His to Keep (Regency Scoundrels Book 2) (16 page)

If his kisses were any indication, she rattled out a heady sigh. Collecting her wits, she returned to battling it out with Archie. 

“You could turn this ship around, and sail me back to my family. I told you already that Mallory will spare your life if you bring me back before any damage has been done.”

He kissed the back of her neck again, and then reached around to kiss her earlobe. Her knees turned to jelly. Had he not been supporting her…

“The damage has already been done,” he said softly, his breath tingling her skin. “Mallory is out for my head, and I daresay he’d like to stick it on a pike—and I can’t say I blame him. Stop telling me you will intervene and save me from Mallory’s wrath. That is getting older than a fine wine. I won’t have you throwing yourself in between us—if Mallory and I come to blows, don’t fear for me. Fear for your brother.”

Her heart raced. “I don’t want the two of you killing each other. I will beg him to show you mercy.”

He whirled her around to face him. A rising storm sparked in his gloriously dark blue eyes. They really reminded her of the brightest sapphires. She licked her lips, wishing he’d stop talking and instead kiss her! She feasted her eyes on his lips, pressing her own lips together in anticipation of his kiss. 

“Listen to me carefully. You are my wife and only death will separate us. You can bloody well shirk off your idea about getting an annulment. It will not happen!”

“I will never fall in love with you,” she vowed. God, how could she speak those lies? She couldn’t fall in love with him—she’d already fallen. “It just won’t happen. You might as well shake off that delusion once and for all.” 

“It’s a little late for that sort of vow, don’t you think? Face it, Gemma, you fell in love with me the first moment we met. You lost your heart that day—and I can safely say I did as well. Before you I had many women, but none that I actually contemplated sharing my life with.”

“That’s good to hear. You have been around. More than likely you’ve circled the globe—so, you won’t be too unhappy when you find you can’t have me. You’ll have to go and find yourself a nice little doxy somewhere. I hear they troll the docks.”

“No. I won’t. You will be my wife in all sense of the word—I won’t have to go and fulfill my needs anywhere else because you won’t be able to get enough of me. The men in my family have never had problems with the art of seduction.”

“Get off your high horse. You don’t know what you’re saying. I will never be able to let you touch me or kiss me.” Oh, God. She didn’t even believe the words, she spoke. He pulled her into his embrace again. She was lying through her teeth, and he knew it. Right now, she was inwardly battling with herself for her need to feel his lips on hers once again. If only he would claim them, tease them, she wanted to taste him again.

Her thoughts raced. They were more chaotic than they’d been the night that the Marquis’s men had attacked the abbey. Welford Abbey, shouldn’t thoughts of what had happened that night wrench her out of the dreamy haze she was in? 

“And yet, here you are nestled safely in my arms.”

“If I do stay with you, what will you do when you meet Mallory?” Her heart jumped up into her throat.

“I will. When it comes right down to it, I won’t kill him.”

“You sound far too convinced that you will end up with the upper hand when it comes to my brother.”

“I’m only speaking the truth. Your brother doesn’t know what I am capable of. I never let him know. I played the fool for him.”

“So you played him like a violin for your own purposes. Why didn’t you exact your revenge sooner? You could have taken me as a captive long before Mallory married Elizabeth.”

“Yes…I could have. But then, shattering his life wouldn’t have been so much fun. Already the gossip columns are agog with the real identity of Mallory St. Martin.”

“You didn’t!” she gasped. Never had she felt so much anger. “That will ruin my family, you bastard!” 

“I did.” She punched him on the chest, and slipped out of his grasp when he grunted with pain.

“You are a pig of the foulest nature,” she hissed, backing away from him. “You have just ruined the entire reputation of my family. My sisters will be shunned on the marriage mart—you have relegated our family to a life of humiliation. No decent men will want to wed my younger sisters now—you awful, awful man!”

“Oh, don’t act like a heroine in a tragedy. Your family still holds a great deal of sway in England.”

“Don’t give me that tosh. This will damage my family. What if the authorities decide to go after my brother? You are cruel—you make me want to scream and cry all at the same time. Why? You have what you wanted, why did you give that information out to the papers? All of the respectable papers, not to mention the others not so respectable will be running the news—Mallory will never be able to set foot in London again. That was done out of sheer spite.” She was getting herself into a right and proper state. She could hear that she was shrilly screaming and she knew that she had to look like a spoiled rotten girl—but she didn’t care. If only she were foxed, then, she’d have an excuse for it. “If only you held back the information! You could have used it as against me! I would have done anything to keep you from making that information public! I would have gladly sacrificed my honor to you! You could have used my body for your pleasure whenever you wanted!”

