The Convenient Bride

by Winchester, Catherine

  Chapter Twelve

  The grouse hunting season began in mid-August so until then, the younger gentlemen had decided that they needed another way to prove their athletic prowess, and so a series of games had been devised, along with a points system. Obviously all of the women were there to cheer their loved ones and the men stripped off their coats, cravats and waistcoats, rolled up their shirt sleeves and prepared to battle for their honour.

  They began with a tug of war, with the men who were interested dividing into two teams.

  Next came a race; two laps of the garden. No one knew quite what distance that was but with the start and finish line by the house, where the ladies had gathered, no one much cared. This wasn’t about sportsmanship; this was about impressing their wives (or potential wives).

  Lucy of course cheered for Max but he came in second to Jon Steadman, who was desperate to impress the young and beautiful Sarah Martin and earned a blush and a coy smile from her for his trouble.

  Once Max had crossed the finishing flag, Lucy began cheering for Giles, who had come alone and didn’t have anyone to cheer for him. The single young ladies couldn’t be so gauche as to cheer for a single man that they liked, so instead they had to cheer for a father or married man, even if they hoped that someone else would win.

  Giles came in fifth, second to last, and Lucy gave him a big smile to try and console him. She got cool drinks for Max and Giles and after giving her husband a congratulatory kiss, approached Giles.

  “Never mind, there are more games after lunch.”

  Giles smiled warmly at her. “I do seem to have lost some fitness since I left the country. City living is so easy, it makes one soft, don’t you think.”

  “I suppose,” she said to spare his pride.

  “Anyway, archery is up next, no? That’s far more my game.”

  “Good.” Lucy caught Max giving her a dark look but she ignored it. He didn’t like Giles but Lucy knew he was harmless.

  Soon afterwards, lunch was served and everyone headed inside.

  “I really do wish you’d avoid him,” Max said as he walked Lucy inside.

  “Giles is harmless.”

  “I don’t like the way he looks at you, as if you are some kind of prey.”

  “You look at me that way sometimes.”

  “Exactly,” he raised his eyebrows as if he had just made his point.

  Lucy laughed. “Honestly, Max, he’s a kind man and after he saw me home on that awful day, I would expect you to be grateful to him. He went out of his way to make sure I got back safely.”

  Max couldn’t argue with that but he knew Giles had dishonourable intentions towards his wife. He knew it because he had those same intentions most of the time, but then he was her husband and allowed to feel that way. He was certain that Lucy would never betray him, she was far too moral for that, but Giles could still compromise her reputation… or worse.

  “Please, Max, make an effort to be nice to him? His family is from the north of England so he hardly knows anyone here.”

  Max nodded and pulled her against him. “I’ll try, my love, but if he shoots you many more of those looks, I might just have to hurt him.” His tone was teasing for her sake, even although he meant every word.

  “Max, you are bad.” She laughed, wriggling to get free before anyone noticed their passionate embrace.

  “I will not release you for anything less than a kiss,” he stated, which ceased her struggles for the moment.

  “Is that right?” she asked smiling.

  “Yes, so either kiss me now or be prepared to remain in my arms all afternoon.”

  He liked that she had to consider her choices.

  “But how do you intend shoot a bow with me in your arms?”

  “I’ll manage somehow,” he assured her.

  The others were all inside now so they had a little privacy.

  “Very well then,” she said with a theatrical, long-suffering sigh. “I suppose I must kiss you.”

  Max didn’t need telling twice and claimed her lips in a lusty kiss that when it ended, left Lucy feeling rather impassioned.

  ‘Let Giles try to catch her attention after that,’ Max thought rather smugly.

  Lucy stepped out of his embrace. “Right, well, um…” She smoothed the skirts of her gown, though it was still immaculate. “I suppose we should go inside before our guests miss us.”

  “Indeed.” Max smiled, looking very pleased with himself not to mention, far more composed that she felt.

  Lucy couldn’t have that and she stepped up to him.

  “Unless you wanted to retire to bed for an hour,” she suggested in a seductive voice as her hand discreetly rubbed the bulge in his pants.

  “Uh…”

  She felt his length swell and with a jaunty smile and cheeky wink, Lucy stepped away and headed into the house. Now at least she wouldn’t be the only one longing for the end of the afternoon, when they could retire to their rooms for an hour. Or perhaps even two.

  Max had little choice but to remain outside until the signs of his desire had cooled, although he intended to make Lucy pay for that little stunt later, as she no doubt planned to repay him for his.

  ***

  Giles had gone first in the archery and he took a seat next to Lucy once he was finished. Max glared at him but went to sit with his parents, choosing not to make a scene.

  “You were right,” Lucy smiled. “You do shoot very well.”

  “The result of a misspent youth,” he smiled.

  Lucy knew that Max didn’t like Giles but then, he had never really made an effort to talk to him. She knew that Giles probably did have a little interest in her as a woman, she had noticed a few of the predatory glances that Max so disliked, but she was also sure that he was a gentleman and would never act on his feelings.

