A Seven Year Hitch (11 page)

“Sit still my little vixen, before you get hurt or worse still, I do!”

“I don’t wish to sit on your lap, Trevellyn. It is not seemly and besides, someone may walk in!”

“Boodle is guarding the door and as Lady Trevellyn, it is perfectly seemly for you to sit on my lap.”

“Don’t call me Lady Trevellyn!”

“I have to call you something and as I recall, you objected to sweetheart so what do you suggest wife?”

“You are being deliberately provoking. I have no objection to Miss Wilmshurst.”

“Oh, but I most definitely do. You have been falsely using that name for far too long!” Trevellyn retorted before adding, “But we digress. I am prepared to offer you a lifeline.”

Erica stopped wriggling and sat still. “Go on, I’m listening
,” she said.

“We will continue with our wager, only the stakes and time allocation will change
.”

“I’m still listening. What do you propose?” she asked intrigued.

“I suggest that instead of money the stakes are changed so that if I succeed in seducing you then you remain my wife, performing all duties that entails; in and out of the bedroom. If you win then I will sign the annulment papers.”

“And the time limit?”

“With such higher stakes, I believe it only fair to double the time to four weeks, giving me two weeks where you will not have your family to protect you,” Trevellyn stated.

“My family do not know of our marriage and I want it kept that way
,” Erica told him.

“Fair enough, we will agree to keep it confidential for the time being but you can still use your family to hide behind and that is why I am insisting on the extra two weeks. Do we have a deal, Madam Wife?”

Erica hesitated only momentarily before agreeing to his terms. After all she thought; how hard could it be to resist him? Here on home turf she could find any number of things to occupy her that would keep her well out of his way. He could not seduce her if she were not around and she would remain strong and aloof for the short periods they would have to spend in each other’s company. Erica smiled at Trevellyn.

“Yes
My Lord, we have a deal. In four weeks you will be signing those papers and I will be free of you.” She added for good measure. “There must be some truth in the old wives tale about a seven year itch, don’t you think?”

“Umm. I’m itching right now,” Trevellyn mumbled
.

“I’m not going to respond to that because I know I’ll regret it!” Erica was adamant.

“I feel we should seal our agreement over the wager,” Trevellyn tried a different tack.

“If you release my arms I will be more than happy to shake hands
.”

“It wasn’t quite what I had in mind,” and before Erica could react he had pulled her against him and was kissing her. She was determined to remain impassive but found her resolve seriously weakened by the persuasive pressure of his lips on hers. He could feel the tremor of desire ripple through her and her struggle to deny it
and he chuckled to himself as he took the kiss to the next level. Gently grasping her lower lip between his teeth, he nibbled on it before coaxing her lips apart and slipping his tongue inside; angling his head as he did so in order to deepen the kiss.

Erica uttered the softest of moans and tightened her resolve. He
could not go on kissing forever; she just had to resist a little longer.

Tentatively, reluctantly, Erica responded to his coaxing, arguing with herself that it was only a kiss and she would not allow it to go any further. After all, she had managed to break free from his caress earlier when they had been outsid
e; she could stop this again any time she chose!

Trevellyn felt her surrender and relished his victory. He was far too experienced to push her any further tonight.  Knowing that she would shy away from more intimate touches and not wishing to lose the ground he had made, he enjoyed the kiss a few moments more before gently putting her from him.

He laughed softly at her obvious disappointment. She was languid with desire and Trevellyn, keeping a strong rein on his lust, resisted the urge to pull her back into his arms.

“Until tomorrow
Lady Trevellyn, unless you wish to invite me to your bed tonight,” he lifted her to her feet and pushed her gently but determinedly towards the door.

“You wish! Goodnight Lord Trevellyn
,” so saying she slipped out the door.

The meeting the following morning left Gerald confused and Sir Richard quietly optimistic. As Erica disappeared to arrange her houseguests and their entertainment, satisfied that her clandestine nuptials would remain secret, the three men lingered in the study enjoying the coffee that Boodle had supplied.

“It seems a bit rum to me
,” Gerald said as soon as the door closed behind his sister. “A wager between you and Erica?”

“Yes
,” Trevellyn replied.

“But neither of you are prepared to disclose the details?” Gerald continued.

“No.”

“Because it could give an unfair advantage to one or other of you if these details were disclosed?”

“Yes,” confirmed Trevellyn.

“And if you win, you retain your wife?”

“That’s right.”

“But if you lose, you will sign the annulment papers and Erica regains her freedom?”

“I will not lose!” Trevellyn said with confidence.

“As I say it all sounds a bit rum, but Erica seems happy with it so I shall accept it as it stands
,” he shrugged his shoulders in resignation.

“I trust that should you win this wager, you will treat Erica with the respect due to her as your wife?” Sir Richard broke his silence.

“You have my word,” Trevellyn, recognizing that Sir Richard was anxious for the happiness of a young woman he viewed in the light of a daughter, was keen to allay his concerns.

After looking long and hard at the young Marquis, Sir Richard appeared satisfied.

“Let us hope then that in four weeks we will be officially welcoming you to the family. I know your parents will be delighted.”

“They have been dropping very unsubtle h
ints for the last two days, Sir,” Trevellyn informed him with a laugh. “Now if you will excuse me gentlemen, I feel it is time I devise a strategy for winning this wager.”

Gerald turned to Sir Richard when they were alone and asked,
“Do you know what is going on Uncle? I thought Erica determined to be quit of her husband and yet she has embarked on a rather precarious wager that might leave her leg-shackled to him for life.”

