If You Desire

by Mara

  Seeing this was hellish. Put Hugh in a sweltering marsh, force him to stand perfectly still with a rifle poised for a shot for half a day as the sweat stung his eyes and insects devoured his legs, and he would be happier than watching this. Jaw clenched, his hands in fists, Hugh watched as Bidworth refastened her top blouse button and suspected they were already sleeping together.

  “Jane, you cannot tell me this is what you want,” Freddie said. “I thought we had an understanding.”

  “I don’t, and we did.” She could feel Hugh’s eyes on her and shivered, still affected by how rapidly things had escalated between them. In the past, she could always touch and tease him, and he never touched her back. Just then in the coach, he’d had her in his lap, her bottom pressed against his very sizable and insistent erection, in the space of a heartbeat.

  His kisses had been scalding, devouring. Until five minutes ago, Jane had never known kisses could be like that. As though Hugh were branding her….

  As she and Freddie stood at the side of the road, she wanted to adjust their positions, so that Hugh couldn’t see her flushed face—and could only burn holes in her back with his eyes.

  “Your father said this MacCarrick has just returned after a long absence,” Freddie began, “and that you two had been promised to each other years ago. Is this true?”

  In a way. In her mind. “It’s rather involved, Freddie.”

  “Is Weyland forcing you to do this, sweetheart?” He stroked her hair. “Jane, you poor thing. You’re trembling.” He looked as if he might kiss her to comfort her, and Hugh immediately descended from the carriage, unfolding his towering height. In a clear warning, he crossed his arms and leaned his muscular frame against the side of the carriage.

  Freddie’s expression was aghast. “My God, he looks more barbaric than before! I still cannot believe your father is letting him marry you .” Then Freddie gave Jane a look that suggested he was amazed by her fortitude in surviving the marriage even this long. “What is Weyland thinking? This won’t be tolerated! We will figure out some way to free you from this man.”

  Jane glanced at Hugh and had to admit that he looked fearsome. Unfortunately for her, she’d always liked that about him, when it was directed at others.

  “I’ll take you away from here this very moment,” Freddie vowed.

  In a toneless voice, she said, “It’s done, I’m afraid.” Yes, her father did have significant influence with persons of power, but even he wouldn’t be able to smooth this one over.

  In her letter to Freddie, Jane had broken it off with him—completely.

  “This is probably for the best,” she said with a sigh. “You know your mother and sister don’t approve of me.” She would have been Lady Whiting by the skin of her teeth.

  “I hope that is not what has swayed you in this, because I say to hell with them.”

  Despite these heroic promises now, Freddie actually wasn’t accustomed to taking stands or becoming involved in discord in any way. That was one of the reasons she’d liked him so much, because he was so opposite to Hugh, who’d always been so quick to roll up his sleeves and fight for her.

  “I just don’t understand this,” Freddie continued. “I-I won’t accept this!”

  Yes, he would. Because the truth was that he wasn’t in love with her, either. He’d lost his heart to Candace Damferre, their mutual friend and his childhood sweetheart, who’d been forced to marry a doddering old man who was, impossibly, richer than Freddie.

  But Jane and Freddie had promised each other that if they did wed, they’d do their best to make a go of it, and Jane had known that Freddie was looking forward to a future with her. The entire situation was wrong .

  “I’d be sending you off to your doom—” He broke off as Hugh stalked toward them, exuding menace. Freddie’s voice scaled an octave higher when he said, “He’s going to hit me again, isn’t he?”

  Fifteen

  As Hugh neared, Bidworth’s face paled, making his bruises stand out. Hugh heard him murmur, “Jane, th-there are ways to amend this predicament, I’m sure. You’re not inescapably his wife, not yet.”

  “Seems like she’s more mine than yours,” Hugh bit out, aggravated by Bidworth’s statement, because it went to the heart of this whole situation. And the galled look the man was casting him tried his patience.

  Why did everyone find it so unbelievable that Jane would wed a man like Hugh? She’d kissed him in the coach like she was bloody well wed to him. Hugh placed his hand on her nape, an obvious sign of possession.

  Jane shot him a look that promised reprisal. “I wanted five minutes.”

  “Get in the carriage. Now.” When she only gaped at his command, Hugh leaned in and told her in a low tone, “Do it, or he’s going to get more than a tap this time.”

  In a rush, she took Bidworth’s hand and briefly shook it. “I’ll write, Freddie,” she said, then hurried to the coach.

  When she paused outside, Hugh told Bidworth, “Doona follow us. Doona come near her again. Forget you even know her.”

  “D-do you have…” Bidworth swallowed and began again, “Do you have a-any idea who I am?”

  The miserable coward, Hugh thought with disbelief, grappling for control of his temper. He had expected a jilted suitor, especially one nearly engaged to a woman like Jane, would be a threat waiting in the wings.

  Not a threat. Not even giving Hugh a serious argument.

