Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six) (15 page)

She’d rarely been more sure of anything in her life.

*                    *                    *

As soon as Evelyn had left and Pip had departed to
pay calls on friends, Reginald summoned Robert to his study. 

“I cannot imagine why you have not been able to get
our cousin to accept your proposal,” said Reginald between sips of brandy.

“It is not for lack of trying, I assure you,”
sniffed Robert.  “I sent her two letters just in the past three months and you
know how much I hate putting pen to paper.”

“But you will find a lack of funds a good deal more
disagreeable if you do not succeed in becoming leg-shackled to the tiresome
baggage.”

“I am already afflicted with a disagreeable lack of
funds,” said Robert taking the stopper off Reginald’s decanter of brandy,
sniffing, then finding it decidedly subpar.  “Why should I compound my misery
by marrying the chit?”

“Because without Evelyn’s money, Pip and I will face
a lack of funds, as well.  I do not think I have to tell you how unhappy she
would be if that were to happen.  As it is, I had to make excuses to her why we
cannot go on extended holiday to the continent until this damned mess has been
taken care of.  Why not compromise the chit and be done with it?  We cannot
take the chance she will marry someone else, especially with that Bow Street
bastard sniffing around her skirts.”

Robert’s face wrinkled up even more than when he was
smelling the brandy.  “Even Evelyn would not be so déclassé as to marry so far
beneath her.  It would be social suicide for all of us.  Truth be told, I
wouldn’t mind having relations with her, though she’s such a managing female
she’d probably give me orders in bed.”

“Evelyn is quite comely.  Why, I would have a go at
her myself if…”

“If she hadn’t already rejected you?”

“She did nothing of the sort.  I just had neither
the time nor the desire to rusticate and you know the woman never comes to
town.”

“That’s the surprising thing, is it not?  Why did
she come now?  And with that Bow Street fellow in tow.  He’s a friend of
Lynwood’s, which can’t bode well for our plans to sell the Oxfordshire estate.”

“Lynwood’s on his wedding trip and cares for naught other
than his duchess.  I still cannot countenance he married Rosalind Carson.  Such
a plain chit.  I would never marry a wife with spectacles.”  He adjusted his
ill-fitting waistcoat once again.

“But here’s the thing, Reggie…” Robert knew his brother
hated the childhood nickname, which was why he chose to torment him with it
whenever possible.  “While I wouldn’t mind the novelty of it at first, I can’t
quite abide the thought of bedding my first cousin for the rest of my life,
regardless of her looks.  There’s something a little too familiar about it.”

“Then keep the lights off and think of one of your
mistresses.  With the fortune we’ll be getting from Evelyn, you’ll be able to
afford more than one, you know.  I already have plans on whom to add to my
harem, as it were.”

“What makes you think you’ll get any of the money if
I marry Evelyn?  After all, I am the one making the sacrifice.”

“Because,” Reginald said, his voice like ice, “I
could have you thrown in gaol for any number of offenses.  And now that we have
the acquaintance of a Bow Street Inspector, I suspect my task would be even
easier.”

Robert looked his brother in the eye.  “You would do
well to stop holding my feet to the fire on such old offenses.  And you would
be wise to remember that any crime I committed once, I can certainly do again.”

That seemed to shake Reginald a bit for his hand was
not quite steady as he raised his brandy to his lips.  “Keep in mind you might
not have to marry Evelyn.  If she can’t find a husband by the end of the year,
I will inherit the land and fortune and shall be just as rich.”

“And do you mean to share the wealth, brother dear?”

“That is a question you should ponder as the time
comes for Evelyn to wed.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was a brisk winter’s day and the Marchioness of
Riverton had insisted on walking the few blocks from her home to Lynwood House. 
The Marquess of Riverton had questioned her decision, not wanting his pregnant
wife to unduly exert herself.  The Marchioness, Lizzie, had made her wishes
known quite adamantly, telling her husband that she thought exercise was a good
thing for both her and the babe, contrary to the “wisdom” of various London
physicians.  It was a belief shared by her sister-in-law Jane, who was not only
a
de facto
surgeon but in the midst of her second pregnancy.

Marcus had pressed the issue to the point of
quarrelling, then they decided there was a need to reconcile, which sent them
back to their bedchamber for an hour.  The argument started all over again afterward
when Lizzie still insisted on walking to Lynwood House.

