“No! No!” Bessie cried, wringing her plump hands in anguish. “She didn’t! She’s terrified!”
The duke’s gaze was murderous, a convulsive tick pulsated over one stark cheekbone and the young boy she’d rocked on her knee was entirely absent from the towering man with icy eyes who seemed not to have heard her. Taking a small breath, she forced her tone to one more reassuring and calm, hoping to mitigate the fury in the pitiless gaze. “Lady Caro would never do anything to harm the babe. On God’s oath, she wouldn’t.”
“You’re sure?” As if God wasn’t guaranty enough.
The small, elderly woman nodded. “Yes, yes… I’m sure.”
“Very well.”
The sound of his voice was wholly forbidding. He could have been the old duke, speaking in that unrelenting tone. And while she knew he wasn’t likely to take kindly to advice, she courageously spoke from her heart. “Please, Your Grace, don’t frighten the dear child. She’s pitiful scared.”
His gaze came up. Bessie had never used an honorific when addressing him. “You believe her.”
“She wants this child. By all that’s holy, it’s the truth.”
An uncomfortable silence fell, the duke’s scrutiny abrasive, as though the rasp of his anger was an audible friction in the air. And then he sighed. “Can the child be saved?”
The bitterness had lessened in his voice, although a faint echo remained and Bessie debated how best to reply. Did he want the child or not? “We’ve had Lady Caro take some herb potions that may help.” She watched his reaction.
“I’ll go and see her now.”
It was impossible to read his thoughts. His gaze was shuttered, his words restrained. “I’ll take you,” she said, knowing she had to be there to protect Caroline whether he approved or not
He looked at her, his head tipped in a quizzical way she recognized from his youth. He smiled, faintly. “Don’t you trust me?”
She exhaled in a great rush of air. “Now I do.”
She once more recognized the man before her and back on familiar ground, Bessie’s trepidation vanished. When she left Simon at the door to Caroline’s bedroom, she gave him warning. “That sweet child has always loved you,” she declared. “I don’t want you to forget that when you get your temper up,” she added, firmly. “In fact, you’re not even allowed to have a temper until this babe is out of danger. Understand?”
He grinned. “I sort of miss that, ‘Your Grace.’ ”
“Humph. As if your arrogance needs any further bolstering. Just mind your manners now. She’s right scared.”
“Yes, ma’am.” But beneath the mockery, he was pleased Bessie had been there when Caro needed her. Reaching down, he put his arms around the rotund little lady who always had been there when he needed her too, and gave her a quick hug and a kiss.
Turning ten shades of red, Bessie gave him a sharp look. “We won’t be havin‘ any more o’ that madcap behavior. I can still give you a good spankin‘ if need be.”
He grinned. “I’ve been able to outrun you since I was six.”
“Well, that may be, but-” Tears suddenly filled her eyes. “You just be good to her, Simon. Promise me, now.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His voice was solemn this time, as was his gaze.
“You always were a good boy,” she whispered, patting his arm.
Bessie watched him open the door and walk inside.
And when the door closed on him, she said a little prayer.
Chapter 33
“I’m so sorry… so very sorry,” Caroline sobbed, her voice choked with emotion as she caught sight of Simon. “It’s all my fault and I understand… if… you don’t want… to ever see me again… oh, God-I’m not supposed to cry, or get upset,” she cried, tears streaming down her face. “Bessie and Rose said I mustn’t…” she added with a stifled wail.
Simon was across the room in three long strides, but he came to a sudden stop by the bed. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to touch you,” he whispered, reminding himself grown men didn’t cry.
“I don’t care,” she sobbed, lifting her arms to him.
And hoping Bessie wouldn’t crucify him or he wasn’t harming the baby somehow, he sat down on the bed, soaking wet and lifted Caro into his arms. “Everything’s going to be fine,” he said. “And it’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have gone. It’s my fault”
“What if we lose the baby?” Her eyes were huge with despair.
“We won’t. You and the baby will be safe.”
“Truly?” Her voice trembled with hope.
“I promise,” he said, vowing to move mountains or hold back the tides if necessary.
“You don’t hate me?” she whispered, her eyes wet with tears.
He shook his head. “And I promise not to fight with you anymore.”
Her smile was shaky. “You must be sick.”
“No,” he said, very softly. “Just glad to be home.”
As though Simon were the antidote Caro needed for perfect health, the bleeding slowly diminished and then stopped completely. But no one was taking any chances. For the next two weeks, both she and Simon obeyed Bessie and Rose in all things. Caro drank the ghastly potions, barely moved and thought only happy thoughts-a simple enough task now that her husband had returned. Simon had a trundle bed set up, so he could sleep beside his wife and he spent every minute with her. All the servants walked about the house on tiptoes and spoke only in whispers until the duchess was finally pronounced cautiously healthy once again and allowed out of bed.