“Using you isn’t what I had in mind.” His visage darkened. “You are putting me lumping me into that lot that would use and abuse his wife. You would not be used for sex, my dear. You would be made love to, there is a difference. I can’t believe you would even suggest that I would use you for that! You are a malicious little chit when you want to be!” he nearly shouted, his loud voice echoing off the cabin walls. He looked ready to kill her.

A loud knock sounded at the door.

“Do you see what you have done? You have alerted the crew, now all hell will break loose!”

He walked to the door and wrenched it open. She gasped. He was only wearing his breeches! She dashed for the bed, and slipped under the covers just as the door opened wide enough for the person to see in. Isla stood with a lantern in her hand.

“What is going on, my lord? It sounds as if you are murdering your wife—I didn’t think you were capable of such cruelty—”

“I wouldn’t dare hurt Lady Northam, Isla.”

She could see Isla craning her neck trying to look beyond Archie.

“Maybe you should let me see to her—does she have a case of seasickness?”

“No. Only a case of being too spunky for her own good.”

She snorted. Isla chuckled. “It sounds as if you and the marchioness have the wits and wills to match. Your marriage shall be an interesting one!”

“Indeed.”

“We will be at our destination by sunrise.”

“Thank you, Isla.” Archie started to shut the door on her, she propped it open with her one hand.

“If your mother finds out what you have done—”

“My mother will be delighted to discover that I have returned to her a married man.”

“She won’t like what you did in order to gain yourself a wife. She does not like underhanded dealings—she will not like the ruse you used in order to lure her into your marriage bed.”

“She knows exactly what I was setting out to do.”

“You have gone too far, Your Lordship!”

“You speak outside of your bounds, Isla.”

“No, I speak fully within my bounds. I am a woman—and I have been serving your mother for much of your life. If you disrespect or abuse Lady Northam in any way, she shall not like it.”

“I am not a brute, Isla. You can see for yourself.” He waved her into the cabin. She looked around suspiciously, and then focused her gaze on Gemma.

“Lady Northam, are you well?” Isla asked, a little too nervously. 

She sat up. She was caught between putting on a show for Isla or confessing the truth. She stared over at Archie. He actually looked a little ill at ease. His mother had to be one formidable woman.

“I am unharmed. You don’t have to fret over me, Isla. I’m sure that Archie is capable of a great many things, including betraying my brother and ruining my family, but he didn’t force me into marriage. I went of my own volition. He hasn’t forced me to do anything—and he couldn’t lay one finger on me when he is angry. I assure you, he’s been the perfect gentleman. He has been like a knight of old. He has acted like a true and loving husband—unfortunately.” She sighed. 

Isla looked between them. She could obviously sense that something wasn’t right, though she didn’t seem like she was going to press the issue.

She inched closer to her. “I would however, be grateful, if you’d managed to mend the dress that I came here in.”

“Mend that dress? It was rubbish.” Isla snorted disdainfully. “It was unsalvageable. And besides, you don’t need to save your dresses for mending—his lordship can afford a new trousseau for you.” 

Her words stung. “You call that dress rubbish?” Gemma asked disbelievingly.  She shook her head. “You didn’t…you couldn’t have…why did you do that?” Having suffered genteel penury for so many years before Mallory married Elizabeth, made her still quite the frugal lady when it came to replacing clothes. She never discarded anything unless it was beyond repair—and she was quite talented with a thread and needle.

“Because you have no need of it,” Archie spoke up.

“No need of it? What in the world am I going to wear? In case you have forgotten, I didn’t exactly have time to pack my trunks!”

“You had time. You didn’t take it. Fortunately for you, I had some foresight and while you were out of your bedchamber wandering the grounds, I had your maid ready your trunks so my men could take them away. They are on this ship, my lady.

“I shall have them fetched for you, my lady,” Isla said, curtsying and hurrying from the cabin.

“Isla, come back. There is no need for you to fetch them. They are already right here in the cabin. Isla, you may go. My wife shall not need your assistance.” 

“Aye, my lord. Charles might be up to no good if I leave him for long,” Isla said quickly, eyeing the two of them warily. It was obvious that Isla didn’t want to get caught in the middle when all hell once again broke loose between them.

