Duchess Beware (Secrets & Scandals Book 2) (29 page)

Chapter Twenty-six

Silver lowered the glass of warm punch from her lips, her eyes following the crestfallen figure of her sister-in-law.  Excusing herself from the cluster of ladies suddenly delighted to be in her presence, she headed in the direction Torie had taken.

Walking through a set of French doors, she hardly noticed the cold air against her face as she glanced around the torch-lit garden.  Seeing nothing to her left, she turned to her right and found Torie on a marble bench ten feet away.

“May I join you?” She wrapped her shawl more securely around her shoulders.

Torie snapped her head up.  “I didn’t hear you approach.”  She twisted her hands together in her lap.  “Of course you may join me.”  She scooted to the edge of the bench, making room.

Silver sat and scanned the girl’s lovely face, searching for a reason why she appeared so cheerless.  If someone had upset the dear…

“Are we returning to Huntington soon?” Torie asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“Next week,” she said when a realization hit.  “You are going to miss your friends, aren’t you?”

“Yes.  But returning to Huntington won’t be as dreadfully boring as usual.  You’ll be there.”

Silver smiled, warmed to hear those words.  “That is true.”  She paused, wondering if something else was going on.  Perhaps she could help.  “Is something wrong?  You seem unhappy.”

Torie heaved a sigh.  “It’s nothing, really.”  Her gaze skidded away.

“Please, tell me what it is.”

“Gran wants me to marry,” her sister-in-law said after a moment of silence.  She glanced up from studying her sleeve, a sheen of tears glazing her eyes.  “She says it’s time.”

“And you don’t agree?” Silver tried to keep the anger from her voice.  It pained her to think Anne would rather have Torie rush into a marriage she didn’t want simply to keep people from talking.  The idea that young ladies had to be wed before their twentieth year else be considered on the shelf was utter nonsense.

Torie shook her head.  “I haven’t found anyone I want to marry.”

“Then don’t agree to marry anyone until you find the right person.”

Looking down, the poor dear began to pick nervously at some lace on her dress.  “As my guardian, Daniel has the final say, not me.”

“Surely, he wouldn’t betroth you to someone without speaking to you about it first?” Silver asked, aghast at the mere thought.  She knew exactly how it felt to be betrothed to someone she did not love.  The memory made a shiver race down her spine.

“I don’t know,” Torie whispered, “we’ve never discussed it.”

Silver sighed out a plume of icy gray mist.  “Then if you don’t mind, I should like to.”

Her sister-in-law raised her head in surprise, her eyes full of hope.  “You’ll speak to Daniel?”

“Absolutely.”  She gave a curt nod.  “I’ll make it clear to my husband not to betroth you to anyone without consulting with you first, or there will be the very devil to pay.”

“You would do that for me?”

“Of course.”

With a teary smile, Torie gave her a tight hug.  “Oh, thank you, Silver.”

“You are welcome,” she said with a laugh.  Just as she pulled away, the back of her neck tingled.  Someone watched them.

Silver turned and scanned the darkness, seeing nothing but the slight breeze stirring the torches and some bare tree limbs in the garden.  “I’m getting chilled.” She rose to her feet.  “Let’s go inside.”

She followed Torie back into the house, unable to rid the feeling of being watched.  Before stepping through the doorway, she glanced over her shoulder and her breath caught.  A foot beyond the bench where they had been sitting, roses lay on the ground.  Six deep red roses.  They hadn’t been there when she’d joined Torie, she was certain of it.  Silver shivered and hurried through the door, wondering if her imagination were playing tricks.

“There you two are,” Daniel said, the worried frown melting from his lips.  “Come,” he held out his arms to them both.  “Our host has requested that Victoria grace us with some Mozart.”

Torie could weave a spell, Silver thought several minutes later.  No one spoke, no one shifted restlessly, no fans waved.  The girl held the entire audience captivated with the music.  And when the first song ended, the entire room stood, erupting in applause and bravos.

