Regency Scandals: Touch Me, Tempt Me & Take Me Box Set

by Lucy Monroe

  She gave a lusty, very unladylike yawn. “This marriage business is exhausting, isn’t it?”

  He was too tired to reply

  ***

  He awoke later, his bedchamber shrouded in darkness. Irisa stirred beside him as the mantel clock struck the hour. Bloody hell. Ravenswood and Drake were due any moment and he was naked, lazing in bed with his wife. He untangled his limbs from Irisa and the sheets before jumping out of the bed. He quickly lit the lamp beside the washstand.

  “Lucas?” Irisa’s voice was still clouded with sleep.

  “Your brothers are supposed to be here momentarily and I haven’t even asked the servants if we’ve received word from Owlpen yet.”

  “Why are Jared and Drake coming over?” She sat up, tucking her unruly blonde curls behind her ears. Her lush curves glowed pale in the dim light and Lucas had to fight the desire to rejoin her in the bed. “Will Drake be bringing Thea?”

  He decided to answer the second question first as he rapidly washed his body with a towel dampened in the frigid water from the pitcher on his washstand. “I don’t know if Mrs. Drake is coming.”

  He made quick work of pulling on a pair of breeches and shirt. He did not bother with a cravat or coat, but decided to don his waistcoat, stockings and shoes. “We’re going to discuss what we learned this morning regarding the blackmailer.”

  “You learned something?” Irisa jumped out of the bed and quickly washed herself as well.

  He stopped dressing long enough to watch.

  She laughed at him, but blushed all the while. “Stop leering at me and hand me my dress.”

  When he realized she planned to put it on without her petticoats, or anything else for that matter, he refused to give it to her. “You are not going downstairs half dressed.”

  “Why not? You left off your collar and neckcloth, not to mention your coat.”

  “But I remembered my breeches. Now put this on, or you can stay upstairs while I meet with Ravenswood and Drake.” He handed a shift to her. “You can leave your corset off.”

  The little baggage rolled her eyes at him and then pulled the shift over her head, speaking through the fabric while she did so. “Thank you so much, Lucas. You’re the soul of reasonability.”

  “Stop baiting me or you’ll find out just how unreasonable I can be,” he warned her.

  She yanked on the dress and turned her back to him, lifting her hair in a silent command to do up the tapes. He did so, brushing the silken skin of her back with his knuckles and wishing they had enough time for him to explore the area more thoroughly.

  He finished the last tie and stepped back reluctantly. “That will do.”

  She turned to him and smiled. “Thank you. I think I would prefer to have you dress me than Pansy.”

  “I prefer undressing you.”

  Her cheeks turned a charming rose pink, but her smile did not abate. “That does sound more promising.”

  He could no more prevent himself from pulling her into his arms and kissing that sassy little mouth than he could have prevented his lungs from drawing his next breath. She melted against him and opened her tender lips in instant response. He forced himself to stop kissing her when he realized his hands were in the act of untying the tapes he had just secured on her gown.

  He retied the gown and pulled his mouth from hers, stepping away from temptation. “I need to speak to the servants.”

  “Why?”

  “Owlpen was supposed to send word on a matter we discussed at White’s earlier today.”

  She paused in the act of brushing the tangles from her hair. “What does Lord Owlpen have to do with the blackmailer?”

  “Nothing, but he’s a gossip and I believe he may know something.”

  She secured her golden hair with a ribbon, fixing serious brown eyes on him. “He would only know something if gossip had already started to circulate. Has it?”

  Lucas didn’t want to lie to her. Besides, she would know soon enough. “I have reason to believe it has.”

  “I see. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? No wonder Papa and Mama have decided to leave Town. I suppose they’d heard about it as well.”

  He frowned. “Your parents’ plans had to have been in the works before today, or they could not possibly be ready to leave as soon as tomorrow. I will not allow you to take responsibility for their decision to go.”

