The Scandal in Kissing an Heir

by Sophie Barnes

  Rebecca looked up from her stew, her eyes filled with merriment. “You do realize that the leg-shackle is a metaphor, right?”

  Daniel attempted a serious expression. “Really? Who would have thought?” Reaching for the pitcher of wine, Daniel filled both of their glasses. “A toast,” he said, “to you, our friendship and the future ahead.”

  “And to you as well, my husband,” Rebecca said, her radiant smile not leaving her face for an instant while she took a sip of her wine.

  Daniel stared at her. He really had been fortunate to find her, and now she would be his forever, to have and to hold . . . to wed and to bed. He chuckled, admonishing himself for his wayward thoughts.

  “What’s so funny?” she asked, her eyes pinning him with an impishness he’d come to adore.

  “Nothing really. I’m just really happy right now and grateful that you would have me.”

  A tiny frown creased her forehead. “Well, my options were limited and—”

  “Don’t ruin it,” he said. He reached for her hand, noticing how still she grew as they made contact. His heart began to race with the expectation of what would happen next. “Becky . . . whatever our circumstances were, I want you to know that I’m grateful for the way things turned out. In all likelihood it would have taken me years yet to get married if my uncle hadn’t forced me to do so now, and I have to say that while jumping into matrimony with you may have been rash, I think we’re quite well suited. We can be good together you and I, don’t you think?”

  She’d been studying him as he’d spoken, but now she nodded. “Yes, I do. We share a similar sense of humor at least—I’m sure our life together will be filled with laughter.”

  “An essential element to a happy union if you ask me.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “Shall we take the pitcher upstairs with us?” Daniel asked once their meal was over. He knew that she had to be feeling a little apprehensive about the prospect of what was to come, and he hoped that the wine would help ease her concerns. She said nothing but nodded instead, allowing him to lead the way. “It’s not much, I suppose,” he said as they stood inside the small room the innkeeper had given them. There was barely enough space for anything other than the bed, which seemed exceptionally large—so much so that it practically taunted them.

  “I suppose we should try to get some rest,” Rebecca said, her eyes fixed on the dwarfing piece of furniture.

  Rest?

  He reached out his hand to pull her into his arms, but she stepped inside the room, her back turned toward him as she started circumventing the bed, oblivious of his intentions. Apparently this was going to be harder than he’d expected.

  Closing the door behind him and turning the lock, Daniel watched as Rebecca went to the window and looked out. Her hair was set in a neat coiffure that she’d somehow managed to arrange on her own, though a few loose tendrils had come undone since this morning and were now snaking their way between her shoulder blades. As on the night of the ball, he longed to unpin the entire mass and watch it cascade over her shoulders, to run his fingers through its softness while he kissed the sweep of that long and delicate neck.

  Blood roared through his veins at the thought of it, of what she would taste like and how she would respond. If the kiss they’d shared in her wardrobe was any indication, she would eagerly return his sensual ministrations. With her back still turned, he shrugged out of his jacket and began undoing his cravat. “Anything out there catch your interest?” he asked.

  She looked over her shoulder at him and shrugged. “Nothing much.” Her eyes narrowed and she turned to face him. “Surely you’re not planning on getting completely undressed.”

  Daniel grinned. “Why? Would you like to have that honor?”

  She rolled her eyes and plopped down on the bed, lying down with her arms crossed over her belly and looking completely uninviting. Daniel’s fingers paused on a cuff link. “Is something the matter?” he asked.

  Her eyes met his, and he knew instinctively that she was not as eager for them to consummate their marriage as he was. Hell and damnation! He’d thought she felt as much desire for him as he did for her. Could he have been wrong?

  “Look, it’s not that I don’t like you, Daniel, because I find your company to be delightfully entertaining,” she said, smiling as usual. “But we’ve already established that you’d like to continue seeking the company of whatever woman strikes your fancy.”

  Daniel frowned. “I don’t believe I—”

  “I’ve no intention of demanding that you don’t see other women, Daniel. The last thing I want is for you to grow to resent me. Besides, it’s not as if I ever expected you to be faithful, but seeing it firsthand . . . well, I suppose I can admit that my pride was momentarily wounded.”

  Aha! So she had been jealous. This was a good sign.

  “But as you can see, I’ve now recovered and am prepared to accept you for who you are.”

  “And who exactly would that be?” he asked, wary of the way she’d said it—as if he was some sort of rare specimen she’d happened to stumble upon.

  “Why, a rake of course. A man who takes his pleasure with whatever woman he desires.” Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she rose up on one elbow. “Is it true that you usually set them up in a house of their own? Do you still have such a house?”

  Good God!

  Was he really having this conversation with his wife?

  She gazed at him knowingly as she said, “Forget I asked, for I can see that you do.”

  Of course he did. Between speaking with his uncle and attending the Kingsborough Ball, he’d barely had enough time to send his mistress packing, let alone rid himself of the apartment he’d rented for her to live in. He nodded his response, but not without noticing a brief flicker of pain in Rebecca’s eyes. Perhaps she wasn’t as indifferent as she wanted to let on. Deciding to play along, Daniel sat on the edge of the bed and began pulling off his boots. “And what of you? What will you do while I’m out entertaining all these women?”

