Once Upon an Accident 01 - The Accidental Countess (14 page)

Colleen nodded and watched as Cicely retrieved her handkerchiefs, smiled in her direction and left. Colleen settled into the chair Cicely had vacated, ready to read and thankful she didn’t live the life of Cicely Ware.

*

The next Tuesday brought her first appearance as Lady Colleen, the Countess of Penwyth. By midafternoon, her nerves were frayed and her temper sorely tested by her sister-in-law. She dearly loved Anna, but Victoria had been right. The girl required a large amount of energy focused on her. As she continued to prattle on about the upcoming event, Colleen’s patience slipped away.

Anna, completely oblivious to Colleen’s worries, didn’t notice. “So when I told Ellen that you were going to attend tonight, she was beside herself. She could not wait to get away from me to tell others.”

Colleen suspected the other woman just wanted to escape Anna, but she would never say that. She nodded as she tried to decide which dress to wear for the night. Both were laid out on her bed. Each of them was acceptable and much more beautiful than anything she had ever worn. The prospect of being watched like an abnormality didn’t appeal. She wanted to present the best image she could. She knew their marriage would be questioned the moment anyone saw her with Sebastian.

Simply thinking her husband’s name sent her pulse racing. If she had thought their marriage would be without intimacies, she was mistaken. But she didn’t like the way her thoughts drifted to him at the oddest times, wishing he were there to share in some joke. Or the way each night, her body came alive beneath his touch.

As if conjured by her thoughts, her husband snuck up behind her and slipped his hands around her waist, resting his head upon her shoulder. She couldn’t get used to the easy familiarity he claimed. She knew it was not normal for ton marriages, and it was something she hadn’t expected in theirs. Apparently, Sebastian had no worries in that quarter.

“And what nefarious plans are being plotted here?” His breath tickled her earlobe.

Anna giggled. “Nothing worth mentioning. I was just telling Colleen how everyone is anxious to get a look at her.”

She tensed, her stomach turning over at the prospect of the night’s activities. As if sensing her tension, he massaged her back, causing her unease to melt away.

Ignoring his sister, he pulled away from Colleen, taking her hand in his and walking closer to the bed. He slanted her a look that told her he knew just what his sister was doing to her nerves.

“Trying to decide?” He nodded to the dresses.

“Yes.”

He looked at her, then the gowns and then back to her. “Well, the grey is beautiful, but I really like the purple gown best. I think it would be amazing on you.”

Giddiness welled up inside her but she fought it down. She did not need his approval. She was her own woman. When his gaze drifted down her body and then back up again, she decided that maybe she did a little. Perhaps pleasing her husband was not such a bad thing.

“So that decision made, I think you should lie down. Tonight will be a late night.” His lips curved and her nipples tightened against the silk of her chemise. “A little later than usual.”

His voice rolled over her, and the memories of their nights spent together in her bed and his flashed through her mind. She felt the blush creeping onto her face, but she was helpless to stop it. Her pulse raced and her thoughts turned deliciously decadent.

“Anna,” he said to his sister, never taking his eyes off Colleen, “Mother said she needed to see you immediately.”

“She did?” A mix of annoyance and distrust threaded his tone. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were talking too much. It made me lose my train of thought.”

She muttered and shot her brother an exasperated look. Without another word, she left them alone, closing the door behind her.

“Did your mother really want to see her?”

He shook his head.

“Why did you lie?”

He grinned. “You needed to relax. Anna is best in small doses.”

She laughed. “You are a horrible brother.”

“Yes, but I am an excellent husband.”

Arching one eyebrow, she waited.

“I know just what you need to relax.” His voice had deepened, his eyes darkening. Her body warmed beneath his attention.

Liking his easy flirtation, she smiled. “A bath?”

He tugged on her hand until her breasts were pressed against his chest. “I think a proper lie-in with your husband would ease your nerves.”

“Really? It’s the middle of the day, my lord. Would that not be improper?”

