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Before we go any further with our lovey doveyness I must have your vow.”
“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.”
“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 Andrew’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.”
Satisfied with her pledge, he drew away from her. She gave him a disappointed look. “Now, I can feel the coolness of the cabin.”
“I could return to you and warm you up, but we must get a move on. There will be time for us to partake of some more pleasurable activities when we reach our final destination.”
“Then, you aren’t going to ravish me?”
“In time, my dear. In time.”
HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 80
Gemma watched him from the bed. He was rooting in the chest on the far side of the cabin for her clothing, no doubt.
He emerged holding a traveling outfit. She looked at him and then at the outfit he held.
“Well, that certainly looks as if it will fit me.”
“Oh, it will fit you. They have been made with your measurements in mind.”
“Fabulous. How did you know that ruby red was a favorite color of mine? The jacket is a fine representation of that color.”
“I saw you wear ruby red on numerous occasions, my dear. You are a vision in red. Only someone with your strong effervescent personality would have the guts to wear such a daring color. Unmarried women usually stick to the paler colors.”
“I like to be daring.” His eyes flared. “Now, you may leave.”
“I’m staying right here.”
“You’re insane!” she blurted out, her cheeks reddening so that they matched the color of the jacket he held.
“I think not.”
“You don’t honestly expect me to change in front of you …?”
“I will be getting dressed as well. We need to set off soon, I’m sure Maeve will be bringing us breakfast within a few short minutes, and then, it is off for some land travel. Take this as your time to get to know me, before we become husband and wife in bed as well as out of it. I trust you appreciate my position. You are a temptation. You look absolutely sinful in that nightdress … don’t you know how hard it is for me to keep myself from unwrapping you like a present?”
She gasped, a large lump forming in her throat. Her breath hitched in her throat.
She clasped the bedclothes between her fingertips. Wetting her lips, she sighed, trying to get the imagery of him making sweet love to her out of her head.
“What land will we be traveling on?” Her heart continued to race and her hands started to sweat again. She always got sweaty palms whenever she was around him—it was most inconvenient.”
“Picturesque land. You will quite enjoy the ride.”
“I’m sure I will.” She forced her words out so they sounded sweet to his ears. She hadn’t realized how powerful he was, until now. She should have—but she had believed that no matter what Mallory could fight him. Now, now it looked as if Hart really did have all of the cards stacked in his favor.
She would become the perfect wife for him. So perfect that when she finally figured out how to exact her revenge against him, he wouldn’t be able to recover—nor would he expect her to turn on him. He had declared war against her brother and in turn, he had declared war against her. So, he had people on the inside, well, she’d be on his inside. He might think he was his lady’s keeper—he was in for the surprise of a lifetime.
“That is a lovely outfit. Thank you for paying such attention to my likes and HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 81
dislikes. It is most appreciated.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Do you feel alright?”
“Indeed. Never better. I’m just getting into character for when you introduce me to your dear mother.”
“I see.” A flicker of doubt entered his eyes. She smiled serenely. “You look like you’ve been invaded by someone else—you actually look happy to be with me.”
“You gave me comfort after my nightmare—and you said yourself that I must
embrace my emotions for you. I am attracted to you—and despite my better judgment I do care for you. How long do you think Maeve will be?” She stood up. The draft in the room rippled against her thin nightgown.
“I always have the door locked, anyone must knock to gain admittance.”
“That’s fine. Just fine.” She attempted her best seductive swagger as she walked toward him. If she had to seduce him in order to win him over completely, then she would. Her mother had told her much of what went on between a man and woman.
She’d never been a prude and believed that her daughters needed to be well informed of married life before they were married.
He still seemed wary of her. “Are you sure you’re not burning up?”
“With passion, but I can assure you not fever. Those draughts your Maeve was putting into my drinks have worked like the charm they are. I have no seasickness.”
“Well, what else can I expect from a St. Martin? You have seafaring blood
trickling through your veins.”
She ignored his comment. Had he forgotten how skittish she’d been at the
prospect of making a journey by sea? She was surprised herself that she had not been overcome by seasickness. Maeve truly did know her craft.
When he turned away, she quickly slid out of her nightgown. She smothered a gasp. She was so cold! Her nipples perked against the draft. She shivered.
He turned back to be met with the sight of her naked body. His jaw dropped, his eyes sparked with something she thought resembled raw sensual hunger. She shivered.
“What are you doing? Have you taken complete leave of your senses?”
“How can you resist me?”
“I resist you because I’m trying to figure out what the hell you are up to! You definitely have that crafty glint in your eyes.”
“You shouldn’t care. I am giving myself to you.”
“Like a lamb to the slaughter.”
“Perhaps. Besides, why are you looking at my eyes? You should be looking at my—”
“Stop it! That’s quite enough.” He seemed pretty adamant, though she did catch him taking one more once over of her body. What was wrong with him? Did he really not find her as attractive as he claimed to?
“Are you rejecting me?” His face looked strained to the point where she thought one of his veins in his forehead might pop. He was going to break at any minute. What was she doing? She was nearing the point of no return.
