Finally, James could speak. “London is in an entirely different direction.” They’d headed days north just to see him.
Lore’s grin was wolfish. “So, we might have made a few wrong turns.”
James grunted.
Lore went on, ignoring him… which was nothing new. “We met the Peckshire family on the road during a horse change. Imagine our surprised to discover they were heading in the same direction.”
James could barely hear anymore with his heart beating in his head.
“Where is she?” Valiant’s blue eyes were warm and, much like Kim, she didn’t stare at his scars.
It settled him.
The Curbain family, for the most part, looked alike. They were all shades of blond with blue eyes. Lore, by everyone’s measure, was the most handsome. The family had large noses that seemed to mark them for who they were, yet they all made it work for their various faces.
“Yes,” Dowager Lady Peckshire said from her position within the crowd, looking over James’ face with trepidation. There was great fear in her eyes. Her son moved forward. Charles’ arm went around his mother, giving her support. They did not seem pleased to see him. He’d warned them not to come if they could not respect the match. Would they try to take Kim from him?
A child began to cry, and James didn’t dare look to see if he’d been the cause.
Valiant touched his arm. “James?” She looked worried.
James swallowed and felt his blood boil. He understood Lore and Valiant’s presence, but did they have to bring the entire lot! Why had they done this to him?
Now everyone was staring at him. The children would have night terrors. He took a step back, ready to leave.
Then there was a gasp from the staircase. “Mama? Charles? Sarah?”
James turned at Kim’s voice. And his mouth dropped open at the sight of her.
She was always beautiful. Always. When she’d gone out with her aunt that evening, she’d worn a high-collared beige dress that had brought out her eyes. But now, she wore a deep purple gown that had no collar at all. The silk clung to her curves and exposed her creamy chest in the most delicious manner. The material shimmered as she rushed down the steps.
James moved to make sure she descended safely.
She smiled at him as she approached, touched his arm—and gave it a slow caress while she fluttered her lashes—in an open show of gratitude, and then went over to say hello to her family.
James’ eyes followed her.
She’d pulled her hair up and pinned it with one of the jeweled combs she’d purchased. It exposed her nape, and James imagined pressing his mouth against the place where her shoulder began. His heart still rushed, but now for an entirely different reason.
“She’s beautiful,” Lore whispered at his side. “Why am I not at all surprised?” His grin was wolfish again. “Nothing but beauty for you.”
That had been James’ life. He’d once been surrounded by beautiful people, especially women. “She’s different,” he said, not liking the idea of Kim being compared to other women.
“I know,” Lore whispered. “Just as a wife should be.” Then he squeezed James’ shoulder as the rest of his family approached.
James readied himself to receive them. Even though he was ready to run.
* * *
“Kim,” Sarah said with a gasp. “You look beautiful. He is clearly treating you well.”
Kim smiled. She’d put on one of her best dresses to greet her family, because she’d known it would matter to them. On the outside, she had to look perfect or they’d never believe her when she said, “He treats me better than well. I am extremely pleased. We are both happy.”
Charles leaned over and kissed her cheek. “How could he not be happy when he has you?” He smiled at her but then turned his gaze toward James with a watchful expression. “He told us not to visit unless we could respect your match. It took me some time. I called in every lawyer I knew to see if I could break the marriage and save you from making a mistake.”
Kim placed her hands to her chest. “I don’t need to be rescued, Charles. I chose James.”
“People have been known to regret choices,” her brother said. “And you’ve always been more than a little impulsive.”
Kim glared. “I don’t regret marrying James. He cares for me, and I care for him.”
“That’s good,” her mother said. She had a hand on Kim’s arm and didn’t seem inclined to let her go. Her words sounded encouraging, but her dark green eyes said otherwise.
Sarah said, “I’ve missed you.” Her smile was genuine.
Kim hugged her again, needing it. “I’ve missed you, too. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Lady Macy wrote and said the marquess seemed besotted with you. You never did say how you met.” Charles’ brow rose. He waited.
Kim frowned. Her brother was making what should have been a happy occasion a very trying one. She was almost ready to send him away. She knew he cared for her, but she had enough to deal with. Less than an hour ago, her husband had nearly made her his true wife. Now, she wondered how he would be with others about.
Would he retreat once more? If only her family had come tomorrow.
A hand settled at her lower back, a hard body at her side. She turned toward James with relief but stiffened at his hard expression.
“Are you all right?” he asked her.
She placed a hand on his arm. “Yes.”
His gaze narrowed. “Truth?”
Truth? Was he asking her if she were lying?
She’d nearly forgotten their agreement and realized she was lying. It was sometimes easier to do so, especially with her family.
But James’ presence calmed her. His gaze had taken on that obsidian hue, which always made her feel as though he’d defend her with his last breath.
She sighed and smiled softly. “I wish to meet your family.”
The room was quiet now. Everyone was listening to him.
His brows rose. “They are not family, simply annoying acquaintances.”
“The annoying acquaintances heard that,” a gorgeous woman with red hair said.
