The Scandal in Kissing an Heir (11 page)

She sighed. Nothing had changed, except that he now needed a wife just as much as she needed a husband. But if he couldn’t say no to another woman mere minutes before eloping with her, then how was he going to be faithful for the duration of their marriage? Regret surfaced briefly, but Rebecca forced it back. The alternative was inconceivable. At least where Daniel was concerned, he was young and fun. She was also confident that he would treat her kindly, but she would do well to remember that theirs was a practical agreement, nothing more, and once they were married, she would do her best to accept him for who he was, provided that he didn’t bring his paramours home with him. Perhaps she would take a lover as well . . . or maybe two or three?

“Are you woolgathering?” Daniel’s voice jerked her back to awareness.

“I beg your pardon?”

His eyes never strayed from the road as the phaeton continued onward. “You asked me a question which I’ve long since answered, but you haven’t replied to mine.”

“Oh. I’m so sorry. I suppose my thoughts must have been elsewhere. What did you say?”

“I was merely wondering if you were tired, because if you are, then you’re welcome to lean your head against my shoulder and try to get some sleep.”

Sleep?

She’d just left her fiancé to elope with a rake and was presently traveling north at breakneck speed, and Daniel thought she might be capable of sleep? “I’m fine,” she said, “but if you’re growing weary of driving, then I’d be more than happy to relieve you.”

Daniel laughed. “I’m sure you would, but a phaeton is not so easy to manage. Have you ever driven one before?”

“No, but I’m a quick study. How hard can it be?”

“Even in daylight many have been known to lose control of the vehicle. Given the speed at which we’re traveling, toppling over would be life threatening. I’d rather not risk it, but perhaps on the way back you can have a go. Is that acceptable?”

It was better than what she’d expected, and the fact that he was willing to at least let her try improved her mood dramatically. “Thank you, Daniel. I would like that very much.”

He chuckled. “Yes, I know. Don’t think I’ve forgotten your adventurous inclination. I just hope I’ll be able to keep you out of trouble once we’re married.”

She knew he was joking, yet she couldn’t resist saying, “That’s rich, coming from a renowned rake.” Her tone sounded far too snide for her own liking.

“Having second thoughts?”

All humor had abandoned his voice, and Rebecca found herself in one of those situations where she dearly wanted to apologize and make things right between them but couldn’t seem to stop herself from lashing out. He’d hurt her, and the acknowledgement of it fueled her resentment of him. “No,” she said. “My options are limited and you are the better choice, no matter your flaws.”

“I see. Because if you’d rather go back, then all you have to do is say the word and I’ll turn these horses around.” He sounded angry, but what reason would he possibly have for that? “After everything I’ve done for you, the least I’d expect is a little bit of gratitude, not for you to make insinuations about my character.”

Well, that was probably a pretty good reason.

“My apologies,” she said. No sense in arguing when she’d already decided to accept him for who he was. “You’re absolutely right, and believe me, I’m very grateful to you for coming to my rescue the way you did. It was most gallant of you.”

“No need for you to overdo it,” he said, his tone softening until she was certain he had to be smiling.

“I only speak the truth.”

“Well, if that is the case, then it’s time for me to be honest too. I know you saw me with Lady Vernon, and I—”

“Oh, is that her name? Well, it’s no matter. You really needn’t explain yourself. Of course, I can’t deny that I was momentarily surprised, but on second thought I see no reason why I should be. You’ve led quite a colorful life before me, and considering our unique circumstances, it would be unreasonable for me to expect that to change. After all, it’s not as if either of us is in love with the other, though I do hope we can be friends.”

“I, er—”

“Just be honest with me and treat me with respect, and I’m sure we’ll have a splendid time together.”

“You’re missing the point, Rebecca.”