“I don’t believe she had any other option. You yourself witnessed his inflexibility last night. He refused to consider releasing her and no amount of argument or inducement would have made a difference. At least with the wager Eri
ca has a slim chance of winning; although the odds I fear will be stacked against her. Besides, I think she will be a winner only if she loses!”

“You think to remain married to Treve
llyn would be for the best then?” Gerald asked.

I rather trust
my dear boy, that there is an attraction between them and I am extremely hopeful that this may turn into a love match despite its rather bizarre beginning.”

“I hope you
are right for two reasons. One; it is my dearest wish to see Erica happily married to a man who dotes on her and she him, and two; it would salve my conscience to know that the marriage I forced her into had turned out, against all probability, for the best. But I have to say they are at odds every time they come within a few feet of each other. I would even dare to suggest that Trevellyn goes out of his way to provoke Erica at every opportunity.”

“You are still a novice in the field of true love. Take it from me; love manifests itself in a variety of different ways. Look at Fiona and Stephen; they are happy in each other’s company but not outwardly affectionate. Your aunt Hebe and Uncle William are forever bickering but would be amazed if anyone thought they were not deeply in love. And then take Sarah and
Freddie; they were always affectionate and entwined around each other, until that is she became an expectant mother!”

Gerald shuddered. “Say no more! I only hope she doesn’t end up killing him before the end of the four weeks!”

He poured himself another coffee before asking. “Do you have any idea what the terms of the wager might be?”

Sir Richard grinned. “I believe I do. Especially as I took the precaution of having my suspicions confirmed by Boodle when he br
ought in the coffee.” To Gerald’s look of enquiry he added. “He was eavesdropping last night! He said he could not help it as he had been set to guard the door and besides he saw it as his duty to protect Miss Erica.”

“Well?” Gerald was all impatience.

“Trevellyn intends to consummate the marriage. He has four weeks to seduce his wife.”

“It would certainly void any thought of annulment!” Gerald was impressed. “And Erica believes she can withstand his charms?”

“Yes, although according to Boodle, he did not think she had got off to a very good start! He seemed to think she had not objected to Trevellyn’s kisses!”

Both men laughed.

“Do you think then Uncle, that we should assist Trevellyn in his endeavours?” Gerald asked with all the appearance of innocence.

“Oh undoubtedly! We ar
e doing it for Erica’s own good,” Sir Richard replied.

“Besides,” added Gerald “She doesn’t have to know, does she?”

“Absolutely not. We shall be the soul of discretion!”

In mutual accord the two men left the study in search of their breakfast, both of them far happier than they had been when they had entered it.

Traditionally, the day after the swimming gala was a free day in that no planned activities took place. This allowed people and children to follow their own inclinations whether it be relaxing, walking or visiting the local village. Breakfast was therefore an unhurried and relaxed affair; sometimes stretching into lunch for those inclined to sit and chat at leisure over the coffee or hot chocolate cups that Boodle religiously kept replenished.

On quitting the stu
dy, Erica joined her family and after helping herself to bacon and eggs from the laden sideboard, took the vacant seat next to the Duchess of Penkhill.

“Good morning, my dear
,” the Duchess greeted her with a warm smile, but much to Erica’s relief she refrained from mentioning the previous evening. They then spent a few moments discussing the continuing fine weather and the gala.

“I cannot say how pleased I was to see you vanquish Ross. I know it must sound t
erribly disloyal to my only son but to see you get the better of him and in so doing, claiming a victory for us women, made me feel quite elated.”

“I don’t think he expected to lose, did you?” laughed Erica.

“No he didn’t which made it all the funnier,” answered the Duchess. “But Simian tells me that you two are involved in some sort of mêlée.”

“I’m afraid Trevellyn did not play fair in the game of ball we were having with the children on the day of his arrival. It goes without saying that I got the bett
er of him in that encounter and I’m sorry if I shock you Claudia, but he swore he’d be avenged! I hold the upper hand I believe in our little war.”

The Duchess laughed. “Yo
u certainly do but be warned, he will be a formidable opponent.”

“I am not frightened!” Erica assured her before altering the focus of the conversation.

“I believe he is showing an interest in Charlotte. She would make him a good wife, don’t you think?”

Her Grace hesitated over her reply.
“Charlotte is a lovely girl, but I wonder if she is a little too placid for Ross.”

“Discussing my marriage!” Erica had not heard Trevellyn approach and choked on her hot chocolate. He patted her on the back a few times before sitting down beside her.

“I was just saying that you have expressed an interest in Charlotte as a potential bride, My Lord, and that I fully approve of your choice.” she smiled sweetly at him.

“Alas my mother does not and a man must abide by his mother’s advice.” Trevellyn leaned across
Erica and spoke to the Duchess. “Mama, Charlotte is indeed a lovely girl but as you say; would not suit me. What type of girl would you recommend?”

“S
omeone who is not afraid of you,” The Duchess knew very well what her son was up to and was enjoying herself hugely. “Someone who can arrange a house party.”
”Like this one, for instance?” Trevellyn interrupted.

“Yes, t
his one would be a good example,” Her Grace agreed. “And someone who is strong enough to defeat her adversaries”

“Like’
in say, a pillow fight?” he suggested.

“Well yes, that would be a good example to use. She should be able to trounce her adversary in a pillow fight.” The duchess beamed at her son.

“She should also be beautiful, kind-hearted and intelligent.”