Authors: Lynsay Sands
Daniel didn’t wait to hear her arguments to that, and he was quite sure she
would
argue, so turned abruptly on his heel and hurried out of the room and straight out the front door at a quick clip. He pulled the door closed as he went, but wasn’t terribly surprised to hear it open behind him before he’d got halfway down the sidewalk. However, he didn’t even glance back at her call and picked up his pace, practically running the rest of the way to the carriage.
“Home,” Daniel barked out to his driver as he jumped into the back of the contraption, then he pulled the door closed behind him and fell back on the empty bench seat as the carriage jerked forward. His gaze slid to the curtained windows at another shout from Suzette, but he resisted the urge to look and see if she’d stop and return to the house. He then glanced to the opposite bench seat and the blanketed bundle there. George. He still had to deal with the corpse and hadn’t a clue what to do with him.
Scowling, Daniel shook his head. Even in death George was trouble. If not for him, Daniel would never have been in Suzette’s room in the first place. He wouldn’t have been caught there by her, dallied with the girl and then thoughtlessly left his cravat behind. She then wouldn’t have chased him down to return it and certainly wouldn’t have wound up nearly giving him her virginity in the back of a damned carriage.
It was all George’s damned fault. It was also the dead man’s fault that he was now sitting there frustrated and still hard as a dead hen. If not for his presence in the carriage, Daniel would right that moment be planted deep inside Suzette and taking them both to the heights of pleasure. But he wasn’t, and was hard pressed not to give the dead man a good kick for it . . . Despite the fact that he should probably instead be thankful he had been stopped before he’d gone that irretrievable step.
Sighing at his own rather confused thoughts, Daniel leaned his head back and closed his eyes as he tried to bring some order to his mind.
He wanted Suzette. As a gentleman, he couldn’t have her without marriage. And he didn’t want her marrying someone else, like Garrison. But he wasn’t sure he wanted to marry her himself. They’d only met that night for God’s sake.
What he needed was more time to get to know her better, to see if there was more than lust between them, because while Daniel found he liked her and was charmed by her, they hadn’t known each other long and the rest of his life was a long time to regret a decision. However, Daniel knew he wasn’t likely to get that time. Suzette was only interested in marriage because she needed her dower to save herself and her sisters from scandal. If he or Richard paid off the father’s debts and she no longer needed to marry, she would head back to the country and eschew marriage altogether thanks,
again
, to the dead man across the seat from him and his horrid treatment of Christiana.
Daniel opened his eyes to glower at George, and then sighed and shook his head. He still had to hide the body somewhere, and they had to sort out who could have killed George and why. All this on top of sorting out his rather sudden and extremely passionate feelings for Suzette Madison. Frankly, it seemed to him that in a matter of hours his life had become one big bloody, confusing mess.
“T
hat is your emergency? You had my valet roust me from a dead slumber to ask me that?” Daniel asked with disbelief. His valet had awoken him only moments ago with the news that the Earl of Radnor was below, insisting he see him on an urgent matter. With all that was going on, that urgent matter could have been just about anything, most of it bad, so Daniel had thrown on his clothes and hurried below in a panic only to find out that the urgent matter was Richard’s worry over what he’d done with George’s body. The realization was rather annoying since the man hadn’t seemed overly concerned the night before when he’d been embracing Christiana in the master bedroom window. Besides, after taking care of George, Daniel had gone to bed, only to lay awake most of the night fretting about what to do about Suzette. He’d only dropped off to sleep a couple of hours ago and was exhausted and cranky at being woken up so early.
“Well
you know who’s
whereabouts is rather important to me,” Richard said stiffly, and then pointed out, “And I wouldn’t have had to wake you from a dead slumber to find out where he is if you hadn’t left without me last night.”
Daniel dropped into the nearest seat with disgust.
You know who
was George, of course. They had been calling him that since this conversation started just in case they were overheard by a servant. Scowling irritably at Richard now, he asked, “Well, what else was I to do? Sit about in my carriage while you gave
you know who’s
wife a tumble.”
Richard stiffened. “She is
my
wife, thank you very much.”
Daniel snorted and said dryly, “My, we’ve changed our tune this morning, have we not? Last night you weren’t at all sure you wanted to keep her.”
“Yes, well, I hardly have a choice now. I’ve—” He paused and scowled. “How the devil did you know I tumbled her?”
Daniel raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Was it supposed to be a secret? If so, you shouldn’t have done it in the front window for anyone on the street to see.”
Richard’s eyes widened in horrified realization and he simply stood for the longest time, until Daniel was irritated enough to prompt, “Well?”
Richard blinked as if awaking from a dream and asked, uncertainly, “Well, what?”
“Are you really planning to keep her?” Daniel asked with exasperation.
Richard sighed and moved to settle in a chair himself before confessing, “She was a virgin until last night.”
Daniel blew out a silent whistle. “That was very remiss of
you know who
.”