“You have been watching over Charles?” Gemma asked, turning to look at Isla in surprise. 

“Who else would? He’s a right and proper scamp, he is a scoundrel in the making, that’s what he is…he almost escaped yesterday, by jumping overboard. He would have tried to swim to shore, if Archie hadn’t jumped in after him.”

“Archie jumped in after him?” Her heart fell, she didn’t like thinking that Charles would willingly leave her behind—maybe she had overestimated the child’s affection for her. He was right though, if he had the chance to get away, he had to try.

“How was he? Did he take in too much water?”

“I don’t know why he would, he swims like a bloody fish, he does!” Isla laughed.

Her heart ached. “When can I see him?”

“You won’t be seeing him until we get to land. I can’t trust you and Charles together, you just might concoct some sort of plan and since you probably swim as well as he does—no, you stay right where you are, little lady.”

She looked away from him. He didn’t need to know that she couldn’t swim to save her soul. She swallowed uncomfortably, remembering the summers spent with Malcolm and Mallory who had constantly attempted to coax her into the water so she could learn how to at least float.

“I could do with some fresh air.” She pulled at the nightgown. Had it suddenly gotten warmer in here? She felt as if she was heating up. 

“You could, I shall take you up on deck soon. It will keep the sickness at bay. Fresh air does the body a world of good.”

“I’m glad to see you are none the worse for wear, your ladyship. I shall bring you your breakfast shortly.”

“Thank you.”

Isla nodded her head and turned toward the door. “You’ll heed my words, Your Lordship. If you do anything to hurt the Marchioness—”

“I would never hurt her.”

“I think I can believe that. You are right, your mother will be enchanted by Lady Northam.” With that, Isla left the cabin.

“Now, you and I can get better acquainted,” he said in a husky drawl, his Scotch thickening. 

“I don’t think so.” She rolled over in bed, turning away from him—hopefully, he would get the message loud and clear.

“I will be back in a few minutes, pray, do not miss me while I am gone.”

“You wish.” Closing her eyes, she fell back into a fretful slumber plagued with images of him. 

Chapter Twenty-One

“When we get into port…”

“Aye. I shall take the child to your mother straightaway.”

“Thank you, Isla.”

“Where do you intend upon taking her ladyship? She is such a frail looking thing—I wouldn’t want you to cause her to fall ill.”

Archie sighed. “I will be having a talk with my wife. My mother won’t like that I married Gemma under such duplicity.”

“You know that your mother only wanted you to put the fear of God into St. Martin—she never wanted you to actually abscond with one of the sisters. To her they are the innocents in all of this.”

“I know.”

“You were only to show His Grace that you could touch him if you ever wanted to. She wanted you to show St. Martin that you could take Elizabeth and Susan away from him in an instant—your mother never would have wanted you to go through with any of your threats. You were supposed to return them as soon as you had proven your point. That at least was my understanding of the whole sorry plot. I only wish we knew what your father thought on the issue, alas, no one can get a word out of the old Duke as of late.”

“I know, Isla. Everything will turn out as it should. I just need my wife to play her role without causing too much of a fuss.”

“And Charles?”

“He will keep his mouth shut about being kidnapped—he is wise enough to know that if he does tell my mother that he was taken by force, he will be punished.”

“Oh, Lord Northam, I hope you know what you’re doing!”

“Do not look at me that way, Isla. That boy is a little monkey. He needs a firm hand.”

“I don’t know why you are even doing this. Take Lady Northam home—this marriage will be the end of you, my lord.”

“I’m so thankful that you have such faith in me, Isla.”

“I will always have faith in you. I only have concern that you are getting in too deep. Won’t this rock the English ton? And you won’t ever be able to show your face there again. I worry about you—and I worry about your family.”

“I worry about the family as well. You needn’t worry. Our sins shall be forgiven. I haven’t done anything improper. I’ve merely taken my wife back to be with my people.”

“Maybe so, but I worry that you have gone and done something you can never atone for. As for His Grace, You have taken something that he treasures—he will not give a damn what he has to do to get her back. I saw him on the night when we attacked him. He looked like an avenging angel, he will root you out, and he will kill you.”

“Not if I kill him first.”

“Will that death bring your poor brother back?”

“No, but it shall ease my own guilt.”

