The Earl's Stolen Bride (Marriage by Deceit Book 4) (4 page)

Chapter Four

Orlando couldn’t believe his good fortune. 
Chloe.
  Though she hadn’t told him her Christian name, Toby had.  And now he rolled her name around in his mind then added,
Lady Reddington
to it.  She looked much more like a Lady Reddington than a Lady Hawkins, and he didn’t just think that because he thought his title was better.  She belonged with him.  He had no doubt of it.

And now as the carriage took them further from London, he could rest assured in knowing he’d never have to spend another sleepless night apart from her.  From now on, she was his.

“Tell me about yourself,” he said.

She turned her gaze back to him, and one of her curls touched her cheek.  On impulse, he reached forward and brushed it back.  Her creamy white skin was smooth, complementing her dark hair which was equally soft.  Her green eyes sparkled, and the hint of color which came to her cheeks was most becoming.  Was it any wonder she’d haunted his thoughts for so long?  Truly, there was never a more breathtaking sight.

Reluctant, he set his hand back down.  “I hope I’m not being too forward.”

“No, I…I enjoyed your touch.” She cleared her throat, glancing away before returning her gaze to his.  “What, exactly, would you like to know about me?”

“Everything.”

She chuckled.  “That’s a lot to talk about.  I don’t know where to begin.”

“All right.  Let me think…  Your family.  Tell me about them.”

With a nod, she said, “I’m the oldest of five children.”

“Five?”

“Yes.  Two brothers and two sisters.  My parents had me.  Then the order goes boy, girl, boy, girl.  All in a row, just like that.  One would swear they planned it that way since they pride themselves on being organized.”

He grinned.  “How marvelous.  What are their names?”

“There’s Theodore who’s eighteen, Bethany who’s fourteen, Alexander who’s ten, and Gretchen who’s seven.”

“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I don’t mind.  I’m twenty-one as of last month.”

“It’s a shame we weren’t together to celebrate your birthday.”

“Oh, there wasn’t much to celebrate.  It’s just another year.”

“Yes, but it’s a year of your life.”

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and she asked, “What about you?  Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“No.  I’m an only child.”

“Were you lonely growing up?”

“No.  I have a good friend, Toby.  You know him.  He’s Lord Davenport.”

She nodded.  “Yes, I know him.  I’m friends with his wife.  Well, you know that because she brought me out to meet you.”

“Right.” He didn’t realize he’d be so nervous around her.  Of course, she already knew Toby was his friend.  She knew Regina.

“Lord Reddington,” she began.

“Please, call me Orlando.  It’s my Christian name, and since we are to be married, you don’t have to be so formal with me.” Then, recalling he’d just interrupted her, he added, “I’m sorry.  I should have let you finish what you were going to say.”

“No, no.  It’s all right.  I didn’t mind.”

“You’re much too gracious.  But go on.  Is there something you wish to know?”

“Well, yes.  I was just going to ask what your interests are.  Besides swimming without your clothes on, of course.”

Smiling at the slight teasing tone in her voice, he said, “I probably should say I enjoy chess and politics.  Toby does, and I have a nice enough time when we play the game or discuss such things.”

“But…?”

“Well, I am the kind of gentleman who will swim without clothes on, as you pointed out.  Toby would never do anything like that.  The most he’ll do is dip his feet in the water.  But,” he lowered his voice and winked, “you must never tell him or Regina I said that.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

His smile widened, delighted she had such a marvelous sense of humor.  If he’d had any doubts about her before, this removed all of them.  “To answer your question, I mostly enjoy having a good conversation with someone I like.  I also like to dance, ride a horse, and paint.”

“You paint?”

“It’s not widely known, but yes.  And I’m rather good at it, if I do say so myself.”

“What do you paint?”

“Anything that happens to catch my fancy at the time.  I’ve gone outside and painted the stables, fields, horses, and the land.  I only do those at the estate.  Our estate is Edmonstone.  I’ve also painted that.  But I have, on occasion, done people, though only a rare few who are willing to sit still for a long period of time.  I don’t suppose you’ll be one of them?”