He looked at the door. “We do not have time for this right now. Much as I’d like to make love to you, we are getting ready to disembark. Put your clothes on, we shall resume that when we reach our destination. Do not mistake this for a rejection. I am exercising all of my control to keep myself from taking you. I will not take you quickly HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 82
like you are a whore—I want to make your first experience one to remember for your entire lifetime. As it is, we don’t have the time at our disposal to make your first time a memorable one.”
His consideration touched her. Most other men would have been rutting with her right at the moment. One sight of her nakedness would have made them lose complete control.
“You are a most surprising man.”
“I know—sometimes, I even surprise myself.” With that strangled sounding
statement, he finished changing into his traveling clothes, walked to the door, waited until she had reached for something to cover herself with and then, he left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
* * * *
He couldn’t wait until he could touch her, kiss her, feel her—he dragged out another heavy sigh. Looking to the clear morning sky, he considered her change in demeanor.
She was trying to lead him into something—he knew it, and yet he really didn’t give a damn. He had his own little tricks up his sleeve. If all went according to his plan, she would be with child within a few months, making her escape from him impossible. Once she was carrying his child, he doubted she would want to ever leave him. And if she did, he would have full right to claim her, and his child.
* * * *
She fixed her hair and put on the cloak that Hart had supplied for her. It had to be made of fine silk—she had never felt anything so soft.
A soft knock sounded at the door.
Hart entered the room a few minutes later. “Are you ready?”
She looked at him … pausing, she considered his question. “I’m not ready for anything that you’ve thrown at me so far. You came into my life like a whirlwind, and you haven’t left my side in days. I’m going to stop fighting you—it’s only getting me nowhere fast.”
“Are you calling a truce?”
“Yes. You are my husband. I would like us to behave like a normal married couple.” Hunger gnawed at her, her stomach growled. He looked down at her stomach.
“Will you be able to survive until we reach my castle?” He smirked at her, his eyes dancing with humor. “Maeve wanted to bring us food but the winds were on our side and we’ve gotten to our destination much faster than I expected. Indeed, she was grumbling all the while when I sent her away with her food trolley.”
“How could you send her away with a trolley laden with food. No matter. I will survive. A little bit of hunger isn’t going to stop me in my tracks. Besides, it’s better for HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 83
me to travel on an empty stomach.”
“Good to know.” He extended his hand toward her. “Let us venture forth then.”
Before she knew it, they were off the ship and into a carriage. He was whisking her along so quickly that she barely had time to take in her surroundings. Though by what she saw, she greatly doubted that they were in Spain.
She didn’t trust Hart. Knowing him, he had her right under Mallory’s nose. She sat beside him on the carriage bench.
“When will you allow me to see Charles?”
“Not anytime soon. I don’t think the two of you will have anything of great consequence to say to each other, and besides, I don’t need you planning a great escape with him.”
“I will not leave you. I already told you, I wanted us to be a real married couple.
Think of Kilworth as a bad taste in my mouth, never to be tasted again.”
His body stiffened at her mention of Kilworth, but once she had finished her sentence, his body relaxed. “You really mean that?”
“I’ve never been more convinced of something in my entire life. Now that I reflect upon Kilworth’s attentions toward me, I can see what you mean. He treated me much differently than you do. When you touch me, I feel love in your caress. When he touched me—”
“You’ve gone far enough, my dear. I get the picture. You want me, and only me.
I can’t tell you how much that thrills my heart. I will make you a happy woman.”
“I know you will.” She looked out the carriage window. “We aren’t in Spain are we?”
He avoided her question. “Ah, my beautiful wife—you never cease to amaze
me.” He reached for her. She inched away from him.
“You are trying to distract me. I won’t be distracted. I want an answer, Hart.
Where have you taken us?”
“We are on an isle.”
She sighed. “With that sort of an answer, we could still be in England.”
“No.” He caught her arm, and pulled her toward him. “We aren’t in England, I give you my word on that. Though we are still on an island.”
“You will be the death of me with your blatant disregard of what I want to
know!”
“You don’t need to know where we are. Let me put your mind at rest by saying that I’ve taken you somewhere where your darling brother would never think of looking for you.”
Her mouth went dry. She tried to scoot to the other side of the carriage, but he reached for her and pulled her back. She landed on the satin squabs with a hard thud.
“Why are you doing this to me? I’d like to sit on that side of the carriage.”
“And I’d like for you to sit with me. I like the nearness of your body—don’t you think the atmosphere is cozy?”
“If you think it is—then, it is. I am your wife and as your wife I always endeavor to agree with you.”
“Wait a minute—that’s not how you’re going to act around my mother is it?”
“You wanted me to act like we are living in harmony.”
“Harmony? She’ll know something is amiss when you start agreeing with me all HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 84
of the time. No woman agrees with her husband all of the time, it’s just not normal.”
“According to many of the women in the ton, it is a wife’s sole obligation to believe everything that their husband tells them. They are to be their husband’s shadow