Mark of The Marquess (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)

by Deborah Wilson

  Kim blinked. “But… sh-she said…”

  He shook his head. His expression was pained. “Kimberley, I would never.” He grabbed her face. “I would never touch another woman.”

  She closed her eyes. “You hardly touch me. Am I not good enough f-for you?”

  “Kim.” He leaned his head against hers. “Do you honestly believe I don’t want you? From the moment we met, you have been all I’ve ever wanted. Even before then. Your first letter had me aroused within seconds.”

  “Then why…”

  “Because.” He cleared his throat. “I… feared loving you and then losing you. I figured it would be best to not cross that line and then lose you later.”

  She grabbed his arms. “James, why would I leave you?”

  He pushed her chin up and met her eyes. “Kimberley, we’ve spoken about this. My face.”

  Kim caressed his visage. “You mean this face?”

  He closed his eyes as her fingers trailed over his brows, over his face, across his cheeks. “James, I think you beautiful.”

  His eyes shot open and he pulled away. His expression closed. “Kim, you may think your words bring comfort, but such lies only cause me further pain.”

  She stared at him. “This is why I never told you. I knew you’d never believe it unless you accepted yourself first. There have been so many moments when I wanted to tell you what I felt in my heart but knew you’d refuse to see them for the truth that they are.”

  He held her gaze. “What else had you wished to tell me?”

  “That I love you. That I’ve never loved anyone more.”

  He moved and cupped her head again. There were conflicting emotions in his gaze. “When did this begin? When did you realize you had feelings for me?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “Perhaps, the day we arrived in London was when I first realized just how deeply I felt for you, but I know I fell for you long before that.”

  “Kim.” He touched his head to hers again. His eyes were shut tight. His jaw muscles flexed. “Kim, please, tell me that what you say is true.”

  “There is only truth between us,” Kim whispered as she reached up and gripped his hair. “Only truth.”

  His mouth hit hers and struck her like a bolt of lightning. A flame of lust and desire burned her middle with an urgency that nearly made her weep.

  “James, I need you,” she whispered.

  “Yes!” He lifted her into his arms and rushed into the foyer.

  They stopped so he could talk to a servant. “Where is an unused room?”

  The maid pointed them in the direction and James sprinted for it.

  Kim clung to him and swore she’d never let him go again.

  Never.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  4 4

  As the carriage moved down the road, Kim couldn’t help the blush that spread across her face. James had her hand locked in his and between kisses across her fingers couldn’t stop caressing her knuckles.

  They were finally, properly married.

  Their marriage was consummated and finally, everything felt right in the world.

  Except for the small fact that James had yet to tell her that he loved her, but Kim was certain of his feelings. Just as she was sure that sex had not cured all the scars that rested within him.

  But she suspected their coupling had done some healing.

  “I like the idea of a masked ball,” James said. “It’s time I was seen with my wife.” His breath was warm against her hand.

  The hour was late. Kim had made plans to go to yet another party with Everly but had sent a note to inform her friend that she would be staying with James tonight.

  At the moment, their relationship seemed just as fragile as it was strong. Beautiful enough to want to show to the world, yet sacred at the same time. She just wanted to be with James.

  “I’ll work with Everly to arrange it. Such an event will take work, I suspect,” she said.

  “And money,” he added with a smile, never ceasing the stroke of her hand. “I should stop by my bank while I’m in the city.”

  “You’ve not visited since you’ve been here?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Where do you keep your funds?” she asked. “With the Bank of England?”

  “Some, but mostly with a small group called the Gentlemen’s Society,” he said. “It is where I learned where to invest my money.” There were many Society banks.

  Kim frowned. She’d never heard of that one. “Do all gentlemen place their money there?”

  “The smart ones do,” he said with a grin.

  “Did Ganden and the others?” She didn’t know what made her ask the question, but there it was.

  James stared at her and then confessed, “I’ve not discussed it with them.” He leaned over and kissed her mouth. “You are very wise. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “A few.” She laughed.

  * * *

  James felt when Kim’s body began to wake under his. Kissing her as she slept was one of his favorite experiences. Watching as her body would rise for him was yet another. She moaned against his mouth, but he didn’t do enough to force her eyes open. He didn’t truly want to wake her, but he didn’t like to leave without her knowing he was gone.

  He’d stayed the night with his wife. Even though her questions about the Gentlemen’s Society had forced his mind to think of other things, she’d been far too good a distraction to leave.

  Now, it was morning and he could put it off no more.

  “I’m leaving.”

  Her hands went to his hair. His hair had grown even longer since when they’d first met. Still, he was unable to part with it. She loved it too much. “Don’t go.” She smiled dreamily. There was just enough light from the rising sun to make out her angelic face. “Stay.” Her voice was rough in the morning. It spiked his blood. He nearly obeyed but knew he shouldn’t.

  He kissed her again, long and deep. Then he pulled back. “I wish I could, but I must leave now. I’ll be back later.”

  She sighed and slid her arms down his shoulders. “All right. I love you.”

