Andrea Kane (11 page)

“No, sir. I have my orders,” the servant returned, blocking Grey’s path.

“Orders? From whom?”

“From His Grace. No one is permitted inside the house without an invitation.”

Robert frowned. “I must’ve misplaced mine.”

The burly footman scowled at the disheveled man before him. “I’m sorry, sir, but His Grace was firm in his instructions.”

“But I’m the bride’s father!” Robert roared, shoving past. He took two unsteady steps into the room and collided with an immovable object. Blinking to clear his vision, he saw that the obstacle was, in fact, a man’s chest. He backed off.

“I would suggest you leave at once, Mr. Grey,” Charles said with quiet authority, “before Braden discovers your presence.”

Robert shook his head, trying to focus. “Who’re you? Do we know each other?”

A look of revulsion and contempt swept over Charles’s face. Grey didn’t even recognize him.

“We met at the race at York,” he replied shortly.

Robert narrowed his eyes. “Oh, that’s right! You’re a friend of the duke’s.”

Charles nodded. “Yes, I’m a friend of Braden’s. Now I must insist you leave Sherburgh. Immediately.”

“I just want t’see m’daughter,” Robert insisted.

Charles had had enough. He took a menacing step forward, his anger overcoming his good manners. “Get out, Grey. Now. Or I will throw you out myself.”

Robert looked stunned. “But—”

“Now!”

For an instant Robert stared at Charles, as if deciding how serious he might be. The murderous look in Charles’s eyes, along with his continued threatening advance, convinced Robert that to remain there would be foolhardy.

Slowly he backed away, his mouth set in angry defeat. “Very well. I’m going. For now.”

He walked unsteadily toward the door, muttering a stream of obscenities under his breath. After three unsuccessful attempts he turned the door handle and staggered out.

Charles stared after him, watching until Robert’s broken-down carriage had disappeared from view. There was no reason to alert Braden and to upset Kassie. For now, the parasite was gone.

Charles clenched his fists at his sides. In his heart he knew that it was far from over. Grey would be back. And that was all right, for he and Robert Grey still had much unfinished business to settle between them.

“Margaret, what time is it?”

Margaret grinned, smoothing back the silk sheets on Kassie’s bed.

“It is near midnight, Your Grace.”

Kassie sighed, chewing on her lip. “Where on earth could Braden be?” she wondered aloud.

Margaret chuckled. “I don’t think you need to worry that His Grace will be missing his wedding night.”

Kassie blushed. “I didn’t mean that … not exactly, anyway. I just thought he’d be home by now. He’s been gone since late this afternoon. How long could his business have taken?”

Margaret studied the beautiful, glowing young woman who was now the Duchess of Sherburgh. With her black hair flowing about her shoulders and the ivory satin nightgown clinging to her slender curves, she would have no trouble keeping His Grace home and quite happy at night. The thought made Margaret frown.

“Your Grace …”She wet her lips, glancing away from Kassie’s questioning look.

“Yes, Margaret?”

“Do you know … are you aware of what to expect tonight?” the older woman managed.

Kassie gave her an assuring smile. “I have a good idea of what to expect.”

It wasn’t true. The only thing Kassie was certain of was that
it
involved sharing her bed with Braden, and that a baby could result from
it.
Neither prospect alarmed her. Having Braden’s arms around her would be heavenly, and the thought of bearing his child was thrilling. So in whatever way the two things were accomplished, all would be well. Braden would never hurt her.

Margaret looked relieved. She had just opened her mouth to reply when the door connecting Braden’s and Kassie’s bedchambers swung open. Kassie turned in time to see her new husband enter the room clad in a black silk dressing gown. His surprised gaze went from Kassie to Margaret and back to Kassie again.

“I apologize, Kassie,” he said after clearing his throat. “I thought you would already be abed.”

With that, Margaret practically flew from the room, calling her good-nights over her plump shoulder.

Braden looked startled, and Kassie giggled, coming toward him.

“I think she needs some time to adjust to her new role … just as I do,” Kassie told him.

Braden swallowed deeply, her words reminding him of his decision. He looked down at her, trying not to see how desirable she looked, trying to ignore the impact her luscious curves, so clearly evident through the thin silk of her gown, had on his starving body.

“Kassie,” he began, keeping his arms firmly at his sides.

“I was beginning to worry about you,” she said softly, seeing the tension in his face and wondering at its cause.

“I had business to see to.”
And I didn’t trust myself to be alone with you,
he admitted to himself. “I had thought you would be asleep by now. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

Kassie frowned. “I wouldn’t go to sleep without seeing you first,” she responded, a trifle unsure. Disturb her? Whatever she had expected, it hadn’t been this.

Braden nodded. “Are you all right? I know that it has been quite a day for you.”

She ran her tongue unconsciously over her lower lip, and Braden’s loins tightened so quickly and painfully that he nearly groaned aloud. Her scent, sweet and fresh, drifted up to tantalize his nostrils.

“I’m fine,” Kassie was answering, oblivious to his torment. “Only a bit tired.” She looked hopefully up at him.

Braden looked away, desperately trying to focus on anything but the lush beauty of the woman before him … a woman who was now his wife.

“Then I won’t keep you awake any longer,” he said at last. Turning, he walked toward the connecting door.

“Braden?”

He stopped. “What is it?” He hadn’t meant to sound so sharp, but his body was at its breaking point. Slowly he turned back to face her.

Kassie was staring down at the brilliant ring now fitted snugly on her left hand. “I had thought you would stay. That is, I assumed you would want to … you would expect to …” Her voice trailed off in uncertain embarrassment.

“No.”

Her head went up in shock. “No?” she echoed.

