When she saw him, she was going to ask him what he was planning to do, if he called his cousin or father out, she would have to find some way to talk him out of it. The very last thing she wanted was to start their marriage with blood on his hands or worse badly injuring or God forbid kill one of their relatives.
***
Seated behind his desk and finished going through his correspondence, Garth sat staring out the window. A smile tipped the corners of his mouth remembering his wife’s reaction when he led Jenny into their bedchamber. Both women had burst into tears and hugged each other; it was easy to see how close Laura was to her maid. The young woman was probably the only one in her life that truly cared for her. But what had surprised him more and stirred odd emotions inside him was when his wife threw herself in his arms and thanked him with such exuberance.
It not only embarrassed him, but also made him uncomfortable and he had quickly excused himself. He wasn’t used to such open demonstrations of sentiments and he could only hope his wife wouldn’t continue to display them whenever he did something for her. He leaned back in his chair and his smiled widened.
Laura’s reaction when she woke this morning had been enjoyable and her blushes made him hunger to take her in his arms, but he denied himself the pleasure. He had to take this slowly, but his seduction was off to a fine start if he did say so himself. She was probably going to argue though when he demanded that she was going to be sharing his bed every night from now one.
At first he hadn’t thought it would be possible to sleep with her through the night, but when he had finally fell asleep with her in his arms and wrapped all around him he hadn’t had any trouble at all. In fact, once his lust stopped raging inside him, he had slept quite contently until he’d woken in the morning with a throbbing arousal.
He’d lain there fighting the battle to keep his hands off her and if she hadn’t stirred awake when she had, he might have done something foolish. With a shake of his head over his weakness, he was about to stand up with his study door was thrown open and Walter came tearing into the room. “This habit you’ve develop of barging into my home has become quite irritating and I think you forget who actually lives here. You seem to be lacking your manners and fail to recall just who’s house this is.”
“I don’t give a blasted damn. Where is she? What have you done with her? I demand you tell me.” Walter yelled in a painfully, strained bellow and stood with his hands fisted breathing heavily.
Casually leaning back against the chair, Garth eyed his cousin and hid the intense rage roaring inside him. “If I knew who she was I might be able to tell you.”
“Damn it, don’t you play your smart ass games with me. I’m talking about lady Laura. The woman you stole from me. She’s missing and I know your hiding her.” Walter bellow was raspy and pained his throat.
“My fiancé is missing? This is the first I’ve heard of it. Mmm, I wonder what could have happened to her?” He eyed his cousin speculatively. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with her sudden disappearance, would you? I’m also wondering why you’re so interested in where she is since she’s my betrothed and not yours.” Garth watched his cousin look away, but not before he saw the panic in the man’s eyes.
“God, you’re despicable and I despise you. I had nothing to do with her vanishing; I want to wed her so of course I care what happens to her.” Walter clenched his jaw. “Mother told me you were going to cut off our allowance. What gives you the right? You can afford the pittance you throw our way and yet out of sheer selfishness you’re going to take it from us. You don’t deserve any of it, not the title, not the properties and not the money. It should have been mothers and mine. Yet you have everything, but it wasn’t enough was it? You had to steal the woman I wanted as well.” Storming around the room, Walter shouted in rasping fury.
With a bored expression on his face, Garth let his cousin rant and rave. A slight sound from the doorway caught his attention and he shrugged when he saw his friends. He waved them inside and rose to his feet. “Gideon, Killian you’re just in time for our meeting. My cousin, Walter was just leaving weren’t you, Walter?”
His face burning with humiliation, Walter spun around when he heard Garth greet the other men. “I’m not leaving until you tell me where she is. I demand you reveal her whereabouts.”
“Demand! Your very misguided if you think you can demand anything from me. But now you have informed me of my fiancé’s disappearance I’m feeling generous. If I knew where she was you’re the very last person I would tell. Once you’ve had the good sense to leave, I’ll begin searching for her myself. She belongs to me and I recommend you accept that fact and keep away from her. You’re wasting your time, Walter, she’ll never be yours and nor will you ever steal her inheritance. You’re a weakling and pathetic, you always have been. It’s time you grew up and be a man. Instead of worrying about my betrothed, you should be finding yourself employment to support yourself and your mother. Now leave, I’ve had enough of your pitiful presence. The next time you barge into my house I’ll have you carted off to Newgate.”
“This isn’t the last of this Brookes. She’s mine. I’ll find her and when I do, we’ll be married.” Walter yelled in outrage as he stormed towards the doorway.
“Oh, and Walter I would see a physician if I were you. It sounds as if someone punched you in the throat.” Though, Garth’s advice was mild in tone there was a dark, menacing warning behind his words and he had the pleasure of seeing the fear and panic in his cousin’s eyes before he flew from the room.
“Mind telling us what that was all about?” Killian said as he sat down and made himself confortable.
Retaking his chair behind the desk, Garth’s face was filled with rage. “Lord Wilson aided Walter in kidnapping my bride. He was going to ravish her on the way to Greta Green, but thankfully, she managed to escape and came here. Mercifully other than being terrified, she was unharmed.”