  He kissed her exposed shoulder and then rested his face in the crook of her neck. At this point, he’d have to drag himself from her. “Would you rather I not wake you when I leave?”

  Her arms went around him again. “Always wake me. I adore it.”

  “All right.” He kissed her warm throat, inhaled her scent, and then pulled away. It took great effort to back away from the bed. Once he was out of it, Kim turned on her side and he knew that within seconds she would be fast asleep once more.

  He found himself stopping as he dressed to simply stare at her. This woman had given him everything he’d ever wanted. and he had no idea how to repay her.

  He’d decided he’d think on it once he spoke to the other men that morning. He’d sent them missives last night and arranged for them all to meet at Coalwater’s.

  He arrived while the sun was still an orange haze over the sky but was glad to find everyone in the drawing room when he walked in. They all had a cup in their hand. The scent of fresh brewed coffee floated in the air.

  “What’s this about?” Ganden asked.

  “Gentlemen’s Society,” James said. “Have any of you any money there?”

  They all stared at him, and then they began to look at each other.

  Astlen cursed. “That has to be it.”

  Ganden put his cup down. “The Society? You think the Society is behind this?”

  “It’s the first thing that’s been able to connect us,” Fawley said. “Even Coalwater has coin there.”

  “And you have money there?” James asked.

  Fawley frowned. “I’ll have you know that I did make an investment there right before I was kidnapped, in silk from China. It had not been a wise investment, I learned quickly.”

  “Really?” Ganden asked. “I invested in the silk and it worked for me.”

  “As did
I,” James added.

  Fawley looked around and frowned. Then he stood. “I believe we should go and speak to the Society then.”

  “It’s likely open at this hour,” Astlen said.

  James would be making his first appearance in public. Thankfully, it was a gentlemen’s club. There would be neither women nor children present.

  The men left together and arrived at the Society as a united front.

  The Society looked like a gentlemen’s club in the front of the room, with comfortable seating, dark-hued floors and walls, exposed wood, and large fireplaces. In the back, there were meeting rooms. Upstairs was the bank.

  James knew the man in charge, its founder, and asked after him upon entering.

  The footman who showed them to a table in the room said, “Lord Maltsby is not here at present, but he should be momentarily.”

  They studied the door as they waited for Maltsby to return.

  “I don’t think they have anything to do with this,” Fawley said. “I know some of the men on the board. Why would they want to get rid of us? What would they gain?”

  “I don’t know,” Ganden said. “But the likely answer is they planned to take our money.”

  Astlen sipped the tea that was given to him. “But for what? To invest? I rarely turned any suggestion down.”

  James narrowed his gaze. “What did you refuse to invest in?”

  Astlen shrugged. “The worst was something that resembled a Scottish kilt. I told them that no gentleman would wear such a thing unless Brummel did so first, and even still, I would not wear it.”

  Ganden laughed. “I believe I was offered the same deal. I am not a man who invests in things that won’t last past the decade. I’d rather put my money in things that will stand the test of time.”

  “I agree,” James said. He looked over and saw Coalwater was lifting his hand.

  Fawley spoke. “Coalwater was also offered the kilt investment and I must confess, I would not mind wearing a kilt. I always thought it to be quite liberating.”

  Coalwater nodded his head in agreement.

  James frowned at Coalwater. “You likely only wish to wear it because it gives the women faster access to your bally.”

  The table burst into laughter.

  Coalwater grinned and turned red.

  All five of them belonged to this Society yet none of them had been friends before the incident. Yet, James felt a kinship with him now for some reason.

  James turned and stood as he watched Lord Maltsby enter the building.

  The others followed, and James turned toward him as the footman pointed toward their group. In one look, James knew everything he needed to know. There was fear in Maltsby’s eyes and as his gaze moved from gentleman to gentleman it only grew worse.

  “You see that?” Astlen said. “He knows something.”

  Maltsby looked away, said something to the footman, and then started up the stairs.

  The men followed… only be stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

  “I’m sorry, my lords, but Lord Maltsby’s schedule is full today, but if you set an appointment—”

  Ganden pushed the man out of the way and started up the stairs.

  The man gave a shout.

  Coalwater caught him before he could fall and straightened him.

  “Thank you,” the servant said.

  James followed Ganden and arrived just as the earl broke down the door in an explosion of splintering wood.

  Then they all rushed in.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  4 5

  They discovered Maltsby sitting by a fireplace. A stack of papers was in his hands. A few already burned in the fire.

  The older gentleman’s eyes were round with shock. His hair was dark with streaks of gray running through it, his eyes a frightened hazel. “That door was locked.”

  Astlen crossed the room and snatched the papers from Maltsby’s hands while Fawley tried to save what was in the fire.

  Maltsby made a move to get the papers, but Ganden’s hand kept the man down by the fireplace.

  “If we find evidence that you were behind this, I’ll burn you in that fire,” Ganden told the man.

  A small gasp made James turn and look at a cracked door leading to another room. It was swiftly shut without a sound before anyone else could see, but there was no mistaking just who was there.

  Harlot.