Kim laughed and noticed James seemed calm. She’d expected him to run at the sight of so many, but it seemed those who had come to see him had managed to make him feel comfortable. Accepted.
And anyone who did that for her James was counted as family to Kim.
∫ ∫ ∫
2 4
Kim turned with James and was quickly introduced to everyone.
The woman with the red hair was the Duchess of Ayers, who told Kim to call her Everly. Her husband, the duke, was an intimidating man, but he had a friendly air behind his hard facade.
The duke’s brothers and their wives were also friendly. Lady Brinley, Lore’s wife, had dark hair and eyes, which set her and Everly apart from the Curbains, who were fair with blue eyes.
Lady Valiant’s husband, the Duke of Cartelle, also had dark hair, but his eyes were a cool gray that warmed whenever he looked at his wife or their daughter, Lady Abigail.
There were many children. Six in all. And Kim was very anxious to meet them all.
Moments later, the Duke of Ayers said, “It’s late. We should all retire and resume in the morning.”
“I suppose you should take over hosting since seeing as you invited yourselves anyway,” James said in a flat tone.
Kim stiffened at the rebuke but was surprised to see the Duke of Ayers grin before be turned to his wife and grabbed their daughter Lady Harriet.
The room quickly emptied. Kim’s mother requested a private meeting tomorrow sometime, and Kim promised she would before she left.
Her husband saw her to her door. “Good night.”
“Keep your other door unlocked,” she whispered.
He straightened, and his eyes widened in fear. “Kim.”
She touched his cheek. “I just wish to rest with you, nothing more. I’m tired. May I share a bed with my husband tonight?�
�� Her emotions were rattled by the fact that her brother had looked for a legal way to separate her from James. She wished to be near him.
His brows furrowed. “I can deny you nothing.” He grabbed her hand, kissed it, and let her go before he walked away.
Kim changed and walked through their adjoining door. The room was dark, but from memory, she found her way to her husband’s bed and got in. The spot she laid in was warm. Was it the side he preferred? It was a question she thought a wife should know the answer to.
But as she’d said at the door, she was very tired. And within seconds, she was fast asleep.
* * *
Kim stretched until she felt her limbs bump against something hard.
She opened her eyes and found blue wallpaper. Early morning rays highlighted its golden geometric lining and reminded her where she’d spent the night.
She buried her face into the pillow—inhaling more of James’ scent—and then turned her head toward the other side of the bed.
She’d inched her hand forward to move her hair out of her face, but James had beaten her to it. His fingers were gentle against her skin until he was revealed to her eyes. With the light shining around him, he looked like an angel.
But then he shifted, sitting up on an elbow, and those dark eyes came into view. His hair hung by his shoulders. His shirt was loose on his form. Many of the buttons had been undone to expose a chest that looked hard and smooth.
She balled her fist to keep from reaching out and running her fingers across that patch of flesh, only after taking in his hardened face. His expression did not invite touch.
“Did I snore?” she asked, her voice deep with sleep.
“Yes, but very quietly,” he admitted.
Her cheeks flamed. She moved to bury her face back in the pillow, but her hair caught. He was still touching her, caressing her locks.
“You’ve no reason to be embarrassed. I was not bothered by it at all.” His eyes were on her hair, but then they moved to her. “Like when you sing, it had the strange effect of calming me.” His eyes warmed. “I slept very well.”
She was glad to hear it. So glad, in fact, that she couldn’t hold back the grin that nearly split her face.
His eyes moved to that grin, and his expression hardened again. She didn’t understand him.
But since he was touching her, she saw no reason…
His hand shot out and covered hers. “Don’t touch me.” His voice was strained, his eyes black as the deepest pits. “I am barely managing to control myself.”
“Then don’t,” she whispered.
The bed moved as he climbed out, releasing her hand.
She turned and sat up, saddened to notice he was nearly dressed. He finished buttoning the shirt and then began to fasten his cravat. His trousers were in place. Socks as well. She smiled as she watched him move around the room. Aside from the irritated expression on his face, she found herself enjoying the sight of her husband.
He ignored her, however, which was something she didn’t like.
She thought about taking her night rail off but then thought against it. They’d made progress last night. She’d not scare him off now. She needed to find the reason he held back first.
Once the cravat and jacket were in place, he sat on the edge of the bed and bent over. His hair fell and blocked his face from sight. Kim imagined him to be putting on his boots. She moved toward him and then pressed herself against his back.
She felt his groan of longing and frustration travel through his body and fill her blood. Her arms went around his middle and he stiffened. He was so hard and warm. Leaning forward, she whispered, “Good morning.”
He pulled in a breath. “You should start getting dressed. We’ve guests.”
She’d nearly forgotten about the presence of their families. She counted the Curbains as James’ family now. They’d acted as such last night.
“We were quite naughty last night.” She reached up to tuck his hair behind his ear before allowing her fingers to slide down his nape. “We broke a rule.”
He shook underneath her caress. His body even pressed closer to her. His breath came rushed. “What rule?”
