“I have.” he said boldly. She dearly wished he would look anywhere but at her, but he didn’t do more than blink.
“So, what?” Lucy asked, now crossing her arms in the front. “Did she say no? Is that why you asked me?”
“She said yes, actually.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his mighty thighs. “And when I told her that I’d be retrieving her from her flat, she tried to run from me and ended up here.”
Lucy blinked and tried to wrap her mind around what he was saying.
“I slept here.” Ganden said.
“Here?” Lucy asked. “Where?”
He lifted a hand and pointed to the couch. Which meant Anna had betrayed her!
“Naturally.” Ganden went on. “I needed to remain close to you. Otherwise, you’d have tried to climb through a window to get away. You’ll be punished for lying and the lengths I’ve had to go to procure you.”
Punished?
Her heart beat like a drum. She nearly asked how but stopped herself from doing so. “Say what you will, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not leaving with you.”
“You are,” he said as he gave her body an idle sweep “but perhaps I will not punish you too harshly. You have managed to save me some time. You’re already packed and in Mayfair. My footmen have already moved your things to my carriage.”
She gasped. Now if she ran, she’d have to go without her possessions. A part of her almost gave in and put the word yield at the tip of her lips.
But she couldn’t. She had George to think about.
“Ganden, I can’t be a kept woman. So, call the authorities, but I’ll not change my mind.” She’d said the words, but her plan would be to climb out the window and run the moment he turned his back.
Instead, Ganden tilted his head and stared at her. He did one of his lazy sweeps at her body again and then straightened. “Very well.”
Her throat suddenly dry, she swallowed. “You’re going to call the authorities?”
He stood. “No, we’re going to marry.”
Confusion filled her. “What?”
He pulled her closer. “We’re getting married. You shall be my wife, and I shall have full control over you.”
“That’s ridiculous. You don’t want me for a countess.” she said.
“Why not?” He walked over to her. “Your mother was a countess. Surely, you recall how the job is done.” He slipped his arms around her waist and dragged her forward.
Lucy resisted wrapping her arms around him. Instead, she stiffened her back and dropped her hands to her side, trying to prevent as much of her body from touching him as possible.
“And I shall have you,” Ganden said, his gaze hooded “however and whenever I want.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.
“Surely, there are worse things than being the Countess of Ganden?” he asked.
“I thought you only wanted me for two year.,” she reminded him. “It’s silly to marry and then divorce—”
“Oh, no. You will be in the position until death.” He smoothed his hands down the back of her dress. “That’s the new deal. Otherwise, I take you to Newgate myself.”
Lucy looked away. Were there worse things than being the Countess of Ganden?
It was possible that this opportunity would provide a better life for George. But she wasn’t sure.
∫ ∫ ∫
1 4
* * *
Kent thought he’d given Lucy enough time to think, far more time than he’d planned in the beginning. Even now, she should have already been in his house.
Mistress. Wife. The titles made no difference to him, but if they made a difference to Lucy…
“I need an answer.”
“Will you…be kind to George at least?” she whispered. “He’s done nothing wrong. He’s only a boy, Ganden.”
Her thoughts were of the boy again? He wondered if she ever stopped thinking about him. Kent’s conscience tried to return, to tell him that he was being unnecessarily harsh to Lucy, but he shut that nonsense away. “The boy will have my protection.”
“You won’t let any harm come to him?” she asked as though she hadn’t heard him.
He frowned. “That’s what I just said, isn’t it not? And you can trust me. I keep my word.”
Was that relief he saw on her face? Was she truly going to agree to be his wife?
“Do we have an agreement?” he asked.
“You could have asked me a little nicer.” she shot back suddenly. “We are speaking of marriage.”
Kent was so caught off guard that he nearly laughed but refrained from doing it. “No more games. Yes or no?”
She nodded and lowered her eyes. “Yes.”
“Then kiss me.”
Her eyes returned to him. “What?”
“Have you grown deaf? Why am I continuously having to repeat myself?” He moved his hands to her hips. “I am sealing this arrangement firmly this time. Kiss me and do it like you mean it.” He was growing hard against her. She had to feel it. “Kiss me like you’d love nothing better than to have my mouth on yours. Like you’ve waited endlessly for it, prayed for it, would die without it. Do it now.”
Her eyes were rounded. Her breathing was little more than short pants that fanned his face and his arousal. She put her hands on his shoulders and moved up toward his lips.
He descended enough so their mouths touched, but then stopped. Her lips were warm but remained still against him.
He opened his mouth to remind her of his instructions, yet as his lips parted, her tongue struck in and he managed little more than a groan. Her touch and mouth acted in bold unison that had him aching in his heart. Her fingers moved through his hair, and she tilted her head to deepen the kiss. She made her own scandalous noises of enjoyment. Encouragement.
She was everything he remembered and better. Two years of dreaming were a poor comparison to the real thing. Her taste and smooth caresses were so familiar, so tender that he nearly dropped to his knees. He thought to walk her backward toward the couch, to cover her body with his own. But then she pulled away.