Chloe put her hand to her chest.  “Me?  You want to paint me?”

“Sure, I do.  You’re the most beautiful lady in all of London.”

“I don’t know if I’d say the most beautiful.  The Duchess of Ashbourne is very attractive.”

“To some who prefer blondes, I’m sure, but I prefer dark-haired ladies.”

Though she shook her head, he noted the smile on her face and was content.  It was an odd thing, really.  She was exceptionally exquisite to look at, and yet, she doubted it.

“Painting you will be one of the most enjoyable things I’ll ever do,” he told her.

“Even more than swimming without clothes?”

“Much more.”

How he wanted to kiss her.  He’d dreamt of kissing her for so long.  What would it be like to feel her lips against his?  But it was still too soon.  She’d just agreed to marry him.  The poor lady deserved some time before she was expected to do more.  He’d wait.  Now that he had the rest of his life to kiss her, he could be as patient as he needed to be.  When she was comfortable with him, the time would be right.

“I’ve told you what I like to do,” he said.  “Now, tell me, what interests you?”

“Well, I can’t say I’ve ever swam outside without clothes on.” She cleared her throat and continued, “I like to spend time with friends.  Usually, we drink tea or go for walks.  Um…I do enjoy balls.  I like dancing.  And the music they play at balls is nice to listen to.  Sometimes I sit and listen to the music, though I prefer to talk to a friend if possible.  Regina’s so in love with Toby that she’s with him most of the time.  And Helena is usually helping someone secure a betrothal.” She shrugged.  “Ever since I married Lord Hawkins, I sit and listen a lot.”

“I notice you refer to him by his title.”

“I didn’t really know him.  I only saw him twice.  Once before we married and then again on the wedding day.  I suppose he was worth loving.  It’s just that I never got to know him well enough to love him, that’s all.”

He’d be lying if he said this disappointed him.  The truth was, this was the best news he’d received after learning she was willing to run off to marry him.  “I hope, in time, you will come to love me.”

Once again, he wanted to kiss her, but he refrained.  It wouldn’t do good to rush things.  But perhaps she wouldn’t mind it if he held her hand.

He shifted so he was closer to her.  “You might find it terribly forward of me, but may I hold your hand?”

A smile spread across her face.  “You may.” She removed her glove then held her hand out to him.

He took her hand and kissed it before he held it.  “Tell me more about yourself, Chloe.”

“What else do you want to know?”

“Start at your childhood.  Then continue on from there.”

“I don’t know how interesting you’ll find it.  I’ve led a rather boring life up to now.”

His eyebrows rose.  “Up to now?”

“This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me.”

He laughed.  “It is for me, too, and that includes the time Toby’s cousin caught me coming out of the lake.  I didn’t realize Toby’s family was due that day, though I am sure my mother warned me.”

“Are you telling me Toby’s cousin saw you naked?”

“She did.  I was fourteen, and she was thirteen.  But in all fairness, there was a row of bushes on the side, so I didn’t see her coming, and she was as quiet as a church mouse.  It wasn’t until I got out that she appeared from the bushes.”

She gasped.  “You think she was watching you?”

“At first I did because she just stood there.  So I asked her if she liked what she saw, and she screamed all the way back to the manor.  That’s when I knew she’d come there by accident.”

She giggled and shook her head.  “What an awful thing to ask an innocent girl.”

“What?  If she liked what she saw?”

She nodded.

“I didn’t realize she was staring at me because she was in shock.  I thought she was trying to catch a glimpse of me without my clothes on.”

“Girls don’t go around trying to spy on boys while they’re naked.  It’s highly improper.”

“At fourteen, I didn’t know any better.  But it’s in the past.  She never joined Toby’s family for another visit to my family’s estate after that, and to this day, she still won’t make eye contact with me.”

“I wouldn’t expect her to after such a traumatic event.”

“I assure you, it was never my intention to scare her.”

“I bet you didn’t swim naked after that.”

“You bet wrong.  I swim naked whenever the day is warm.”

“But aren’t you afraid someone else will see you?”

