His Hand-Me-Down Countess: The Lustful Lords, Book 1

by Sorcha Mowbray

  Exhausted from the correspondence and the effort expended with Evers’s assistance to set himself to some rights, he fell asleep again before his wife returned with breakfast.

  * * *

  Two weeks spent caring for her recovering husband slipped past before Theo realized it, and she had yet to visit the orphanage. It still concerned her that food poisoning could have laid him so low, but in the end, he had recovered with some rest and her own careful ministrations. Of course, in that time she had begun experiencing her own upset stomach, which had at first worried her that he was sick with something contagious. But, determined to complete her visit to the orphanage despite the regular morning queasiness, she stopped by the library, where she often found Stone after breakfast. Some days they would sit companionably and each deal with their correspondence. Other days he locked himself away with his man of business and took care of pressing matters.

  This morning, he sat hunched over the desk, scratching out a letter to someone, his head bent in concentration. The morning sun shone through the giant window behind him, framing Curzon Street and even catching a bit of Curzon Chapel, and shot sparks through his dark hair. Little glints of gold and flame danced about what were normally very sedate, dark strands of hair.

  Smiling, Theo stepped in the room and drew Stone’s attention. “Do you have a moment to discuss a few invitations?”

  He looked up and grinned at her. “Certainly. What entertainments do you have at hand?”

  Theo sat down and sifted through those she knew were coming up soon. “We have an invite to the Hawksbury house party.”

  Stone groaned. “I detest house parties. How long is this one?”

  Theo shared the sentiment heartily. For all that she enjoyed the country, she much preferred Stonemere Abbey to most of the modern, overly adorned country homes of the Ton. “A week, but I daresay we can go for the weekend festivities in a fortnight and not stay the full week. I’ll let Lady Hawksbury know that business keeps you from arriving sooner.”

  “Very well. If you believe we should attend.” Stone’s deferral to her wishes socially boosted her confidence and reminded her that she was, in fact, his partner in many aspects of their marriage. In all the important ones, she preferred to be his pet, submissive to him in a far more traditional sense than she ever imagined.

  “I do. I heard yesterday that Lord Townsend will be in attendance for the ball, and I believe you were working on securing an investment from him for the railroad.”

  Stone chuckled. “Indeed, my perceptive wife, I am. And you are right, it is a wonderful opportunity to mention our endeavor once more.”

  “I shall reply this morning before I go out. We also have an invitation for a musicale at Lady Devon’s that I shall be making our excuses for, but the Marquess of Downing is holding a ball next weekend. It should be a frightfully stuffy event, but Mother and Father will take note if we do not attend.”

  “Then, by all means, add it to our calendar. Any further mandatory entertainments?”

  “That should be all. Since we are so newly married, we can escape many of the lesser invitations. Have you anything for me?”

  “I am afraid not. Once I finish this correspondence, I shall be off to White’s. But I shall return home in time for dinner as usual.”

  “Excellent. I believe Mrs. Beats is planning roast pork for dinner.” Theo rose and headed toward the door.

  “Wife, I believe you have forgotten something.” Stone rose from his seat and rounded the desk.

  Theo wanted to ignore the nerves fluttering in her belly as he approached. Then he leaned over and pointed to his cheek. “I believe a kiss on the cheek is a customary sign of affection.”

  Theo flushed, thrilled that he wished to observe such customs. With a grin, she stretched up and placed a peck on his cheek. But before she could sidle away, he wrapped an arm about her waist and hauled her into his chest.

  Then he tipped her face up to his and kissed her gently on the lips. “But I think I prefer a kiss on the lips to one on my cheek. Do remember in future, pet.”

  “Yes, Master.” Her breathless reply slipped out as he released her from his arms.

  With a lightness to her steps she could only credit to her husband’s attention, she headed up to her writing room to reply to the various invitations before her visit to the orphanage.

  As it happened, it was afternoon before she was able to escape the house and visit her children. She watched as they ran about the desperately tiny square of green adjacent to the large house they lived in. It was impossible not to look at the larger square of green on the other side of a fence that divided what had once been a single estate into two separate plots of land. One brother had been eager to sell, the other not at all. And so she bided her time until the day the holdout changed his mind.

  “Lady Stonemere, ’tis always lovely to have you join us.” Mrs. Richter greeted her as warmly as she always did, even before her marriage to Stonemere.

  “I do enjoy seeing the children flourish. It reminds me that all is not horrible in the world, though perhaps it would be a little cheerier if I could pry that plot of land from that obstinate man’s hands.”

  Mrs. Richter snorted. “Curmudgeonly old sod. He chased little Bell out of his yard after their ball flew over the fence and refused to return it.” She shook her head. “I do hope whoever bought the property is kinder to the children.”

  “Bought the property? Whatever do you mean?” Despair stabbed right through her corset and into her heart. She had been waiting for years for an opportunity to buy the remaining piece of land.

  “I heard from the old man himself that someone came to him and offered an outrageous sum, far more than it was worth, to buy the land. The man looked positively gleeful as he acknowledged how he gouged the new owner.”