His answer was to lift her off the floor, one arm beneath her knees, his other against her back. Excitement rolled through her, her body responding to the need he created within her.

“Sebastian?”

He strode to her bed.

“No. The gowns.”

He muttered but turned and dashed to his room. Within moments she was beneath him, arching against him as he brought her to a glorious release. Later as they lay snuggled together, she watched him sleep and thought not for the first time that he was a dangerous man.

If she let him, he would steal her heart.

*

“You have not accomplished your job.”

He slumped his shoulders but said not a word.

“He has been home a week. Nothing has happened.”

He could hear the fear lacing the steel tone. His employer was worse when worried.

“If the Earl of Penwyth died within days of returning with a new bride, and under suspicious circumstances, there would be questions. Maybe even an inquiry.”

Cold grey eyes studied him. He felt the hatred that touched this one’s soul. Hatred was a normal enough emotion but entwined with envy and evil, it could be deadly. Had been deadly.

“We cannot wait long. There could be a chance for an heir.”

“It’s only been a week!”

“I know she is sleeping in his bed. I told you he would not care. And worse, he seems to be completely bedazzled by her.” The leather squeaked as his employer shifted in the chair.

“He hardly ever goes out.”

“True. And I would like to avoid anything close to the house. They will be going out this evening. I am sure there will be a possibility there.”

He wanted to disagree. But the ice in his employer’s eyes stopped him. He would lose everything if he didn’t do as commanded.

“If that is all?”

“Just make sure to include both of them. I do not want to think of any complications.”

“You still will have to deal with his lordship.”

Every muscle stilled as the air grew thick with tension. “I will deal with him myself when the time comes.”

*

“Any word from the runner?” Daniel asked.

Sebastian took his attention from his wife and glanced at him. They stood at the back of the hall, waiting for the music to commence. Society matrons, debutantes and the men they dragged to attend milled around the hall.

“No. Nothing yet. I don’t want to dismiss his theories, or the fact that I was hit on the head and left for dead, but I have been in London for a week and nothing has happened.”

Daniel chuckled. “You’ve barely left the house. Or I guess I should say bedroom.”

Sebastian couldn’t contain the grin that comment brought. “Well, I have been to the club a few times. And you know that I can’t really go gallivanting around London with so much tragedy in the family and without my new wife. Colleen was nervous enough about tonight. Not to mention bringing the estates up to date.”

“I don’t know why. Your lady seems to have no trouble tonight. Who would have thought such a diamond would be buried beneath her ugly clothes and spectacles?”

Unable to help himself, Sebastian cast a look in her direction. She was chatting with his sister, their cousin Cicely and a few of his sister’s friends. Daniel was right about the amethyst gown being the best one of the two. But that was only a small part of her appearance that had caught him by surprise.

In the last week, he had been privy to the wonders of his wife’s body. She was tall, lean but curvy and more sensuous than he would have expected. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her. Each night the anticipation of having her to himself, of stripping off her clothing, of taking her, left him with little blood in his brain. But now that he had witnessed this transformation, he didn’t know how he would be expected to hold a conversation.

Her maid had fashioned her crimson locks in one of those styles that looked as if the tumble of curls would fall at any moment. A few locks had been artfully left down and every time she moved, they shimmered across her shoulders. She fit into the surroundings. He knew she had been worried about it, but she blossomed under the attention she’d received since they arrived. The color of the dress deepened the color of her eyes and made her skin look like fine ivory. When he saw the cut of the dress, her fine, delicate breasts laid bare for the world to see, he had almost protested.

The look his mother sent him told him he was not to say a word about the dress. He decided he would just have to look forward to peeling the gown from her body…

“Sebastian.”

He started at Daniel’s loud interruption. He looked at his friend and frowned at his knowing smile.

“What the bloody hell are you shouting for?”

“I said your name three times and you didn’t respond. You were mooning over your wife.”

Sebastian didn’t miss the mocking tone in his friend’s voice.

“I was not mooning over my wife. I was keeping track of her. There is a difference.”

