Family Scandals (18 page)

She blinked back the tears that gathered and nodded. Why did he have to be right? His presence behind her gave her comfort. What he would do if she leaned back? Moments later she wondered if he’d read her mind when his arms slipped around her waist and he rested his cheek against her temple. Or perhaps he’d known she needed comfort.

She turned in his arms and raised her gaze to his face. He was smiling down at her and she once again felt slightly dizzy. She blinked to right herself and remember what she meant to say.

“There is something you need to know before I agree to this.” Nothing more than mild curiosity entered his expression. Would it turn to horror once she told him? “I have a cousin, Vincent, who also might be looking for me.” As she told him the story of how she came to run away from her home, anger sparked in his eyes.

“So, I was right,” he growled. “I thought they might try to turn you into an unpaid servant.”

Her fingers toyed with a button on his shirt. “I didn’t mind helping if it was behind the scenes, but I discovered that I couldn’t bring myself to do what Ellen wanted. I suppose it was then that I realized how much she hated me.” She forced herself to still her fingers as she continued. “I was naive. It hadn’t occurred to me that she might dislike me more than my own sisters and brothers, but she obviously does and I have no idea why.”

“Your father caused it. He probably thought he was in the right, but even Douglas understood that you and your mother would likely suffer from your father’s actions.”

She tilted her head, studying his grim expression for a moment. “What did he do?”

Marcus looked up over her head. It seemed like minutes passed before he responded. “Do you remember when your brother, Gregory, married?”

She frowned. “No.”

“I’m not surprised. The story as I know it came from Douglas. Apparently, when the wedding invitations went out your father received an invitation that indicated your mother was not welcome. In retaliation, not only did he refuse to attend, but he also refused to receive Ellen, or her family. As Ellen’s father is a viscount, you can imagine how well that was received and how embarrassed Gregory was over it.”

“I didn’t know.”

“There’s no reason why you should. But that should explain a little more about why Douglas was so insistent that you never be subject to any of your siblings’ control, especially Gregory.”

She leaned her forehead against the material covering his chest and took a deep breath. The cool tang of the sea mixed with the scent of warm male nearly made her lightheaded. Closing her eyes momentarily, she reordered her thoughts and looked back up at him to resume her story.

She was in tears and Marcus was frowning by the time she ended her narration.

“I didn’t want to leave her, but she made me promise. I know why she did, but I still feel as if I…I…”

“There’s nothing to feel guilty about,” he told her gently. “If your cousin was truly bent on mischief, you were right to honor your promise. You did nothing wrong.”

“I know,” she sniffed. Marcus produced a handkerchief and handed it to her. “But suppose Vincent has said something to the authorities and they are out looking for me?”

“Is this why you have no wish to return to London?”

Her nod of confirmation was slow in coming. Even so, she didn’t resist when Marcus tightened his arms and pulled her closer.

“There is nothing to be afraid of, Corinna. I will protect you. I hope you believe that.”

“I do, but that doesn’t make me less afraid of Vincent. He is violent when crossed.”

“Then we will do what we can to ensure that your paths do not cross.”

Corinna wasn’t certain how they were to accomplish that when she wasn’t certain where Vincent might be found in London, but pushed it to the back of her mind. For now, there were other more pressing matters to decide.

“Now what?” she asked. “How do we explain this to…to everyone?”

“For Brand and Felicia, the truth will be best. For everyone else, I suggest we worry about it when it happens.”

There was a new, more intimate, tone to his voice and she looked up to gauge his mood. The warmth in his eyes had nothing to do with the fluttering in her stomach, she told herself. Nor did his hand on her back have anything to do with her slowly dissolving knees.

“Could we wait until the children are in bed before we say anything?”

“As long as you agree to have dinner with us. We can tell Brand and Felicia over dinner.”

“Very well.”

He raised a hand to stroke her cheek and she leaned into the caress. This would work. She would not be a clinging burden and afraid of her own shadow. That was the old Corinna. With Marcus’s help, she would be independent and not allow Vincent or her family to control her life.

Her gaze dropped to his lips, reminding her of the feel of them two nights ago, and the emotions they aroused in her. Would she feel the same way again if he kissed her now?

The thought was lost moments later when he did just that. For a moment surprise coursed through her veins, then she parted her lips as he pulled her closer, inviting him in. Lifting up on her toes, she kissed him back. Remembering their first kiss, she met his questing tongue with her own. Tilting her head to the side, she returned his kiss with a passion she never expected to feel.

His response was to nearly crush her small, soft frame to his harder one. She was conscious of her breasts pressed against his chest, his muscled thighs pressed against her hips, and the gentleness of his kiss in contrast. Despite his tight hold on her, he did not overwhelm her. Instead his lips were soft and tender against hers as their tongues mated in a scandalous way.

When he raised his head, she ducked hers as embarrassment painted her cheeks. She had wanted him to kiss her, but now that he’d fulfilled that wish, she worried that she’d been too bold, too brazen in her enjoyment.

She broke away and turned to look out at the sea, the cool air returning her burning cheeks to a normal temperature. When she felt sufficiently composed, she turned back to him.

“What next?”

His dark gaze was unreadable as he looked down at her and she wished she could hide her own feelings as well as he did.

“We start with the staff.”

He held out his hand and she took it as if nothing had happened. Ignoring the frisson of awareness that traveled up her arm, she allowed him to escort her up the path to the house.

“Diana Houghton is your sister?” These were the first words the duchess said to her after listening to their incredible tale, and, when she nodded in confirmation, added, “My sympathies.”

Corinna did not expect that comment and smothered a giggle at the droll tone in which it was delivered. “You knew Diana?”