“Am I? Because as far as I could tell you were quite busy kissing Lady Vernon mere minutes before eloping with me, and that’s discounting the kiss that you and I shared just three days ago, so no, I don’t think I’m missing the point at all. You’re the sort of man who wants to enjoy whatever pleasures come your way, and however much you’d like to convince both of us of the contrary, the fact remains that you don’t possess the sort of willpower required to avoid temptation. Don’t worry though; I’m perfectly fine with it as long as you keep your liaisons discreet and away from me.” She nudged him playfully in the side, hoping the gesture would convince him of her sincerity—a sincerity she wasn’t remotely close to feeling. The very idea of him frolicking in another woman’s arms made her stomach churn, but if that was what he intended to do, then she might as well accept it rather than waste her time pining for the fidelity of a man who would never give himself to her alone.

Unwilling to discuss the matter any further, she did as he’d suggested earlier and snuggled up against him, her head coming to rest against a firm shoulder. “I think you were right before. I am tired. It’s been a long day. Mind if I get some rest?”

“It’s what I suggested,” he said. He spoke slowly and thoughtfully.

Rebecca closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. She longed for a brief escape from it all, especially since Daniel was probably already contemplating his good fortune in finding a woman who would not only marry him but also allow him to go on as he’d done before. An ache settled in the pit of her stomach at the very idea, but she would not humiliate herself by begging him to go against his true nature. What right did she even have to do so? They were doing each other a favor, and they would make the most of it as friends. Anything more than that was pure fantasy.

Chapter 12

W
hat the bloody hell was going on? Pacing the upstairs hallway of the inn where they’d arrived a half hour earlier, Daniel contemplated every word they’d spoken to each other during their journey. He was beyond tense, not only from the close proximity he’d shared with Rebecca in the phaeton for the past four hours, her soft scent teasing him as she’d slept peacefully at his side, but from pure, uncomplicated lust for her. He couldn’t recall ever wanting to bed a woman as much as he wanted to bed her, but then she’d started prattling on about how accepting she was of his lifestyle and that she wouldn’t expect him to change on her account. His nerves had been frayed by the end of it. Had she really encouraged him to take mistresses as long as he didn’t bring them home with him?

Good God!

Everything from that point on had happened in a daze, for which his state of exhaustion was probably also to blame. When they’d reached Huntington, he’d decided to stop for the night. If Grover and the Griftons were in pursuit, he doubted that they would be traveling without rest, when Daniel, who was so much younger than all of them, was in dire need of sleep. As long as they got an early start, he was confident they could maintain their lead.

However, he had yet to find the comfort of his bed after agreeing with Rebecca’s request that he allow her to ready herself while he waited outside in the hallway. She’d wanted separate rooms, but since the inn was small and had been filled to capacity, this had not been possible, and Daniel was grateful for it. He wanted her company, regardless of the strange discussion they’d had with each other earlier in the evening. He still couldn’t come to grips with how frank she’d been about her expectations for their marriage. There was no doubt in his mind that her opinion of him had been altered after seeing him with Lady Vernon, and while he knew that he was to blame for that, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated by her blunt dismissal of him.

When will she be ready?

He’d given her ample time to disrobe and climb into bed, and he decided to give the door a light knock. “Enter,” he heard her call from within, so he did, finding the room in complete darkness—so much so that he could barely make out the shape of the bed. He edged his way forward, closing and locking the door behind him. Continuing his progress toward the bed, he began removing his clothes; first his jacket and then his cravat and shirt, which he tossed on a chair that stood against the wall.

Reaching the bed, he sat down on the edge so he could pull off his boots, all the while aware of Rebecca’s huddled form. She hadn’t spoken a word since he’d entered the room, and as far as he could tell, her back was turned toward him in a stubborn gesture to avoid having to interact. Daniel muttered an oath beneath his breath as he gave his boot a hard tug. His annoyance at how pear-shaped everything had gone was beginning to tax his nerves. Pulling off the other boot, he enjoyed the thud that it made as it hit the floor.

Rising, he started unfastening his breeches and pulling them down over his hips until he was clad only in his drawers. Eyes settling on the lump Rebecca created on the other side of the bed, he fleetingly wondered how she’d respond if he took them off and climbed into bed completely naked. He couldn’t help but smile with mischief, but he decided that doing so would probably not be the best way to earn her forgiveness. So, pulling the covers aside, he sank down onto the mattress and, with a deep sigh, luxuriated in the comfort that the bed and the pillow offered.

