The Best Man's Bridesmaid (2 page)

It was the realization that she was merely his way of ensuring he followed his parents’ decree that had plunged Caroline into despair. For Charlie was, she thought, everything one needed in a husband, and she was determined to be the perfect wife. However, there was to be no chance to tell him any of her feelings or to request they tried to get to know each other better. Once he had followed his parents’ demands, he had departed the capital for a round of men-only shooting—and probably other unmentionable activities. Before any further meetings could be arranged, her great-aunt Maud, who was also her godmother, had died all of a sudden and plunged the family into mourning. Her parents and younger sister had retired to their country home, but Aunt Maud, unmarried, no children, had left her house and considerable wealth to Caroline, with the proviso she spent the period of mourning living at Chattels, the house Maud had lived in all her life. She had also decreed that to receive her bequest, Caroline had to live alone, without her family, although there were plenty of servants. She could have friends to visit, for short periods of no more than two days duration. And no more than twice a month. Despite the fact that her parents had protested, Caroline was delighted at the chance of six months freedom before thinking about marriage to an almost unknown husband. And although Aunt Maud had decreed she must live in the house that was to all intents and purpose now hers, Caroline interpreted those instructions as loose as possible. She was happy to spend no more time away than necessary and when in residence made sure she was woken by her maid, in her own bed, alone, every morning. The fact that some mornings she had beaten her maid to her room by mere minutes, she had decided, was irrelevant. What she did during those evenings and nights was no one’s business except her own. She was carrying out the wording of her bequest to the letter.

Also perhaps not irrelevant, but interesting, were the few meetings between her and her betrothed that he was not aware of. Oh, he was aware of the meetings, had been very aware on one occasion, she remembered with a sensual shiver, but had no idea she was the one he was aware of. The details of those meetings were such that one would not wish to reveal them to others.

She saw Charlie’s face as he noticed her movements, saw his body begin to respond to the unspoken invitation, and smiled inside. She was no longer shy, retiring, or quiet, nor unconscious of her body and her looks. The past six months had proved very illuminating. Oh, she was going to enjoy herself today. And she hoped for many more days to come.

She lifted her head proudly, squared her shoulders, sentient that under the deep red silk of her dress her breasts, although covered, hinted at delights to be discovered. The rest of her body as it moved and slithered under the silk made promises to be kept. It seemed this day could turn out to be more interesting than she could ever have hoped.

Now, not an hour after the wedding service, sitting beside him in the carriage, Caroline had the chance to find out. She moved her fingers to touch him and reveled in the rock-covered silk beneath her fingers. She wished she had two hands to use, for one was nowhere near enough to circle him. She felt his skin ripple and move as she twisted her digits this way and that, and her breath quickened, as she enjoyed the response of his body to her touch. A draft on her ankles made her look down. Her hand stilled, and his cock twitched as if in protest.

“What are you doing?” She had no way of seeing; the rug covered their lower bodies.

“Repaying the pleasure my dear,” Charlie replied. “Open your legs,” he commanded. “Let me touch you, make you as feverish as I am.” She felt his hand edge ever higher and stroke her leg until he was playing with the curls at the top of her legs. She moaned softly.

“See how good that feels.” He stroked and caressed her and edged ever closer to her clitoris, before he, with a swift but gentle move, put a long, elegant digit inside her. Caroline sighed, her hand tightened on his staff, and she tried to draw his finger deeper into her. “More,” she murmured “Just like…” She shuddered as she remembered where she was. In an open carriage, with a man who must never know what she had got up to during her period of mourning. And about to draw up at Harry’s town house for a wedding breakfast.

“Charlie, stop. We’re almost there.” She sat up straight and with regret, removed her hand from his cock. She felt him start, and then he withdrew his fingers and smoothed her skirts down. She felt empty.

“Well, I certainly was,” he said his voice shaky. She watched him put both hands under the cover to, she presumed, rebutton himself. It was as well he did; Caroline knew her digits would fumble at the task. He spoke into her ear, drawing a shaky laugh from her. “Are you all right?”