Her eyes were hooded. She’d been affected by the kiss just as much as he had. “How was that?”
Amazing. “It’ll do.” His voice was rough. He cleared it before he spoke again. “I’m not waiting three weeks to wed. I’ll get a special license and meet you at your flat in a few hours. We’ll grab the rest of your things, which I’m sure you left behind in your haste to run from me.”
She pulled her brows together. “A few hours? But I must prepare for—”
He grabbed her chin. “Two hours, Lucy.”
She narrowed her eyes but said nothing more.
It was enough.
∫ ∫ ∫
1 5
* * *
He was a beast. An absolute beast!
Lucy paced her rooms two hours later. George sat at the table, watching her as he ate his bread. He had his mother’s gold eyes, which were so much like Lucy’s that people often mistook him for her own, which she never minded and neither did he.
His hair was the shade of wheat in the summer sun. And it needed a cut. She’d have to remember that, though with everything else happening, she didn’t see it occurring any time soon.
Anna had showed herself after Ganden had left. The only reason Lucy still counted the woman her friend was because she’d hidden George in her bedchamber, letting the boy take his meal there so that Ganden couldn’t take him.
But Anna had been overjoyed by the news of her becoming a countess. So overjoyed that Lucy had jokingly offered the position to her. As if she could.
But another part of her knew she would never give her chance to be with Ganden away. She wasn’t sure what marriage to him would be like, but he’d guaranteed her protection for George. She needed no more convincing than that.
“Aunt Lucy,” George asked “are you all right?” His voice was still slightly high. Childlike, but his face was losing its
roundness, and Lucy knew that one day soon she’d blink, and he’d be a man.
She smiled at him. She’d yet to tell him that they were moving, but she had asked him to pack his trunk. He still didn’t know what was happening, and Lucy didn’t know how to tell him.
She walked over to sit across from him at the table. “George…I’m getting married.”
George stilled. His bread had been halfway to his mouth, but at her words, he put it down and then lowered his head. “I understand.”
“You do?” It was clear he was not happy for her. Was that because she was not happy herself? She tried to smile again. “He’s a very…” Scary. Demanding. Authoritative. “…strong gentleman.”
“When are you getting married?” George asked.
“Today.”
“Is Uncle Adam coming to get me then?” he asked.
Adam was his older brother. Not his real uncle.
“No, George, you’re going to live with me.”
He seemed surprised. “You’re going to take me with you?”
“Of course.” The very idea that he’d thought otherwise sat ill in her heart.
She moved her chair around to his side and wrapped her arm around him. “You live with me now. You’re mine. Don’t you know that? I’ll never send you away.” His Uncle Adam would have to pry the boy from her arms if he wanted George, which she doubted he did.
But then there was the fact that Lord Maltsby still lived and therefore still had the power to take George away if he tried.
“You promise you won’t send me away?” George’s face looked pained. “What if your husband doesn’t like me? I’m just a bastard.”
“How many times must I tell you not to say that!” she cried. She hated Lord Maltsby every day for putting it in George’s head. “Lord Ganden will adore you just as I do.” Ganden better or she didn’t care what he said, she’d run and take George with her. Her nephew meant everything to her.
George stared at her and her heart broke again. He didn’t have faith in her words. He’d been hurt far too much. She thought his soul far too young to be so jaded.
A knock sounded at the door, and they both looked at it. Lucy felt a lump in her throat.
“Is it him, Aunt Lucy?” George asked.
She stood and straightened her dress. It was one of the best ones she had. Beautiful, but nowhere near the latest fashion. Her size had not changed much while she worked for Lord Maltsby. All of her things from when she’d been a true lady still fit.
When the impatient knock came again, Lucy rushed to the door. She’d barely gotten it open before Ganden walked through. She’d forgotten how big he was, yet in her flat, the fact was hard to ignore.
He’d had his mouth poised to say something. The scowl made her believe it would have been some complaint—likely about him having to knock twice—but then his eyes cut across the room and landed on George.
George, having been taught his manners, stood and bowed to the earl before straightening.
Ganden’s demeanor changed as he continued to look at her nephew.
What was going through his head?
∫ ∫ ∫
1 6
* * *
Kent watched as Lucy rushed to the boy and put a protective hand on his shoulder. The action didn’t surprise him at all. He actually wanted to be irritated that she still felt the need to protect George from him, but instead…he felt reverence for her.
This was his second day seeing her, and she was still a surprise. She was beautiful in her pale blue dress. The color brought out that rare hue in her eyes.
He had woken that morning and wondered if it had all been a dream. Had he truly gazed into those golden eyes that had spirals of blue and green stars within?
But then the proof had been in his very hands. He’d held her tightly while he slept, like the prize she was. And she given him a kiss that had put every other he’d ever had to shame.
As he’d ridden in his carriage to retrieve the special license, he recalled the feel of her nimble tongue working over his. Never had being awake outshone sleep. Sleep was his reverie. While some of the other lords who’d been kidnapped had night terrors, Kent did not. He slept like the dead most nights, but that was likely because he’d been through worse treatment with his own father.