  She smiled. “It’s all right, Lucas. I don’t blame myself and you are right. They must have made plans to leave Town the night we told them about the blackmail letter.” Her expression grew concerned. “I am sorry for you, though. It will not be easy for The Saint to live down marriage to the natural daughter of an Earl, and a not very well placed one at that.”

  “Your father’s place in the ton is of no interest to me, nor is your former status as his daughter, natural or otherwise. You are now my wife, the Countess of Ashton and that is all I care about.” His status as The Saint could go hang.

  She gave him a misty smile. “Thank you, Lucas. That is very sweet sentiment to be sure.”

  “It is not sentiment. It is the truth.”

  She nodded, but something in her expression said she didn’t believe him. “I think Lord Owlpen may have sent the message earlier today. Jenny brought the envelope to me, but since it was addressed to you, I had her leave it on your table.”

  The nondescript white envelope that lay innocently on the well-oiled surface of the table held the answer to who had been tormenting his wife.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Lucas broke the red wax seal embedded with the Owlpen crest on the envelope and removed two sheets of folded foolscap from the inside.

  He scanned the sincere apologies for any offense Owlpen or his lady may have caused in innocently repeating the vicious rumor of Lady Ashton’s illegitimacy and likewise skimmed over Owlpen’s assurances such scandal would not pass their lips again. Owlpen then went through a detailed description of how the vicious rumor had made it to his lady wife’s ears. Lucas smiled with deep satisfaction.

  He now had a name.

  “Who is it, Lucas? What does it say?” Irisa was trying to read the letter over his shoulder, but the light from the single lamp had clearly not been sufficient for her to do so. “Is it Cecily Carlisle-Jones?”

  “No.” He smiled down at her. “Apparently Owlpen took my threat very seriously. He’s traced the gossip to its source. He would have made an excellent source for information during the war.”

  “What threat? Who cares what kind of help he could have given during the war with Bonaparte?” She tried to shake his shoulders. “Lucas, I swear if you don’t tell me who has been trying to blackmail me, I’m going to do you bodily harm.”

  She looked mad enough to mean it, but the idea of his tiny and rather gentle wife threatening him was so ludicrous he laughed. Spurred by the elation he felt at knowing who to go after now, his laughter grew louder.

  His wife crossed her arms over the tempting flesh of her bosom and glared at him. “This is not a laughing matter, my lord.”

  Neither he nor Irisa noticed the maid standing in the doorway for several seconds. “Milord, Milady, Mr. and Mrs. Drake and Lord Ravenswood are waiting your convenience in the library.”

  Irisa’s face brightened perceptibly. “Oh good. Thea did accompany Drake. Perhaps she will succeed in getting you to name the blackmailer. I vow my patience for the task is all but gone.”

  Lucas pressed a hard kiss on his wife’s lips. “It is Lady Preston. Now come. We must discuss this new development with the others.”

  “Lady Preston? That spiteful, gossiping harpy. Why?”

  Irisa peppered him with questions interspersed with dire opinions regarding Lady Preston’s character all the way to the library, her voice alternatively filled with anger and confusion.

  He led her into the room and then held the letter up for his brothers-in-law to see. “We have a name.”

  “Who?” Ravenswood asked, his expression fierce.

  M
rs. Drake’s mouth opened in astonishment.

  Looking as pleased as Lucas felt, Drake said, “It sounds like Owlpen took heed of your words earlier today.”

  Lucas nodded with satisfaction and then named their enemy. “Lady Preston.”

  “The notorious widow?” Mrs. Drake asked, her bewilderment as clear as Irisa’s. “But why?”

  Lucas did not have the answer to that question yet, but he would soon.

  “What words? What threat?” Irisa again asked in a voice that demanded this time he answer.

  He shrugged. “I merely made it clear I would not tolerate the passing on of scandal attached to my wife’s name.”

  She did not look satisfied with his answer, but he did not want to go into his plan to protect her from gossip. He knew instinctively that Irisa would not see a dawn appointment in quite the same light as her brother.