“As I can be in the circumstances.” Her voice was thin and somewhat quivering. She felt light-headed and wondered with horror if she was about to faint.
I cannot do that. I need food, that is all. Nothing else is wrong.

“I won’t apologize, you know,” he said in a stronger voice. “We were in that together. But I do think we need to talk.”

She nodded. “So do I, but ‘tis obvious it cannot be now.” The carriage rolled to a stop, and a footman sprang to the door to help her down. She dipped her head in thanks.

“Be at your home at eleven,” she said softly as she shook out her skirts and waited for him to take her arm and lead her to the door.

“What?” He nipped her wrist. “Explain.” That faint prick reminded her of other nips and stings in other places. She felt her body tighten with desire.

“Eleven. Be there.” Caroline swayed a little. “Oh my lord, I feel a little faint.” It was not a total lie; she did feel as if her breath had been taken from her. “Please excuse me for a moment.” Without waiting for an answer, she repaired to the ladies room and washed her hands before she pressed her cold fingers to her cheeks. Now she was ready for whatever the next round may bring.

C
HAPTER
T
WO

Caroline rejoined the receiving line as the first guests appeared. Charlie touched her arm. “Do you still feel faint?” he asked worriedly.

She shook her head. “I never did,” she replied in a low voice, “but thought I’d better change my perfume.” He raised one eyebrow in query. “From Essence De Charlie to Essence of Roses. Ah, Lady Dagenham.” She curtsied to the dowager in front of her. “Yes, such a lovely service.”

He went hot and then cold. As Charlie followed her lead in speaking to all those who passed in front of them, his mind whirled. He hadn’t thought of her scent on him. He fashioned a cough and on the pretext of covering his mouth, surreptitiously smelt his hand. Nothing. Good.

Caroline watched him; a smile played around her lips. “Do you need water, my lord?” she asked all solicitous. “Shall I summon a servant?”

His smile was fixed. Minx. She knew exactly what was going on. “Not at present, thank you. I think a whiskey might be more beneficial, and I fear I will need to wait for that.”

Harry, who stood nearby, caught the last few words. “No need to wait any longer.” He took Amanda’s arm. “We can now be seated for breakfast, though why we say breakfast at two thirty in the afternoon, I have no idea. I have arranged for the whiskey to be waiting. Oh, and Madeira for the ladies.”

Two voices spoke as one. “Oh, but I prefer whiskey.”

Harry laughed. “Then whiskey it shall be. Perhaps I should have said Madeira for those lades who prefer it. Prepare yourselves for the tabbies to be scandalized.”

“It matters not,” Charlie replied, as he ignored the surprised look on Harry’s face. He knew Harry thought him rather a stickler for propriety. “Amanda is your wife, and you are happy, Caroline, is my affianced, and I am happy. So fustian to them!”

By the time they watched Amanda and Harry leave, covered in rose petals, Charlie was once again in an uncomfortable state of arousal. It seemed that Caroline had taken every possible opportunity to rub against him, on the face of it in all innocence. Charlie knew better, and as they stood and watched the newlyweds depart, he decided it was payback time.

As if by accident, he maneuvered her to stand in front of him. And then pressed forward.

He heard her soft intake of breath as his cock pressed into the cleft of her arse, which was felt with ease through the silk of her dress.
What now?
He wondered. It was not long before he found out. Caroline gave a deep-throated chuckle, and he was aware of her pressing back firmly into him. She wriggled her softness securely around his arousal.

“Don’t,” he muttered under his breath. “Or your red gown will turn maroon.” Gradually, with regret, he eased her forward. Why had he started this? For now the tables were turned on him, and he was once more in great pain.

Caroline twisted to face him, and one lowered one eyelid in so brief a move he could almost have imagined it.

“Another time, maybe?” she queried. “I look forward to it, my lord. Now, be ready to look surprised.”