Richard merely grunted. He looked pretty miserable, but Daniel wasn’t feeling much sympathy at the moment. Aside from having had to deal with George’s body on his own, he’d left the Radnor townhouse with aching balls and an erection that could have been mistaken for a pistol in his pocket. Richard on the other hand, had apparently had a jolly good time with his dead brother’s not so legally married wife, or his own not quite wife depending on how you looked at it. A woman, Daniel recalled, who disliked her “husband” intensely and had been obviously soused and, according to Richard, had still been a virgin. Daniel didn’t like to think that Richard had taken advantage of the woman; he wasn’t the sort to do that. However, he was having trouble seeing how it had come to pass.
“So,” Daniel said finally, “after a year of misery with
you know who
, whom she thought was you, she just forgave all and fell into your arms last night?”
Guilt immediately filled Richard’s expression. He scrubbed at his face as if trying to wipe away the feeling, and then sighed and muttered with self-disgust. “I took advantage of an inebriated woman.”
Daniel didn’t know how to react to that. It just wasn’t like Fairgrave to do something of the sort and he suspected there had been extenuating circumstances. Certainly, from what he’d seen, Christiana hadn’t appeared to be trying to fight him off. In fact she’d been clinging to him like ivy, and if she was anything like Suzette . . . Daniel grimaced, the Madison women appeared to have strong passions. Even he had forgotten his better intentions and nearly taken Suzette . . . twice. And he didn’t have any illusions on the matter. Had Lisa not interrupted them the first time, and Suzette not mentioned how cold his hand was and made him recall George’s presence in the carriage the second time, Daniel
would
have taken Suzette’s virginity last night, consequences be damned. He’d also probably be on the way to Gretna Green this morning.
Clearing his throat, he finally said, “Well, at least you are going to do the right thing and stand by the marriage.”
“Which isn’t even a legal one,” Richard pointed out, and then his eyes widened. “What if she is with child from last night’s tumblings? Technically, the child would be illegitimate.”
Daniel grimaced at the thought, but tried to soothe him. “Well, one time isn’t likely to bring about a child.”
“True, but it wasn’t one time,” Richard muttered.
“Well even two . . .” Daniel began, but then noted his expression and instead asked, “Three?”
Richard stared back silently.
“Four?” he asked with disbelief.
Richard remained silent.
“Oh.” Daniel sat back in his seat, somewhat impressed, but mostly envious as he imagined having Suzette five times or more, each time in different places and positions and . . . Giving his head a shake, he muttered, “Well, she must be very . . . er . . . inspiring. We must just hope she is not equally fertile.” When Richard’s shoulders slumped, he added, “Or you could marry her to ensure everything was legal.”
“We are already supposed to be married. How the devil do I explain the need to marry again?” Richard asked with disgust.
Daniel opened his mouth to answer, but found he didn’t have any suggestions to give. He was tired, and he hadn’t even had breakfast or a cup of tea yet. How was he expected to come up with anything useful in this state? Considering sending a servant for at least some tea, he glanced to the door and noted that he’d left it open when he’d entered. Now Daniel stood and moved to it. Unfortunately, a glance out into the hall showed it empty of anyone he could send for the bracing beverage. Sighing, he closed the door and then moved back to his chair. Spotting Richard’s distressed expression he realized that they really should have closed the door much earlier and grimaced.
The short walk had helped clear his thoughts somewhat though, and as Daniel reclaimed his seat he suggested, “Rather than present it as a need, perhaps you could suggest to Christiana that you
want
to do it again, as a sort of fresh start to the marriage to make up for this last very bad year. She will think you are the most romantic bugger alive, and you will be assured that any heirs are legal.”
It was a rather good idea and Daniel was both surprised and pleased that he’d managed to come up with it in the state he was in. Still, that didn’t prevent his being annoyed that his friend was apparently equally surprised when Richard commented, “That is actually a good idea.”
“I
have
been known to have a good idea or two on occasion,” he said with irritation.
When Richard merely grunted, he added blithely, “And then you could travel to Gretna Green with Suzette and I when we head off to do the deed.”
“Yes, we could leave—” Richard began and then glanced at him sharply. “You and Suzette?”
Daniel concentrated on his fingernails for a moment, unwilling to meet his gaze. This was the grand plan he’d come up with while lying abed, tossing and turning last night. He wanted Suzette, but wasn’t foolish enough just to take her and then possibly regret it. He needed time with her to get to know her better. If he didn’t tell her today that he would marry her, Daniel had no doubt Suzette would not give him another second of her time. She’d simply return to her search for a husband and perhaps even run off to Gretna Green with Garrison or one of the other men she’d met last night.
