Three Weeks to Wed (11 page)

He followed them at a leisurely pace. The dogs were playing together and some of the children as well. The two eldest sat together on a bench, heads together talking. It could be worse. And then came the sound of unhappy shouting. The older boy—what's his name? Matt's gaze followed the contretemps. Walter, that's it—was fighting with another lad.

Good bottom, glaringly abroad.

Walter needed to keep his arms in closer to his body. At least that was something Matt could remedy. Smiling, he took off toward the fight. This was the answer to his problems. He'd show Grace how much she needed his help with the children.

* * *

Grace had been in her office since she had finished breakfast. Shortly before noon, she heard a commotion coming from the front of the house.

“Daisy! Duke, heel,” a strong male voice commanded.

“I'd pay good money to see that.” Grace rose and hurried to the entrance hall. Both dogs stood by Worthington's side and hundreds of children milled about.
Chaos
. She covered her eyes, looked again, and counted. Ten children? Two Great Danes? And Worthington. What was he doing here? “I don't understand.”

His eyes smiled, and her heart tried to melt.

“Philip, Theodora, Mary, and you”—he pointed to a footman—“what's your name?”

“Hal, my lord.”

“Yes, Hal. Take the dogs into the back garden. Walter, come with me.”

Walter detached himself from the crowd, glanced up at Grace, and hung his head. One eye was turning an interesting shade of purple, his shirt was torn, his hair was messy, and he appeared as if he'd been rolling around in the dirt.

Grace sighed. “Walter, what have you been doing?”

Worthington put his hand on Walter's shoulder. “Nothing but a bit of cross and jostle work. If we can be private, Walter will explain.”

“Of course. My study.” Grace led them down the corridor. Once in her office, she offered Worthington a chair and sat behind her desk. Walter stood in front of the desk facing her.

He glanced at Worthington, who nodded.

Her brother swallowed and nodded back. “You see, it was like this. There was some other boy, and he was teasing Philip, then the other boy took Philip's ball. And I decided to get it back, and he swung at me, so I swung back and the next thing I knew, we were fighting. I'm sorry my shirt got ripped.”

As hard as Walter was trying, he couldn't keep his eyes from shining.
Boys, all of them
. She glanced at Worthington and raised her brows. “And how did you become involved?”

“I—um—I helped them get Daisy back.”

Oh, no.
Grace widened her eyes. “What did she do?”

Walter grinned. “She got away from Hal and took off down the street. We gave chase, but then Matt told Duke to fetch her. Well, Duke didn't exactly bring her back, but he did stop her.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she said, “Indeed, my lord, it seems I have you to thank for rescuing both my dog and my brother.”

“That's not fair, Grace. I was doing fine. Just glaringly abroad.”

Worthington frowned. “What did I tell you about repeating that to your sisters?”

“But this is Grace,” Walter protested.

She gave a short laugh. “Walter, go get cleaned up. You didn't start the fight, so I shan't blame you.”

Grace shook her head as her brother left the room then turned her attention to Worthington. “Now, will you please tell me what actually happened? And what, pray, does ‘glaringly abroad' mean?”

Worthington grinned boyishly at Grace. “The term means that his arms were too wide. As for the rest of the fight”—he shrugged—“it was very much as your brother said. When I saw the clash, I broke it up, then sent a message that if Mr. Babcock, the other boy's father, wished a precise accounting he could contact me. I gave my card to the lad's nursemaid.”

She opened her mouth and closed it again. Ending the contretemps was helpful, but Worthington should not have sent his card. It indicated that he might have a right to—to. Grace couldn't think about that now.

In her most repressive tone, she replied, “I thank you, but Walter is my responsibility.”

“After that I taught Walter some boxing moves.”

She struggled to keep her jaw from dropping. The dratted man acted as if she hadn't said a word. What did he think he was doing? Gazing up at the ceiling for a moment, she blew out a puff of air. He should not involve himself with the children. It wouldn't do for them to become attached to him. Nothing could come of it. Not for them and, most certainly, not for her.

Worthington's heat, his scent, seemed to drift across the desk to her. Reminding her of how good it felt to be in his arms. God help her, all she wanted was for him to touch her. She would order him out of the house. Not seeing him was the only way she could retain her sanity.

The next thing she knew his strong arms lifted her from the chair and drew her close to him.

“Grace, I know you don't think I still want to marry you, but I do.” His lips brushed her forehead. “I can't live without you. I like all of your brothers and sisters. I want to take care of all of you. Please let me.”

“You don't”—her blood roared in her ears making it hard to think—“you cannot know what you're saying. I have seven,
seven
brothers and sisters. The youngest is only five.”

He grinned as his lips made their way to her jaw. “She'll be six in summer.”

Grace wanted to sink into him, have him sink into her. She fought the urge to cant her neck, giving him easier access.