  Her voice was decidedly terser when she spoke again. “I suppose I’ll have Laura for company, although I imagine that in time I’ll probably take a lover as well.”

  Daniel stiffened. This was a turn in the conversation that he hadn’t anticipated. “You’re mad,” he muttered, not the least bit pleased about the thought of Rebecca in the arms of another man.

  “No, Daniel, I’m not,” she said as if they’d been discussing something as mundane as the weather, “but I am the adventurous sort, in case you hadn’t noticed, and I will not sit at home playing the dutiful wife while you go out and have all the fun. If that was what you wanted, then you should have married someone else.”

  Daniel clenched his jaw. He felt a strong headache coming on. “What if I told you that I have no interest in any other women, but that you’re the only woman I want?”

  Rebecca took a deep breath, held it for a moment and then expelled the air with a deep sigh. “Daniel, I’ve known you for a mere week, and while you did go to great effort to save me, you did so not for my benefit alone but for yours as well. I will admit that I did dream of us running away together, falling madly in love and living happily ever after, but it’s just a fantasy, as proven by the fact that as soon as another offer presented itself, you took it.”

  “Lady Vernon means nothing to me, Becky.”

  “And that’s supposed to console me? That you would so easily share a kiss with another woman—one who means nothing to you?”

  Damn it all, but this conversation was not going well.

  “You know, it’s my own fault really,” Rebecca continued quietly as she stared up at the ceiling. “Lady Trapleigh warned me that—”

  Daniel grimaced. “She’s hardly the sort of woman you ought to place your trust in.”

  Rebecca turned her head to look at him. “W
hy? Because she’s your female counterpart?”

  Touché.

  Rebecca’s gaze returned to the ceiling. “She helped me when I needed it. The red gown I wore to the ball was hers.”

  “Of course it was.” Who else would have given a scarlet gown to an unmarried lady?

  “I’m sorry, Daniel, but you’ve given me reason to believe that you’ll eventually be tempted into another woman’s bed. If it is to be an inevitability, then I’d rather accept it than pretend it won’t happen. I like you, and I want us to get along, but please try to understand that as long as you’re likely to stray, you and I cannot be more than friends, and our bedroom activities will serve two purposes alone—the consummation of this marriage and the production of an heir. Once both have been achieved, it will probably be best if we limit any intimacy between us.”

  Bloody hell!

  Daniel stared back at her. He was horrified, not just by her words—words that took a hatchet to their blooming relationship—but at himself for the mistake he’d made in not being more insistent in pushing Lady Vernon away. It was a mistake that had cost him Rebecca’s trust. The question now was, What could he say to get them back on the right path—one where his wife wasn’t so bloody intent on their living beneath the same roof as friends while they each went off to entertain their lovers? Of everything he’d seen and heard over the years, this was by far the most outrageous. Feeling as if he was losing control, he decided to change his tactics. He had to assert himself before he lost her forever. “Forgive me, Becky, but I’m your husband now, and I will not be denied a proper marriage.”

  She sat up with a start and glared back at him. Perhaps he’d overdone it a touch?

  “Will you force yourself on me then?”

  “No, of course not,” he said. He’d never forced himself on anyone and was not about to start doing so now.

  “I may have turned to you for help when I needed it, Daniel, but I am not some simpering Society miss who’s going to let anyone tell her what to do, and I will certainly not allow you to take such liberties with me when . . .”

  “When what?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

  “Nothing,” she muttered. “Forget I said anything.”

  Well, now he was really curious. He decided not to press her though, since he already had a fair assumption of what had led to this argument in the first place. She’d said she liked him and that she’d imagined something more for them than just friendship. Seeing him with Lady Vernon, however, had put a damper on things, and she now refused to get too close, most likely because she wanted to protect herself from the pain of losing him to another woman . . . or other women. Her defenses were up, and rather than risk getting hurt she’d suggested the harebrained notion of a highly unconventional marriage. He wouldn’t allow it of course. Instead, he would prove her wrong about him. He would do whatever was required of him to earn her trust so they could be truly happy together—a feat that would probably prove more difficult than he anticipated.

  Recalling their best moments together, he decided to strategize. After all the times he’d gambled at cards, this was one game that he had no intention of losing. He decided to make his first move and stretched out on the bed beside her. “You’re probably right about our marriage and how we ought to proceed in order to make the best of it,” he said.

  There was a long pause.

  “You agree with me then?” She didn’t sound convinced.

  “Upon further consideration, I think you make a valid argument.” Was she grinding her teeth together? He hid a smile. “In fact, I quite admire your honesty. I hope we can always be this forthright with each other.”

  “I’m not partial to deceit amidst friends,” she said.