“So you were watching who she was talking to, making sure there wasn’t a hint of impropriety?”

Sebastian nodded, pleased that he had diverted Daniel’s attentions. Unease shifted through him, although he knew there was no sign of it on his face. He couldn’t fight the urge to watch her, to think about her. It was driving him mad. Even when he had been young and still believed in love, Sebastian had never felt the ever-driving need to confirm the current object of his affections was near. It was almost an obsession.

“So you have no problem with the Duke of Ethingham sniffing around her skirts.”

He whipped his head around and sure enough, there was Ethingham, moving in on the circle of people who surrounded Colleen. He was a known rake, garnering a reputation even worse than Sebastian’s, and he had his sights set on Colleen.

Without another word, Sebastian strode in the direction of his wife and her admirers. He never took his gaze off Colleen as he passed acquaintances who tried to gain his attention. His mother introduced Cicely, Anna and Colleen to Ethingham. Just what was his mother thinking introducing all three young women to a known rake like Ethingham? He paused briefly to kiss over Cicely and Anna’s hands and then dismissed them without another glance. Anger roiled through Sebastian when he witnessed the way Ethingham focused on Colleen, pausing to say something to which she responded with a laugh.

As he neared her side, Sebastian caught Ethingham’s glance toward Colleen’s cleavage and decided that he would have a talk with her when they returned. First subject on the list would be the necklines of her gowns.

The fine hairs on the back of Colleen’s neck bristled the moment Sebastian stepped beside her. He touched the small of her back, just a whisper of contact, but she shivered nonetheless. It was getting worse. Just having him in the same room with her sent her senses on alert, but having him close, feeling his heat, inhaling his scent was enough to make a woman lose track of conversation and look like a fool. It didn’t help that she could remember implicitly the delicious thrill that stole through her the moment he had seen her dressed for the evening.

She snuck a look from beneath her lashes at him. If she expected his attention, she would have been wrong. Instead he was looking—no glaring—in the direction of the Duke of Ethingham. Oh, this was not good. Sebastian’s usually warm blue eyes turned colder as he studied the other man. Was this the man his wife had betrayed Sebastian with? He definitely was a rake in the first order. The way he had eyed her neckline had told her enough, surely. Sebastian could not imagine the duke would be interested in her, could he? She could barely keep up with Sebastian.

When she glanced at the duke to see how he was taking it, she was surprised to see the smile curving his lips.

“Ware…or I should say Penwyth. I was just talking to your lovely bride.” The duke’s voice no longer held any warmth.

“I noticed.” Cold disdain dripped from the two words. No outright challenge, but there was enough of a threat in his tone to catch the attention of the people surrounding them.

She had to do something to diffuse the situation. “My lord, His Grace was just telling me about your days at Eton together.”

For a moment, she feared Sebastian would ignore her or say something worse. Relief surged when he responded. “Yes, Ethingham and I attended Eton together. Although, he is a bit…younger than I.”

Before the duke could respond, their hostess asked for their attention and proceeded to tell them the musicale was about to start.

“Ahh, I see we are to be seated. My lady.” Sebastian nodded to a few acquaintances as he guided them to their seats in the last row.

Once seated, she leaned close to his ear. “Sebastian, I will not have you acting that way in public again.”

Without turning his head, he said, “I apologize, Colleen, but know that Ethingham is not to be trusted. He has a deplorable reputation.”

She swallowed the laughter that bubbled in her throat. “Really?”

“Yes.”

Colleen was unable to stop a giggle from escaping. He looked down at her, his eyes narrowing.

“I am sorry, my lord, but you telling me another man has a horrible reputation is funny. I mean, I guess you would know.”

His frown deepened. “Just remember, men in the ton are after the notoriety of whom they can seduce.”

Her heart melted a bit at his warning. He was so attractive when he was serious. Misguided though he was, he was only trying to protect her. She patted his arm.

“No worries, my lord. I doubt he was interested in me that way. I have a feeling that the duke is more interested in beauty than brains.”