The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) (22 page)

He tapped a fingernail against his teeth in a parody of deep thought while Amanda busied herself exploring his chest with her fingers. "Let me see, when did I first feel affection for you, brat? Was it when you turned on me in anger after I'd saved you from those footpads? No, not then. Was it while you were holding a knife, ready to sink it into my chest, that I found my heart melting toward you? No, it was a strong emotion I felt at the time—but as I remember it, that emotion was total exasperation, not love. No, it was neither of those times. Stop that, brat, it tickles. Let me think. Well, if you must know, I fell in love with you—I warn you, stop that—when we kissed for the first time, in the meadow. Perhaps I was still stunned from my fall and mistook the stars circling my head for love, but I'm fairly certain it was then." He grinned as she lifted her head to glare at him. "Now, turnabout is fair play. When, my dear imp, did you know you loved me?"

"When? It seems we fell in love about the same time. I only bested you by a few moments. You see, I really thought I hated you until you stupidly fell from your horse, but as you lay there it suddenly meant very much to me to see you open your eyes. I knew then that I loved you, but I wouldn't admit it, even to myself. Although you probably had me at a disadvantage as you looked so very young and vulnerable lying there in the clover, rather like a lost little boy, your—
ouch
! Idiot! Don't do that!"

Jared had taken a playful nip at Amanda's soft earlobe. "Oh, really?" Grinning wickedly, he intoned in mock severity, "Now why do I find it so difficult to believe that story? But would you like to know what I
do
believe? I believe it's time I schooled you in showing the proper respect for your husband, brat. For instance—a husband is never
stupid
, and I for one have never been in the least bit
vulnerable
."

"Yes, husband," Amanda answered, pressing kisses against his throat. "Never stupid, never vulnerable. But you do talk too much sometimes."

Jared chuckled low in his throat. "On that, madam, I agree. Now, if we're done with wifely lessons, I do believe it might be time I showed you again just how much I love you. So, are you adequately chastised, madam?"

"Indeed, yes, my lord. I've learned my lesson," Amanda responded, moving against him, lifting her face for his kiss. "In fact, I think I'll have to rack my brain weekly to discover ways to receive further instruction in the respect due my husband." She sighed as he slowly rolled her over onto her back, laid a hand on her slightly rounded belly, then slipped his fingers lower. "Poor Mr. Rawlings and Mr. Chevington," she said, sighing contentedly. "I do believe dinner will be rather late this evening."

"Wife, I shall ever be amazed at your brazen tongue." Jared leaned over her, ready to take her mouth. "Ever grateful."

And ever aware of all he had to lose...

#

Bo and Kevin were in the blue room, sharing a few drinks before dinner, when Jared and Amanda paused in the doorway. Dressed in a golden gown that nearly matched her eyes, Amanda positively glowed with health and shared love.

For his part, Jared looked exceedingly handsome and well pleased with himself in his suit of blue superfine, and his eyes clouded only for a moment when they encountered the portrait of his mother. He leaned over and whispered to his wife. "She looks very content, doesn't she?" and was rewarded by Amanda's smile.

Kevin saw them first and shot to his feet. "By gad, Jared, could this be the little ragamuffin we saw at the inn? No wonder you were in such a rush to wed her and, may I add, why you continue to wear that insufferably smug look." He took Amanda's hand and raised it to his lips. "My most bewitching madam, let us murder this oaf and run away together. I am by far the better man."

Amanda's delighted laughter brightened the room like summer sunlight. "So we meet again, Mr. Rawlings, and I see your tongue is even more silken than before." She daintily withdrew her hand and inclined her head to Bo. "And you, Mr. Chevington. I'm delighted to see you again, but pray, what has happened to your eye? It looks excruciatingly tender."

"Amanda, it's not polite to remark on poor Bo's appearance. You should ignore his obviously ill-gotten injury as if it were not there," Jared chided with a grin.

"Nonsense," Amanda returned, slipping her hand into Bo's. "You come and sit down, and let me call for my maid. Sally knows just how to deal with these things. Poor man, you shouldn't be standing about."

