Nobody's Fool (Marriage by Design Book 2)

by Ruth Ann Nordin

When she relaxed, Benjamin shifted so he could enter her. He went in with ease, but she noted the slight sting as he pushed through the part that marked her a virgin. He stilled and waited for her to adjust to him. Once she felt comfortable, she urged him to continue, and he did so, slow at first, as if to make sure she really was all right. She assured him she was fine, and the last of his resistance fell away. He proceeded to move in earnest. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her hips so he could get the most enjoyment from this act.

  He moaned in response and continued making love to her until he reached the peak. He grew taut and stilled. She took note of the way he felt as he found completion in the act. The entire process of making love had been much more wonderful than she could have ever dreamed possible.

  When he collapsed, she held him to her, aware of how fast his heart was beating. With a smile, she rested her cheek against his. She was looking forward to being with him this way again. She let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes. She had the perfect husband. There was nowhere else she’d rather be than with Benjamin.

  ***

  When Emilia and Benjamin arrived at the drawing room, Emilia was surprised at how late it was. She noted the time on the clock and realized they only had a couple of minutes left before dinner.

  Lilly, in her Mr. Squire disguise, got up from the chair where she and Roger had been talking with another gentleman and went over to her. “I was beginning to think you two weren’t going to make it, though you two seem so happy it might not have mattered if you ate this evening or not.”

  Emilia caught the playful smirk on her friend’s face and felt heat rise up to her cheeks. Lilly knew exactly what had delayed her and Benjamin. She never could keep a secret from her friend. Lilly was much too astute.

  “Roger said the meals here are among the best he’s ever had,” Benjamin replied, oblivious to the teasing tone in Lilly’s voice. “I think it’d be a shame to miss it.”

  Roger came over to them with the gentleman he and Lilly had been talking to. “Did you two have a good rest after the hunt?”

  Oh goodness. Did Roger know, too? Emilia’s gaze went to Lilly, but the teasing smirk on her face was gone, so maybe Roger didn’t know. That made Emilia feel better.

  “I’ve had the best day of my life out here,” Benjamin said, his smile growing wider. “I don’t think there’s anything that can make it any better.”

  This time Lilly winked at Emilia, and Emilia decided to look away from her.

  “I bet I can make it better,” Roger told Benjamin. “This is Lord Westmonte. He funds the voyages captains go on. I told him you know Captain Egan.”

  “Yes, I purchased some gems from him,” Benjamin replied. “I had them made into a necklace.”

  Emilia’s eyes grew wide. She’d forgotten all about that necklace. It’d been his gift to her on their wedding day. She glanced at Lilly. Lilly showed no indication that she was surprised. Lilly probably remembered the necklace. It was no wonder that Lilly didn’t think anything of Emilia’s extravagant purchases that day Emilia had taken Benjamin to the market. The blue diamond ring probably wasn’t as expensive as that necklace. To him, it was just another purchase. It was a good thing he married her instead of some lady who wouldn’t think twice about depleting his entire fortune. He was much too generous for his own good.

  “I’ve heard of Captain Egan,” Lord Westmonte told Benjamin. “He’s said to be the best captain in the business. I haven’t had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, though. I was wondering if you’d be willing to introduce us.”

  Benjamin thought for a moment then replied, “I believe he’s still in London. I know where he lives. I can send him a missive requesting to introduce the two of you, but you should know that he trades with America on occasion.” He glanced at Emilia. “You told me that.”

  Pleased he should include her, Emilia nodded. “Yes, he’s a bit of a rebel,” she told Lord Westmonte. “He doesn’t care much for propriety or laws. He considers himself to be his own person. My father doesn’t care much for that sort of thing.”

  “The Duke of Marrow means that his father didn’t care much for Lord Egan,” Benjamin added. “His Grace still misses his father and speaks about him as if he’s still alive.”