Somehow she found the strength to take one step back, out of his arms. “Yes, and she has another twelve years before I'll present her.” Grace covered her brow with a hand. Her temples began to throb. “Do you have any idea how much attention they need?”

“I got a taste of it to-day,” he murmured against her lips, “and it didn't bother me at all. In fact, I quite enjoyed it.”

She closed her eyes in frustration. Why was he being so—so stubborn? “You have spent what? One day with them? Not even that, one trip to the Park, and what if we have children? I'd be taken up with a baby, and the others would have to rely on you.” She closed her eyes at the memory of suddenly becoming mother and father to her brothers and sisters. “I know what that's like. Mary was barely in leading strings when my mother died.” Glancing at him, she shook her head. “You cannot want that kind of responsibility.”

“I don't want you to die, if that's what you mean, but I'm perfectly ready to take on your brothers and sisters, as well as our children.”

Grace had to have more distance from him. She retreated to the other side of the room. What he said didn't make sense. Why would he want to have the responsibility for her family? What sane man would?

Worthington began slowly closing the distance between them, his tone soft and compelling. “Grace, I'd be an excellent guardian. I won't promise you that I'll suborn all my decisions to you. I wouldn't do that with our children. Still, I will treat them as if they are ours. No differently from the children we'll have or my sisters.”

Rubbing her temples, she gazed into his mesmerizing lapis eyes. “I don't understand you at all. Why do you want to take us on?”

“To make you happy. To make us a family.”

Standing only inches in front of her, he reached out and curled one of her locks around his finger. She stared into his eyes. The blue depths combined humor and hope. He made her want to hope. Although he didn't touch her, she was drawn toward him.

He bent his head. “Let me love you.”

Grace was in his embrace again and somehow her arms were around his neck. Their lips met in a kiss. “I shouldn't do this.”

“Do what, my love?”

“Any of this. I meant to speak with you rationally.”

“You are speaking rationally. You just haven't come to the realization that I've made my decision.” He dragged her closer and plundered her mouth. “I think I forgot to tell you I love you.”

This felt too good to be right. “That is not enough, my lord.”

“Matt.” He nibbled her ear. “I want to hear you say my name.”

Why wasn't he listening to her? He couldn't want all of them. He must be mad, or he simply did not have a good understanding of what was involved. “Matt, it's not enough.”

“Grace, we'll make it enough.” He kissed her deeply, laying siege to her senses.

Matt couldn't be in Grace's presence without wanting her. Wanting to possess her, help carry her burdens or anything else she required of him. He would find a way to change her mind.

She responded to him, yielding so that no space remained between them. He feathered his thumbs over her nipples. She shivered and caught her breath.

“We should cease this,” she said, yet that wasn't what was in her eyes or in the huskiness of her voice.

“Tell me you don't want me, and I'll stop.” He gently rubbed the undersides of her breasts as she moaned.

He loved touching her and her responses to him. When he covered a breast with one hand, she pressed it into his palm. He swooped and captured her soft lips again. Lifting her to the desk, he sat her on it. Grace's legs parted as she tried to press closer to him. He slowly, lovingly caressed her tongue with his, and she clung to him.

Grace's fingers tightened on the back of his head. Her mouth demanding everything he could give her. She shivered, and a deep primitive part of him rejoiced.

Matt eased back and whispered, “Tell me you want me to stop, and I will.”

Grace panted. “I—I don't know.”

She was so beautiful and appeared vulnerable. Yet, against all odds, she'd been strong enough to keep the children together. He needed her, to make her his, and, even if she didn't know it, she needed him in return.

“Grace, let me in. Let me into your life.” Stroking her back, he pressed kisses from the tender part under her ear, down her throat and back to her lips. Her skin was warm, and her small breathy sounds of desire urged him on. Her tongue stroked his frantically, and he moved his hand down her legs, kneading and caressing her. “Grace, my only love, I need you.”

She trailed her palms from his back down over his buttocks. Matt slowly lifted the edge of her skirts, the fine muslin rising as his fingers made a slow path up her inner thighs. She moaned and tilted her hips even closer to him.

If nothing else, he'd pleasure her. But when he reached her curls, she unbuttoned his pantaloons and released his erection.

He slid Grace back a little more on her desk and slowly sank into her. She was hot, wet, and ready for him. Her legs wrapped around him, and her whole body trembled.

He withdrew, then thrust inside her again. It was as if they were made for each other, and no one else.

Grace tightened around him. Matt smothered her low keening cry with his mouth. She was on fire, and her climax spun out like fine crystal until she shattered, carrying him with her.

Afterward he held her, kissing her hair and temple gently, tenderly, before carrying her to the large leather sofa placed in front of the fireplace. He sat, shifting her to his lap.

Even if Grace couldn't quite bring herself to accept the fact at the moment. If need be, he'd worm his way into her life until she could no longer deny she was his.