It was Felicia’s turn to giggle like a schoolgirl. “I’m afraid Diana and I have quite a history. We knew each other at Miss Ridley’s and came out together, but we have never been friends. Since I married, our paths do not cross that often. As I once told my sister-in-law, being a duchess has its benefits. People like your sister either suddenly try to be your friends, or avoid you altogether in hopes that you will not cut them and thereby ruin them socially. Your sister wisely chose the second path.”

Neither paid attention to the laughter that comment drew from Brand and Marcus. Felicia took a sip of wine. “We must see to the moving of your things to the Countess’s suite. Marcus is correct. It will be best for you to be firmly established when Eliza arrives.”

“It’s heartening to know I got something right,” Marcus remarked. “And it has already been done.”

Felicia smiled at him. “You were busy this afternoon.”

Marcus chuckled. “Once I convinced her, there was no need to hesitate. She might have changed her mind again.”

Corinna frowned at him as she took a bite of her fish. It seemed too easy. The duke and duchess had accepted the story without hesitation. “What will we tell the children? And what of their lessons?”

“The children will survive without lessons for a few days, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Miss Kendall arrived within a day or two. Michael and Caroline won’t mind spending time with us. And they will have plenty of company once their cousins arrive. Besides, they need to get used to the fact that you are no longer their governess, but their aunt. Oh, and you must call me Felicia.”

“Then you must call me Corinna.”

Corinna speared a buttered potato, sliced into it and took a bite. As she chewed, she was aware of no longer being anxious. After their time on the beach, she and Marcus had returned to the house and he had introduced her to Pulliam and Mrs. Barker as his wife. She supposed the servants had no option but to accept her, but the entire situation must seem strange to them indeed.

Marcus watched the play of emotions across Corinna’s face and wondered what she was thinking. She had expected the worst, he was certain, and had been completely taken aback by everyone’s ready acceptance. Brand had been silent, but there was no censure in his eyes. He suspected Brand’s questions would come once the meal was finished and they were alone. He didn’t mind. There were some things he’d like to discuss with Brand that Corinna needn’t know about.

Right now Felicia’s assistance would be invaluable. Corinna’s wardrobe needed expanding. “Is there a dressmaker in the area?”

Felicia shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of. But there are some very fine shops in Truro.” Her eyes lit up with mischief. “Perhaps a shopping trip is in order.”

“Excellent idea.” He knew Corinna had a limited wardrobe. What woman didn’t love to shop?

Corinna looked from him to Felicia and back. The blue of her dress turned her eyes a smoky color that now darkened with suspicion. For a moment, he thought she would protest. Then she picked up her wine glass and took a sip instead, and he released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Once the ladies left them to their port, Brand spoke up.

“I know it’s too late to undo the past, but I wish you had said something in one of your letters.”

Marcus gave a self-deprecating laugh. “So do I. I have tried not to dwell on what she might have suffered the last five years, but it bothers me, nevertheless. I feel like I was careless with something very precious.”

They sat in silence as they sipped their respective drinks.

“Have you wondered why her brother might have wanted Douglas to think she had perished with her parents?”

Brand’s question was disturbingly close to thoughts that had kept him awake for most of the night, and Marcus had no answer.

“There is the likelihood that his father left something to her or Douglas that Gregory was reluctant to relinquish. If Douglas never returned to claim it and she knew nothing of it, Gregory need not volunteer it.”

“It’s possible,” Brand agreed. “Perhaps you ought to do some digging.”

“I plan to,” Marcus said as they finished off their drinks. “I also suspect that whatever Corinna’s father left for her, he named Douglas as her guardian. Her father had no illusions about his children.”

The rest of the evening passed quickly, and soon Marcus and Corinna found themselves alone in the sitting room of the master suite. Standing just inside the open door, he watched her wander the room, seemingly unable to settle anywhere. He understood her nervousness, but had no idea how to dispel it. Most young women had at least a female relative, if not their mother, to tell them what to expect once married. Corinna had neither.

And then there was the fact that they didn’t know each other very well. He was attracted to her, of that he was not in doubt, but he had no inkling of her feelings. The kisses they had shared had been on his mind constantly since, yet he knew she had no awareness of the turmoil they caused him.

It had not occurred to him that he might have to seduce his own wife. Yet he found himself seriously considering it. How would she react? Would it frighten her?

Corinna finally sank into a chair near one of the windows and glanced up at him, her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. The room had a bit of a chill to it and he was surprised she hadn’t alighted nearer to the warmth radiating from the fireplace, but he was thankful she had settled somewhere. He was struck by the uncertainty she exuded, and found himself responding to it. Closing the door behind him, he crossed the room and turned a nearby chair to face her, then lowered himself into it, his knees nearly touching hers. Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on his knees and stared into eyes the color of a misty fog.

“I hope,” he said with a smile, “that you do not really feel as lost as you look.”

Her answering smile was ambivalent. “I suppose I’m trying to decide whether I really ought to be here.”

He reached out and took her clasped hands in his. They were cold and he found himself rubbing them lightly between his own palms. “You are exactly where you ought to be.”

She looked at him for a long time, before she asked, “But is it where you want me to be?”

He smiled. “After the last two days, do you really need to ask?” She ducked her head as a blush stole up her neck. Resisting the urge to pull her into his arms, he continued, “I realize ours is an unusual marriage, but we should rub along well enough together. Many marriages begin with even less of a foundation than ours,” he explained. “At least we have a past, and something, or rather someone, in common. Although I’m not sure how including a lonely scamp in fishing trips and riding excursions qualifies as a past.”