Too Hot For A Rake (25 page)

Saturday, the Sixteenth of May, 1818

The marquis lost no time in summoning the town fathers to a meeting at Waverley Castle. Among them were Dr. Fenwick and Vicar Swiveley. Robert Nelson, a yeoman and Squire Hawkes, two of Waverley’s boyhood friends, had been invited in addition to Sennen Cove’s only magistrate, Sir George Wyndham.

“I have asked you here to discuss the case against the Earl of Glynhaven. Undersecretary Sir Sebastian Brooks, Lady Fairchild’s brother-in-law, is from the home office. He has authorized me to inform you of the Crown’s decision in the matter of the Earl of Glynhaven and the mischief he has caused us all.”

“Mischief? No, Waverley. It was more than mischief he brewed,” said Nelson. “Ever since we were boys, the earl was envious of you and wanted to best you. We all knew that.

Thank God it is at an end now.”

“True enough, Robert. I need to remind you that the information I am about to disclose must not leave this room. Do I have your word?” He looked from one man to the other for agreement.

He explained concisely what was in store for Glynhaven, and why it was necessary. He added, “Captain Le Clair has asked to be taken to London, for he wishes to offer his deposition and return to his home in France as soon as possible. He’s a brave man and his testimony will go a long way to putting an end to smuggling here in Land’s End. The French government has been kept informed of his role. He shall be welcomed home as a national hero.”

When the meeting drew to a close, Waverley said, “If there are no other questions, I bid you good day, gentlemen. Thank you for coming. I need not caution you again as to the secrecy of our meeting.”

He shook hands with his guests as each one took his leave. All but one, for Waverley placed a restraining hand on the magistrate’s sleeve. “A moment, sir. I must detain you to discuss what’s to be done with the Glynhaven estate during the earl’s…er…shall we call it his continued absence?”

Wyndham was an imposing figure, almost as wide as he was tall, but his eyes were kind, especially when he dealt with those less fortunate. To them he administered benign justice, but to others who were intent on malicious mischief, his sentences were indeed harsh.

“What are your thoughts, sir?” asked Waverley.

“Glynhaven has an honest bailiff managing his property. I know the man well. I’ll advise him to maintain the estate and to continue to pay the merchants and the servants their wages from the proceeds.” The magistrate paused in thought. “I’ll request him further to search for contraband. We’ll need evidence for His Majesty, if we are to make a case for bestowing the earl’s estate on someone more worthy.”

“Thank you, sir. Your reputation as a wise man is well deserved.”

The magistrate grinned. “You’ve come a long way from that young mischief maker I once knew, my boy. I’m sorry your father didn’t live to see the fine son he raised to take his place. He would have been proud of you.”

A flicker of regret crossed Waverley’s face. “I’m sorry, too, sir.”

Helena labored over the letter she was writing to her father. After several ruined sheets, she turned to her sister for help.

“No, Helena. Cross this word out. You mustn’t ‘demand’ anything from Father. That only serves to raise his hackles. Instead, you must plead for his help in your plight. It’s the only way.”

Helena rolled her eyes. “Don’t I know it! But I’m so angry with him, Livy. How dare he interfere with my happiness. I’m going to marry Waverley with or without his approval, I tell you.”

Olivia glanced at the clock on the mantel. “Heavens, it’s past four. I’ll leave you to finish your letter while I dress for dinner.” She blew her sister a kiss and added, “Let me have a look at the letter before you send it off.”

“I will,” Helena answered and bent to her task. She became so engrossed, she didn’t hear the door open.

“What are you writing, my raven?” Waverley kissed the top of her head.

She looked up and touched the hand resting on her shoulder. “A letter to my father.”

“Can you hold your breath and turn blue in your letter?”

She laughed. “If only that were possible. I’m done.” She sprinkled sand on the ink, folded the single sheet and put it away in her drawer. She rose and wrapped her arms around his neck. “How did your meeting go?”

“Very well. The town fathers were most understanding. We have many good friends here, my love.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“The vicar was full of news. Banns have been posted by two of our people.”

Helena laughed in delight. “Hmm. Shall I guess?”

“Go on.”

“Casper has offered for Amy.”

“And…?”

“And you have offered for me.”

“I have indeed, but we are not the ones he means.”

She made a face. “Too bad of you to remind me. Well, then. I can’t think who else. You’ll have to tell me.”

“You surprise me, love. Which of the kitchen maids has been pining over a certain stable boy forever?”

Helena giggled. “You can’t mean Trudy and Lemuel?”

He nodded in mock solemnity and led her to the sofa. They sat side by side, one of his hands holding hers and one arm around her shoulder. “Trudy must be thrilled. Let’s hope she doesn’t torture him the rest of his life for being so tardy. That would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?”

“It would, but Trudy means to keep him occupied. She confessed to me she wants a large family. What other news, love?”

