Darrington 01 - Marriage Minded Lord (22 page)

Unshed tears choked his throat. She’d willingly given herself to him, offered up her virginity. He was the first man to ever claim her
. He vowed to teach her everything he knew of the bedroom arts, protect her with his life, and encourage her in any endeavor she wished to try and in everything, to love her without condition.

“Felix?” Clarice wriggled her hips, which sent him deeper.

He shoved all other thoughts aside and concentrated on her. “Are you hurt?” He couldn’t help withdrawing only to experience the tingling joy of entering her again.

“Minimal discomfort, but it is fading.”

“Good.” Then instinct guided him and he took her with short, powerful strokes. She pulled her legs closer to her chest and he penetrated deeper. Heat and wonder swirled through and around him. Her breasts jiggled with each push. Emotion sparkled in her dark eyes, but it was her smile that made him lose his heart to her all over again. Faster and faster he moved. Harder and stronger he drove. Her thighs trembled. She threw her head back as tiny, broken cries left her throat, followed by a string of excited scraps of endearments and encouragement in French too quick and soft for him to understand.

Felix gritted his teeth. When her inner muscles tightened and spasmed, heat raced up his shaft. His own release broke before he was ready, and
when sensation rushed through his member, he ground his hips into hers to prolong the feeling. He groaned as he finished then collapsed onto her body, his breathing harsh and ragged.

“I apologize for the brevity. Next time will be longer and with more play.” He pressed his lips to the side of her neck where her pulse fluttered.
“And trust me, my dear, there will be many more times. I wish to explore every bit of your delectable body.”

“It is true that the English lack passion.” Clarice sighed and held him closer. “Educating you in this will be quite rewarding.”

“Perhaps, and Englishmen can never turn down a challenge.” Thank God life with Clarice would never be dull.

Felix cracked open his eyes as the midday sun speared through the window. He’d neglected to pull the drapes or even the bed curtains after the session
with Clarice earlier that morning. Now, as his muscles protested the slightest action and his face felt as if it had seen the wrong end of a whipping rod, he sat up in bed. Beside him, Clarice slept, no doubt recovering from her kidnapping ordeal and subsequent bedding. He grinned.
I’ve won her.
For now and always, she’d be his, gracing his bed and his arm, making him happy beyond measure.

“He did what?” The outraged exclamation from his mother rang through the hallway and into his room.

“Bother.” Felix groaned. It would seem one of the servants had just informed Roberta that her son wasn’t alone.

Clarice stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and when her gaze crash
ed into his, she smiled on the heels of a yawn, the grin so full of love and wonder, he nearly came undone. “What is wrong?”

The urge to burrow back into the bedding and kiss her senseless gripped him, but he needed to tend to his mother before the rest of his life could start. “Oh, a bit of
parental outrage no doubt.” He leaned down and dropped a kiss on her velvety lips. “Return to the land of Nod, darling. I’m off to inform my mother of our good news.”

She snickered then turned onto her stomach. “Good luck,
cher
. It will take her some time to acclimate.”

“Indeed.” Felix slid from the bed, and after moving into his dressing room, he donned a clean pair of
trousers and a loose shirt. There was no point in completing the toilet as he planned to bathe and tend to his bruises and cuts later after the conversation with his mother concluded. It didn’t matter what his parent would say. He’d found everything he’d ever wanted in Clarice. Roberta could rail all she wanted, but he wouldn’t change his mind.

When he crept into the hallway, Roberta was waiting in a dressing gown
with her red hair in a braid and a thundercloud in her expression. “I want
that woman
out of my house this instant.” Her hiss rang with fury. “How could you do such a thing?”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mother, but Clarice has agreed to accept my hand in marriage. She’ll be with us for some time to come, and might I remind you
, as you are so fond of telling me, this house, and all the properties which come with the title as Earl of Swandon, is mine.”

Roberta sputtered. Her mouth opened and closed as shock rose in her eyes. “Marriage?”

“Indeed. Isn’t that what you wished for me to do?” It was indecent how much he enjoyed baiting her.

“I did, but a lady’s companion? A woman below your station?”

“On the contrary, did you not hear at the Amherst dinner? She’s the granddaughter of the
Comte de Auvergne
. We are equal in rank, but even if we weren’t, it wouldn’t matter. Love isn’t confined by titles or class. I would have asked for her if she worked in the kitchens.” He took his mother’s hand and pressed a kiss to her middle knuckle. “Please wish me well. In your eyes, my decision might not be the popular choice but it is right for me.”

“But your duty to your title…”

“Is not in jeopardy. I will handle whatever backlash comes about. After all, Father did train me well for the rigors of the title. Who I marry will not hinder my ability to do my duty.” He squeezed her hand. “In time you’ll realize this is a good thing.”

“I thought you wanted Lady Drummond?” She glanced to the closed door then back at him, questions in her eyes.