That first afternoon Caro was released from her sickbed, she and Simon moved to the solarium to enjoy the winter sunshine and their newfound sense of well-being. Simon almost immediately began rummaging through drawers and before long he held up a deck of cards. “Are you up to a few hands of piquet?”
“You don’t have to be solicitous, darling. I needn’t be amused.”
“I was thinking about a repeat of our game at Kettleston Hall. I’m afraid I took advantage of you when we played for our wager. The viscount’s deck had a few nicks in it.”
“Did you really cheat?”
He didn’t answer. He only smiled. “Do you feel lucky?”
“I feel like the luckiest woman on the face of the earth.”
Then you might win today. Three hands? Same rules?“
She grinned. “You’re being awfully nice.”
He shrugged and winked. “I expect I’ll be rewarded some day.”
She laughed. “You’ll have to talk to Bessie about that.”
“I already have my orders in that regard. I’m under strict control.”
Caroline’s eyes widened. “Did she actually… I mean, did she-”
“In no uncertain terms. I didn’t know I could still blush.”
“Show me, show me!”
And at recall of that very stilted conversation, a slight pink glow was evident beneath his tan.
Caroline’s laughter rang through the room while Simon gave her a jaundiced look. “I’m glad you find it so amusing.” He shoved the cards at her. “We’re done with this embarrassing conversation. Cut the cards.”
Caroline won the first hand by thirty points, the second by fifty, the third by forty. “You’re not even trying,” she grumbled.
“Consider it a gift.”
She glanced at him, then her gaze narrowed and she looked at him more quizzically. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Did you think I’d forgotten how to play piquet?”
“You mean it?”
“I mean it,” he said, softly. “If you want a faithful husband, you have one.”
“I’ve never had someone for myself alone,” she whispered.
“Speaking of that-I have a small request myself.”
She looked frightened. “Is this some trick?” She had won too easily.
“No. No trick. I was just hoping you would do something for me as well.”
“Of course.” But her voice was tentative
.
“I don’t want you to run… if you should get angry-like you have,” he took a breath, “before…”
She had to take a deep breath too, because she had always run when her life was in chaos. She’d learned the art of avoidance from her father. But Simon was waiting for her answer, looking grave. “I won’t run.” It was much harder to say than she thought. “I promise,” she added with a soft winsomeness.
The warmth in his eyes could have melted the glaciers at the poles. “You’ve always been the only family I could count on, you know.”
“I know.” She smiled. “Along with our servants.”
“Do you think Bessie would mind if I kissed you?”
“Kiss me now and we’ll ask her later.”
He moved the table aside, lifted her from her chair as though she were weightless, placed her on his lap and kissed her gently, chastely, with tenderness and love.
But very soon, he abruptly lifted her off his lap, set her on her feet and rose from his chair. “I can’t be this close,” he muttered, moving a safer distance away.
“Don’t stop, darling, please…” She followed him. “I’m feeling so-o-o wonderful.”
Quickly barricading himself behind another chair, he put up his hand. “Stay there.”
She stopped, but reluctantly. “I’m feeling perfectly fine. Why don’t I talk to Bessie and Rose?”
He groaned. “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”
“Would you like to talk to them?”
His eyes flared wide. “Christ, no.”
She moved to the chair and leaned forward while he backed up as far as the wall would allow. “We could just wait until the baby is born I suppose,” she said, her voice a delectable soft purr that had nothing to do with waiting.
Drawing in a deep breath, he exhaled in a whoosh of air. They needed a diversion or at least he did before he lost control. “I’ve something to show you first,” he abruptly said, easing out from behind the chair. “Come into my study.” He stepped back and waved her past him.
“Are we not allowed to touch?” she murmured.
“No!” He smiled ruefully at his explosive reaction. “Lord, Caro, I’m going crazy here. Humor me.”
“If you promise to humor me afterward-in your own very, very special way…”
“Jesus,” he said on a suffocated breath. “You’re making this very hard.”
I’m glad it’s hard,“ she whispered, feeling ravenous.
“Caro, for God’s sake. I’ve never been celibate for so long”-he grimaced. “Sorry… I didn’t mean-” He decided it was safer not to explain. “Forgive me, it was a slip of the tongue.”
“Ummm, did you say, tongue?… Ummm… just the word makes me feel all tingly and-”
“Damn it, Caro, don’t!”
“You’re adorable when you’re rattled.”
