Seductive Lies (Secret Lives Series) (8 page)

Arthur wasted no time. He hired a Bow Street Runner, Mick Layton. He had often heard the feats of these investigators, but until now he had never had a need. Calling forth his utmost patience, he understood the necessity of taking his time to unearth the whole of the treachery—until he discovered that Harriet was in imminent jeopardy.

Her uncle had placed Harriet in the utmost peril sending her to the home of Captain Waverly. Layton uncovered the man was no more than a smuggler.
It may well have been true that Mrs. Waverly was a distant relative of Harriet’s aunt, but the captain was a dangerous man. The more Layton uncovered about the man, the greater the threat to Harriet seemed.

“If it is as I suspect, it is a wonder that Miss
Burke has not disappeared. I would have ventured it would have happened well before she turned twenty-one, but it seems Mrs. Waverly became quite dependent upon Miss Burke. I would wager it would not go on for much longer.”

Upon the information, Arthur immediately set off for
Marsaport. Arrangements were hastily made for Harriet’s return. He refused any other outcome. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her. He couldn’t be too late…

Anger and rage swelled within his soul at the thought of what Harriet had endured. His rage eased upon the sight of her standing in the middle of the lane. Indescribable relief flooded him.

Harriet need not know how deep the deceit ran…not yet. She didn’t need to know that her inheritance was no more. How could he tell her that he suspected his grandfather instigated the conspiracy, bribing her uncle?

It explained much of what had happened. Arthur had no doubts that his grandfather helped arrange Harriet’s loss of her inheritance. Not to mention Ewan’s marriage to Bessie, but there was much left to be explained. His grandfather Arthur understood. In truth, Arthur suspected his grandfather of such actions…not of the fate of Harriet.

Arthur knew his grandfather well enough that his grandfather turned a blind eye to Harriet’s fate, concerned only with its outcome—Arthur’s being released from his proposal. Free to do his grandfather’s bidding…and he had done so.

No, in time he would forgive his grandfather. The other conspirator—never!
James Carlisle! The one person he trusted above all others had betrayed him. But dealing with his former friend would have to wait.

The immediate need l
aid in his arms. Harriet.

His concern and relief mingled with other sensations. Absence hadn’t lessened their mutual attraction. Her head turned up to him. He needed nothing else to claim her lips, releasing her only because they had arrived at their destination.

“I have arranged our accommodations for the night. It is early yet, but I felt the need to assure myself of your welfare,” he said. “I left in a hurry when I discovered your whereabouts, but my secretary has secured you a place where we can live until I can settle your affairs.”

“You are not leaving me.”

“Never,” he reassured her. “Trust me.”

Harriet allowed Arthur to guide her up the steps into the room he had reserved. The room was sizable. It overlooked the edge of the town and the lazy stream straddling the side of the inn. The curtains were pulled open and sunlight filled the room. A fire burn
ed, giving warmth to the chamber.

“I have arranged a private dinner after you have a bath
, if you choose,” Arthur said, walking in behind her. “You do have a semblance of clothing. Your trunk was hastily packed before your return to that hell hole. Not much of a wardrobe, but we’ll change all of that in the next few days. We will get you all new gowns.”

Harriet nodded. “A bath sounds heavenly.”

It had been such a long time since she had enjoyed a bath. She needed nothing more than to relax. The whole of the day had unnerved her.

“I’ll arrange it,” he said. Slipping his hand around her waist, he pulled her close. “I think in all the chaos
, I haven’t told you how much I missed you.” He kissed her.

She closed her eyes and lost herself in the sheer physical response to the man who held her in his arms. Her body burned with an awakening desire, renewing an ache that gnawed for more. Suddenly, he broke from her.

“I’m being selfish. You need to relax. I will be back.” Caressing her cheek, he left her then to refresh herself.

True to his word, a bath was prepared for her. Despite the sun still
shining, the curtains were drawn to give her complete privacy. Undressing, she slowly sank into the tub and soaked in the balmy water scented with lavender.

Her mind raced, trying to come to grips with the events of the day. Still she wondered
whether she lived in a dream. Questions inundated her. She didn’t understand all Arthur told her. She would care one day, but now… at this moment… all she cared about was Arthur was alive and had come for her.

Emerging from her bath, Harriet felt rejuvenated. Yesterday, life seemed desolate and lost. Today, her heart sang with renewed hope. Humming to herself, she dried and began to search for a garment to wear.

The trunk had been packed in a rush. From its appearance, she surmised that Arthur himself that attempted the packing
, because her entire wardrobe had been crushed into the chest without folding one item. Not that it mattered. Her wardrobe wasn’t extensive, but her gowns had been wrinkled, along with her night dress.

Frowning, she wished she had a special gown to wear, remembering the extensive apparel she had been fitted for the London Season she never had. Nothing she had seemed appropriate for this evening.

She leaned down and picked up a small box. She opened it. The cameo was there. Relief flooded her. He had grabbed the only thing of value she had with her, the cameo her grandmother had given her. The letters, though, were gone… the letters she wrote to him even though she had been told he was dead.

Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of a gown
laying out on the bed. She strolled over and felt the dark blue silk. Arthur must have left it for her as she bathed. If she held any doubt about his intentions this night, they had been answered. This was not a gown she could wear out of the privacy of her room. A beautiful silken nightdress.

Arthur expected her to wear the gown tonight, she was sure. Remembering the warmth of his last embrace, she donned the gown. The material shimmered down her bare body, knowing well she would deny him nothing.