With a red face, Torie came to her feet and curtsied.

“More,” a man in the back called when the din began to die down.

“Yes,” Lord Camden, their host, agreed with a smile, “let us hear more, my lady.”

Her cheeks filled with even more color.  “As you will, my lord.”  She settled back onto the piano bench.

The room cheered.

Torie positioned her fingers over the ivory keys, then halted.  She turned to the audience.  “Perhaps a duet?” she asked.

Hiding a smile, Silver could feel the eagerness radiate from every young man in the room.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the pinks shift restlessly, his expression fixed on Torie, silently willing her to choose him.

“Daniel?” Torie asked, looking in expectation to her brother, her eyes aglow.

Silver turned to her husband, and her smile melted away.  He wanted to refuse.  “Go on.”  She gave him a nudge on the arm.

He turned to her and frowned but stood.

The room went completely still.  She watched her handsome husband go to his sister, speak something into her ear, then take the seat before the opposite piano.  Torie looked up at him and smiled.  Relieved, Silver released her pent-up breath and waited for the music to begin.

“His Grace can play?” one of the ladies whispered behind her.

“I suppose we shall find out,” the other answered.

As soon as the music began, Silver’s eyes pricked with tears.  Never had she heard anything more beautiful.  Together, Daniel and Torie were nothing short of magnificent.  The notes filled her ears and spread warm tingles throughout her entire body.  It moved her.  Brought her up to the heavens.  Tiny tremors skittered up and down her spine, and she broke out in gooseflesh all over.  She closed her eyes and a rainbow of color exploded.

Silver swallowed, realizing the only other time she felt so deliciously alive was when her husband made love to her.  Images of them together came to mind.  Daniel’s hot, naked skin sliding against hers.  His palms rubbing her sensitive nipples.  She could almost feel his touch.  Taste him on her lips.

She focused back on her husband, her eyes stripping the black material from his body.  She knew exactly what he looked like underneath.  From working with his horses, his muscles were honed like steel and bulged with each movement.  Her fingers itched to touch him, to slide over the hot, silky ripples.  To explore every dip and valley, to feel him quiver from her careful examination.  To wrap her hand around his thick, stony mast and lead it to her throbbing entrance.

At that very moment, Daniel looked up.  Her breath hitched.  Her pulse raced.  His eyes turned dark and soft.  And very, very hungry.  He knew her thoughts.  But that only added fuel to the fire.  And the fire blazed hotter as his eyes promised she’d get everything she was thinking—and more.

Silver licked her lips, a shiver of delight assailing her.  The music hummed in her ears.  Her husband continued to stare, and her need grew.  Dampness settled between her legs, drenching her folds.  They swelled and pulsated, stinging slightly.  She shifted on her seat to try and relieve the pressure.  Daniel, curse his sorry hide, smiled knowingly.  And the rotten man didn’t even so much as miss a note.

In such a heightened state of arousal, Silver could hardly move when the music ended.  She struggled to her feet to applaud with everyone around her, a bit of her own wetness sliding down her legs.  She drew in a ragged breath.

Daniel ignored everyone in the room and walked straight to her, his eyes boldly sweeping over her face.  A knowing grin spread over his lips.  He leaned forward, the musky smell of him bombarding her already tattered senses, making her head spin.  “Are you ready to leave, darling?” he whispered, his warm breath teasing the fine hairs on her ear, sending gooseflesh down her arms.

Shivering, she turned to answer him, her lips halting less than an inch from his.  “I’ve been ready for quite some time.”

Daniel gave her a smoldering look.  “I know.”  He turned to everyone and after accepting congratulations on the brilliant performance, hastily bid them good evening and spirited her away.

Silver couldn’t remember ever being so damn impatient.  Walking to the front doors seemed like miles.  Waiting for the coach seemed like hours.  Everything slowed, and her body throbbed with need.