  Recalling what Benjamin had told her about how odd she had seemed to him as the duke while they were hunting, Emilia silently thanked him for making up for her mistake. She knew a gentleman inherited a title after his father’s death, of course, but it wasn’t always easy to remember she wasn’t speaking specifically about her own father. It was a good thing she didn’t run around disguised as the Duke of Marrow often. She’d end up giving herself away, and that wouldn’t be good for Lilly who had trusted her with this secret of coming out here.

  “My father was a good gentleman,” Emilia hurried to say. “We might not have agreed on everything, but he was a friend.”

  “It’s nice when someone can say that about their father,” Lord Westmonte replied with a smile. “I had the fortune of having a good father as well. I like to go by his example. He never let the Ton’s opinion of someone dissuade him from making a sound business decision. It doesn’t bother me if Captain Egan goes to America. I’m sure the disagreements between our countries won’t last forever.”

  “I don’t think they will, either,” Emilia said. “Besides, there’s far more to worry about with Napoleon.”

  “Yes, he is a shrewd military leader,” Lord Westmonte agreed. “Effectively dealing with him requires a lot of skill, diligence, and money.”

  Emilia’s ears perked up. She’d never been able to engage with anyone about the things happening with France. Though she had heard her father talking about it, he’d never let her participate in any of the conversations he’d had with his friends. But she was disguised as a gentleman right now. There might be a chance she’d get to finally have a conversation about America and the French with someone who knew as much as she did on the topic.

  She glanced at Benjamin. “After dinner, I’d like to talk more about America and France.”

  Benjamin directed his attention to Lord Westmonte. “We should talk after dinner. We can also discuss when you’d like me to arrange a time for me to introduce you to Captain Egan.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Lord Westmonte said.

  Benjamin was really going to let her be a part of their conversation! She was so excited that she almost kissed him. Almost. She recalled her disguise and managed to restrain herself from bringing embarrassment to either one of them. She’d just have to kiss him when they were alone later that night. In the meantime, she gave him a smile to thank him, and he seemed to understand how much this meant to her since he smiled back.

  The butler called out that dinner was ready, so the group left to go to the dining room, and as Benjamin said, the meal was one of the best she’d ever had.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “I’m almost afraid to handle it,” Emilia told Lilly and Kitty as she showed them the necklace Benjamin had gifted her on their wedding day.

  They were all sitting close together in the drawing room, heads bowed over the object.

  “I’ve never seen anything more exquisite,” Kitty said.

  “Or expensive,” Lilly chimed in, not hiding her enthusiasm for the fact that it probably did cost as much as the townhouse. “I love that blue diamond ring you have, but I think the necklace is my favorite of all the jewelry Benjamin gave you.”

  Emilia loved both of them the same. Even now the blue diamond ring that was on her finger twinkled at her. “I can’t choose between them.”

  “You don’t have to,” Lilly replied. “And that’s the beauty of it. You can wear both any time you want.”

  “I don’t know if I dare wear the necklace,” Emilia said. “It almost seems like it belongs locked up in a safe.”

  “You can’t do that,” Lilly argued. “Benjamin gave it to you to be worn.”

  “I’m afraid to wear it.”
/>
  “Let me put it on. I’ll show you how easy it is.”

  “You just want an excuse to wear it.”

  “Someone needs to wear it. That’s a very expensive necklace that your husband gave you to be worn. Granted, you don’t want to wear it at Hyde Park or in the market, but you can take this to a ball or dinner party. If it was me, I’d take it to a ball so that everyone can see it.”

  “I don’t know. Won’t this make some ladies jealous?”

  Lilly shrugged. “Ladies get envious of many things. They do it over gowns, the amount of money other families have, suitors other ladies have, and how influential other ladies are. There’s no end to what can make someone jealous. I see no reason for you to not wear a gift your dear husband gave you on your wedding day because someone might envy you. You can’t control how they react.”

  Her friend was right. Emilia couldn’t prevent someone else from feeling a certain way.

  “I think it would make Benjamin feel good if you wore it in public,” Kitty said. “If I gave someone a gift, I would be delighted if they wore it where others could see it. I’d take it as a sign that they appreciated the gift.”