  Theo harrumphed. “Well, if they pressed the old man, it serves them right to overpay for the land. Why, it’s barely big enough to build a house on, certainly nothing ostentatious. And this neighborhood is not exactly an address of note. I wonder who could have afforded to purchase the land without regard for their future investment.” Theo’s curiosity had her bidding Mrs. Richter farewell as she headed off to Mr. Harrington’s office to set him on the trail to discover who’d stolen her property right out from under her nose.

  * * *

  Stone sat contentedly in the library and sipped a glass of scotch as he waited for his wife to return home from her outing. She was always in an excellent mood after she visited her orphans, and he hoped to capitalize on that mood this evening. He looked forward to a night of sexy fun with a woman who matched his own appetites perfectly.

  The front door slammed shut with a resounding boom that echoed through the house as though a portent of doom. A moment later, Theo stalked into the library, pulled her adorable top-hat-styled bonnet off and slammed the poor confection down on the table, absolutely crushing it beyond repair.

  Stone sighed. It seemed as though someone or something had his wife’s tail feathers in a ruffle. And that was never a good thing, as he had come to learn. “Good evening, Theo. I take it your day did not go as you intended?”

  “I am simply furious.” She practically vibrated with her emotions.

  “Come, my dear, sit and tell me what has you so up in the boughs.” Stone’s gut clenched. Could she have discovered what he had done?

  She flopped onto the settee across from him. “It’s the orphanage.” She clenched her fist and banged it against the arm of the small couch. “That old man who refused to sell me both pieces of property to spite his brother has had the audacity to sell the parcel to someone else after I have made multiple offers over the last few years.”

  “I do hate to point out the obvious, Theo. But it is his property, and he has the right to sell to whomever he chooses.” Stone gulped, having to swallow past the lump in his throat. He had no idea she would be so upset if she found out about the sale of the property, and damn it, just how did she discover it? He�
�d made the old geezer promise to keep it quiet.

  “Yes, but you know I want that land for my orphanage. The children need room to play, and as of yet, I have been unable to convince the old curmudgeon to sell. It pains me they have so little room.” Theo sniffled.

  The tears gathered in his wife’s eyes almost broke his resolve to hold the truth back. He had planned it as a belated wedding gift for her, but his man of affairs was coordinating some necessary changes to make the land suitable for the orphanage before he presented his gift. What he needed now was time to finish preparations for the full surprise. “I do hate to see you so disappointed. Perhaps we can find some way to cheer you up?”

  “It is a lost cause. I am simply devastated.”

  “Come now, Theo.” Stone rose and switched to the space next to his wife on the settee. “Perhaps something good will come of all this? One can never be sure of what the future holds.” He reached out and gathered her into a gentle embrace. She leaned into him, snuggling in his arms as though she could find no better haven for comfort.

  “I cannot imagine how this might turn about.” She sat up and looked at him with eyes full of emotion. Disappointment swirled with hope as she considered how she might best adapt to her new circumstances. “Perchance I shall simply have to set about finding a new location for my orphans?”

  “I daresay you should not jump to action so quickly. Some unexpected boon may present itself if you bide your time. Not unlike our fortuitous marriage.” He leaned in and snared her pursed lips in a kiss meant to tempt, tantalize, and, most importantly, distract.

  She sank into the kiss, letting her form melt against his as they sprawled on the settee in a heap of fabric and limbs. While it had been a last-ditch effort, kissing his wife seemed to accomplish his primary goal. And, lucky sod that he was, the bonus was proving to be an ardent embrace from his lovely wife.

  But then she broke their entanglement and drew back to stare him directly in the eyes. “I know what you are about, husband.”

  That blasted lump of guilt was back. “You do?” he all but croaked in reply.

  “Indeed. You are distracting me with your very fine amorous skills. And while normally I would abhor such tactics, today I shall allow it. But do not think this will work in future.”

  He considered her serious tone and the slight lift at the corner of her mouth, which suggested she repressed the urge to grin at him. “I shall keep that in mind, wife.”

  “Very well, then, I daresay this is where you should sweep me upstairs and take me to bed if your plan is to be certain of success.”

  “I see. You have this all thought out. Perhaps, instead, I shall take you upstairs and paddle you to distraction, pet.” He had to dig deep to find his stern, disciplinarian tone.

  Instantly, her lashes drooped and a dash of pink bloomed on her cheeks. “If that is what you wish, Master.”

  He groaned. The woman knew just how to twist him in knots. Whereas before he’d been thinking of a little fun in their bedroom, now she had turned his head toward much more dominant thoughts. Thoughts of bending her over the bench and spanking her arse red as he fucked her deep. And despite the early afternoon hour, he would follow through on the images in his mind, because he strongly suspected his lusty wife was thinking of a similar distraction. “Upstairs, in our private room, naked. I shall be along shortly.”

  She stood up and, with a nod, dashed off to do his bidding. Almost all was right with his world. His wife was both spirited and submissive, the railroad had settled back into normal business routines, and his nightmares had greatly receded. The only concern now lay in the frequent accidents he’d had of late. He needed to address the issues soon, but for now, his wife awaited him. Needed him. He carried a strange sense of satisfaction with him as he headed upstairs.