He shrugged.  “No one else has ever come by, so it’s not likely to happen.  The thing with Toby’s cousin was a coincidence.  If you, on the other hand, choose to stop by the lake, I hope you’ll watch me on purpose.”

There was that lovely shade of pink in her cheeks again, and he couldn’t resist the urge to kiss one of them.  “I’m surprised a lady who’s been married before would blush at the mention of seeing a gentleman naked.” He squeezed her hand.  “Enough about me.  I want to learn more about you.  Tell me all the boring moments of your life.  Don’t leave a single one out.”

“All right, but if you fall asleep, it’ll be your fault.”

“I won’t fall asleep.” He didn’t dare fall asleep now that she was with him.  If he did, he might wake up and find out it had just been another dream.

“When I’m done, you’ll tell me everything about you?”

“I’ll tell you anything you want.”

“All right.” She settled against him.  “It all started on the day I was born.”

Chapter Five

Though their journey to Gretna Green took a couple days, it seemed but a moment to Orlando.  If he thought himself in love with Chloe before, he knew for certain he was now.  He had no doubt she would, indeed, marry him when they went to the priest, and she didn’t disappoint him.  They held hands during the short ceremony that bound them together as husband and wife.

There was no reading of the banns or a special license.  There were no formal, long, drawn-out words to repeat.  There was no wedding breakfast to celebrate the event.

But all of this was fine with Orlando.  He didn’t care much for the elaborate weddings in London anyway.  A person could die of starvation while waiting for the entire thing to be over.

No.  A short wedding ceremony in the priest’s cottage was more than sufficient.  It was a simple promise they gave each other to be faithful for the rest of their lives, until death separated them.  But he suspected even if she were to die before him, he would still have no one else.

“Thank you for marrying us,” he told the elderly priest as he paid the gentleman’s fee.

“I’d rather perform a wedding than a funeral,” the priest told him.  “At least at weddings, people are smiling and laughing, especially those who come here to elope.  Those are the ones who want to be together.  They often risk everything, even a scandal, to be married.  I might be more sentimental with age, but I can’t think of anything as wonderful as a love match.  And I can tell that’s what you two have.  It was my pleasure to marry you today.”

Orlando glanced at Chloe, his face warming at the thought others could look at them and see they were in love.  He clasped his hand around hers and grinned.  “Thank you, Father, again.”

The priest nodded, and Orlando escorted Chloe out of the cottage.

“Would you like to take a stroll before we have our evening meal?” he asked her.

“A stroll would be nice,” she replied.  “All that sitting in the carriage has made my legs stiff.”

“And we have a couple more days before we get to my estate.” He led her down the path that would give them the best view of the lush, green landscape dotted with trees.  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is.  Think you’ll ever paint it?”

“I need something in front of me when I paint.  I know some painters can work from their memory, or even their imagination, but I’m not one of them.  I’m looking forward to painting you.  You have exquisite beauty.”

“You pay me such high compliments, Orlando,” she said.  “I’m not sure I can live up to your expectations.”

“Nonsense.  You’ll exceed them.”

She didn’t look certain of this, so he squeezed her hand, hoping to assure her she had no need to worry he’d ever find her lacking.  She was the best thing that ever happened to him, and now she was finally his, always and forever.

***

“Will you be staying?” Chloe asked once Orlando escorted her to her room after their evening meal.

Orlando wasn’t sure he’d heard right.  Had she really just told him he was welcome to spend the night with her?  He stood at the doorway, glancing from her to the bed.  Many nights, he’d imagined what it’d be like to enjoy becoming one with her.  And if he’d understood her right, then all those nights of longing were about to find completion.

“Are you inviting me to your bed?” he slowly asked, too shy to be more explicit.

He couldn’t tell, but he suspected she was slightly nervous by the way she lowered her gaze and tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.  How he envied that strand that got to be so close to her.

“We are married,” she told him then cleared her throat.  “I thought…” Her voice drifted off, and he thought her cheeks grew pink in the soft glow of the candlelight.