  Kitty made an even better point. Emilia supposed if she had given Benjamin a gift, she’d be happy to know he liked it enough to wear in front of others. She smiled. “It was very thoughtful of him to give this to me. I will wear it. I’ll wear it at the next ball I go to.”

  “Wonderful!” Lilly held her hands out. “Can I try it on to give you an idea of how it’ll look?”

  Laughing, Emilia agreed and got up so she could fasten it around Lilly’s neck.

  “Oh, I get chills just wearing it,” Lilly said. “It feels as expensive as it looks. It’s perfect!” She hurried over to a mirror and checked out her reflection. “This is the kind of necklace that can make any lady look like a queen.”

  “I want to wear it, too!” Kitty jumped up and ran over to Lilly.

  Emilia went over to them. She had been too scared she’d do harm to it if she put it on, but seeing how it was more solidly made than she’d feared, she wished she had tried it on first.

  Lilly spun around and curtsied. “This is going to go over very well at a ball. I hope Lady Cadwalader is there to see it.”

  “I won’t wear this for her,” Emilia said. “I’m only going to wear it because I love Benjamin and want to show him that I’m very happy to be his wife.”

  “Which is what you should do,” Lilly replied. “But I see no reason why I can’t enjoy you wearing it to make Lady Cadwalader wish her husband would spend this much money on her.”

  Lilly turned her back so that Kitty could unfasten the necklace. Lilly, in turn, put it on Kitty.

  Kitty’s grin widened. “You’re right, Lilly. You can feel sparks of pleasure all over when this thing is on. I think it might be enchanted.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Emilia said. “There’s no such thing as an enchanted necklace.”

  “There is when it’s worth that much money,” Lilly replied.

  Emilia chuckled and waited for her turn to wear it. When Kitty put it on her, she was surprised it didn’t feel as heavy as she’d expected. And while she wouldn’t say she felt sparks or tingles, her skin did grow warm from the pleasure of wearing it. She turned to face the mirror and studied how it looked on her. She had to admit it did a lot to enhance her beauty. Since there were different colored gems in it, it just might match any gown she had in her possession.

  “I’m glad he gave it to you even though your father doesn’t like Captain Egan,” Kitty said.

  “Well, he decided that the important thing was that I liked the necklace. It probably also helped that I happen to like the captain. Captain Egan doesn’t let others tell him what to do. He does what he wants. It’s easy to admire someone like that.”

  “You better be careful,” Kitty began. “Benjamin’s likely to worry you have your affections set on the captain if he hears you say that.”

  “He knows what I think,” Emilia replied. “I can be open and honest about anything with Benjamin. Also, he knows that my heart is only for him. No one will ever love me as well as he does. I’d be foolish to want anyone else.”

  “It’s a good thing you’re nobody’s fool,” Lilly said.

  Emilia shot her an amused smile then lifted her hand to the necklace so she could see how the blue diamond ring looked next to it.

  “You’re a very fortunate lady,” Kitty said. “Your husband is going to spend all of your days spoiling you.”

  “And why shouldn’t I? My wife is a perfect match for me,” Benjamin called out.

  The three turned in time to see him walking over to them.

  Emilia left the mirror so she could give him a kiss. “We didn’t hear you come into the room.”

  “Yes, we were distracted by that lovely necklace,” Lilly added. “I told you she’d love it.”

  “Yes, she was right. Though I also love this ring. It’s hard to tell which I like more.” Emilia inspected the ring.

  “You don’t have to choose between them,” Benjamin said. “You can wear them both whenever you wish.”

  “I told her she should wear them at the next ball,” Lilly replied.

  “The most important thing I’ll be taking to the ball with me is my husband,” Emilia told her friend as she slipped her arm around his. “He’s a wonderful dancer, and he’s enjoyable to spend an evening with.”