“We kissed.” She ran her nose against the shell of his ear while her hand massaged his shoulder. “More than once. More than twice.”
He leaned further into her touch and Kim brought her other hand up and placed it on his other shoulder. He groaned as she kneaded his flesh through his clothes. His head fell back against her shoulder. His eyes were closed, his expression one of complete peace. Not even the scars could make him look otherwise. “It was a silly rule anyway.”
She smiled. “So, I say we remove it and you allow me to kiss you as often as I please.”
When his expression began to change, her arms shot out and went around him, locking him to her chest.
His eyes opened, and he turned to look at her. His jaw was hard. “I should go downstairs. You should get ready.”
“We’re not done here,” she challenged.
His gaze showed he didn’t agree. She tightened her arms and pressed into his muscle. He was a hard man, and Kim was under no illusion that she was holding him down. If he wished, he could push her away and stand. But he didn’t.
He sighed, and his expression became lazy. “Kim, not now. I’ve too much to deal with today. Between your family and my annoyances.”
“Those annoyances are your family,” she protested.
“Same thing.”
She smiled. “You said the rule was silly. So why not do away with it?”
He stared at her. “I meant, it was silly to ever allow the kiss in the first place. Look where it has led us.”
“I like the direction we’re going.”
He finally pulled away and broke from her hold. “You’ll change your mind.”
“I won’t.” She grabbed the blankets to cover herself, feeling cold without him.
He straightened his jacket. “You will. I’ll meet you downstairs.” He was gone before she could say a word.
She frowned. Why did he believe she’d change her mind? It was the silliest thing she’d ever heard. If she did change her mind, it would be because her pride could only endure so much rejection before she gave up.
But she didn’t want to give up. Not on James. Not on herself or their marriage. She’d been given a gift in this man who cared for her so dearly. She was very blessed.
She smiled and looked around the room. He’d confessed to having slept well and even though he’d alluded to believing the kissing should stop, he hadn’t actually taken kissing out of their marriage. She counted herself to be winning. The battle at least, but the war still raged on.
Seeing that she would need to have her arsenal—dress and hair—ready, she finally rolled out of James’ bed and went to prepare to meet her guests and her very stubborn husband.
∫ ∫ ∫
2 5
Why did I say that?
James asked himself that over and over again during breakfast. The families were gathered. Only the adults. He sat at the head of the table. Kim was on his right. Ayers on his left.
He hardly paid attention to any of the conversation going on as he tried to understand why he’d admitted to Kim that he’d slept well with her in his bed. He should have lied, even though he’d promised not to. He cursed their honesty pact. Sometimes, a lie made life easier. If he’d told her he could not endure sleeping with someone else in the bed, she’d have likely never joined him again.
Now, he wondered if she would return again tonight if he left their connecting door unlocked.
And the kisses. He’d never actually told her not to kiss him.
And with the looks she’d been giving him for the last few minutes—along with the caress of her hand whenever his managed to be resting idly on the table—she intended to kiss him again.
Perhaps more than once.
Perhaps more than twice.
And he would call himself all manner of fool
as he allowed it, even participated. He needed her as one needed daylight to not completely lose their mind.
In a manner of weeks, she’d become more precious than air. The keeper of his soul and one did not harm the keeper of their soul. He could not deny her. Even if she pushed to bed him, he’d not say no, though he’d feel ill afterward.
Why could things not simply stay the way they were?
Something happened, and he noticed then that Kim had stiffened by him. Her smile wavered as she glared at her brother. What had the man said?
James looked up and found everyone to be looking at him. Including Charles. James took a breath. “I’m sorry. I did not hear the question.”
“It’s all right,” Lore said from his brother’s side. “A beautiful wife is known to distract the mind.”
There were smiles around the table, even from both Lady Peckshires.
“I asked,” Charles said from his position on his sister’s other side, “if you speak to the others.”
“The others?” James asked.
“The Lost Lords,” the dowager said with a worried expression. “He wished to know if you spoke to any of the other captured men.”
“How have they fared these last two years?” Charles asked.
James looked at Kim to find her chest rising and falling at a fast pace. Was she embarrassed at the reminder of his scars? Did she not know that they all saw them?
They could not be avoided.
“I wouldn’t know,” James said. “I am not truly acquainted with any of them, haven’t been so since my time at Oxford over a decade ago.”
“But surely, you got to know them again while you were captured?” Charles asked, while he lifted his coffee to his lips.
James wanted to smash him in the face. Did he think his torment up for public discussion?
The entire table was silent.
Then Kim asked James, “I noticed the pool in the courtyard. Does it get cold enough to skate on?”
“Oh, Anthony and I love to skate,” Valiant said with a grin. “Don’t we, Anthony?” She turned to her husband.
And much like James, Anthony was not inclined to ignore the situation at the table. He spoke directly to Charles. “What happened to James and the others was inhumane, and the entire event is not up for discussion. It is in the past and shall remain there.”
Mark of The Marquess (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 12