“And you just let him walk out the door?” Gideon asked in disbelief.
With a curt nod, Garth raised an eyebrow. “For now. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet. Oh, and by the way, you may congratulate me. I was married last night.”
“You were what!” Killian’s shocked words rang in the air.
“I don’t believe it.” Gideon could only stare at Garth in utter horror.
Garth chuckled. “It’s true. I couldn’t very well let her return home now could I. Besides we were planning to wed at the end of the week anyway, remember.”
Killian looked from Garth to Gideon and then slid his eyes back again. “Well damn me. Just don’t go and do anything stupid like fall in love with her. I’ll disown you if you do.”
Clearing his throat, Gideon decided he wasn’t going to touch the subject of his friend’s marriage. “So what happens now?”
“I’m going to let Walter and her father stew for a few days. I’ve cut off Walters and his mother’s allowance. Laura’s just waiting to hear from her solicitor and then she’ll be tossing her father and Aunt out of her house.” Garth rubbed his jaw thoughtfully wondering if he was being foolish in letting them off so easily.
“If it was me I’d challenge them both to a duel and be done with it.” Gideon knew though that Garth wouldn’t resort to bloodshed, his friend would use other means to exact his revenge. Ones that would make the culprit wish he had taken a bullet instead.
“To easy and messy. They’ll be too busy trying to survive now that the purse strings have been cut. It won’t take long for word to spread that their penniless and will soon be homeless.” Garth smiled without humor when his friends laughed.
Gideon rose to his feet and Killian followed. “I’m glad we dropped by. It was a very enlightening and interesting visit. We called to see if you wanted to join us. Where going to Tatterstall, but there’s no point asking you. Now you’re wearing the yoke of a married man it’s doubtful we’ll see much of you.”
“Poor blighter, you better not fall in love wit
h her. Just don’t get to domesticated, Garth.” Killian warned as he strolled out the door.
“No chance of that and I have no intentions of hand my heart over to her. I’m not that foolish.” Garth rolled his eyes at his friend’s scoffing sounds, he knew behind their remarks was concern. But they needn’t worry, he had no intentions of falling in love or handing his heart over to his bride. Not now or ever. He wasn’t that foolish.
Chapter Nine
It had been such a wonderful surprise when Garth had led Jenny into the bedchamber. Seeing her maid, she couldn’t help but burst into tears. After she had thanked her husband and he left, Laura asked Jenny what was happening at home.
“Well, miss. There was a terrible uproar last night. I was in a panic when I discovered you missing and I only did because your aunt woke me and insisted I check on you. When I told her you weren’t in your bed or room, she just smiled and nodded. I knew then something was very wrong.” Jenny informed her mistress as she started to unpack one of the satchels.
“I’m not surprised she was delighted by the news. She probably thought that the plan would succeed.” Laura sighed. “Did anything else happen?”
Nodding, Jenny grinned. “Not long afterwards someone was banging loudly on the front door. I crept to the landing and listened. I tell you, miss I was so furious over what I heard. That horrible lord Brown was trying to shout, but I guess his throat pained him too much. He said you attacked him and escaped. Well, all hell broke loose then, miss. Everyone was shouting at each other and blaming each other. After a while it was decided that nothing could be done tonight and they would meet again in the morning.” Picking up the brush, she combed it through her mistress’s hair.
“It probably won’t take them long to work out where I’m hiding.” Laura said thoughtfully. “Even if they do and they come for me there isn’t anything they could do to make me return home.”
“You could have knocked me down with a feather, when lord Brookes’ man turned up at the kitchen door asking to speak to me privately and told me you were married now and I was to come to you. I told him I’d meet him in the alley and went back inside to pack some things for us then snuck out the library door. No one saw me and until your father or aunt wake up I won’t be missed.” Jenny finished tying the ribbon in her mistress’s hair and stood back.
About to rise up off the stool, Laura frozen when the loud, angry shouting began. Jumping up, she grasped hold of her maid’s hand and started racing to the door. “Come on, Jenny I won’t see what this is all about.” Dragging her maid along the hallway, she stopped at the landing and listened.
Though it surprised her that Walter had found her so quickly, she had to smile in satisfaction. He’s raspy voice told her his throat was still paining him, even if he was bellowing like the devil. She scowled when she couldn’t hear what Garth was saying, but whatever it was only made his cousin more furious.
From what she could make out her husband must have denied any knowledge of her whereabouts. She smiled with satisfaction knowing it would enrage his cousin even more. Her gaze swung to the door when someone else knocked and she watched the butler let them in. Her eyes widened when she recognized Garth’s friends.
After a few minutes, lord Brown raced from the room and out of the house. She was about to return to her room, but stopped when she could hear most of the conversation taking place in the study. She was engulfed in sadness and disappointment, but at least she now knew her husband was going to keep himself from caring for her.
Turning away, she wandered back into her bedchamber and sat down on the stool. Swallowing her tears of disenchantment, she told Jenny to settle into her own room. Now alone, her shoulders drooped. So much trying to make her marriage a happy and loving one. It would be a waste of effort.