  Kitty and Lilly shot each other amused grins, and Emilia knew they were thinking how nice it was that Emilia had ended up falling in love with Benjamin, despite her best attempts to avoid doing so. Looking back, she thought it was downright silly she had protested the marriage at all. She couldn’t imagine her life without him.

  Benjamin blushed in pleasure at her words, but it was Lilly who spoke. “Roger and I want to invite you three to a dinner party. We should all get together and have a nice relaxing evening playing games.”

  “That would be fun,” Kitty said. “Do I have to bring a gentleman with me?”

  “No,” Lilly replied. “I want this to be an evening with friends. I’ll send everyone an invitation when Roger and I figure out an evening to host the party.” She turned to Kitty. “I want to do some shopping. Do you want to come with me?”

  Kitty nodded, and the two left the townhouse.

  “Did you want to go shopping with them?” Benjamin asked Emilia. “I notice they didn’t ask you to go.”

  “They figured I’d rather spend time with you, and they’re right.” Emilia gave him another kiss. “I missed you while you were gone. It would have been nicer if you’d been here.”

  He gave her waist a playful squeeze. “I don’t think you’ll mind the fact that I was gone when I tell you that I bought the horse you wanted.”

  She gasped. “The one with the rich brown coat with the white streak on its nose?”

  “Yes, that’s the one.”

  She let out a cry of delight and hugged him. “I can’t believe you actually got him.”

  He hugged her back and laughed. “I thought it’d be fun to surprise you.”

  “I am surprised. And very happy. Thank you! I’ve wanted a horse ever since I was ten, but my father would never buy one. He thought it was a waste of money to buy one when I could pay someone to lend me a horse for a couple of hours.”

  “I don’t mind buying horses. We have a place to keep them behind this townhouse.”

  “Them?”

  “I bought one for myself, too. I’d like to go riding with you.”

  “Which horse did you buy?”

  “The black mare.”

  “She was a lovely one,” Emilia said, recalling that horse. Her heart, however, had gone to the stallion since he had taken an immediate liking to her. Horses, much like people, had their distinct personalities, and she had formed an instant bond with the magnificent animal.

  “I think the two horses will be a good match,” Benjamin replied. “They didn’t put up a fuss when they arrive
d. They accepted one another right away.”

  “How splendid. Can I see them?”

  “You can do more than that. You can go out for a ride with me.”

  “That would be better!” She had to resist the urge to run out to see the horses that moment. It was best she get her riding outfit on, but first... “I don’t want to wear such an expensive necklace while riding a horse.” Recalling how her friends told her about how important it was she let him know she appreciated his gift by wearing it in public, she hurried to add, “I’ll wear it at the ball, though. I don’t want you to think I’m not pleased with it.”

  “You don’t have to wear the necklace at a ball for my sake,” he told her as he unfastened the clasp at the nape of her neck. He gave her the necklace. “As long as you’re happy, that’s all I care about.”

  “I know.” And it was so much like him to be that way. “But I want to show how much you mean to me.”

  She carried the necklace to the desk and gently placed it in the box. She put the lid on the box and gingerly carried it to the doorway where Benjamin waited for her.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked. “You look apprehensive.”

  “This thing is so beautiful and expensive that I’m afraid I’ll drop the box.”

  “I can carry it for you if it’ll make you feel better,” he offered.

  After a moment, she decided that might be best. While it was one thing to wear it, carrying it was another. She didn’t realize her hands were shaking until she handed the box to him. Relieved he could carry it with a steady hand, she joined him and went upstairs.

  ***

  Emilia was giddy with excitement as she rode her horse—her very own horse!—through Rotten Row in Hyde Park. After careful thought, she’d decided to name the stallion Augustus. Benjamin rode his own horse, whom he’d named Liberty. It was much better riding one’s own horse than paying to ride someone else’s. While all of the jewelry Benjamin had bought her were wonderful, her heart was more invested in this fine stallion.

  “I still can’t believe you got me a horse,” she told Benjamin. “I keep thinking this is a dream.”