  Plus, he was charming and witty company and she saw no need to cut him from her life, especially after he had been so kind to her, so she ignored the looks that Max gave them while they chatted.

  They discussed tennis, which was the next game on the agenda, although that would wait for tomorrow when they would hold a miniature tournament, then the conversation moved onto horses, during which Giles got Lucy to agree to show him around her estate on horseback before he left. Finally they discussed how pleased they were to leave the hustle and bustle of London for a while.

  They clapped each archer when he was done, even if they weren’t really paying attention.

  “You seemed to be having fun with Mrs Porter over lunch,” Lucy noted.

  “Oh yes. You know, for a married lady, she’s very racy.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Lucy laughed, unable to imagine Abigail Porter as naughty. She was still young, perhaps 25, and very pretty but she was such a moral woman that it was difficult to imagine her ever being racy.

  “No? Well she told me that her husband recently bought her a series of silk chemises, some white but some… well,” he lowered his voice, causing Lucy to lean in closer to hear. “She confessed that he bought her blue, red and black ones.”

  Lucy’s hand flew to her mouth unable to believe something so shocking. The idea itself was actually rather appealing, and she wondered how Max would react to such a garment. However, the thought that Mrs Porter would ever discuss her undergarments with a man other than her husband, was truly unbelievable.

  “Giles, you are awful!”

  “No, really, it’s true. I swear.”

  “And I’m sure she just blurted this out to you over cold game pie?”

  “Last night, actually. After you and Max went to bed, a few of us stayed up talking and playing cards and what not. Come midnight it was just she and I left playing; we were out of earshot of her husband and I think she had imbibed perhaps a little too much alcohol, which helped loosen her tongue.”

  Lucy supposed that was a little more believable, but still…

  “Well, you can imagine how I felt, this married lady telling me about the unmentionables her
husband had purchased for her. I didn’t know where to look!”

  Lucy did laugh at that. “I’m sure you enjoyed every second.”

  He gave her a cheeky smile. “Perhaps.”

  Lucy looked over to Adam Porter. He always seemed like a nice, if perhaps slightly dull man, but she now began to wonder if he had hidden depths that she didn’t know about. They do say that still waters run deep, after all.

  “So, do you possess anything quite so scandalous?” Giles teased, keeping his voice low.

  “Even if I did, Giles, I would hardly tell you!” She hadn’t meant to sound so harsh but she was rather unnerved by the direction of this conversation. “Not even for all the wine in France,” she said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

  “Then I shall just have to use my imagination.” Giles laughed.

  “Giles!”

  “All right, all right,” he held his hands up in surrender, although he didn’t look sorry. “I’ll be good from now on, I swear.”

  ***

  Max’s father had sat the athletics out, but so had most of the older gentlemen present, so no one else noticed anything amiss. Max however, was looking for the signs Lucy had told him about.

  They were actually all quite easy to see, the pallor, the weight loss, the glassy expression, although he supposed that having happened slowly over a few years, the changes had been so gradual that he had failed to notice.

  He hadn’t decided what to do about Lucy’s revelation yet but he did feel a little warmer towards his father. He understood why the man had been so demanding in recent years, so obstinate when Max wanted to join the Army, and so insistent that he take responsibility. Max even felt a little bad for his behaviour now, worrying that his antics might have worsened his father’s condition.

  Helping Lucy to run her estate had been very good for him and while he still resented having the title and family lands forced upon him, he knew that he could run things adequately now, especially with Lucy’s help.

  He had suggested they try breeding racehorses as riding had always been a passion of his, and Lucy had agreed, telling him to work out the necessary details with the steward himself. Rather than feeling that she wasn’t interested, for she certainly looked very attentive whenever he spoke of it, instead he felt that she was coming to trust him and his judgement. Breeding racehorses could be very lucrative, if you could breed fast runners.

  The trick was finding the right breeding stock. You needed horses that were fast, of course, but also who were strong and had endurance for the longer races. If you bred small, lightweight horses, they might be able to run very fast but not for very long. If you breed stocky, muscular horses, they tended to have endurance but were unable to sprint.

  “Daydreaming again!” he heard his father, Charles say.

  Max turned to his parents. “I'm sorry?” he asked, ignoring his father’s remark.

  “I just asked how married life was treating you,” his mother smiled.

  “Oh, very well.” There was no denying that the warm smile that creased up the edge of his eyes was genuine.

  “And Lucy is well, is she?” Eleanor’s pointed look told him she was asking about their relationship after the miscarriage, not in general.

  “She’s very well, thank you, Mother.”

  “So what had so captivated your attention a moment ago?”

  “I was thinking about horses, actually,” he explained. “Next spring we’re going to try breeding racehorses; we’re building the facilities to breed and train them now so we’ll be ready to start looking for suitable stock by the New Year.”

  “That sounds lovely,” his mother commented.

  He noticed his father turn his head ever so slightly in their direction but he didn’t join in the conversation.

  “It’s actually very busy around here at the moment,” Max continued. “We’re felling trees and reorganising some of the less successful farms, attempting to maximise the potential of the land.”

  “Maximise?” his father finally asked, somewhat grudgingly.