As far as he was concerned, that was an invitation, and he had no intention of rejecting it.  Not when he’d wanted this for so long.  He shut the door and crossed the room.  He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his head to hers.

The moment their lips touched, he lost all sense of time.  The world around them melted away, and the only thing that mattered was the two of them.  She brought her hands up to his shoulders and pulled him closer.

This was so much better than he’d dreamt.  This time, she was real and she was his.  He let out a low groan and traced her lower lip with his tongue, asking for permission to deepen the kiss.  She parted her lips for him and accepted him into her mouth.  Was there anything more heavenly than this?  Surely, there couldn’t be. Everything about her was wonderful.  The way she tasted, the way she smelled, the way she felt as her body pressed against his.  There was no doubt about it.  This was going to be the best night of his life.

He lowered his hands and brought them to her soft breasts. He cupped them in his hands and gently squeezed them.  She didn’t protest.  He took that as a good sign she wasn’t opposed to what he was doing.  But then, he supposed she knew what to expect.  She’d been married before. He was the one who had a lot to learn about making love, but he’d enjoy every moment of it.

His mouth left hers, and he left a trail of kisses down her cheek then down her neck.  Too late he considered it might have been better if they’d removed their clothes before he started kissing her.  But he had no idea once he started kissing her, he’d be consumed with so much passion he could hardly think straight.  It was the year of longing for her that was catching up to him.

She responded so willingly to him, snuggling up to him and wrapping him in her arms.  Never in a million years did he dare hope she would be so open to making love to him.  He’d been warned that the dream of something was often better than the reality.  But the truth of the matter was, with Chloe, the reality was far better than anything he could have imagined.

He returned his lips to hers, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth in earnest.  She interlaced her tongue with his, making it no secret that she wanted him with the same intensity he wanted her.

Aware that his penis was straining against his trousers, he reluctantly pulled away from her.  “I don’t think I can last too much longer doing this,” he admitted, his voice low.

“You want me that much?” she whispered, her face flushed, her eyes brimming with excitement.

He nodded, almost afraid to say it aloud.  Surely, her first husband had showed more restraint on their wedding night, but he found he didn’t have such patience.  He could only hope his eagerness wouldn’t repulse her.  “I’ll need your help.  Getting you out of your clothes, I mean.  I haven’t undressed a lady before, and I’m not sure where to begin.”

She offered him a shy smile and turned around.  “Will you unbutton me?”

Would he?  Of course, he would.  He immediately brought his hands up to the small buttons and started unfastening them.  He wished he could say this was an easy task, but his hands were trembling with excitement…and a bit of fear.  What if she found him lacking?  Perhaps her first husband had experience in this area and knew how to please a lady.  What if she was used to so much better than what he was about to offer?

No, he wouldn’t let his thoughts go there.  At least not now, not when he was finally going to make love to her.  And he loved her.  His friend, Toby, might think the love he had for her was more akin to lust, but Toby was wrong.  Orlando had fallen in love with her the first time he met her, and the feelings had only grown stronger over the year.  Time and distance hadn’t done anything to ease it.

When he finished unfastening her buttons, he pushed the dress off her shoulders, and she wiggled out of it.  “The corselet can be tricky,” she told him, her back still to him.  “I’ll untie it.”

He watched as she slipped off the corselet, chemise, and then stockings, fascinated by how much more attractive she got with each layer of clothing she took off.  Soon, she had nothing on, and when she finally turned to face him, he inhaled.  He probably should have taken care of his needs before he had dinner with her.  He didn’t know how he was going to last long once they were in bed together.

“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful,” he whispered.

Her gaze met his, and he caught the pleased expression on her face.  Surely, her first husband let her know how attractive she was.  Pert, round breasts with perfect pink buds.  Smooth white skin with a narrow waist.  Then there was the dark patch of curls hiding her most secret place.  A place he would soon get to touch and enter.  He swallowed.  There was no way he was going to last long at all.  Just the sight of her was nearly his undoing.

“Maybe you should…” She cleared her throat and gestured to his clothes.