Archie looked away from her. “I think you should go and attend to Charles.”

“You pay depend upon me.”

“I trust you with my life, Isla. Now trust me and put your faith in what I am doing. Everything will turn out the way I want it to. I am charmed, remember?”

“Charming—aye, you are at that. Charmed, though? I don’t know about that. That good streak of luck you seem to be blessed with just might run out—you’ve taken on a greater foe than you have ever fought before.”

“I do not view St. Martin as my greater foe.”

“Oh, I’m not referring to the Duke. I’m referring to his sister. She seems ready to give you a world full of grief. And as your wife—she is the woman to do it. I’ll only say one thing—you asked for it.” At those words, Isla let out a chortle, taking supreme satisfaction out of his discomfort.

Shaking his head, he headed back for his cabin. Opening the door slowly, he took a moment to commit the sight before him to memory. She looked like an angel from heaven. Her breathing was deep. She had fallen back into a dreamy slumber. He couldn’t blame her—she was used to a soft sort of life—she was used to being pampered. He could get used to having her in his bed sleeping in late—

She murmured something else inaudible in her sleep. Her breathing became labored. Her peaceful dream had slowly turned into a nightmare.

Walking gingerly toward the bed, he sat down and reached for her. She fell into his arms easily—and her nightmare was affecting her so deeply, that she placed her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. 

“What? Where am I?” she asked groggily, awakening with a start. Her eyes flared with anger, and then, as if she was still haunted by her nightmare, she relaxed.

“You were having a bad dream,” he murmured. 

“I know,” she shivered. “I don’t remember it—but I don’t think I want to remember anyway.” Shuddering again, she pressed herself closer to him.

He could only appreciate how nicely she fit into his arms. He didn’t want to let her go—they would be at the end of their journey soon, and he couldn’t keep her on the ship forever. Already, she was starting to look a little ill from the short sea voyage. It was a blessing that he’d had Isla along to give her tonics in her food to combat any true sign of nausea.

“No, I don’t think any of us want to remember our nightmares, real or imaginary,” he reflected, staring off distantly, as his own memories washed over him.

She sighed. The sound of it was music to his ears.

“You seem so loving right now—why don’t you just take me home? All will be forgiven, I promise.”

“No. There is no turning back. I had Isla already give me a lecture—you can talk until you are hoarse. It makes no difference to me.”

“Why? You profess to care for me—does what I think matter so little? Perhaps, perhaps you just did marry me out of revenge. I didn’t even want this marriage,” her voice trailed off. Obviously she didn’t even believe what she’d just said.

“You wanted this marriage, the tone of your voice just gave you away.”

“I don’t know what I’m saying anymore. I’m so confused. I wouldn’t have married you if I hadn’t wanted to no one can make me do something I don’t want to do…”

“Ah, there you said it.”

“Oh, stop it.”

“We didn’t have much of a courtship, did we? No dances or balls, you deserved more.”

“Mayhap it would be better if you just let me go.” She looked up at Archie. She still hadn’t drawn away from him—but she was furious with him. “You have set our families against each other. Mallory will never let this go—he will gun for you until you are dead!”

“Not if I get him first.”

“You won’t. I’m asking you to not kill him, please. If you did, any chance you ever had with me would be shattered once and for all. I won’t ever forgive you.”

He gave consideration to what she’d said. Her determination knew no bounds. If he did ever serve Mallory a deathblow, she would hate him with a passion. He couldn’t do that—he couldn’t risk that. Because no matter how tightly controlled he sometimes seemed to people, he had met his match in Gemma. She might be a spoiled little brat, but she was his brat, and he loved her with all of his heart and soul.

“I won’t kill Mallory,” he relented after due reflection. “As long as he doesn’t try to spill my guts, I will keep him wholly intact. I promise.” 

She searched his face and his eyes for any trace of a lie.

“I believe you,” she said, nodding her head. 

“There is, however, a condition.”

“What now? You ask too much of me, Archie.”

“I don’t think I do,” he said softly, grunting, and tightening his hold on her. She suddenly became as frisky as a cat in his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just shifting my weight.” He had her pressed right against him, so she would be able to feel every single one of his muscles, and in turn, he could feel every single one of her curves. He could feel her nipples puckering beneath her silk nightgown. He grinned. “Your passions are getting riled, my love.”

She tried to push away from him. Her breathing became labored with her actions.

“Archie, stop this at once!”