This time, Marcus kept his objections to himself and
accompanied his wife, though he told her they would have a good, strenuous
reconciliation when they returned home.

Upon their arrival at Lynwood House, Lizzie was
carried up the stairs by Marcus – the staff at Lynwood House having grown quite
accustomed to the sight – then Marcus joined the men of the family for a
much-needed glass of port, while Lizzie sat down to tea with the ladies.

“This is extraordinary,” said Lizzie after hearing what
had transpired with Evelyn and Joseph.  “I am quite cross to have missed it.”

“You should have seen them together,” said Melanie. 
“It was obvious they both care for each other a great deal.  I know I still
have my American sensibilities, but do you not think it is possible that the
two of them might solve the problem by marrying?  I believe it would be a very
amiable match.”

“I believe they like each other very much, indeed,”
said Vanessa.  “But I know better than anyone the gulf that exists between the
ton
and the lower classes.  If it had not been for all of you, poor Arthur would
have been cut for marrying so far beneath him.  As it is, he receives far fewer
invitations than he used to, though he is kind enough to say it does not bother
him.”

“But it doesn’t,” said Lizzie.  “He is head over
ears in love with you, Vanessa.  That is all that matters to Arthur – to any of
us.  The entire
ton
could cut each and every one of us, but we would
still have our family and that would be quite enough for me.  However, I do not
wish to see Joseph hurt.  Do you truly think Evelyn cares for him?”

“She does,” said Jane.  “Very much.  In truth, I do
not believe she would be the impediment to the match.  I believe he would be
the one to say no, not wanting her to lose her friends.”

“God save us from noble men, though we each have
married one,” said Lizzie.  “But the important question is what can we do to
further the match?”

“What if we showed her how good of a husband Joseph
would be by introducing her to men of her station who pale in comparison?”
asked Vanessa.

Lizzie nodded.  “Joseph is a great man, certainly
more deserving of the title of gentleman than most men we know.  It shouldn’t
be hard to introduce her to some sapskulls.  But there must be something else
we can do to throw them together.  I like that she is staying here, though I
wish there was a way to bring Joseph under this roof.”

“Perhaps Jane can tell him he needs to be here to
check on his injured shoulder,” said Mel.

“I believe he is already well-healed,” said Jane.

“Drat,” said Lizzie.  “Not that I regret his good
health, of course, especially since he was injured by saving our new duchess. 
But, mayhap….Jane, I don’t suppose you could poison him.”

“Lizzie!”

“Not with anything bad, of course.  Just maybe a bit
of laudanum making him too tired to go home.  Then we put him in Evelyn’s
bedchamber and let nature take its course.”  She realized everyone was
staring.  “Don’t be so disapproving.  At least I am coming up with a plan.”

“But not a very good one, dear,” said Jane. 

They were then joined by their husbands.  “What’s
going on?” asked Arthur, suspicious of the sudden silence which greeted their
arrival.

“Your sister has come up with a plan to bring Joseph
together with Evelyn through poison,” said Vanessa.  “Jane may have dissuaded
her.”

“Or perhaps not,” said Lizzie.

“Dearest,” said Marcus, who’d grown quite used to
his wife’s mad fits and starts when it came to matchmaking, “isn’t it possible
that Joseph and Evelyn can find their way to a life together without your
assistance, as able as it is?”

“When do men ever do the right thing when it comes
to romance?” asked Lizzie.

“What about when I offered to marry you?”

“You are only proving my point, albeit wholly
unintentionally.  That was the most bloodless proposal I have ever heard.  You
offered to take Liam’s damaged sister off his hands, as if offering to take in
a troublesome cur.”

“There were similarities,” said Ned.

“And you, nodcock, were unable to find the woman you
loved for seven long years.  And you, Arthur, almost lost Vanessa because you
were afraid of a
Romany
prophesy.”

“What about me?” asked Hal.

“If I were to list your mistakes, we would be here
all day.  The point is we must find a way to bring Evelyn and Joseph together
and, if you insist, I suppose we can leave poison and drugging out of it.”

“A large concession, my dear,” said Marcus.  “And we
thank you for it.”

“It’s too bad Liam and Rosalind aren’t here,” said
Lizzie.  “I should think they would make this a priority.”