He stared at her in confusion. Ever since he had noticed her earlier in the day, he was in a continual state of surprise. She gave him a brief smile. “Don’t forget, 11:00 p.m.” As he waited for her to explain her comments, she slipped boneless to the floor, touching his body with thoroughness as she slid.

There were gasps, as smelling salts were produced in haste. With an inward grin, he noticed Caroline give an involuntary grimace. Charlie was tempted to leave her to smell the vile things but decided it would be in his own best interest to intervene.

He bent down and gathered her in his arms. “My fiancé needs air,” he said with a firmness no one associated with his usual languid attitude. He walked toward the door and requested his coach be brought round. He sat on a seat in the hall near the front door, with her ensconced firmly on his lap. “Not long now, dearest,” he said in a fond manner that was designed to make the dowagers sigh and his fiancé, he decided, try not to choke. “Benson will let your mama know you are in good hands.” He had settled on of the good hands in question firmly beneath her and was at that moment fondling her bottom. Caroline wriggled, not to dislodge it, but he fancied to try and make contact with his hardening cock. Charlie didn’t think he had ever spent so long in a state of arousal without coming. His hand tightened on one luscious globe, and Caroline moaned. Only he knew the reason.

“Your coach, m’lud.”

Charlie nodded his thanks and lifted Caroline without any effort as he stood and made his way to his coach. “Make sure Lady Caroline’s mother knows she is at my town house. My aunt will be there to chaperone.” He strode out before anyone realized there would be no chaperone in the coach as they made their way to his house. It might only take a few minutes, but that was long enough for the tabbies to get their claws out. However, it seemed no one had noticed their departure. The carriage rolled away without comment, much to Charlie’s relief.

As soon as they had moved out of sight of the doorway, he gave Caroline a little shake. “You can un-swoon now,” he said in a dry voice. “We’re away.”

She sat up with alacrity and shook out her skirts. “Thank goodness for that. Where are we?”

“On the way to my house.”

Caroline shook her head solemnly. “Oh
no,
my lord, that will never do. Think of my reputation.”

“Why?” he asked, interested to hear her reply. “You seem not to.”

She laughed; it reminded him of water flowing over pebbles, a glorious, tuneful sound. “Now that is where you err, my lord. I do think of it. Constantly. And I cannot go to your house un-chaperoned. That would never do. You had better ask the coachman to take me to my parents’ house.”

“But you are coming to my house at eleven,” Charlie argued with due reason. “So what’s the difference?”

“Well, about six hours or so for a start, “she pointed out. “And at 11:00 p.m., I will be unobserved. Now?” She shrugged.

“Now, my dear,” he retorted, “My aunt will chaperone us. And to observe proprieties, you will stay long enough for a little refreshment, before I escort you home, fully recovered from your, er, weakness.”

She fluttered her eyelashes at him and smiled, demureness personified. “Oh, my lord, you are sooo masterful. What would I do without your strength and superior knowledge?” He felt her run her hand up his arm. “So strong, so…” She bit her lip and broke into a giggle.
Minx, she is teasing me.
“Seriously, Charlie, thank you. For, shall we say everything?”

“Yes, let’s,” he agreed. “I look forward to later this night.”

“Oh, I do so hope you aren’t let down.” The innuendo, accompanied by a brief glance downward, was obvious.

“Oh, I’m sure I won’t be, my love, on the contrary,” he retorted. “I fully expect the opposite during our exchange.”

“Exchange?” She took his hand as he escorted her out of his carriage and into the house. “Of what?”

Did she realize such an opening she had given him if he chose to use it? He decided not to, but to keep her out of kilter. He glanced at her to show he knew he had the upper hand. “Of pleasantries, of course. What else? Ah, Aunt,” he said with a warning glance at his companion as his aunt approached. “Caroline suffered from a spell of faintness earlier. She needs to relax and partake of some refreshment before I return her to her parents.”