  “Aye, I ken who you are. You’re the man who’s letting a woman like that go without a fight.” If Hugh had been in Bidworth’s position—able to have a life with Jane without risking dire consequences—he’d have fought off a bloody legion before handing her over to another man. A real brawl, with mud flying and blood spraying.

  For Jane as a prize, he would have spit blood with a grin on his face.

  “You doona deserve her, and you sure as hell could no’ have handled her,” he snapped. Leaving Bidworth floundering for words, Hugh turned to the coach, scowling as Jane climbed in instead of waiting for him to help her. When he joined her inside and the coach began to roll along, she waved at Bidworth until he was out of sight. Long after, she continued to gaze out the window, her little hands in fists. If Hugh ever expected a woman to cry, it’d be now.

  Jane had rarely cried when younger. On the few occasions when she had, he’d been at an utter loss. Seeing she was on the verge, he ran his hand over the back of his neck, realizing that hadn’t changed. “If you wanted him so badly, why did you no’ fight for him? You’ve always gotten your way in the past.”

  “This is your fault,” she snapped at him, “this entire situation. If Father hadn’t been able to order up another lackey bridegroom so handily, he would have let me marry Freddie.”

  “You blame me more than your father, who arranged all this? More than yourself, who agreed to go through with it? Maybe you might blame Grey?”

  “Why did Father pick you? You weren’t even in London. I demand to know what is really going on! Is this some scheme you and he cooked up to get me to marry you?”

  “As I said, I dinna go to your home thinking I’d be leaving with a bride. I never asked your father for you.”

  “So I’m actually supposed to believe that Grey might do violence to me. The business of imports must be spectacularly dangerous. And all this time I never knew the risks Father was taking.”

  Hugh said nothing.

  “Look me in the eye and tell me Grey’s unhinged and might hurt me.”

  Hugh met her eyes. “I can say with absolute certainty that Grey is soft in the mind and has dangerous intent, probably toward you.”

  “Grey was always nice to me,” she muttered.

  “I’ll bet he was.” When Grey became increasingly crazed, his taunts to Hugh always involved Jane. He’d known that she was Hugh’s one weakness. “Did Grey ever say or do anything odd to you? Show an untoward interest in you?”

  “No, I wasn’t around him that often.” She shivered. “Why would he want to do somet
hing so drastic?”

  “He was becoming unstable. Your father broke off ties with him and ordered an action—something that was within his right to do—that furthered Grey’s ruin.”

  “What do you mean by ‘an action’? What kind of ruin? Where do you fit into this?”

  Weyland had again stressed that he didn’t want Jane to know anything about the Network until they’d confirmed that the list had indeed been made public. Until then, Hugh was supposed to brush aside her questions, or lie. As Hugh wanted to avoid telling her of his own role, he’d readily agreed. Unfortunately, he found it impossible to lie to her. He needed some time to get his bearings with her, to find a way to deter her questions. “You’re keen on interrogating me, but I doubt you’d answer questions so readily.”

  “Ask me anything!”

  “Why did you wait so long to marry?” She’d had plenty of opportunities, had had offers when she was still a young lass and a coming-out ball when she was nineteen.

  “I hadn’t found the right man,” she answered in a that’ll-show-you tone.

  “Bidworth was the right man?”

  “He has all the qualifications I’m looking for. Every single one of them.”

  “Like what?” he asked.

  “He’s gentle and kind and considerate.” At Hugh’s bored look, her eyes narrowed. “He’s blond, with a face that makes women swoon, and he’s titled and popular and rich.”

  If these were the traits she was looking for, Hugh had never had a chance with her, family curse or not. “Bidworth’s cowardly,” he said. After meeting the man, however briefly, Hugh knew Weyland had been right not to let her marry the earl—he could never protect Jane.

  His comment got her going. “Just because he didn’t call you out over this doesn’t mean Freddie isn’t brave! He’s a peer of the realm and a proper British gentleman—who’s above issuing a challenge on the side of the toll road!”

  Hugh supposed there were advantages to being a brutish Scot with no title.

  “Freddie’s a wonderful man, all around,” she continued. “And your attacking him today? My Lord, Hugh, what has gotten into you?”

  “He should never have kissed you in public—”

  “I kissed him .”

  Twist that knife, Jane, he thought. That’s right, lass, from twelve o’clock to three.

  “And what about provoking him just now?” she asked. “He woke up this morning thinking I was his. Yet you threw this marriage in his face as if this means something to you.”

  “No worse than you throwing yourself at him on the side of the road.”

  She gasped. “I didn’t throw myself at him! I embraced him in farewell. Which would be expected, since Freddie and I have been seeing each other for years !”

  “Aye, but during those years, you likely were no’ panting in another man’s lap, returning his kisses, just moments before.”

  Her lips parted wordlessly, as if she’d only just realized she couldn’t deny it.