Matt didn't know how long she sat cuddled on his lap, her head against his shoulder, pretending to sleep.

Innumerable minutes passed before she opened her eyes. “I have failed.”

Surely she could not have thought of another reason to keep them apart. “What do you mean?”

Her worried countenance was only inches from his face. “I had every intention of telling you we could not go on. That our loving each other wasn't enough, you would never be able to cope with the children. As it is, I am still not sure this is a good idea.”

Finally. He resisted the urge to smile. He'd made some progress. “I'm not going to lie to you. I thought about it all of yesterday, last night and to-day. Grace, I just couldn't see past having a future that didn't include you.” He lightly kissed her hair. “It was serendipity that my sisters and I and your brothers and sisters were all going to the Park at the same time, not to mention Daisy getting loose.”

Grace shuddered. “As much as I love that dog, I could happily throttle her at times.”

Matt chuckled. “They are all like that when they're young.” He placed his palm on her cheek, she nuzzled into it. “I've never had brothers. I rather enjoyed it.”

“What about the girls? How many sisters do you have?”

“Four. Louisa is the same age as Charlotte, Augusta is fifteen, Madeline, twelve, and Theodora, eight.” He barked a laugh. “It was touch and go with Theodora and Mary, but they worked it out rather quickly. Charlotte and Louisa already act like they are the best of friends. There will no doubt be squabbles, but nothing we can't manage.”

Grace raised wide, horrified eyes to his. “
Eleven children
.”

He smiled and kissed her again. “In addition to whatever we will have.”

How could he remain so calm? She got up and stood before him, fists on her hips. “How do you propose are we going to manage eleven children?”

“If we want to be together, we will find a way.” Matt reached out, wanting her soft warmth on his lap again. “We shall also have my stepmother's help.”

Grace shook off his fingers and began pacing the room muttering to herself, then stopped in front of the window, her back to him. “I don't know. How do I know you won't tire of my brothers and sisters and send them off to school?”

Wiping a hand over his face, Matt studied her. She was right to be concerned. Although they had the deepest physical attraction he'd ever experienced with a woman, and they appeared to agree on most issues, she didn't yet know him well enough to completely trust him. “I would want to send the boys to school. I think it's a good experience for them.”

She whirled around and glared. “Not when they are so young. I've heard stories about even the best boarding schools. They need to be old enough to know how to deal with the problems.”

When Matt reached for her hands again, she whipped them behind her.

He stifled a groan. This was not what he wanted to be doing with Grace, but they may as well have the conversation now. “Walter is not that young. He should already be in school. I agree with you about Philip, he is not yet ready.”

Raising her chin, Grace stared at Matt defiantly, as if she was looking for a fight. “And the girls?”

She would soon discover he was not easily provoked. “No, I'm not in favor of girls' schools. After hearing about flirtations with dancing masters and liaisons with gardeners' boys, they do much better at home with a governess.”

Her mien as well as her tone softened. “Matt, do you truly wish to apply for guardianship?”

“Yes.” Lord, how he wanted to hold her, comfort her, yet if he did, the issues would still hang between them. “I could never—would never ask you to give your brothers and sisters up. You are doing a wonderful job with them, still it occurred to me at the Park that I have knowledge to offer the children that you cannot, a different point of view, the experiences a man has.”

She glanced up and though her face was still strained, a spark of humor lit her beautiful eyes. “Such as teaching them to box?”

“Among other things.” He stood. “We will discover how to go about changing the guardianship.” He closed the distance between them, placing his hands on her waist. “Please be my wife.”

“I want to. I do. I—I just don't know. I cannot think how we are going to manage it all. There are so many problems to solve.” She threw up her hands in defeat. He caught them.

“We will make it work.” Perhaps if he continued to repeat that, she'd finally agree with him.

The sound of shuffling feet in the corridor intruded.

Matt grinned. “Someone's been keeping them out.” He touched his forehead to hers. “It won't last much longer. Do we tell them?”

“Tell them what?” She tried to pull back. When he held her in place, she heaved a sigh. “I cannot make a decision until we have worked out all the details.”

And to think Matt had once thought his would be the easiest courtship ever. Still, he wasn't giving up. “Tell them we're thinking about it. We must, Grace. We can swear them to secrecy until we are sure.”

Her brows drew together, and he wanted to smooth the wrinkle it caused. Maybe it was wrong of him, but he knew once they mentioned it to the children, the decision would no longer be hers.

Closing her eyes, she gave a slight nod. “Well, I suppose we should get their opinions. After all, any decision we make affects them as well.”

If it wasn't for their lovemaking, Grace thought she might have been able to resist him. At least that's what she told herself. She had made a strategic error when she'd chosen Matt, believing once would be enough. A lifetime wouldn't be sufficient. Yet she could never have given herself to another man. He seemed so confident everything would work. If only she could be as sure.