Daniel was positive the only way to ensure he got at least some time with her was if he agreed to the marriage and then delayed it. She had two weeks, and he was hoping he could put her off for a couple of days and then head for Gretna Green at a desultory pace that would assure them several more days to get to know each other before he had to make up his mind. Of course, once at Gretna he’d have to decide for certain one way or the other. If he thought they would deal well together, his answer would be yes. If not, he would let her down easily and offer to pay the debt himself to prevent her marrying the first likely male she came across.
The only problem Daniel could see with this plan was that he would have to keep his hands to himself. From now on he would have to spend as much time with her as he could, but in the company of others to preserve his honor and her virginity. He didn’t just want the woman, he already liked her, and had no desire to harm her person or reputation in any way. Daniel was not a debaucher of young innocents. Last night had been an aberration. For some reason the woman made all his better intentions fly out the window when she was close and he would have to watch out for that over the next couple of weeks.
Richard shifted impatiently in his seat and Daniel glanced to him. Realizing the man was still waiting for some sort of answer, he cleared his throat, and said, “Er . . . yes.”
“You’re marrying Suzette?” Richard asked slowly and carefully, apparently having trouble believing it.
“I haven’t quite made up my mind,” Daniel admitted, now picking imaginary lint off his trousers to avoid meeting his gaze, and then admitted on a sigh, “Though I am leaning that way.”
When Richard’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, Daniel knew exactly where his thoughts had gone. They’d headed directly where Richard’s desires had led him last night. No doubt the man was thinking that he and Christiana had done the deed last night, so perhaps Daniel and Suzette had too. The suspicion annoyed him and he snapped, “I haven’t tumbled her.” To be fair, he followed up with the admission, “But it was damned close, and only
you know who’s
presence prevented it in the end.”
Richard appeared surprised at this revelation, not to mention a little confused, and pointed out, “
You know who
was in the carriage.”
“Yes, well, so were Suzette and I at the end,” Daniel admitted with disgust, recalling the moment he’d realized Suzette was clasping George’s dead hand which she’d thought was his own.
“You had Suzette in the carriage with you and
you know who
?” Richard asked with dismay. “Did she know
you know who
was there?”
“Can we not think of another name for him?” Daniel asked with irritation. “This is getting annoying.”
“Answer the damned question,” Richard insisted.
“Well, of course she didn’t know,” he said finally. “Hell, I didn’t know until I got in. In fact, it was my attempt to distract her from his presence that led to the ‘damned close’ bit.” He sighed and added, “So it’s ironic that it was also his presence that brought an end to it.”
Richard ran an agitated hand through his hair and asked, “If you haven’t bedded her, why consider marrying her? It’s rather sudden, isn’t it? You hardly know the chit.”
Daniel stiffened at the perceived criticism, and snapped, “I know her as well as you know Christiana and you’re marrying her.”
“Christiana is a special woman and our situation is not a common one.”
“Well, Suzette is just as special and our situation is not common either,” he shot back, and then frowned as he realized what he’d said. Unfortunately, he couldn’t dispute it. Suzette
was
special. Aside from the fact that he’d never encountered anyone who inspired quite the same depth of passion in him that she did, he found her unbelievably fascinating. Her tendency to just say what she felt was something not done by the majority of the ton, and after a childhood and early manhood spent living a lie to hide his family’s poverty, Daniel found that blunt honesty refreshing. He also found her charming and amusing and spirited and . . .
Sighing, he explained, “She proposed to me at the ball, and then when she found me in her room, thought I had come to say yes to her proposal. Rather than explain my real purpose in being there I let her believe it because I couldn’t come up with an alternate explanation for my presence. I am still trying to come up with one. But I am also considering her proposal seriously in the meantime.”
“Why the devil would she propose to you? She wants a husband in need of money who will agree to her terms,” Richard pointed out.
Daniel grimaced. “Yes, well, I may have misled her as to my financial status.”
Richard raised his eyebrows. “Why?”
“Because when she asked me about my income and such I assumed she was just another fortune-seeking debutante and lied. You can imagine my surprise when rather than scaring her off, my saying I had no money prompted a proposal.” He shook his head and thought wryly that he had rather been hoisted with his own petard. But in his defense, it wasn’t uncommon for fortune-seeking mamas and their daughters to chase him. In fact, the idea that Suzette had no interest in his hard-earned wealth made a nice change.
“So rather than just tell her that you have money—”
“I have no intention of telling her that, and you’d best not either,” Daniel said grimly. “And don’t even think about offering to pay off the father’s gambling debts. I shall attend those myself whether I marry her or not.”
Richard raised an eyebrow. “Why should I not offer to pay them off? It would remove the pressure the women are under.”
Daniel felt his mouth tighten. “Suzette is not enthralled with the idea of marrying after all she’s learned about Christiana’s experiences this last year. She may very well bury herself in the countryside and eschew marriage altogether should she learn it isn’t a necessity, and I can hardly get to know her better if she is at Madison Manor and I am at Woodrow.”
“Ah,” Richard murmured, and then cleared his throat and said, “Fine, I shall refrain from offering to pay . . . for now.”