“Magistrate Wyndham paid me a compliment. He said my current sobriety would have made my father proud, a refreshing change from my wild youth.”

“Perhaps you ought to ask the magistrate to write a letter of recommendation to my father, though I don’t think it would do any good.”

“I agree. Your father doesn’t know our local magistrate well enough to take his word for my reformation.”

London

Helena’s pleading letter did nothing to soften the duke enough to change his mind. He brought her letter to the duchess to read. “Pretty language, Ellen, but if my daughter thinks to use fine words to get her way, she’s wrong.”

“She loves the marquis, Tony. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“No, my dear. What do you suppose will happen to her the first time he strays from her bed, eh? There will be a second and a third time, I assure you. She is in love with a rake. His behavior may well prove to be too treacherous for her comfort.”

“She might marry him without your consent. What then?”

“If she disobeys me, she shall not be welcome in my home,” he said bitterly.

“You’re forgetting, Tony. It’s
our
home.” The duchess spoke almost in a whisper, but she knew her husband heard every word.

“You may see your daughter whenever you like, my dear, but you will advise me of her visits in advance, so that I may arrange to be absent at those times.”

She folded her arms and tapped one foot. “I’ll do no such thing, your grace. Do you mean to banish her from our Christmas celebrations every year? Do you mean to deny yourself the pleasure of dangling Helena’s children on your knee? Let me warn you that I will not tolerate such harsh treatment toward our daughter. If she makes a mistake in marrying Waverley, it is quite her own affair. You of all people ought to know better than to behave with such revenge.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know very well what I mean. How can you be so hard on your daughter when your own record is so far from spotless?” The duchess whirled around and stalked out of the library, Helena’s letter crumpled in her hand.

The duke stared after his wife, his eyes hard and unforgiving. He returned to his desk and wrote a brief answer to his daughter.

Monday, the Eighteenth of May, 1818

Helena broke the seal on her father’s letter and spread the single sheet out on her desk, but the only words that mattered leaped out at her:
You cannot disgrace your family by marrying a rake.
Her eyes blurred with tears as a knock on the door of her library caught her attention.

Without waiting for answer, Waverley strode in, but he stopped, the smile on his face disappearing when he saw her tears. “What’s wrong, dear heart?”

Without a word, she held out the letter.

He glanced at it and flung it aside. “Hell and damnation! The sins of my past persist in punishing me. Perhaps I’ve earned your father’s contempt, but you haven’t, my love.”

“Let me assure you I’ve no intention of obeying his decree, Desmond dearest. It will have to be an elopement. Shall you mind very much?”

Waverley took her into his arms. She parted her lips for his kiss, a surprisingly light one. There was so much to say, yet neither spoke. They sat on the sofa, mute, like an old married pair who had run out of words. What was there left to say?

“My past haunts me. It always has and it always will. I’ve learned to live with it, but I cannot ask it of you as well. If we marry, your family will disown you and the rest of society will ostracize you. I won’t allow the woman I love to bear such a burden. We can’t marry.”

She raised her head from his shoulder. “You don’t mean that!”

“I do mean it. You came into my life like a breath of fresh air. I’d do anything to make you happy, my love. But if I marry you, I ruin you. In time, you’d come to despise me for the loneliness and the isolation you shall be forced to endure.”

“I don’t care for that, Desmond. I care only for you. I’m disappointed with my father’s decision, but I refuse to allow it to interfere with our happiness. Besides, it’s not only you I love. I’ve come to love Waverley Castle and the people in Sennen Cove as well. You’re a hero in their eyes in spite of your past. You’re a hero in my eyes and that’s enough for me.”

He gave a harsh laugh. “A hero, you say? No, my love, I’m not a hero. This business is tearing me apart, Helena. You see simple solutions where I see endless problems. You were humiliated at Glynhaven’s ball. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer like that again. And what of our children? Will the sins of their father rain down upon them as well?”

“We love one another. That’s all that matters.”

“It isn’t enough. Your father is a duke. He’ll find a way to prevent us from reaching the border. He may even have put such a scheme in motion as we speak. What then?”

Helena’s eyes flew open. “I hadn’t thought of that, but knowing him as I do, I wouldn’t put it past him to stoop to such a low trick. Perhaps, if we leave at once…”

“No, my darling. If your father succeeded, he’d drag you back to London, where I might be prevented from seeing you ever again.”

“I shan’t give you up. I shan’t! You may be a rake, but you are
my
rake. You’re welcome to hold orgies for all I care, but only
after
we marry.”

The door flew open to admit Olivia, who had heard only the last sentence. “Orgies? Are we to have one? What fun. I’ve never been to one. May Sebastian and I join you? Delightful notion,” she said as she shut the door behind her.