*                    *                    *

Liam’s breathing had finally slowed and he realized
he was probably crushing his beloved wife.  He gently lifted himself off her,
only to have Rosalind wrap arms and legs around him.  She also tightened her
internal muscles to keep him inside.  He reveled in her eagerness to keep him
in place.

There was no doubt about it.  The new Duchess of
Lynwood was an excellent bedmate.  Which was good, since that was where they’d
spent most of their days since marrying.  They’d spent a good portion of their
days before marriage similarly engaged.  Life, he realized, was getting better
and better.

He kissed his wife.  “My heart, I do not want to
crush you.”

“There are worse ways to go,” said Rosalind, who nonetheless
sounded a bit squashed.

Liam sighed, then carefully rolled over so she was
on top and he was still inside her.  “That,” he said, “is much better.”

She nestled her head onto his shoulder.  “I shall
never be able to face Heskiss or your other servants after spending so much
time in your bedchamber.”

“It is our bedchamber.  And Heskiss is quite pleased
with my duchess.  I think he would have been very disappointed if anyone else
had filled the position.”

“Plenty of other ladies wanted to be your duchess,”
said Rosalind, as she lazily stroked her fingers down his arm.  “I never
dreamed I would be the one who would finally bring you to the altar.”

“You certainly took a roundabout way of doing so by
running away from London to the wilds of Leicestershire,” grumbled Liam.  “I
have never been so worried.”

“Have you heard from Gabriel and Olivia?”  Her query
was answered by Liam’s light tap to her bottom.  “What was that for?” 

“How can you mention that man’s name while in bed
with me?”

“That man is our friend – and your steward.  And he
is head over ears in love with Olivia.  I was only asking because I wanted to
know if the banns had been read yet.”

“I should have sent them to Gretna Green to get it
over with,” said Liam, rubbing the spot on Rosalind’s bottom that he had
spanked.

“I am also most curious about Joseph and Lady
Evelyn.  Do you really think he might like her?”

“It was hard to say from his letter.  But he is
accompanying her to London.”

“Which is very protective of him,” said Rosalind
approvingly.

“Well, he is a Bow Street Inspector, so that is part
of his job.  But he did say he was going to ask Ned and the others if Lady
Evelyn might stay there.  He also apologized for not asking your permission
ahead of time.”

Rosalind sat up as far as he would let her.  Which
wasn’t far.  “They’ll let Lady Evelyn stay, won’t they?  I would hate to think
of her being forced to stay with her family.  I know for a fact how horrid some
families can be.”

Rosalind’s mother and brother had entered her into a
betrothal to an old man against her will to secure a fortune.

“I am sure Ned and the others will invite her to
stay.”

“We must invite Lady Evelyn to join us for
Christmas, especially if Joseph’s feelings are engaged.  Of course, I cannot
imagine a woman refusing Joseph because he is a very good man and quite
handsome and what was that spank for?”

“I am implementing a rule.”

“A ducal decree?” she asked, barely restraining
herself from laughing.

“A ducal decree, if you insist.  You, my lovely
wife, shall not mention any other man while in this bed with me.”

“You cannot be jealous.”

“Whyever not?  I had to move heaven and earth to find
you.  I love you heart, body and soul.  Is it so much to ask that we keep this
for the two of us?”

Rosalind could have teased him mercilessly,
especially since she’d been in love with him for years when he’d barely noticed
her existence.  But there was something about the hint of vulnerability her
powerful duke had just revealed, regardless of his light tone.  He couldn’t
possibly be jealous.  He knew how much she loved him.  But after waiting so
long to find her true soul’s mate, she was unable to say anything other than,
“I love you, dear heart.  Our souls have joined, just as our bodies have. And
nothing will ever come between us.”

They looked at each other for a moment and it was as
if time stood still.  The moment could exist ten years from now, thirty years
from now or well into their dotage.  They would always have that love, deep in
their hearts.

He kissed her.  Leisurely at first, then with some
urgency.  “Speaking of joined bodies…”  His erect cock gently nudged her from
within.  “It is time again to celebrate the marriage bed.”

“I suppose,” she sighed.  “If I must.”  This time
she could not suppress her laugh.

Liam reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled
out a silk cravat.  “I have a whole list of things you ‘must’ do, your grace. 
If you’re up to it, of course.”

“Always, your grace.  Always.”