  “Farming techniques are moving on, Father, and we have to move with the times. We’re felling trees to make way for more arable crops and the land that isn’t suitable for farming, we’re going to graze Merino sheep on.”

  “And the horses?”

  “Lucy doesn’t really want to get into selective breeding but the principles interest me. I already know a fair amount about horses and I'm reading up on the rest, learning as much as I can and I’ve written to a few new trainers who show potential, seeing if they would be open to taking a position here. If we can make it work, the returns on breeding racehorses are substantial.”

  His father didn’t seem to know what to say to that.

  “I’ll tell you what, why don’t we take the gig out tomorrow and I can show you the work in progress?” Max suggested.

  “Oh, but you’ll miss the tennis tournament,” his mother noted.

  “Tennis never was my game.” He gave his mother a charming smile. “Besides, it’s very bad form for the host to win, better to let the young, single chaps impress the ladies. So what do you say?” he looked to his father.

  “Well, I suppose I could take a look.”

  “Then we’ll go after breakfast, shall we?”

  Charles nodded.

  Max still didn’t know if he’d tell his father that he knew he was ill but either way, he hoped that this little tour, where Charles could see that Max was taking an active interest in running the estate, would help to set his mind at ease.

  He went to get his mother some more cordial and as he handed her the glass she asked. “Maxwell, who is that young man with Lucy. He hardly seems to leave her side.”

  “That is Giles Gibson,” he answered, his tone unreadable.

  “Of the Northumberland Gibsons?”

  “I believe so.”

  “And he’s single?”

  “Yes.”

  “Someone should tell him that he shouldn’t be paying so much attention to a married woman.”

  Remembering Lucy’s pleas, he didn’t agree with her, even although he wanted to.

  “She and Giles are friends; he was very kind to her and she values his friendship.”

  His father gave him a sharp look, one which said that Max needed to protect what was his and for the first time in a long while, Max and his father were in agreement. His pleasant expression faded and he gave Charles a curt nod, to show that he understood the dangers and was looking out for Lucy.

  He might not be able to ask Giles to leave without upsetting Lucy, but Max would certainly be keeping an eye on him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Word of Mrs Porter’s unusual undergarments had spread throughout the house, thanks in no small part to Giles’ loose tongue, but thankfully no one had seen fit to mention it to or around the Porters, sparing them their blushes.

  Lucy however, found herself rather enamoured of the idea.

  “Maxwell?” she said that evening after they had made love. He was curled into her for a change, his head resting on one soft breast, as his hand idly played with the nipple of her other breast.

  “Mm?”

  “Have you heard these stories of Abigail Porters’ chemises?”

  “Foolish woman,” he declared. “She is already the talk of this gathering and when people head home, she will become the talk of the country, with the details exaggerated and mis-told until she is some kind of strumpet.”

  Lucy didn’t speak again and puzzled by her question, Max raised his head.

  “Why?” he asked.

  “Nothing.” She shook her head but the blush in her cheeks belied her word.

  “You can tell me anything,” he cajoled, keen to know what she had been thinking.

  “Well…” she looked into his eyes, then looked away. “I- I was going to ask if you might appreciate something like that.”

  A few moments later she chanced a look into his eyes and found them positively smouldering with desire
.

  “Max?”

  He groaned and let his head flop down, so his forehead was now pressing into her breast.

  “No,” he answered, though it was somewhat muffled.

  “But you seem to like the idea.”

  Max raised his head. “My darling, I won’t deny that there is a certain… animalistic pleasure in imagining you so clothed but first of all, I would not risk your reputation like that. Should the servants talk, you would be ruined.”

  Lucy could see the logic in that, especially given how quickly word was spreading about Abigail.

  “And second of all?” she asked, although she wasn’t completely sure that she wanted to hear the answer.

  “You’re better than that, Lucy. You don’t need shocking garments to make me want you. If I wanted you any more than I already do, we would never leave this room; which would surely make living our lives a little difficult.”

  Lucy nodded, accepting his logic, even if she didn’t quite like the answer.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, sensing her discomfort.

  This time Lucy didn’t answer.

  “Dearest, secrets haven’t led to much happiness so far; please trust me with your thoughts.”

  Lucy’s cheeks felt afire with heat and she turned onto her side, putting her back to Max.

  “Now you’re beginning to worry me,” he said, sitting up and rubbing his hand up and down her arm.

  Lucy hadn’t turned her back on him to hurt him, but because she couldn’t face him while she admitted these thoughts.

  “I know I’m nothing special, Max. I'm plain, simple, inexperienced, almost innocent, nothing… nothing like the women you are used to. I worry that one day, you will tire of the newness and want… something else.”

  She meant someone else but couldn’t bring herself to say that.

  “You are not a toy that I will grow tired of playing with, Lucy, and I am not a child!”

  “I'm sorry.” Lucy shrank a little from the venom in his voice, unused to his anger being directed at her.

  Max took a deep breath to calm himself, then picked Lucy up with an arm behind her back and one under her knees and placed her on his lap, his back to the headboard. He cradled her gently against him.