Helena laughed in spite of her tears. “Thank God I have you to lift my battered spirits, Livy.” She pointed an accusing finger at Waverley. “This…this
beast
refuses to marry me just because Father persists in being a stubborn mule.”

Olivia’s amused eyes gazed at her host. “As usual. Let me understand you, Waverley. Are you saying that a big man like you is afraid of a little old duke? I find that hard to believe.”

Without a word, Waverley retrieved the duke’s letter and handed it to Olivia. She read it quickly and stared at him in astonishment. “What has this to do with anything? Do you love my sister?”

“With all my heart.”

“Then let us put our heads together and think of a way to change Father’s mind.
I
became a spy in spite of his opposition, didn’t I?”

Helena brightened. “Oh, Livy, do you think…?”

“I do, indeed. Dry your tears, love. You shall marry your rake, orgies and all.”

Lighter of heart for the first time that day, Waverley said, “Sebastian is lucky to have you for his wife, ma’am.”

“Certainly. And I never let him forget it, sir,” she retorted, her eyes filled with mischief.

Noting the time, Helena said, “Come with me, Livy. Help me change for dinner. The marchioness sent word she’s preparing to join us this evening.”

Waverley held the door for them, his eyes on Helena until she disappeared from his sight.

The sisters climbed the staircase to Helena’s chamber arm in arm. Livy helped her dress, for Amy was still at Ship Inn nursing Casper. “We’ll find a way, I promise you. Hand me your hairbrush.”

“I waver between hope and despair. Father’s dug his heels in, a sign of his stubbornness.”

Livy laughed. “Father does not have the advantage of my excellent spy training. The need for a little espionage turns up in the oddest places, don’t you think?” She stepped back to admire her work. “There. You look presentable so long as everyone politely ignores your red eyes. Shall we go?”

The sisters found the marquis and his grandmother already in the drawing room when they entered. After they exchanged greetings, the dowager lost no time in getting to the point.

“My grandson informs me that your father has refused his consent once again. What are you prepared to do about it?”

Olivia brightened, understanding that the dowager had an interest in the business. She could very well turn out to be a useful ally. “These two lost souls are wallowing in despair, ma’am.”

“Then we must find a way to rescue them!” The dowager’s eyes fired up with determination. “There’s always a way, you know. What we must do is change that stubborn curmudgeon’s mind.”

“I couldn’t agree more, ma’am,” said Olivia cordially.

Helena looked into Waverley’s eyes and said, “I won’t give you up.”

“Why should you, my dear?” The dowager turned to her grandson. “Desmond, come here.”

“Yes, Grandmother?” He knelt by her chair and took her hand.

“You must go to London at once and persuade the duke to change his mind.”

“He’s already turned me down, love.”

“No matter. Tell that ridiculous Indian of yours to pack your things. If you leave at first light, you’ll reach London in two, three days at the most.”

The marchioness reached out for Helena’s hand. “Don’t worry, my dear. I’m determined to see you wed to my grandson. Worthless in your father’s eyes though he may be, he is certainly not worthless in mine.” She turned to Waverley and added, “And when you plead your case, grandson, be sure to remind the duke that your grandmother not only approves, but desires it.”

“Do you know my father, ma’am?” asked Helena.

A mysterious smile lit the old woman’s face. “Better than you think, my dear.”

Hope in his eyes, her grandson kissed her hand. He turned to a footman and said, “Go and tell Rabu to pack my portmanteau. Tell him he is to accompany me to London. And send word to the stable to ready my curricle and my fastest horses. We leave for London at dawn.”

Helena allowed herself the luxury of renewed hope.
The dowager knows something she’s not telling us. Will it be enough to change Father’s mind?
“Will you take a letter to my mother as well, Desmond? I’ll write it later tonight.”

“If I’m to leave at first light, you must all excuse me, for I need a good night’s sleep. I bid you all good night,” Waverley said after tea was served.

Waverley was almost asleep when Helena entered his chamber, her letter to her mother in hand. She set the letter down on the table and removed her dressing gown. Desmond’s eyes turned smoky as he feasted on the sweet sight before his eyes, for she wore nothing underneath. “Temptress! You’re making it impossible for me to wait till our wedding night, you know.”

She lifted the covers and climbed in next to him. “Have you forgotten? We’ve already had our wedding night. It remains only for me to bear our child, but I can’t do that without your help. Shall we begin?”

He laughed. “The last time you climbed into my bed, you wretch, I was asleep and you thought I was someone else. I’m fully awake now.”

“So much the better.”

Her lips rained soft kisses all over his face, but her hands were by no means idle. His nipples turned hard under her caresses, which brought a smile. “You like that, my rake? And what of this?”

Her hair brushed his chest, a mere whisper as she bent to kiss his navel, but when she moved lower, he stopped her and groaned. “Where did you learn such sinful tricks, vixen?”