When the coach finally pulled away from the mansion, not a word passed between them.  Thank goodness Andrew escorted Torie tonight, allowing them time alone.  Daniel lifted her across his lap and brought his searing lips down over hers.  The kiss grew deep and wet and urgent.  She pressed closer to him, her impatience making her tremble.

“Please, Daniel.”  She groaned when his lips left hers to trail a hot path down her throat.

“Soon, my love,” he whispered between kisses, his nimble fingers plucking open a few of her gown’s buttons so he could dip his hand down the front.

His fingers skimmed her nipple, and Silver nearly screamed out.  Her breasts had grown so sensitive, the delight more than she could stand.  She squirmed, her drenched center stinging and pulsating, crying out to be filled.

He seemed to understand her need.  He moved a hand between her thighs, his palm inching upward, tormenting her.  She wanted to swoon when the tips of his fingers grazed her.  She spread her legs, unable to feel an ounce of shame.  Her need was too great.

“Silver,” Daniel whispered.

She forced her eyes open and focused on her husband in the dimness.  Swallowing hard, she swore she would kill him if he stopped.

“I want to look into your eyes as you find release,” he said with a hoarse whisper.

She nodded.  Through a crack in the window covering, moonlight poured in, granting his wish, and she nodded again.  She didn’t care if he could see her.  In fact, it filled her with even more longing.

His hand moved closer, and she moaned, unable to keep her hips from shifting.  Then his finger parted her and slid deep into her.

Silver bucked once and came undone.  Sparks exploded, crashing throughout her body, flooding her womb with tiny hot explosions that spread to every finger and toe.  Daniel’s eyes flickered in satisfaction.  But as the aftermath of her release settled over her, she realized her husband must be terribly uncomfortable.  His solid arousal pressed against her bottom, hunger glittered in his eyes, and a sheen of sweat covered his brow as he fought to control his want.

“Daniel—”

“Shhhh.”  He arranged her clothes, his hands trembling slightly.  Then he placed her beside him, laid his head back against the velvet squabs, and closed his eyes.

Silver listened to his ragged breathing, could see the pulse beating frantically at the base of his neck, and frowned.

“Daniel, wh—”

“Please be quiet, darling,” he whispered, “I just need a moment.”

He sounded as though he were in pain.  Probably so.  Silver shook her head, knowing the fault belonged to her.

“Daniel, I cannot stand to see yo—”

“Silver.”  He opened his darkened, lust-filled eyes.  “We don’t have time,” he said with gritted teeth.

She listened to the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves against the cobbles for a moment before shaking her head.  If he happened to be anywhere near the state she had been, they had time.

With determination, she moved her hands to his pants, trying not to touch the thick bulge.  At least, not yet.

“What are you…?”  He halted and sucked back a breath when his stony member sprang out.

Quickly, she gathered up her skirts, nearly tearing them in her haste, then settled over his lap, thankful she hadn’t chosen a heavier gown.  She sank down, feeling her body melt around him as he slipped into her.  She couldn’t muster up any embarrassment as her desire took over.

His eyes slid shut.  He groaned as he reached up to settle a hand at either hip, balancing her.

Lust consumed her.  She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remember this was for Daniel, not her.  But her body wouldn’t listen.  She rocked her hips, soaring up to heaven. Her hands fluttered to his shoulders, and she moved faster.  His fingers squeezed her hips as he moved with her, lunging in and out.  The rhythm grew frantic, and she thought she would explode.  Then it happened.  The burst of release, the thundering spasms, shudders of delight and the sweet warmth of fulfillment.  He groaned and stiffened, coming to his own release.

They both panted, Silver realized as she laid her forehead down on Daniel’s.  Then she smiled, kissed him lightly, and lifted her body from his.