Christ, it was good to lie down and close his eyes. He shifted a little and reached down to adjust the fabric of his drawers, which were gathering uncomfortably around his hips. It was no use, so he turned onto his side, but in doing so he uncovered his back. He turned back again and gave his undergarment another tug.

“Would you please stop moving,” Rebecca said. Her voice was hushed and with a distinct trace of irritation to it.

Daniel stilled on a sigh and stretched out his legs. “I’m sorry,” he whispered back, “but I’m not used to sleeping like this.”

There was a beat and then the inevitable question: “What do you mean?”

A wide smile spread its way across Daniel’s face. “I never sleep in any of my attire but always completely and utterly nude.” It sounded as if she sucked in a breath. His smile broadened. “Wearing even so much as my unmentionables is causing me severe discomfort, though I am more than happy to oblige for your sake. Considering that you wanted separate rooms, I thought you’d disapprove of discovering me in such a . . . bare state. Am I correct?”

“Y-yes. I mean . . . of course,” she muttered, and then, “thank you.”

Really, he ought to be commended for his ability to suppress a grin in response to her befuddlement. It was most amusing. “You are welcome,” he murmured. There was a moment’s silence before he added, “Sleep well.”

“You too,” she whispered back.

Thankfully, his tiredness trumped his discomfort, and it didn’t take too long before Daniel slipped off to sleep, his dreams filled with the woman he was planning to marry, and of what their first night together
could
have been like had she not seen him kissing Lady Vernon. Naturally, he awoke to a state of complete and utter discomfort, though this time it had nothing to do with his clothing. Turning his head, he almost came nose to nose with Rebecca. She was so beautiful with her long black lashes fanned out against her bronzed skin. His gaze slipped to her lips, luscious lips that had felt so perfect when he’d last kissed her.

He wanted to kiss her again right now, but he stopped himself, unsure of how she’d react, considering how strained everything had been between them last night. Tomorrow he would marry her. If he wanted to kiss her, then why shouldn’t he?
Because she doesn’t want you to,
an annoying voice told him. With a sigh, Daniel rolled over and got out of bed, retrieving his garments and dressing with the briskness of a man who desperately needed to remove himself from temptation if he was to avoid succumbing to it.

He needed air. Lots and lots of cool morning air to dampen his ardor. Shrugging into his jacket, he did up the buttons and headed for the door, placing as much distance between himself and Rebecca as the small room allowed. Dear God, the covers had slipped lower on her and he could see . . . his mouth went dry and he tried to swallow. A gentleman would look away, but Daniel was no gentleman, or at least his eyes were not in the least bit noble, for they remained quite determinedly fixed on the gentle rise and fall of her bosom. Was she aware that the soft outline of each breast was visible beneath her nightgown? Probably not, for it appeared to be chaste in design, but with the morning light streaming through the window even the dark center of each breast was revealed. Daniel blinked.

Lord help me.

“Rebecca,” he said, hoping to wake her. She shifted a little and the covers slid sideways, offering Daniel a first-rate view of one of her long legs, half bare since her nightgown had crawled all the way up past her knees. “Rebecca,” he repeated, louder this time, and was afforded a groan. “It’s time to wake up so we can be on our way.”

Her eyes opened and she met his gaze, surprise registering upon her face. “You’re already fully dressed.”

“Yes. I’ll leave so you can do the same. If you hurry, we may have time for some breakfast before we depart.” And then he opened the door and fled without another backward glance.

“W
hat a perfect day to get married,” Rebecca said, surprising him with her cheerfulness as they drove along beneath a clear blue sky.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Daniel said. She seemed her usual self this morning and he was happy for it, since an unhappy demeanor didn’t suit her in the least. Perhaps everything would be all right between them after all. He hoped so, though he couldn’t forget what she’d said in regards to their marriage or how distant and standoffish she’d been toward him since leaving London.