  He met first Drake and then Ravenswood’s gaze. “I believe it is time we called on Lady Preston.”

  “And Yardley,” Drake added.

  “Why Lord Yardley?” Irisa wrung her hands and sent Lucas a disgruntled glare. “I am the one being threatened and yet I feel as if I have been kept in the dark on important matters. I expect you to explain yourself, my lord and from this point forward, you will do me the courtesy of fully disclosing all details.”

  Irritation filled him at her bossy tone and her obvious ploy to put him in his place for perceived wrongs committed against her. “I have not intentionally kept you in the dark, madam. If you will recall, I arrived home this afternoon to find you distraught over yet another letter from the blackmailer. And then news of your parents’ impending flight from Town necessitated our leaving immediately so you could tell them your goodbyes.”

  She was not placated in the least by his explanation if the stubborn tilt to her chin, fist on her hip and tapping toe were any indication. “We have been home for several hours since then, my lord. You could have given me a report of your progress at any time.”

  The sheer outrageousness of her remark left him stunned for a moment and then he narrowed his eyes.

  “Really?” he asked, allowing silky menace to filter into his voice. “When did you want the progress report? Perhaps you think I should have told you while you were busy moaning your pleasure or later when you fell asleep from exhaustion brought upon by the married state as you put it?”

  She turned brilliant crimson in the space of two heartbeats and gasped his name in horrified tones. “Lucas! How could you say such a thing in front of our family?”

  “Pardon me. I thought you wanted me to answer your question as to why I had not discussed certain issues with you this afternoon and I have attempted to give you my reasons.”

  She gaped at him while Ravenswood laughed. Drake smiled, but the frown on Mrs. Drake’s face kept him from giving in to his mirth at Irisa’s embarrassment.

  Lucas sighed. He hadn’t meant to say anything so provocative in front of her family. He quickly explained his discovery of Yardley’s wagers in White’s betting book and subsequent discussion with the gossip, Owlpen.

  “You challenged Lord Owlpen to a duel?” Irisa asked in shocked accents. “How could you do something so caperwitted?”

  “I did not challenge him. I simply let him know that a challenge would be forthcoming if he did not cooperate in certain matters.” His mood did not improve upon hearing her opinion that his plan was caperwitted.

  “Worked like a charm, too,” Ravenswood said, “Your husband’s got quite the reputation from his salad days for dueling. I’d say his threat to challenge anyone who passes on the gossip about your birth will go a long way toward protecting you from scandalmongers among the ton.”

  Irisa turned stricken eyes to Lucas. “You threatened to call anyone out who gossiped about my natural birth?”

  She sounded faint.

  He sought to reassure her. “It’s a very effective way to prevent unsavory rumors from floating around.”

  “Facing death is your answer to unsavory gossip?” She looked at him as if his brains had gone to let.

  “It worked very well with my mother’s exploits and she was far more notorious than you, my love. I trust you will place your confidence in my knowledge in these things.”

  “You have decided to handle being married to me the same way you dealt with having a mother who lived outside the bounds of propriety?” she whispered the question.

  He shrugged. “It was effective once. I see no reason for it not to serve me well again.”

  “And if you die in one of these dawn appointments?” She almost shouted the question.

  “I am not going to die and I doubt there will be any duels. I have a certain reputation in such matters.”

  “How many duels did you participate in on your mother’s behalf?” Her voice was barely above a whisper again.

  He would not lie to her, but he realized the answer was bound to upset her. “Three.”

  Ravenswood took a step toward Irisa and patted her gently on the shoulder. “If it will make you feel any better, I’ve spent the day letting it be known that I stand by your husband in this. He is not the only gentleman willing to issue a challenge if your reputation comes into question.”

  Irisa’s face went from pale to sickly and her eyes darted from Ravenswood to Lucas. “You’re both putting your lives at stake for my reputation? You lied to me. You both lied. You said it didn’t matter.” She turned burning eyes on Lucas. “You said you didn’t care what the gossipmongers said. That I was Lady Ashton now and the circumstances of my birth were unimportant.”

