, his own voice rough wit
h lust.

  Valentine tried to laugh, but it came out a groan as Leah slid back up his cock. “Oh, sweet Christ, yes, Leah,” he panted. “Fuck me just like that.”

  Leah licked her lips and then grabbed both her breasts in her hands, squeezing them roughly. It was Kurt’s turn to groan, and he kissed her again before running his lips down her neck to the tops of her breasts.

  “You’ve gotten rather good at that,” Kurt noted, kissing her hands on her breasts.

  “Oh I’ve been practicing.” Leah’s voice was slow, wicked honey dripping from her lips. “I decided the day after we first made love that for the rest of my life I would climax at least once a day.” She looked slyly at him out of the corner of her eye. “With or without you.” She closed her eyes as she pressed down hard on Valentine’s cock. “Vive le petite mort.”

  Both men laughed, their voices strained with desire. “Absolutely. I quite agree,” Kurt assured her. “But even if it’s without our help, please let me know so I can at least watch.”

  Leah’s laugh turned into a groan as Valentine’s hips suddenly surged up hard and fast into her. She bit her lip and matched his rhythm, throwing her head back.

  “That mouth,” Kurt whispered, falling back on the seat beside Leah and Valentine. “I’m going to put it to good use sucking my cock as soon as we get home.”

  “Which,” Valentine paused to catch his breath, “one?”

  “Both,” Kurt growled, and Leah came. Her cry filled the carriage, and Valentine slammed hard into her, pulling her hips tight against his. It was his turn to bite his lip, trying desperately to hang on to his control and not come as her tight, slick walls pulsed around him.

  “That’s one,” he ground out as Leah began to collapse against him. He immediately pulled almost all the way out and then fucked hard and deep again, making Leah cry out and clutch his shoulders. “I’m not done fucking you yet.”

  “Thank God,” Leah groaned and Kurt laughed.