Oh!  Right.  He was still wearing his things, and that wouldn’t do.  He needed to remove them, just as she’d removed hers.  Then they would be able to consummate the marriage.  He hastened to do so, and once again, he had a little difficulty with the buttons.  Glancing at her helped to quell some of his anxiety.  He couldn’t help but be eager to finally make love to her, after all.  But he kept praying she wouldn’t be disappointed.

When he finished the task, he stood in front of her for a moment, not sure what to do next.  It was easier when they were kissing.  Instinct had taken over, but right now, things were a bit awkward.  Did he resume what they’d started by kissing her, or did he wait for her to come to him?  Or perhaps they were both supposed to get into bed together and kiss there?

“What would you like to do next?” he finally asked, inwardly wincing at his naivety.

“Um…I suppose the bed is the best choice,” she said.

He took her by the elbow and led her to the bed.  If he hadn’t been so aroused, he would have hid under the covers in shame, but she was the loveliest lady he’d ever seen and she was about to make love to him.

Once they were on the bed, he brought his lips back to hers.  Thankfully, this helped ease a lot of his tension, and before long, he found himself back in the moment where he could only think of her and how wonderful she felt.

She opened her mouth and brushed her tongue across his lower lip.  With a groan, he accepted her invitation, and soon, his tongue was sparring with hers again.  He hadn’t expected her to be such an enthusiastic bed partner.  Indeed, her excitement only made him harder.  This was wonderful.  She wanted him.  And what was more, her passion seemed to match the intensity of his.

His hands slid down her body, taking note of her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples which grew hard.  She let out a moan and wrapped one of her legs around his waist.  He wiggled against her patch of curls and groaned.  Oh yes, this was heavenly.  Very much so.

He shifted so that he was on top of her and moved his hips so that his shaft was intimately pressing against her entrance.  She was wet.  The simple action of rubbing more fully over her alerted him to just how wet she was.  Sliding inside her would probably be a simple matter.  All he had to do was aim the head of his penis a little lower and push in.

This wasn’t how he envisioned their first time.  He’d imagined taking his time making love to her.  Caressing and kissing all of her.  Giving her body careful study before he finally entered her because he did want to learn everything there was to know about her.

But she lifted her hips and moaned again, and his tip dipped ever so slightly into her warm flesh.  And at that moment, he couldn’t resist.  He had to enter her, to feel this delicious warmth completely around him.  He expected to be able to slide right into her, but she was tight and he had to force himself to get all the way in.  And while this felt good to him, it occurred to him that it didn’t have the same effect on her since she stiffened and let out a startled cry.

He pulled out of her and glanced down, noting the trace of blood that told him the impossible.  She was a widow.  She’d been married before.  Surely, she couldn’t be a…a…

“Are you a virgin?” he asked, finally looking up at her.

She sat up, a worried frown on her face.  “Does that bother you?”

“Well, no.  Of course not.  There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin.  It’s just that you…” He shook his head as he struggled to think of how to best explain it.  “You were Lord Hawkins’ wife.”

“Yes, but he never came to my bed.”

“Why ever not?” Lord Hawkins had to be daft not to make love to someone as lovely as her.

“On our wedding day, I couldn’t.  The lady’s time of month was upon me, so he left for India right away.  He’d been gone ever since.” She paused.  “Are you disappointed?”

“No.  I’m surprised, that’s all.  When a gentleman marries a widow, he doesn’t expect her to be a virgin.  Then he thrusts right into her and hurts her and…” His face warmed.  “I’m sorry.  I never want to do anything to hurt you.”

She smiled and took his hands in hers.  “I know that.”

“But I did hurt you.”

“You didn’t intend to.  There’s a difference.  You don’t have to stop.”

He wanted to keep going.  He’d have to be dead to want to stop, but it was difficult to know how to best proceed.

She leaned toward him and kissed him.  He was uncertain at first, not sure if he really should continue, given what he’d just done to her.  But another part of him—the one that controlled his baser desires—argued with him that this was the worst possible time to stop.  She’d just let him know she wanted to keep going, and her tongue was intimately engaged with his.  She wouldn’t do those things if she wanted him to stop.