“Don’t you like it? I rather thought you would.” She feathered her fingers across his thighs. “How about this?” She continued to fondle him and he groaned. “Did your French alphabet ladies pleasure you as much as this? Alas, I should have asked them for advice before they were banished from England’s shores. No matter. You can advise me. Am I pleasing you properly?”

“You’ve no need of advice from anyone, my darling. The pleasure’s all mine, but you deserve a reward for your…er…diligence.” He rose and turned her on her back.

“Shall I please you thus?” He took her nipple in his mouth and she gasped. “Or thus?” He buried his tongue deep inside her mouth.

His hand spread her legs apart and found her wet with desire. He stopped a moment, his eyes feasting on her, his ears listening to her quickened breathing.

“Don’t stop, Desmond,” she moaned. To urge him on, she raked his back with her fingernails.

“You are God’s work of art, my love. Allow me a moment to admire His creation.”

“But only a moment,” she pleaded. “I need my reward.”

He barked a laugh. “You are a lusty treasure, my love.” His lips found the place he knew would drive her wild. “And besides, I never had the urge to do this to any one of my alphabet soup courtesans, I promise you.”

Helena arched her back when his tongue teased that most vulnerable spot. “Desmond! Wh…what are you d…doing?”

He raised his head and grinned at her. “Be quiet, shrew! This is no time for words. Can’t you see I’m busy?”

She lost all thought under his merciless assault, writhing and arching her back to meet his attack, wanting more, wanting all he had to give. When waves of ecstasy ripped through her, she shouted for the sheer joy of release.

Desmond lifted himself to reach her lips, his kiss muffling her screams. His body was slick with sweat, mingling, as it were, with hers. Her shudders of release welcomed his entrance, but he slowed deliberately, savoring the extravagance of her response. Her spasms of lust met his every thrust with reckless abandon until he could hold back no longer and his shudders of release met her own. He rolled onto his side at last, his breath pulsating rapidly.

When her heartbeat slowed enough to allow speech, she said, “So this is what it feels like to be made love to by a rake.”

“You have it all wrong, my love. A true rake thinks only of his own pleasure when he has a woman in his bed. If you must know, just now my only thought was how best to please my precious raven.” He glanced at the clock on the mantel. “I think you’d better return to your room, dear heart. You must allow me a little time to sleep before I leave for London.”

“Must I go so soon?” She laid her head on his chest, but her hands were busy. “Oh dear!” Her hand caressed his engorged member. “How can I leave you at a time like this?”

“Good God, Helena! Enough! You’ll be the death of me yet!”

London

When his second plea to the duke fell on deaf ears, Waverley returned to Sebastian’s home where he was a guest, and ordered Rabu to pack and be ready to start for Land’s End in the morning.

“As usual, your father-in-law refused me,” Waverley told Sebastian as soon as he returned from the home office that evening. “I leave in the morning.”

“Bad luck, Waverley. I’m sorry.”

“I can’t marry Helena now. The duke will disown her and I can’t let that happen no matter how much she protests that it doesn’t matter. It bloody well
does
matter, but she refuses to see that. I’m going abroad again just as soon as I can arrange proper care for my grandmother. It’s the only way I can think of to make Helena forget she ever knew me.”

“Don’t bother to rush back to Waverley Park. I’ve had a letter from my wife. She and Helena have gone to Bodmin Castle. They’ve arranged for Vicar Cullum’s wife to stay with your grandmother until you return.”

“A good choice. Grandmother is fond of Mrs. Cullum.”

Sebastian eyed the marquis quizzically.

“What’s the matter, Brooks?”

“What’s all this about orgies? My wife writes that I must ask you.”

Waverley laughed. “Your wife’s jest. She overheard a chance remark and implored me to arrange an orgy and invite you both. She has a wicked sense of humor, Brooks.”

“The wretch! She’d jump at the chance, too. You won’t oblige her, will you?”

“Of course not. I left those wild pursuits in Paris.”

London: Heatham House

“For the last time, Ellen, I cannot allow that scandalous rake to wed Helena. Such a marriage will be the ruin of her, I tell you. She forgot Darlington quickly enough, didn’t she? She’ll get over this suitor as well.”

“You are making a mistake you will live to regret, your grace,” said the duchess icily.

He glared at his wife. “You only call me ‘your grace’ when you’re angry, but you won’t change my mind. You must allow me to know what is best for my daughter. Tying herself to a rake for the rest of her life won’t do, I tell you. I love her too much to submit her to the censure and the isolation she will have to face.”

“Let me remind you that Helena comes of age in August. She won’t need your approval then.”

“Perhaps not, but if she marries Waverley, she will lose the acceptance of the polite world as well as her family, for I shall disown her.”

“You may do as you please, but I can never disown my daughter. It isn’t in a mother’s power, but I don’t expect you to understand that. Good night.” She turned the handle to the door of her husband’s bedchamber.