  Turning onto his side, he watched her face . . . so beautiful. Instinct urged him to brush his fingers against her cheek, to lean over and kiss her. But he wouldn’t. He’d seduced many women over the years and was now embarking on the greatest challenge of all—his own wife. “Me neither. So, how about if we continue with the game we started on our drive up here?”

  She turned her head to meet his gaze, and he could see the interest lurching in the depths of her dark eyes. Filled with reassurance, he offered her an encouraging smile and said, “Go on, ask me a question.”

  Chapter 13

  Feeling much like a piece of driftwood in a turbulent sea, Rebecca looked at the man lying next to her. He was her husband now and held more power over her than any other. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t considered this before, yet it had suddenly become so much more real now that they were tucked away in this bedroom together behind a locked door.

  Apprehension swept over her as she studied his handsome face. What a fool she’d been to think that a kiss from him would mean as much to him as it had to her. She hadn’t even realized just how much it had meant until now, when he’d finally agreed to accept her proposal. What on earth had she been thinking to say such a thing to him, pushing him away like that when all she wanted was to hug him close against her? The feelings that sprang to life within her though, like blossoms unfolding beneath the sun, were frightening. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before, and she had no idea how to handle it. If only there was someone she could turn to for guidance, but there wasn’t. Somehow she would have to figure this out on her own, and for now, the only thing she could think of was to guard her own heart.

  Moving onto her side so she faced him completely, she asked softly, “What exactly happened to your parents?” His smile slipped, and she almost regretted the question, but it was an important one, one she felt she ought to know the answer to.

  “Well,” he began, “I suppose my mother woke up one morning and decided that she loved someone else more than she loved me and my father—an American plantation owner, from what little my uncle has told me. I believe he was visiting London on business, they met at a musicale, and three weeks later she was gone. I was eight years old at the time.”

  “She didn’t even say good-bye to you?” It was one thing that his mother had left the man she’d married, but Rebecca couldn’t imagine what sort of woman would abandon her child like that.

  Daniel shrugged. He was clearly trying to look unaffected, but Rebecca sensed that the wound from his mother’s betrayal still ran deep. “There was a brief note for me with the words Forgive me on it.”

  No mention of love?

  “And your father?” Rebecca asked hesitantly.

  “The moment she was gone, he enlisted in the army and was quickly killed. My uncle became my guardian.”

  An image of Daniel dealing with so much loss and pain at such a young age filled her mind. No wonder he’d eventually sought comfort wherever he’d been able to find it, both at the gaming tables and in the arms of women.

  “What about your parents?” he asked.

  “They perished in a fire five years ago.” The taste of smoke was there again, as real as it had been the night Laura had woken her and led her outside to safety. “I don’t know how it started, but I’m guessing that my mother must have fallen asleep with a candle still burning. When Papa went to save her, he got trapped.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Daniel whispered. “I recall hearing about it, now that you mention it. My apologies for bringing it up.” He reached for her hand and just held it in his own.

  “It’s all right,” she said before adding, “I went to live with the parish vicar and his wife until my aunt and uncle eventually arrived, claiming that they were my guardians.”

  “Your parents named them?” Daniel asked, sounding surprised.

  Rebecca nodded. “The will had been drawn up years earlier, when they were the only ones capable of taking on such a task. Papa was never very close with his sister, since she was ten years his senior, but she was his closest relative. I don’t think he realized what sort of woman she’d become. He probably didn’t imagine that she would tr
eat any of his children any different than she would her own.”

  “She has children?” Daniel asked, his voice rife with disbelief.

  Rebecca nodded. “Perhaps you’ve heard of them—Viscountess Ficklesby and Lady Gerald Paisley.”

  “I don’t believe I’ve ever met Lady Gerald or the viscountess, but I do know who Lord Ficklesby is. Can’t say I’m surprised to learn that he’s the Griftons’ son-in-law.”

  “No, I suppose not,” she said, recalling a man with a pointy nose and fat lips that always looked wet. “He’s quite distasteful, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Slimy, I’d say, if such a word can be used to describe a person.”

  Rebecca grinned. “I think it suits him perfectly. You know, I’ve always thought that there was something vulgar about him and that he wasn’t a man to be trusted.”

  “Your intuition isn’t far wrong.” Daniel frowned, his hesitation suggesting that he knew something but wasn’t sure if he should share it with her.

  “What is it?” Rebecca asked.

  “I spotted him a few times at one of the gambling hells on Piccadilly, always with a drab on his lap. The management asked him to leave one time because they thought his behavior too off-putting for the other guests.” Daniel shook his head. “Forgive me. I really shouldn’t be discussing such things with you.”

  “Why ever not?” Rebecca asked.

  “It’s hardly an appropriate topic for a lady, even if you are now married.” There was a hint of a smile on his lips as he said it.

  “Consider it a lesson then in the understanding of those peculiar creatures called men,” Rebecca said, delighting in the way that Daniel’s face lit with amusement, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he laughed. She gave his shoulder a playful nudge. “If you’re not going to teach me, I can’t imagine who will.”

  “You’re going off on a tangent,” he said with a touch of mischief. “We’re supposed to be asking questions about each other, remember?”