  What was the maid from Mr. Goody’s residence doing here?

  James wanted to draw the group’s attention to her, but one look at Ganden gave him pause. The man was known for his temper and had already threatened to burn one person. What would he do if he got Harlot in his hands?

  His thoughts were distracted when Astlen cursed. Then the duke looked at them all. “He was behind it.”

  “No!” Maltsby lifted his hand. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t hire anyone to kidnap you.”

  “These papers say otherwise,” Astlen said.

  “And who said anything about kidnapping?” Fawley asked.

  James heard Coalwater’s knuckles crack as he balled his fist.

  Maltsby had tears in his eyes. “Please, you don’t understand. I needed the money. I didn’t have you killed, only taken away for a while.”

  Ganden grunted. “So you could use our funds without anyone to say otherwise.”

  “It wasn’t going to be for forever,” Maltsby said. “I swear. The plan was always to set you free.”

  James’ stomach turned. He’d heard enough.

  Ganden’s hand moved to the man’s throat, and he dragged him close to the fire. “You have no idea the pain and torture I went through, but perhaps…”

  Maltsby began to scream as his face was inched closer and closer to the flames.

  If he got too close, he’d be scarred forever, and James knew exactly what that would be like.

  “Stop,” James said.

  Ganden turned to him. “Why would we?” When Maltby began to scratch at Ganden’s hand the earl turned his prisoner, pulled back his fist, and punched him in the gut. “Calm down before I snap your throat.”

  Maltsby wheezed, and James couldn’t say he wasn’t a little pleased by the violence.

  “I don’t know,” Astlen agreed as he tucked the papers into his jacket pocket. “Why not make the man suffer as we have? Why not burn him?” He turned then and gave another sheet to Fawley. “You might be interested in this one. Your name is mentioned quite a bit.”

  Fawley grabbed the paper and then swore profusely before glaring at Maltsby. “You told me the investments hadn’t worked out.”

  Maltsby mumbled, “I was going to tell you the truth…. eventually.”

  “Burn him,” Fawley said.

  Ganden moved the man closer once more.

  “Stop,” James said.

  Ganden pulled the screaming and flailing man—the screaming stopped when Ganden’s hold on his throat tightened—up to the fire once more.

  Coalwater put a hand on Ganden’s arm and when he had the earl’s attention, he shook his head. He didn’t want the violence either, showing so in action rather than to struggle stringing words together.

  Fawley said, “Three against two. Let him roast.”

  “We are not the savages,” James said. “He is. Don’t prove society right, that we are the Lost Lords, unable to find our way back to society’s good graces. We end this now. Let him go and the authorities will deal with him.”

  Ganden looked at James, his gaze wild. “But what if I am the savage they think me to be?”

  It was for that reason alone James decided to not tell Ganden about Harlot. If he ever knew Harlot was in the building, he’d stop at nothing to cause her pain. “You’re not. You’re an earl. We are lords. We do not act this way.”

  Astlen looked at him and shook his head. “Marriage has softened you.”

  “Love has made me see more clearly.” He looked at Ganden. “Don’t do it.”

  Fawley sighed. “Very well, I’m with Denhallow. Besides,
I just found out that I’m wealthy and have every intention of returning to Society. I’d rather not do it with a dead man on my conscious.”

  “Three to two,” Astlen said to Ganden with remorse. “Sorry, old friend, but we’re outnumbered.”

  Ganden glared. “This is why I prefer to be alone.” He yanked a weeping, purple-headed Maltsby away from the flames and threw him in the middle of the floor. “I was held in chains for two years. Can I at least beat him a little?”

  The men looked around and then shrugged.

  James supposed Lord Maltsby deserved that at least, but he didn’t stay around to watch the entire scene. After two hits, James was done.

  Coalwater stayed, however. He’d been held captive for four years. James was surprised when he didn’t also hit the man.

  Astlen, Fawley, and James stepped out of the room. Then James turned and opened the door to the room next door. It was a bedroom of sorts, with a small bed and writing table. Harlot was gone.

  “What’s in there?” Astlen asked.

  “Nothing,” James closed the door and returned to them just as Coalwater and Ganden came out.

  The authorities arrived sometime later and said nothing about Ganden’s appearance or Maltsby’s disfigurement from his beating.

  “What now?” Ganden asked when they reached the street.

  “We act pleasant,” Astlen said with his classical charming smile.

  The excitement of Lord Maltsby’s arrest had drawn crowds. A few writers from The Times, The Morning Chronicle, Morning Post, and The Morning Herald had come seemingly from nowhere. James tried his best to hide his face, but it became impossible to do so and answer the questions of the authorities.

  He was exposed, yet only felt slightly uncomfortable with the attention. There were those who stared, but many others wished to hear the details of what had taken place. A story that all had believed to be put to rest two years ago was once again awakened.

  Mr. Goody had had the financial means to kidnap and hold the men thanks to Lord Maltsby.

  Fawley spoke on both his and Coalwater’s behalf and made sure his wealth was documented for all of London to hear. He was an impoverished lord no more.