A thoroughly enamored Bo was led to a nearby chair as Jared resignedly rang for the butler. While they waited for the maid, they watched as Amanda fussed over the embarrassed Bo. Kevin turned to Jared and pleaded with a smile, "I feel quite neglected. Be so good as to punch me, Jared. Perhaps a bruise or two would find me some of your wife's sweet consideration."

"I won't hit you, you fool, but I will refill your glass if you like." He paused to glance at his wife and friend, now wrapped in earnest conversation. "I'll be damned, Kevin, if the imp doesn't appear to understand his every word."

But Kevin was gone, hastily finding a seat near Amanda and vying for her attention as the maid swiftly dealt with Bo's injured eye. By the time dinner was announced Jared found himself walking alone to the dining room, as Amanda had given an arm to each of his friends—Bo because he had asked nicely, and Kevin because he had issued a vow to shoot himself if she didn't allow him to escort her.

As Jared watched their departing backs he decided Amanda had been right, and she should be allowed to introduce his friends to the local society. Perhaps, if the pair of them had to spend their time hiding from winsome country misses it would keep them away from his wife!

After a fine country dinner, Bo and Kevin turned down brandy and cigars in favor of returning to the blue room with Amanda. Once settled on facing sofas, Jared quickly maneuvering himself to sit by her side, Amanda asked, "Was the Season a success, gentlemen? I'm afraid I left London during the first week."

"The Season was its usual crushing bore, my lady," Kevin answered. "Endless parties deemed a success only if the place was so crowded you couldn't find the supper room, and the selection of eligible females—ah, Jared picked the rose from the thorns so quickly we none of us had a chance, and I for one refuse to settle for second-best."

Jared laughed. "What about this year's Chatsworth? I myself danced with her at Almacks."

Kevin wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Which one would that be, friend? The one with the squint, or the blonde one, with the spots?"

"One more, Kevin. Has chicken teeth."

"Bo, your ignorance is showing again," Kevin returned with a wink at Amanda. "A chicken don't have teeth."

"Oh? Really? Chicken mouth then. Charity Chicken, right?" he ended, undaunted.

"Charity?" Amanda interposed, obviously having already devoted some time to the project of naming her own child. "Charity Chatsworth? Oh, what a perfectly awful thing to do to an innocent child. Why ever did they name her Charity?"

Jared leaned over and patted her hand. "They had to, pet. The first two horrors were named Faith and Hope. Charity just naturally followed—and she squints. Hope has the chicken teeth. But don't concern yourself, for even though a man would have more chance of intelligent conversation with a doorknob, they all have very hefty marriage portions and will find themselves husbands by and by."

"Some dark night," Kevin suggested, lifting his glass.

"Mr. Rawlings, you are a mean man."

"Indeed, no, my lady, it's you who are unkind. Calling your husband's good friend Mister. Please, I am no more than Kevin, for I wish to be as a brother to you."

Amanda looked inquiringly at her husband, who only smiled, saying, "Very well, Kevin. And I imagine you have her permission to address her as Amanda. But I warn you: I am a very jealous man."

"Demmed good shot, too," Bo added, and everyone laughed.

The new friends spent the rest of the evening in lighthearted banter, Kevin and Bo both agreeing to make it an early night after their activities of the previous evening. After they had retired, Amanda told her husband how delighted she was with his friends.

"Yes, imp," he replied, "but I must warn you, not all members of polite society are as open and above board as those two—although I must admit they're also both rather rackety. You mustn't be too trusting of everyone you meet. Bo and Kevin have been my friends for many years, but for a woman to be on such good terms with the male members of the
ton
would raise quite a few eyebrows. So, when we give our little parties, you must address them by their proper names."

Amanda clapped her hands in delight. "Parties, Jared? Then I can invite our neighbors over for a party? Oh, thank you. I can hardly wait to show off Storm Haven in all its new glory—and prove myself to you as a good hostess. Shall we open the ballroom? Oh, yes—yes, of course. We must have dancing. Aunt Agatha will be over the moon!"

Jared shook his head, knowing he'd just opened up his friends to his wife's matchmaking—and not able to feel too badly about this small betrayal of their friendship. "Madam," he protested halfheartedly, "my friends are here to rusticae, and you're not to try to marry them off, remember? Don't deny it; I can see it in your eyes. Now, they'll be with us for no more than a few weeks, and in that time I expect no more than two parties, three at the most. Have I made myself clear?"