“No.” His reply was simple, and gave her no leeway to respond. Instead, she gaped at him. With her blonde hair falling forward, framing her pale face, his groin tightened. How easy it would be to just make love to her right here and now. “Now,” his voice was but a husky whisper, he cupped her face with his free arm. “Smile for me, Gemma, and show me those gorgeous dimples of yours.”

“Stuff it,” she hissed, trying to free her face from his hold. Her green eyes were ablaze with anger. She looked ready to murder someone. She looked prepared to murder him.

“Ah, yes, I almost forgot—there is a matter of great importance that we need to discuss.”

“Like how you’re going to take me against my will?”

“Do not act so defiant, my dear. You want me. I excite you—I make you quiver when you see me, your heart soars, and your palms tingle—you are in love with me.”

“No, I am not.”

“There it is again. You are lying. Do not try to pledge something even you don’t believe. My mother will know you are lying as well.”

“I don’t think your mother will get involved. We should hardly concern her.”

He laughed. “You don’t know much about my mother. I wasn’t supposed to actually do anything. She only wanted me to threaten Mallory—I don’t think she even dreamt that I would be reckless enough to do what I did.”

“You say you haven’t done anything reckless. You say you did nothing wrong. I am your wife, and taking me from my home could hardly be considered an offense, could it?”

“I don’t regard you as chattel. I was wrong to take you as I did. I went too far, and now…well, I can hardly go back and fix it all, can I?”

“That’s just it, you can go back and fix it. Take me home, Archie,” she implored.

“I can’t,” he said stiffly. “No matter what you do, pray don’t make my mother aware of your disdain for me. Please, let her think that you think fondly of me.”

“To hell with that.”

He sighed. “You really don’t like to do anything the easy way, do you?”

“Not where you are concerned, you blackguard.” Her heart was breaking. She didn’t want to be this hardhearted with him but she couldn’t help herself. He had to be made to see reason.

“Now, you’re just trying to flatter me,” he said softly, earning a soft smile.

“You bloody scoundrel.”

“Aye, that’s right. I’m your scoundrel. Give in to it, my lady. Embrace your feelings for me. You are completely besotted with me.”

“I do not feel that way.”

“Yes, you do.”

“There we go again, we sound like children,” Gemma sighed.

“That’s what we need to avoid in front of my mother. As we speak, I have agents placed close to Mallory and his family.”

“No. Mallory will have already taken steps to defend the family.”

“I still have a few men on the inside.”

Her face blanched. Her eyes widened, making his groin stir. He was using all of his willpower to keep himself from making sweet love to her.

“I kept myself out of society for far too long. I should know about a family with as much reach as yours seems to have.”

“We keep to ourselves as well, my lovely. We, we like to live in the shadows. I should have offered a bride price for you.” 

“Hardly,” she snorted. “I am not worth it.”

“Oh, but I beg to differ. You are priceless. I can easily afford it. My coffers make Geoffrey Woodward look like a penniless beggar.”

“Impossible.”

“No, indeed. It is quite possible.”

She seemed stunned. “I wish we’d met when we were penniless. I could have been the one to save us all, instead of having to rely on Mallory to do it.”

“You already have saved your family. You saved Mallory’s life, and you will continue to keep them safe as long as you attempt to enjoy yourself as my wife.”

“Enjoy myself? I shan’t be holding balls or any of that nonsense.”

“We are a little out of society’s reach here. You will have to wait until I can take us back to London Society before you plan on holding any grand social soirees. Shall I have your promise?”

“I don’t follow, what do you want me to promise now?”

“Promise to keep up appearances with my mother. Make her believe that you love me, and that you are completely happy with this match. Do I have your vow, Gemma?” he asked earnestly.

She licked her lips. She could hardly refuse him. What harm would this do?

“You do,” she said softly. “I promise to make your mother think we are the rarest of lovebirds. I will make her think that my entire life revolves around you. I shall show her that you make my night and my day. I will do anything to keep my family safe from harm.”

“You must love your brother much more than you let on.”

“I have already lost one brother—I won’t let you take away another one,” her voice broke, his heart panged painfully.

Distressing her like this was killing him on the inside, but what other recourse did he have? 

“I didn’t have anything to do with Malcolm’s death. He was an upstanding, genuinely honorable man. It is a shame that he is dead.”

She pursed her lips. Water pooled in her eyes. “Yes, it is.”