Watching the horses toss their manes, he considered addressing the issue but decided against it. She’d mistaken what she’d seen at the ball for something more than what it really was. He’d thought her upset about it, but then she’d voiced her support, and he’d been left with the impression that what he’d taken to be annoyance had been nothing more than the emotional turmoil of having to adapt to a different situation altogether. She’d made her opinion clear: he was nothing more than a rake who was rescuing a damsel in distress, not only for her benefit but for his as well, and while she appreciated him for doing so, he ought not delude himself that he would ever amount to anything more in her eyes.

But what if he proved her wrong? After making her acquaintance, he had no desire for the company of any other women. Surely he would be able to convince her of that if he set his mind to it. But was that even something she would want? When she’d spoken, she’d sounded so insistent on the whole marriage of convenience idea that he’d felt whatever hope he’d started to have of sharing something more with her begin to dwindle. Surely she wouldn’t have suggested such a thing if she’d developed feelings for him that went beyond those of friendship.

What was he thinking? Of course she wouldn’t have. They’d barely known each other a week, and he certainly wasn’t in love with her either, although he definitely liked her a lot—more than any other woman he’d ever met, and that made him want to do right by her. It bothered him that she was so willing to let him stray. Perhaps with time they would form a closer bond and this would change, but until then, he would try to put a bit more effort into romancing her. After all, he’d barely had a chance to do so.

A thought struck him: they still had their wedding night ahead of them. The corner of his lips edged upward. Poor Becky, she had no idea of what she was getting herself into by marrying a rake.

“How long until we arrive?” she asked once they’d passed through Penrith.

“Another hour, I’d imagine.”

“Then don’t you think it’s time we got to know each other a bit better?”

Daniel glanced toward her. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, I suppose most couples have the fortune of engaging in a lengthy courtship before either of them agrees to the permanence of marriage, but since we’ve been tossed together somewhat abruptly, we haven’t really had much opportunity to do so. All we have are a few brief conversations. So what I propose is that we start asking each other questions, anything at all that we want to know. The only rule is that the person being asked must answer with complete honesty. I think it will strengthen our bond and improve our regard for each other.”

Or diminish it.

“Very well,” Daniel said, eager for the easy, carefree banter that he’d gotten used to enjoying with her. “Would you like to go first?”

“Certainly.” She bit her lip for a second before asking, “What’s the naughtiest thing you ever did as a child?”

He glanced sideways at her for a moment, then returned his attention to the road ahead and said, “I think I’d have to say pouring a bucket of water over my grandmamma.”

Rebecca gasped. “Surely you didn’t.”

“On the contrary, I got her quite wet.”

She couldn’t help herself from laughing. “What on earth would have possessed you?”

Daniel chuckled as he whipped the horses onward. “My parents and I had gone to visit Grandmamma and Grandpapa for a couple of weeks at their country estate one year. It was summer, and as we were sitting outside one day, Grandmamma began complaining about the heat. Papa suggested that she ought to go for a swim in the lake in order to cool off, but she dismissed the idea, saying that she was too old for that sort of thing.”

“So you decided to see to her comfort by soaking her through?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. I was only five years old at the time, and while Grandmamma and Grandpapa took it rather well, my parents didn’t find it the least bit amusing and promptly sent me to my room.”

“Oh dear.”

Daniel shrugged. “It’s all right. They felt bad about it the next day and instructed the cook to prepare my favorite sweet—crêpes with raspberry marmalade.”

“Sounds delicious,” Rebecca said. “Now it’s your turn. Ask me anything you like.”

“Are you musically inclined?” Most ladies of breeding sang or played an instrument. He was curious if the same could be said of Rebecca.

“Not particularly, though I do like to whistle.”

“Whistle?”

“Precisely.” And then, to prove her point, she puckered her lips and did just that.

Daniel almost lost control of the horses. “That was er . . . hmm.”

Rebecca laughed. “It’s quite all right, you know. I’m well aware that I cannot carry a tune, hence the reason I don’t play an instrument. The music teacher I had as a child eventually deemed me impossible to work with. What can I say? I suppose I lack the ear for it.”

There was something so endearing about the way she said it, not to mention her unabashed performance, that Daniel felt his heart swell a little more for her. He loved that she didn’t feel embarrassed whistling in front of him even though she knew well enough that her tune was false.