But thoughts during the day of Lucy were much, much better than any sleep.
It had been the first day in a long time that he’d not awoken angry.
“George Newpark.” Lucy began. “This is the Earl of Ganden.”
“Good morning, my lord.” George trembled as he looked Kent over. He was either frightened by what he saw or by what he’d heard from Lucy.
The very thought that Lucy had warned the boy away from him irked. But perhaps it was for the best. Kent had no clue how to deal with children. They were so fragile and weak. He feared breaking them.
He looked around the room. He’d been glad to find that Lucy didn’t live in St. Giles or somewhere equally terrible. Paddington’s population was of the working class.
The room she rented was small, and Kent only saw one door, which he thought led to a single bedchamber.
Just how much money did she have?
He could require it as her dowry, but he decided to let her keep her money. When they married, it would be counted as his, but he’d not ask for it. He decided he’d tell her when they were alone in order to receive her open gratitude.
“The clergyman should be here any minute now.” he said.
“Would you like some tea?” Lucy asked.
“Please.” He moved and sat at the table.
As Lucy went to the kettle, Kent motioned for George to resume his seat. The boy obediently sat and kept his gaze on Kent. His eyes were so much like Lucy’s that Kent wondered if she were playing him a fool. Was this her own boy?
“How old are you, George?” Kent asked.
The boy opened his mouth.
“He’s ten.” Lucy answered. “A full decade,” she added warmly.
Kent tightened his jaw. He wanted to be mad, but the pride in Lucy’s voice settled the temper that tried to grow. “You have a tutor?”
“He does.” Lucy crossed back over and set a cup in front of Kent before she poured his tea. “Mr. Adler teaches downstairs with a group of nineteen more children, but he is home today.”
Kent looked at her. “I want the boy to answer.”
Lucy’s eyes widened as she looked at him. “Oh. I…I didn’t think you actually wanted to…”
Talk to the boy?
“I never do anything I don’t want to do.” he said in the calmest voice he could manage.
She lowered her gaze. “Of course.”
There was a knock on the door before Kent could get another word out.
Lucy opened it and invited the clergyman inside.
The wedding was short. Kent had his footman grab an easel and some other things she and George valued, and they were gone.
∫ ∫ ∫
1 7
* * *
“Do you like your tutor?”
This time, when Ganden asked George a question, Lucy didn’t interrupt. Mainly, because she wanted to know the answer herself. She stayed with George during most of his sessions. She’d seen how Mr. Adler was with her nephew. Kind. Patient. So, she’d never thought to ask if George liked him.
“Yes, he’s very smart. He knows all kinds of things. He really likes Socrates. Have you heard of him?” George been fascinated with Ganden’s carriage since they’d entered it, running his fingers against the gilded walls and sliding over the finely-furnished chairs. Somehow, the beauty had opened George up to speak more than she’d ever seen him do with anyone who wasn’t her.
“I have heard of Socrates.” Ganden said. “Is Mr. Adler kind to you? Does he ever mistreat you?”
George nodded. “When I get a word wrong, he pops my hand.” The boy clenched his hand with his other. “That really hurts.”
Lucy gasped. “He doe
s? Why didn’t you tell me?”
George turned to her and seemed to realize his mistake. “I...didn’t want you to be upset with me.”
Lucy’s arms went around him. “I wouldn’t get upset with you for something like this.”
Ganden narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t know the boy was being hit?”
She leaned her head on top of George. “Mr. Adler must have done it whenever I was not around. He came highly recommended. I’m so sorry.” She said the last to her nephew, and she straightened and began to smooth his hair.
“Mr. Adler will be replaced at once.” Ganden said to George. His voice was strained and the muscles in his throat bulged.
George’s lips twitched, a sign that something was bothering him.
“What is it?” Ganden asked, clearly picking up on the boy’s apprehension.
“I…didn’t mean to get him in trouble.” George lowered his head.
Ganden leaned forward on his knees. “Do you feel concern for him or fear?”
His question was odd to Lucy.
George didn’t answer at first. Then he said, “Mr. Adler said I wasn’t to tell anyone. That a boy should take his punishment and not weep.”
Lucy’s stomach turned into a knot, and she would have thought Ganden had turned to stone if not for his blinking.
Ganden turned to her then. “Where does Mr. Adler live?”
Lucy’s lips parted. “Why?”
“Do you remember our talk last evening?” he asked.
She recalled everything about last night. “Yes.”
His expression was cold, and his words held a bit of frost. “Give me Mr. Adler’s address.”
It was no longer a question.
Lucy knew she was to obey his instructions, but…"Can this wait until later?”
“I made you a promise, did I not?” Ganden asked.
The boy will have my protection.
She nodded and squeezed George closer to her side.
“This is how I keep my promise.” Ganden said. “Give me the address.”
She did immediately and then Ganden had the carriage turn around.
Dread of The Earl (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 7