  “Jane, even if this marriage of ours is a farce, it’s binding until it’s ended. Never touch another man in front of me. Unless you want him dead.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Why, Hugh, you sound jealous, which we know can’t be true.”

  It was undeniably true. In this one day, Hugh had felt more jealousy clawing at his gut than in his entire life before. If they’d been truly committed, perhaps he wouldn’t have felt it to such a blistering degree just now—but there was no foundation for them. They were embroiled in a sham. He’d given her his name but could expect nothing back.

  The situation was maddening. How had he found himself agreeing to it, when all his instincts screamed against it? He’d been well aware that he was being maneuvered—and yet, he’d allowed it.

  Hugh had never been one to lose his temper or react impulsively. Now he felt he was losing control. What was it about Jane that made him feel primitive and possessive? He’d felt compelled to bare his teeth at Bidworth—or to hit him again, just for pleasure.

  Men like Hugh could not afford to lose control. Grey wasn’t the first of their kind to succumb to darker impulses. “And doona tease me any longer. Lass, you play with fire.”

  “If you can’t stand my teasing, you never should have agreed to this. It’s not as if you haven’t experienced it before or didn’t know what to expect when I warned you not to go along with this!”

  “We both agreed to end this marriage when the situation is resolved,” he grated. “I will no’ be trapped into something I dinna want because you think to amuse yourself by playing with me.”

  A coldness seemed to settle over her. “Don’t spend another minute’s desperate worry that you might be ‘trapped’ with me. There is nothing that can happen between us that will bind us together in this marriage, I assure you.” She opened her small traveling case at her feet and withdrew a book, turning from him dismissively.

  If only he could turn away and shut her out as easily.

  All morning Hugh had felt outside of reality, waiting for everyone to realize what a mistake his and Jane’s marriage would be. Each minute, he expected Jane to back out.

  In the back of his mind, he’d never thought it would truly be his decision as to whether they would move forward with this or not.

  When she’d begun packing, Hugh had paced. She’s actually going through with this? Impossible. What if the final choice came down to him ? Time and again he weighed the risks, but before he knew it, they were all waiting for him to sign his name to the marriage certificate.

  Hugh had heard Rolley mutter to Quin, “Never thought I’d see the day steady MacCarrick’s hand would shake like that.”

  How could it not, when Hugh felt he walked upon a razor’s edge between what fate would allow—or punish him for?

  And when he risked the only woman he’d ever loved.

  After an hour of silence in the coach, Hugh reached over and removed her book from her hands. Before she could gasp her displeasure, he presented her with a glass jewel case, offered in his big palm.

  “And what is this?” she asked, though she recognized the R emblem etched in the crystal.

  “Take it.”

  After a hesitation, she did, then opened it with a nonchalant air. Her heart flipped over like a cart’s wheel.

  Inside lay the most gorgeous piece of jewelry she had ever seen.

  She stared, light-headed, then gazed up at him. “This…this is wholly unnecessary.” She tried to hand it back, but he wouldn’t take it, and the bewildered look on his face made her hesitate.

  “Will you no’ wear it, lass?” he asked incredulously.

  He’d obviously never envisioned that she might not accept it. She finally set it on the bench between them. “Hugh, you didn’t have to do this. I know many women who do not have wedding jewelry.”

  “You will.”

  “I also know many women who don’t like to be given temporary jewelry.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We know this will be over soon,” Jane said. “Jewelry, in this case, seems a bit…cruel.”

  He shook his head firmly. “You’ll keep it. After.”

  After he left her. Again.

  “So, did you have this lying around the house, in case of any impromptu weddings?”

  “Got it this morning. While you were packing.”

  “Hmm.” She tapped her cheek. “Now it all becomes clear. You got it after you guiltily realized that perhaps you shouldn’t have bludgeoned Freddie and manhandled me. You rode out and bought me a very expensive olive branch.”

  “You’ve been slighted a grand wedding and all that surrounds it. This is one thing I can control. I wanted to give my friend something befitting her.”

  “Are we friends, Hugh?” she asked, her voice sounding sad, even to her.

  He stiffened. “I’ve never doubted it.”

  She bit her lip at that, then surreptitiously glanced down at the ring case, her hands itching to pick it up. Her father had
told her Hugh had saved some money, but Ridergate’s was fantastically expensive, and that ring—classically set with a huge diamond amidst a cluster of emeralds—was oh-so-lavish.

  With a sigh, she realized she ought not take it, because Hugh shouldn’t be spending that money on her, no matter how badly she wanted it. Especially when they weren’t to stay wed—

  He swooped the case back, surprising her. But he did it only to pluck out the ring and capture her hand. “Wear—it,” he grated.

  Was he nervous ? Jane could always tell when Hugh was uncomfortable or discomfited because his shoulders went back. They were presently jammed back. “This is what you wanted.”