  Chapter 23

  August 1860

  Stone couldn’t help but watch Theo as she dozed in the carriage on their way to the Hawksbury house party a week later. She had remained gloomy for days as she waited for her man of affairs to solve the mystery of the “Land Thief,” as she’d dubbed the buyer. Guilt twisted in his gut, creating a nauseous feeling that his wife seemed to share of late. At first, he’d thought she was coming down with an illness as she appeared a bit green most mornings, but then in the last few days, she had returned to her normal chipper self. However, these were not the only pressing concerns.

  Less than a day’s drive, Hawksbury Grange was close enough to London to allow for a shorter weekend visit. Its proximity did nothing to ward off Stone’s concerns about the many accidents he’d recently been having. And the thought of possibly entangling Theo in the matter—even by accident—rankled. But by hour four, he’d settled down after a distinct lack of calamity. No broken axles, no rogue wheels, and no startled horses.

  Instead of watching for assailants to leap from behind every bush or bend in the road, he now focused on his lovely wife. How had he been so fortunate as to marry the one woman strong enough to be both his countess and his lover? He couldn’t fathom it, but he knew he would take further advantage of it while they were at the house party.

  Other than bending Lord Townsend’s ear about the railway, his main goal was to teach his wife some new naughty games. He fully intended to take her for a private picnic and make love to her in the great outdoors. He could just imagine how the dappled sunlight would decorate her pale skin as he kissed her from head to toe. The image of her breasts bared in the wide open had his cock stirring in anticipation.

  Yes, his marriage had been more fortuitous than an actual love match. He liked spending time with his intelligent wife. Enjoyed hearing her take on political issues and business ventures he pondered investing in. Often as not, she had a perspective on things he had not considered himself. He felt a tug in his chest, just under his breastbone, that once more reminded him of emotions he’d long ago shut down.

  The carriage jolted, and his wife woke up with a start. She sat up as they hit another bump, and this time landed in his arms. “Really, darling. You needn’t arrange to have potholes in the roadway just to gain my attention.”

  Theo blushed and then wiggled against him, settling down. “Don’t be so arrogant, my lord. How do I know you didn’t have those potholes placed there to create this very scenario?”

  He growled, his restraint wearing thin after his lusty musings. “Because, pet, I would simply take what I want without the need of artifice or games.” And then he swooped in and kissed her. Slipped his tongue past her lips to explore the warmth of her mouth. It occurred to him they had yet to have a go at sex in a carriage, and this provided some rather excellent opportunities.

  Theo sank into his body, a sweetness in the move he had not expected from his independent wife. Lips still firmly locked, he shifted his free hand around to her back, where he worked the laces loose. When he had enough undone, he broke their heated kiss. “Sit up and straddle my lap, pet.”

  “What naughtiness does my master have in mind?” Her query came out in a husky voice that had his cock growing even harder. She did as he asked, pushing her skirts out of the way so her thighs pressed against the sides of his.

  “Very naughty things come to mind. Now, if you would please take hold of the straps on each side of the windows…” He pointed to the two leather loops dangling from the ceiling of the conveyance on his side. A matching set hung on the other side of the small space to accommodate passengers seated opposite.

  “Yes, Master.” Theo followed through and slipped a delicate hand and then wrist through each loop. Being a taller-than-average woman, her arms easily spanned the distance while thrusting her breasts forward and into his face. With a pleased grin, he reached inside the neckline of her dress and lifted her breasts from the confines of her corset. In the cool darkness of the carriage, her nipples puckered into tiny berries ripe for plucking. He leaned in and wrapped his lips around one nub. She moaned as he sucked gently on the already swelling flesh. Satisfaction surged through him, mixi
ng and swirling with his own lust to create a heady cocktail to pump through his veins.

  Then he shifted to the other tip and repeated the attention. With her legs spread and her body wedged against his, her pussy rubbed over him with each mindless grind of her hips. Her passion stole his breath and reminded him how lucky he was to have her to wife.

  “Master, please…” she begged. While she still may not be able to say what she needed, he knew. But it was too soon to allow their fun to end. They had at least another hour before they arrived at Hawksbury, and he intended to make it an enjoyable ride. For both of them.

  * * *

  Theo’s breath caught as Stone sucked harder on her nipple, sending jolts of delicious electricity down her frame. She figured it was far too early for him to give her release. He tended to enjoy drawing things out. But she also knew he loved hearing her beg, and as lust rode her hard, she had few qualms about doing as he preferred. In the end, the pleasure would be worth the effort.

  And my, was there effort. Her thighs shook with the strain of holding her weight up. Her arms burned from the stretch and strain of unused muscles. And her pussy ached for that which only he could give. But then he shifted her skirts about as he sucked her nipple and burrowed his hand beneath her dress.

  “Open to me, pet.” His demand, rough and wanton, speared straight to her core.

  Spread and waiting, she could feel him search for her slit and silently praised herself for sticking to his demand she forgo the troublesome bloomers. To be honest, she’d done so out of habit, not out of any anticipation of what might occur. How she could have failed to realize a trip with hours ahead would leave ample opportunity for them to explore, she couldn’t be sure.