And not a moment too soon.  The driver rang the coach’s bell, signaling their return to the town house.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Daniel rested a shoulder against the doorframe, crossed his arms, and smiled as he watched Silver.  She sat at the table near the window, scribbling words to parchment.  A dozen books had been scattered over the polished wooden surface, a neat stack of papers beside each.  They had arrived at Huntington just yesterday and his wife couldn’t wait to return to the library.

His gaze moved over the ruby curls that had been carefully arranged on the top of her head, noting one of the tresses had come loose and lay against the creamy swell of her breast.  His groin clenched as he stared at her full breasts rising and falling beneath the plum-colored bodice.  Even though her nipples did not show, he knew exactly what they looked like.  How they tasted.  How the peachy tips would harden into pebbles as he drew one and then the other into his mouth.  He could almost hear the small moans she made as he suckled, could feel her silkiness against his bare flesh as he inched his way in between her hot, slick center.

A drop of sweat trickled down the side of his face.  Daniel shook his head, trying to clear the erotic images that continued to build.  Ah, what a randy goat he had become.  But he never dreamed a wife could bring him such pleasure.

No, not because he had a wife.  Because he had Silver.  He’d never responded to a woman as he did to her, certainly never loved another.  They had a connection, a deep bond from the moment their eyes met aboard the ship to Scotland.  He’d just been too thick in the head to admit it until recently.

Good God, every time he thought of loving this woman, he could damn near fly to the moon.  He had been a fool, thinking if he loved her, he would become weak like his father.  Loving her didn’t make him weak.  Quite the opposite.  Loving Silver made him strong.  Invincible.

He took a deep breath and pushed away from the door.  Walking up behind her, the faint scent of roses greeting him, he leaned down and grazed his lips against her temple.  “Hello, my darling.”

She turned, her spectacles reflecting the light of the window, and smiled up to him.  “Daniel, I thought you were meeting with your house-steward.”

“It was my land-steward, this time.  But we finished early.”  In truth, he had ended the ruddy meeting because he couldn’t wait another minute to be alone with her.  His gaze traveled over the books on the table.  “What are you doing?”

She plucked the spectacles from her nose.  “Andrew asked if I would translate a few poems into French for him.”  She lowered her voice.  “He is trying to impress some young lady in London, I believe.”

“French?”  He glanced at the various books around the table, his astonishment growing when he noted their titles.  Latin, Spanish, Greek, Italian.  Only one of the books English.  He turned to the stack of papers before Silver and found the words were indeed French, as were the other stacks beside each of the books on the table.

Recalling that she had a Greek book aboard the ship to Scotland, he swiveled back around.  “You can speak these languages?” He indicated the books with a sweep of his arm.

She hesitated, drawing her brows in wariness, no doubt trying to figure out if he would approve.  Slowly, she nodded.

Regret gave his heart a painful squeeze.  She must recall what an ass he’d been on the ship.  He lifted one of the sheets of paper and studied the neat script.  “Well, good.”

From the corner of his eye, he watched her brows spring up.  “Oh?  And why is that?”

Daniel struggled to keep from grinning as he faced her.  “Because you, my dear, will save me a fortune in translation fees some of my business requires.”

Interest filled her eyes.  She cocked her head to the side.  “What sort of translating?”

He shook his head, setting the paper aside.  “Darling, I wasn’t serious.”

She folded her arms over her chest.  “Well I am.  And I would very much like something to do that involves the use of the languages I know.”  She leaned back in her chair.  “Shall we discuss terms?”

Seeing the vehemence in her eyes, the pink tinge on her cheeks and how her chest heaved, Daniel thought she looked delectable.  He stepped forward to take her into his arms and ravish her lips when her eyes suddenly widened.  He jerked to a halt.  She gasped and placed her hands over her stomach.

Fear knifed through him.  He lowered to his haunches beside her chair.  “Silver?  What is—?”

“I just felt the baby move,” she said, a smile spreading across her lips.

Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep gulp of air, his heart starting to beat once again.  “God’s truth, madam, don’t ever scare me like that again,” he stated softly, opening his eyes.

Silver’s amused expression did nothing to lighten his mood.  She took his hand and placed it low over her slightly-rounded middle.  “It’s as though a couple of butterflies are trapped in there.  Can you feel it?”

He shook his head, disappointed.  “It’s this thick velvet gown you’re wearing.”

A dark auburn brow arched.  “Indeed?  Well, something must be done about that.”

Her low, husky voice sent a shiver racing down the center of his back.  Passion darkened her eyes and her lips parted in silent invitation.  In an instant, his manhood swelled rock-solid and strained against the front of his pants.  He leaned forward and placed his lips over hers.

Daniel groaned when she broke off the kiss.  “I think someone is trying to gain our attention.”

Only then did he hear the ruddy knocking at the door.

Keeping the swear word firmly behind his clenched teeth, he straightened and called to enter.  Hopefully, he thought as the silver knob began turning, his dark pants would not reveal his current state.

Larkin opened the door.  “Beg pardon, Your Grace, there is a Mrs. Katrina Whitmore here to see Her Grace.”

Daniel swore silently as he helped Silver to her feet.  “Is she in the drawing room, Larkin?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Please have some tea prepared,” Silver said while he hid his grimace.

The butler bowed.  “Right away, Your Grace.”

“You are actually going to see her?”

She turned and nodded, her brows drawn.  “Something might have happened to Aunt Caroline or Uncle Edward.”  She paused to sigh.  “My mother and Caroline were sisters.  I know they treated me horribly, but to not see if something were wrong would dishonor my mother.”

He held his hand out.  “Then come, my darling, let us face this together.”

Godfrey bowed and opened the drawing room door as they approached.

Daniel found Katrina Whitmore inspecting a solid gold chess piece when they entered.  He narrowed his eyes, recalling the things his wife told him when she had the high fever.  Awful, spiteful things.  From stealing Silver’s presents sent from her brothers to putting dead animals in her bed.  What could the Whitmore chit be up to?

“Katrina, has something happened?” Silver asked as they approached.

Whirling around with a lacy gloved hand splayed over her breast, the girl gave a small gasp.  “Oh, Silver, you frightened me so.”  Then her round blue eyes focused on Daniel and lit with admiration.  Her smile turned coy and her voice smooth as honey.  “It is indeed a pleasure to see you again, Your Grace,” she purred.

He gave a stiff nod.  “Mrs. Whitmore.”

“Oh, do call me Katrina, Your Grace.”  She smiled, her eyelids fluttering several times.  “We are family now.”  Then her expression turned expectant, as if waiting for him to return the offer of informal address.

Liking the girl less and less, he did not take the bait.  “Mrs. Whitmore,” he said, trying to temp back his impatience, “may I ask about the nature of your visit?”

The tea arrived before the chit could answer.  Silver offered her cousin a seat and a steamy cup of tea, then settled on the opposite green and gold silk sofa.  Daniel joined her, and she poured him a cup.

Just as his wife placed the teapot back on the tray, the door opened.  He noticed Mrs. Whitmore’s unease, how she shifted restlessly, as Prudence and Grandmother joined them.

“Tea, Grandmother, Aunt?” Silver offered.

Prudence gave a sniff, her narrowed eyes on the newcomer.  So, he wasn’t the only one who didn’t trust the girl.  “Yes, I think we ought,” she indicated.

After everyone had taken a seat, Silver poured their tea then introduced her cousin to Gran.

“So tell me, Katrina, why have you come?” his wife asked.

Mrs. Whitmore set her empty cup onto the table, her hand trembling slightly.  “Colin is missing, and so is Victor.  Mother is frantic.  She is utterly convinced something terrible has happened to them.”