A slight knock from the adjoining room diverted her attention to the man who walked into her room. He looked magnificent. He wore a richly deep green dressing gown. His tawny hair was tousled; his lips curved upward. His blue eyes simmered with a smoldering hunger.

Her skin tingled with awareness.
Mesmerized, she could not take her eyes off of him. She felt an intake of breath as a tremble skidded through her body.

“I have dinner prepared in my room, if it pleases you.”

“I am pleased,” she said. She lowered her eyes with a sudden shyness. Pressing down the gown, she whispered, “Arthur, I’m unsure of what you want me to do at this moment.”

“Have I been that
remiss, Harriet?” he asked in a soft, husky tone. He reached out and touched her, sliding his hands into the softness of her hair. “You know I want you. I want all of you. For so long, I have been denied this… you. Do not deny me my desire any longer, my love. I need you, want you… love you.”

“Arthur, we should wait until we are married,” she whispered in a rather poor protest. All the while, she tilted her head up towards his.

He dipped his head and lightly touched her parted lips, tasting her. “Do not ask me to wait any longer. While I was gone, I dreamed of this moment. After I returned, you haunted me. Tell me you want me as I want you.”

“I want you, Arthur
.”

The moment he walked into the room, he was undone. She was ravishing. Her long fair hair streamed about her, reaching below her waist… a shining, rippling golden mane. The gown clung to her figure most provocatively, revealing her dark nipples, tautly peaked.

He had well gone beyond any pretense that he would behave as a gentleman. Compelling desire obscured reason. God in Heaven, he wanted more. He wanted her.

This moment was inevitable. Being alone with her, he had no control of this need. She sent him over the edge of control, driving him mad with want. He had to have her, to know her… to bury himself inside her.

His hand slid down her gown. H
e heard her breath—rapid, excited—when his hand moved upward and cupped her breast. Blood pulsed through him. She gazed up at him and wrapped her arms around him.

Kissing her deeply, he pushed the edge of the gown down
and exposed her breast to his view. His lips trailed to the base of her neck until his mouth found the tip of her breast and suckled.

“Oh, Arthur.” His name escaped her lips along with gasps of delight.

She made him crazed. He ached for her, but he would not rush. He wanted this to be special for her.

“A moment only,” he murmured. He untied his belt. Then he reached down and took the hem of her gown. Pulling the silk over her head, she stood completely uncovered.

He couldn’t take his eyes from her. She was lovely, exquisitely so. Her breasts were high and firm; her legs, hips, her mound illuminated in the firelight. His arousal hardened, sending him over the edge of restraint.

Dropping his robe to the floor, he guided her back to the b
ed and laid her down. Immediately he covered her with his body. She was perceptibly nervous. Her trembling body betrayed her.

“I love you,” he said, kissing her lips. “I want you to know that. I never stopped loving you.”

He
captivated her. She was spellbound. He had made certain of that fact. She hungered for his touch. She tried to form words that told him of her desire, but she found herself incapable of speech, for his hands were doing wicked things.

He slid one of his hands down, squeezing her bottom. His fingers parted her legs and eased them apart. Harriet moaned as his fingers stroke
d her most special place, igniting a cascade of pleasurable shocks.

Her body throbbed with an unknown want. He kissed her, lured her with his touch into a madness
, devastating her to the point where she cried for him to end this sweet torture. Never had she felt so alive. She wanted him… hungered for him to the point where passion owned her.

Taut and hard, he raised himself over her and pressed into her. Suddenly, he seemed a man possessed. His own desire overwhelmed his control. He pushed forward through the resistance. She cried out. Only then did he slow
… until her face eased as the discomfort passed.

Then he took her hard, thrusting into her, filling her and
sensations exploded. She shuddered as waves of pleasure swept through her. Now she was his, totally and completely. He collapsed on her. Never had she been happier.

In
a low, husky voice, he whispered, “My God, woman, I am never letting you go. If I know nothing else in this world, I am not complete without you.”

He kissed her. She laid her head on his chest, content.

* * * *

In the dark of night,
Harriet lay quietly with Arthur’s arms wrapped around her. Tomorrow they would arrive at her new home. The journey had been slow, but Arthur hadn’t seemed to be in any hurry. The last few days, they seemed to have spent more time in bed than the carriage.

Arthur
, in his manner, dismissed her fears of this behavior.

“We aren’t married yet, Arthur,” Harriet protested. “What will people say? They will think I’m fast.”

“Never.” He soothed her fears. “I’m not using my title traveling. Neither have I given your true name. Quite discreet, I assure you.”

“Someone could easily recognize you, Arthur. I don’t want to disgrace you.”

“Never. You can’t fault me for wanting you all to myself for the time being,” he said. “We will have time enough to sort out all the wretched details.”

“I still can’t fathom the lengths that were taken. Why? They hated me so much…”

“Not you, my love. Not you. Your parents and the scandal that surrounded them both. Much weighed on my grandfather. His desire for me to fill his shoes without a hint of scandal linked to our name. I should have suspected with the ease he accepted our engagement that he might have had other plans.”

“It frightens me, Arthur.”

Arthur’s arms tightened around her. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said firmly. “And I will make everyone pay for this deceit.”

“Uncle
Walter…”

“Ssh, Harriet. Don’t concern yourself. All you need to know is that you will be safe.
There is one thing, though, you need to know that I held back from you. It is about your grandmother.”

He needed not to have said another word. Harriet knew her grandmother had passed. She choked back her tears. “Did she suffer?”

“No, my darling. She passed in her sleep. It was peaceful, they said.” He soothed her. “You can take solace in the knowledge. I have no desire to upset you, but I felt you needed to know about your grandmother.