  “They aren’t important.” How dare she accuse him of lying? He had never told her a falsehood, even when the truth would upset her.

  “Then why are you letting it be known among the ton that anyone who speaks of them will have to face you over a brace of pistols?” Accusation laced her tone and she acted far more upset by his actions than those of the blackmailer.

  Damn it. She didn’t understand, but he’d be hanged if he was going to discuss this any further in front of a room full of people. “We will finish this conversation later.”

  Irisa closed her eyes in silence for a full three seconds before opening them and agreeing. “Yes. Of course. Right now, we must deal with the more immediate problem of Lady Preston.”

  “Isn’t she the one who told you that Miss de Brieuse was Lucas’s mistress?” Mrs. Drake asked Irisa in an obvious bid to change the subject.

  Irisa bit her lip, her expression thoughtful. “Actually she told Mama, but it was the same thing as I’m sure now that she saw me standing there. I suppose that was her first ploy to prevent my marriage to Lucas. Lord Yardley even made a wager to that effect. It seems such a mean-spirited thing to do. Papa refused his suit on my behalf last year, but he hardly acted broken hearted about it.”

  “Sour grapes, no doubt,” Mrs. Drake said.

  “Perhaps, but let us not forget, he is on our list of suspects,” Lucas reminded them.

  Irisa shrugged and looked at Lucas, the thoughtful expression in her soft brown eyes tinged with something he could not quite decipher. “It is Lady Preston we must concentrate at the moment, I think.”

  That look could not be jealousy, but her tone suggested otherwise. He had never had even the slightest association with Lady Preston. He noticed that everyone else in the room was looking at him with a certain amount of speculation as well.

  “You can all stop wondering if the woman was my mistress. I haven’t spoken two words privately to her. I have no idea why she fixated on ending my engagement with Irisa and I won’t find out until I see her.” He turned to leave. “Ravenswood, Drake, are you coming?”

  “Lucas?” Irisa’s voice held a tentative note.

  He turned toward her and his anger melted at the look of concern and genuine fear in the warm brown depths of her eyes.

  He crossed the space separating them in three long strides and took her shoulders in his hands. “All will be well, sweeting. Do not worry.
”

  “Be careful. And Lucas?”

  “Yes?”

  “Please do not issue any challenges tonight.”

  He could not promise that. If he found Yardley and discovered the other man had been part of the plan to kidnap Irisa and blackmail her, Lucas had no choice but to do so. “You must trust me to know best.”

  Her mouth thinned in a straight, mutinous line. “If you do not promise me you will not issue any challenges, I will not let you leave.”

  “How do you propose to stop me?”

  Eyes narrow, she asked, “Do you want me to be here when you get back?”

  “You bloody well better be.” His jaw ached from tension.

  “You have only two ways of insuring that happens.” She crossed her arms. “Either stay here with me or extract my word that I will do so.”

  “Are you threatening to run away if I don’t give in to you?” he asked, sounding only mildly interested while his gut twisted with concern that she would make good her threat and fury that she’d had the nerve to threaten him at all. “There is another way to insure you are here when I return, wife.”

  She glared at him, but did not rise to the bait.

  “I can lock you in your bedchamber.”

  Mrs. Drake gasped, but Irisa did not so much as blink at his statement. “Promise me you won’t challenge anyone tonight, Lucas. We are not finished discussing the matter and until we are, you must not act precipitously.”

  “I cannot give you that promise.”

  “Then I cannot promise you I will be here when you return.”

  “I will trust in your strong sense of honor guaranteeing it. I refuse to believe you would do something so ignoble as to run away simply because she cannot have her way.”

  “Why should I be bound by my sense of honor when you are not bound by yours?” Her voice came out choked and the pain he heard in it stopped him from losing his temper.