Amanda looked quite crestfallen. "But, Jared, we're so happy. Surely you wish nothing less for your friends?"

Jared took her hands in his. "There is only one Mandy and she's mine. Bo and Kevin will just have to stumble along as best they can on their own."

"Yes, Jared," Amanda murmured meekly. Only one small dinner party, and one tiny dance. I promise." Her mind was working swiftly. She would have her first small dinner party the very next night, and after word got round that two eligible London bachelors were in residence at Storm Haven there would be few idle evenings. She lifted her face for her husband's kiss, already planning the menu for her opening salvo.

She adored being married. And how gratifying it was to think herself quite good at it, too. Yes, Jared sometimes looked at her as if she were some sort of fragile crystal he feared might break at any moment, but that would pass. He was here, he said he loved her. Nothing could possibly change that now.

#

Amanda awakened slowly and reached out her arm to Jared's side of the huge bed, only to find it unoccupied. Had she dreamed yesterday? Was she still alone and unloved at Storm Haven? As if in answer to her question there was a slight knock at the door and Sally entered, a broad smile on her otherwise homely face.

"Good mornin', milady, and a fine day it be, with the master home and all. Ach, look at this mess, your ladyship's fine gown all in a heap on the floor." She bent down and came up with Amanda's gold gown in one hand and Jared's discarded neckcloth in the other. "No need to be asking what went on in here last night, if you'll pardon my saying so. And you breeding and all.
Tch, tch
!"

Since Sally had more than once cradled a weeping Amanda against her ample bosom, her mistress only blushed furiously and asked the whereabouts of her husband.

"His lordship has taken his two friends down to the stables to see that bloody horse. From the devilish gleam in his lordship's eye, I'm thinkin' it's trouble he's brewing."

Amanda rushed through her toilette, refusing breakfast, and hurried down to the stables. She arrived in time to see Kevin and Jared holding each other up as they howled with laughter while a flustered Bo was assisted to his feet by Harrow. Calmly chewing on some field grass was her red stallion, surveying the scene with horsely disdain on his white-blazed face.

"Oh, Jared, that was unkind! You should have warned Bo about Tempest's little trick." She went to Bo and offered him her arm. "Don't you let them upset you, you poor man. Come away from these schoolboys and we'll walk down to the pond."

"Er... yes, er, thank you, Amanda. Enjoy that, I would," Bo answered as he swept his carroty hair out of his eyes. He threw an impish grin over his shoulder to his tormentors and said innocently, "Thank you, gentlemen. Amuse yourselves. Don't know when we'll be back."

Kevin roared again and slapped Jared heartily on his back. "Bested you in that round, old friend."

"Oh, shut up, Kevin. Come on, we'll ride out this morning for a few hours. Amanda plans a dinner party for tonight and I have a feeling I won't see much of you after she launches her matchmaking schemes."

"Ah, do you mean there are some comely country wenches in the neighborhood?"

"If there are, they've escaped my notice. Amanda spoke of Squire Bosley's Anne, but she's already been set aside for Bo, poor fellow."

"Bo? With a female! I can't wait to see this grand romance. He'll probably trip over his own feet and put his head in the punch bowl. I believe I look forward to this evening, Jared. It will be amusing at the very least."

#

Kevin was correct that the evening would be amusing. To him. To Bo it was both a nightmare and a dream. When Amanda brought the small blonde Anne Bosley to his side, he colored deeply and tried to hide behind his hostess. But as Miss Anne was turning a decided pink herself and was—instead of either giggling at him or dismissing him with scorn—looking into his wide blue eyes with sweet innocence, he soon left his refuge and bowed shakily over her hand.

Miss Anne was as slight as Bo was pudgy, rising no more than to the tip of his slightly double chin. She looked up into his freckled face and he could tell by her soft green eyes that she was a creature as frightened as himself. With Amanda to draw Anne's hand through Bo's arm and direct them to the dinner table, the nervous pair began a stilted exchange that, to anyone unfamiliar with Bo's usual clipped-speech conversation, would have appeared highly one sided.