Daniel frowned.  From what Silver had told him, Victor and Colin were friends.  But both were missing?  He knew Victor had been taken aboard the
Mary Alice
, but what happened to Colin?  Perhaps they had been together at the time of the capture.  Had Connor’s men taken him, too?  He had better find out.  “Where is your husband, Mrs. Whitmore, shouldn’t he be with you?”

Her face fell into her palms, and she burst into tears. “Robin hates me because I’m barren,” the chit wailed.

Bloody hell.

After Daniel rushed off to check on one of his horses and Molly escorted Katrina up to one of the guestrooms to refresh herself, Silver decided to remain with Gran and her aunt to assist them with sewing baby clothes.  Most of the time, the thought of being hunched over a needle and thread made her quiver with revulsion, but now that she would become a mother, making clothes for her baby with her own hands pleased her.

“Well, I would have thrown the gel out on her bum.  Tit for tat, Silver.”

She smiled at Grandmother’s words but didn’t comment.

“Katrina was horrid to you the entire time you lived with Edward and Caroline,” Prudence said.  “Remember when she tried setting your hair on fire?”

Silver grimaced and nodded.

Anne gasped.  “She didn’t!”

“Oh, but she did.”

“The antics of youth,” the dowager said with a smile.  “Why, I remember once when Daniel was about eight years old, he sneaked downstairs before dinner and brushed tree sap over every chair in the dining hall.”

Silver choked back her laughter.  “He put tree sap on the chairs?”

“Indeed he did,” Anne said as she threaded a needle.  “And it wouldn’t have been the disaster it was had my son and daughter-in-law not been entertaining that night.”

She pressed her lips together to conceal her laughter.  But she couldn’t stop her shoulders from shaking.

The dowager glanced up, her eyes crinkled at the corners.  “I admit it was a sight to see the loftiest of the
ton
trying to rise to their feet with a chair glued to their bottoms.”

Unable to resist, Silver erupted with laughter.  Prudence joined in, and even Anne chuckled a bit.

When the laughter died down, she swiped the wetness from her eyes and took some deep breaths.  “Was Daniel truly so mischievous, Gran?”

“Oh, my, yes.  Undoubtedly, you’ll find out soon enough.”  She held up the tiny white shirt, inspecting the seam.  “Now what about your cousin setting your hair on fire?  How old were you?”

Silver poked her finger with a needle and grimaced.

“That happened year before last,” Prudence said.

Gran’s fingers stilled, and she glanced up, her gray eyes stormy.  “Then it wasn’t a mere childhood jest?”

Her aunt shook her head.  “Katrina has always been jealous of Silver.”

Frowning, she shrugged her shoulders.  “It’s true Katrina felt no love for me, but I’m not certain she was jealous.”

“Bosh.  The chit was jealous.  And in any case, I don’t see why you aren’t demanding she return home.”

She sighed and returned to her sewing.  “I admit my first thought was to deny her request to stay.”  She inspected the row of uneven stitches with a frown.  “But seeing how unhappy Katrina is, I just couldn’t do it.”

“You’ve a soft heart, child,” Prudence said, sewing a bit of lace around the small pink dress in her lap.

She snipped the thread and tied it into a knot, then folded the tiny garment and added it to the growing stack within the small chest beside her chair.  She heard Gran’s comment to Aunt Prudence.

“You’re wasting your time sewing dresses.  This babe is a boy.”

“She is a girl, I say.”

“My first great-grandchild is most certainly going to be male.”

Silver lifted her eyes to the painted ceiling and began to count.  In Latin.

Before the argument escalated any further, the door opened and Katrina strolled into the room in a cloud of pink chiffon, filling the air with an overly-sweet smell of honeysuckle.  Although Silver no longer suffered with being sick all the time, certain smells still triggered nausea.  That perfume seemed to do it.  Her stomach twisted as her cousin neared and the scent grew stronger.

“What is going on?”

“Sewing.”

Katrina turned to Prudence and frowned.  “I can see that.  What are you sewing?”