Felix laughed softly and drew his mother down the hall toward the stairs. “I’m afraid I merely used her in order to be close to Clarice. It doesn’t reflect well on me, but there really was no other way.” As he descended the stairs with Roberta on his arm, he grinned. “Besides, once I tell you all I know of the Drummond family, you’ll thank me many times I didn’t align the Darrington name with them.”

Finally, Roberta sighed. “I apologize for my doubts, but I trust you. I…” She glanced at him. “I look forward to meeting your Clarice.”

His heart trembled and his chest tightened with gratitude. “Good. I wish the banns to be read immediately with the ceremony to follow as soon as we can decently do it, for I intend to make certain I give you that first grandchild as quickly as possible.” Besides, keeping Clarice in his bed in order to bring her to such a state was more than enough reward.

Just as they gained the ground floor, a strident knock sounded on the front door. Since Samuel was nowhere in sight and Felix was in a grand mood, he detached his mother’s hand from his arm then strode across the foyer. As soon as he opened the door, Lady Drummond sailed into the house.

“Where is Clarice?” Her eyes were wild and her frown fierce. “I demand the return of my servant this instant.” Her décolletage was red and mottled with rage.

“And good afternoon to you too, Olivia,” Felix
greeted. He left the door open, for if he had anything to say about things, Lady Drummond would turn right around and leave. He glanced at his mother, who had an expression of curious confusion on her face, then back to Olivia. “I assume you’ve dropped by in concern for Clarice’s well-being, given the fact she was kidnapped and thrown into a warehouse on a wharf in anticipation of being sold into slavery?” He narrowed his eyes, but the gesture pulled too hard on the bruised skin of his cheek that he stopped.

Behind him, Roberta gasped. “Good heavens.”

Lady Drummond glared. “That is beside the point. She is in my employ and I want her back.” She planted her hands on her hips.

Her lack of concern for what Clarice had gone through floored him. His protective instinct rose to the forefront. Never again would he allow Olivia within two feet of his bride-to-be. “Actually,
my fiancée is currently seeking employment elsewhere.”

“You’re marrying the chit? How droll.”
A sneer lifted Olivia’s upper lip. “I’ll make certain word gets out. She won’t be accepted in polite Society.”

“Oh, I don’t think you will.”

“You’re challenging me? With one well-placed word, I can make things very uncomfortable for you as well.” She cocked an eyebrow.

“No, I wouldn’t dare to challenge you.” Felix clasped his hands behind his back. “But I will give you these words of advice.” He held her gaze and hoped his expression was hard. “Clarice told me exactly how you and your father made your fortune. If you say even one word of discord against my wife-to-be or about me
or my family, I will make dead certain influential people, as well as the authorities, are apprised of those facts. Is that a gamble you’re willing to take?”

The color drained from Olivia’s face. Her mouth worked, but no words came out. Finally
, she cleared her throat. “I accept those terms. Good luck with Clarice. She’s horribly independent and quite mouthy besides.”

“One of the many reasons I love her.” Felix approached Lady Drummond who retreated to the open doorway. “If I were you, I’d find an immediate reason to leave London for a few months. I’m afraid that if I continuously see you at Society events, I might be tempted to spill a few secrets.”

She didn’t reply, merely stormed out of the house without a backward glance. As soon as she stepped into her waiting carriage, Felix closed the door then turned and regarded his mother. “Shall we continue on? I find the events of the last day have left me parched and famished. Perhaps Samuel could be persuaded to bring tea early.”

“Felix, I believe I owe you a huge apology,” his mother began.

“Think nothing of it, Mother, but do bear all of this in mind when you meet Clarice later.” Once he saw his mother settled in her morning room, he sighed. Perhaps balancing duty with family and love wouldn’t be as hard as he’d previously thought.

The End

Praise for Sandra Sookoo’s historical work

Sandra Sookoo has created a strong and independent heroine who never expected to find herself in the position she is in. However, once in it she does not give up or give in to her circumstances or love very easily. I would recommend this book to readers who love an adventure and to romance lovers who enjoy a strong female heroine to match up against a sultry bad boy hero. — Kathryn Bennett, Readers Favorite (for
Act of Pardon
)

Ms. Sookoo has written an incredible story for the history geek in me and the werewolf lover too! She never once makes the Civil War look rose-colored, nor does she hold back from some of the real descriptions of prisoners with lice. She doesn’t once become so gritty as to turn the reading into something horrible enough to make me want to close the book. I have to say, I loved how, Southern Lady and all, Caroline is very much a match to our hero, Franklin. Not only did she give us two characters worth reading, she continued with a story gripping us to the end — Teresa T, The Romance Studio (for
A Wolfish Tangle
)

I was swept along with this story and the characters’ grand affair and passions. It is a lively love story but starts off very carnal… The characters are full-bodied and well-developed. Maggie is passionate, scandalous, stubborn and strong-willed, while Stephen is a rogue in every way and both are sure they will not fall in love. – Linda, The Romance Studio (for
Lady Parker’s Grand Affair
)