Though it was painful, at least now, she was warned and she wouldn’t open up her own heart. She would have to settle for companionship and the passion that one day would fade. The future didn’t look very welcoming, but she had little choice in the matter. Yet she knew the moment she started to be unhappy and dissatisfied she would leave.
It could only take a few weeks, a couple of months or perhaps a year or two before it happened, but she knew deep down inside that it would. Once the desire between them died there wouldn’t be much holding their relationship together. He’d probably be unfaithful to her then and that was one thing she would never accept.
With a miserable sigh, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Once she removed her father and aunt from her home, she would keep the staff on making certain the house was ready for her return. The very last thing she’d do was live a life of misery, whether her husband like it or approved they would separate.
Now though, until her marriage failed she intended to enjoy herself, her downcast emotions brightened considerable. Today she would visit the dressmakers and order new gowns. She would also purchase anything else she desired. Now she had her own money, she was going to spend it on herself.
Though her husband probably expected that he would pay for everything, she wouldn’t allow it. She didn’t want to be beholden to him for anything, especially when she had no idea how long their marriage would last. Her mouth hardened, let the man keep his blasted heart what did she want with it anyway.
Once their marriage was over and they were living separate lives there was no reason she couldn’t take a lover of her own. Who knew, she could be lucky and find a man who was willing to love her? Besides her husband wouldn’t remain faithful so why should she. With a shake of her head, she realized she was jumping ahead of herself.
What she needed to do was concentrate on now and that’s just what she intended to do. Garth was sweet and nice so why shouldn’t she enjoy his company. It was foolish to not to take what happiness she could have and that was what she was going to do. When she heard the door open, she swung her head and smiled when her husband stepped into the room. “Did you want to see me about something?”
Garth sauntered into the room, sat in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace and crossed his ankles. “Yes. I know I promised you a trip to the dressmakers, but I’m afraid it would have to wait until another time. We also won’t be going out until you’ve seen your solicitor and deal with your father and aunt.”
“Oh, I’m disappointed. I was planning to purchase a new wardrobe today.” Yet she could understand why, it still was annoying.
With a scowl, he studied his bride and then he knew what had aggravated him. “As your husband it’s my duty to provide whatever you need. I will of course be paying for everything. I will also provide a generous monthly allowance.”
With her eyebrows raised, she shook her head. “Thank you, but I can’t accept your generosity. I will not be beholden to you or anyone ever again. I can afford to pay for whatever I buy. I intend to be independent and don’t need or want your charity.”
“Like hell. Damn it, woman. Where married and as your husband I provide everything you need. As for being independent you’re my wife and you lost your freedom when you spoke your vows just as I did.” He’d never met a more stranger female than his bride or an irritating one. She had the most insane ideas he’d ever heard.
As they continued to stare at each other, she knew he wasn’t going to back down, he was the most stubborn, infuriating man she had ever met. “Is there anything else you wanted to say?”
Seething in frustration, he rose to his feet and strode over to her, catching her by the tops of her arm, he drew her up on her feet. “I’m not through discussing the matter, but we’ll speak about it when you think everything over and admit I’m right.”
At his conceited tone, her eyes narrowed. “What makes you think…” The rest of her words were cut off when his lips came slamming down on hers. She mumbled a protest, but that to was swallowed when his tongue swept the inside of her mouth turning her knees to jelly. She clung to his jacket as heated desire and need poured through every inch of her.
There was only one
way to silence his bride and to stop her speaking nonsense, he kissed her. What he hadn’t expected was after one small taste of her, he was consumed with potent lust. It pounded through his system with a violence that weakened his resolve. He gathered her closer until she was flush up against him and he grunted in satisfaction when she started to kiss him back.
When she started rubbing that delicate, sensual body against his own, he started undoing the buttons on the back of her gowns as he backed her up to the bed behind her. It was only the discreet cough coming from the doorway that brought him crashing back to reality. With a supreme effort, he tore his mouth from hers and breathed heavily as he stared down at her flushed face. “What?”
“My Lord, your accountant is here.” Thomas stared down as his polished shoes as he spoke, then quickly left when he finished.
“You’ve been saved for now.” He commented dryly and letting her go stepped away. Hell, he’d been so very close to stripping her out of her garments and having his wicked way with her. Ruefully he shook his head and dragged his fingers through his hair. “By the way you’ll be sharing my bed from now on.”
Still reeling for the intense passion, she blinked several time to clear her head and when did, she frowned. “You want me to share your bed every night?”
“No need to sound so horrified. Don’t try to deny that you didn’t enjoyed sleeping in my arms last night.”
“But… but husband’s and wife’s don’t share a bedchamber.” Though in truth she really did like idea of sleeping with him, but she knew if she did she just might lose her heart to him and she could never allow it to happen.
With a raised brow, he smirked. “I didn’t know you were privy to what happens in everyone’s bedchamber in the city. How very enlightened you are.”
Cupid's Arrow Book One Bewitching The Earl Page 7