Her smile was tantalizing, a temptress’s smile. “I’m not adorable, nor have I ever been,” he said, firmly, understanding the urgency of taking charge of a situation that could easily get out of hand. Quickly approaching her, he swept her up in his arms and keeping his gaze averted, as though one glance at her might turn him into a pillar of salt, he strode through the adjoining door into his study. Setting her down before a table covered with documents, he commanded, “Sit,” and pointed to a chair with a jab of his finger.
“Yes, sir.” Sitting down, she half-turned to him so her lush bosom-even more showy now in pregnancy-was thrust out in a most beguiling fashion. “Will this do?” she queried, with feigned innocence.
This was drawing his gaze as she knew it would and she deliberately shifted in the chair so her heavy breasts swung faintly.
“I may have to spend the next few months in a cloister,” Simon muttered. “Or put you in one, if you don’t stop misbehaving.”
“You never called it misbehaving before.”
Her breathy little voice was so theatrically seductive, he stepped back in self-defense. Moving to the other side of the table, he cleared his throat in an attempt to focus his thoughts. But, damn, she was an enchanting little witch and had it been possible, he would have given her what she wanted until she begged for mercy. “I have something for you,” he said, gruffly, quickly repressing the illicit images that came to mind.
“And I have something for you.” She slowly ran the tip of her tongue over her plump bottom lip, leaving a glistening wet trail.
“Caro, fucking behave,” he growled, his voice hoarse with restraint. “I don’t know how to be a monk and I’m not about to hurt you.”
“I’m sorry.” The agony in his voice was so stark, she was immediately stricken with guilt.
Inhaling deeply, he released his white-knuckled grip on the table and dropped into a chair opposite her. “As soon as we’re done here, I’ll talk to Bessie myself,” he murmured, understanding there were limits to his willpower and he’d damned near lost control a moment ago. He shoved a number of papers toward her. “Here, take a look. I thought you might like something to keep you busy in the country.”
“I rather thought you and our babe would keep me busy.” A sudden suspicion entered her voice. Was he leaving her here?
“Would you mind adding the care of Maple Hill to your duties?” he asked, grateful to have something other than sex to discuss, already feeling a modicum more relaxed.
She glanced at the numerous heavily scribed sheets and then at him, her gaze incredulous. “Maple Hill? How-I mean… Maple Hill?” she whispered.
He smiled. “It’s all yours.”
“Mine? You don’t mean it! I couldn’t-”
“Of course you could. I want to give you something for the child you’re giving me, although,” he added, his dark eyes warm with affection, “my gift is not so splendid by half.”
“How-when… I mean-tell me how it came about that you have Maple Hill?” Her father had lost it to his creditors two years before his death.
“After you left England, I made the new owners an offer they apparently liked.” He shrugged. “I missed you I suppose, although I’m not sure I knew it. But I wanted Maple Hill. That I knew.”
“You never said anything…”
He gazed at her from under half-lowered lashes. “There was a great deal of… uncertainty in our relationship,” he said softly.
She smiled. “But, now, I’m not going to run anymore.”
“And I’ve changed my priorities,” he added with an answering smile.
She softly laughed. “Do you think this means we’re all grown up?”
“Probably as grown up as we’re likely to be,” he replied with a cheeky grin. “But don’t change. I like you just the way you are.”
She winked. “For my part, I’d like you just a little bit closer. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for Maple Hill-I’d love to share it with you… but right now… Are you going to ask our wardens for permission or am I?”
“Two hands out of three?” he offered, thinking perhaps those wardens would save him from himself.
“Loser asks?”
“Done.”
“You know I always win,” Caro murmured.
“I always let you win, you mean.”
“No, you don’t.”
His brows flickered. “Yes, dear… I’m sure you’re right.”
Epilogue
It was questionable who let whom win that after-noon with their skills so evenly matched. In their new harmonious accord, however, they compromised, going hand in hand to ask what had to be asked, embarrassing not only themselves in the process, but Bessie and Rose as well.
After a constrained and stumbling interchange between the two parties, the duke and duchess were given a “proceed with reservations” answer that they observed with diligent caution and consider-able bliss in the months that followed.
In the fall, to the delight of the young couple, a healthy, robust heir was born at Monkshood. He was plump and pink, had all his fingers and toes in perfect order, sparkling green eyes lik
e his mother, a charming smile like his father, and the sweetest of dispositions.
And any latent fears the parents may have had concerning the health of their child were instantly dispelled.
With the birth of their son, the lives of a young boy and girl who had been first, the best of friends; in time, lovers; and now as man and wife, the most celebrated and captivating love-match in the ton, were brought full circle.
And life was again as it had been in their youth.
Carefree and bright with hope.
Susan Johnson
***
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