Braden shook his head adamantly. “No.” He walked back to where she stood. “Kassie, that is not the reason I married you. I married you to make you feel safe … to make you feel protected. Not to satisfy my … not to hurt your … not for
that
,” he finished at last.

“Do you mean you won’t …” She still hadn’t accepted what he was telling her.

Mistaking her surprise for relief, Braden gave her a weak smile. “No, sweetheart, I won’t.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “I would never do anything to frighten or hurt you. Never.”

He released her hand and turned away, convinced that he had done the right thing.

“Good night, Kassie.” The door closed behind him.

It was a sleepless night.

Braden lay awake, his body burning with hunger, assuring himself again and again that he had done what was right, what would make Kassie happy.

Kassie lay awake, crying as if her heart would break.

T
HE DINING ROOM WAS
deserted when Kassie finally made her way downstairs the next morning. Her eyes burned from the tears she had shed and from lack of sleep. She felt bewildered and drained, and utterly incapable of handling even the simplest of conversations.

It was well past eleven o’clock, and Sherburgh reverberated with a quiet hum as the servants scurried about, seeing to their duties. Kassie watched them as they dusted and polished, performing the very chores she herself had been responsible for prior to her arrival at Sherburgh. And now she was mistress of this enormous house … a duchess. It was ironic, but she actually found herself envying the servants’ sense of purpose. Her new title and position seemed overwhelming to her this morning. In truth, she lacked the energy even to begin tackling the challenge.

On the other hand, at least it would give her something to focus on, something to divert her from her confusion about Braden.

Idly Kassie strolled into the sun-drenched drawing room, lost in thought. She had never deluded herself into thinking that Braden loved her … not yet. But her every instinct had told her that he was drawn to her, not only spiritually, but as a man is drawn to a woman.

Last night had told her otherwise.

Sighing, she wrapped her arms about herself, stroking the soft silk of her apple-green garden dress. As was her way, she withdrew deep into herself, seeking answers that were beyond her reach. She had neither the experience nor the knowledge of men to make any sense of Braden’s strange behavior. Why was he so reluctant to take what was rightfully his, what she would gladly give him?

She chewed her lip thoughtfully. There was a reason, of that she was certain; one that lay just beneath the surface, yet within territories that were unfamiliar to and untraveled by Kassie. Could she just ask Braden outright? No, that might be considered terribly bold and unladylike in a
ton
marriage. She had no way of knowing.

Remembering the few moments she and Braden had shared alone in her room last night—the terseness of his words, the taut set of his jaw—Kassie knew that something had to be done. Instead of feeling closer to Braden than ever before, she felt further apart from him than she had when they existed in two different homes, two separate worlds. Thus far, the only thing that marriage had succeeded in doing was to instill a new tension in the relationship, one that had never existed in the past.

“You look very far away.”

Startled, Kassie spun around to find Cyril Sheffield leaning against the open doorway, regarding her with an unreadable expression. Automatically Kassie tensed, for she recalled Cyril’s reproving manner at the wedding, and she knew that Braden’s uncle still frowned upon her marriage to Braden.

“I’m sorry. I see that I’ve frightened you.” Cyril strolled over, a practiced smile of questionable sincerity on his face.

“No … you didn’t frighten me, my lord. I just did not hear you come in.”

He took in her youthful beauty and defensive stance and gave a dry chuckle. “You have assumed your role quite nicely.” He paused. “I am a bit uncertain as to how I should address you. Quite obviously, Miss Grey will no longer do. Is Your Grace more to your liking?”

Kassie flinched, stung by his sarcasm. Until yesterday Braden’s uncle had treated her with cordial aloofness. Now he appeared almost hostile. Was she
that
unsuitable for her new role?

“My name is Kassandra, my lord. You are welcome to use it.” Kassie kept her head high, refusing to relinquish her pride before this man.

Cyril inclined his head slightly. “It is a lovely name. Very well, Kassandra. And please cease addressing me as ‘my lord.’ My given name is Cyril. As we are now family, it is quite proper for you to use it.”

“Very well … Cyril,” Kassie managed, with only the slightest of hesitations.

“I trust you slept well?” His gaze flickered over her, and Kassie had the feeling that she was being assessed.

“Very well, my l … Cyril.”

“Braden was out riding early this morning.”

Kassie turned away. “Really? And is that unusual for him?”

Cyril frowned at Kassie’s back. “No, not under normal circumstances. But I had thought that today he would be spending the morning with his new bride.”

Kassie felt hot color stain her cheeks. Was everyone going to be privy to her humiliation?

“I suppose he chose to let me rest,” she responded without turning around.

“Evidently,” Cyril agreed in a taut voice. “After all, it was quite an … eventful day for you.”

Kassie nodded, too absorbed in her thoughts to hear the pointed tone of his question. “Yes, it was an eventful day,” she agreed softly. She stared at the floor, a glimmer of hope dawning in her heart.

Could that be the reason behind Braden’s odd behavior? Could it be something as simple as concern for her exhaustion that had prompted his curt withdrawal from her room and his decision to keep his distance, both last night and this morning?

Willing it to be so, she reasoned aloud, “Braden was no doubt being considerate of my feelings. Although I
would
have enjoyed riding with him.”

Cyril swallowed. “I’m sure Braden felt you wouldn’t be up to riding this morning.”

The underlying meaning of Cyril’s words was lost to Kassie. With great relief she turned back to face him. “Do you really think that could be it?” she asked eagerly. She didn’t wait for a reply but continued with her thought, her brow furrowed in confusion. “But why wouldn’t I be up to riding?”

Cyril blinked at the naïveté of the question and the innocent look on Kassie’s beautiful face. He was speechless.

Oblivious to his shock, Kassie continued, “Yesterday’s excitement didn’t fatigue me
that
much! Maybe he thought I would be a hindrance because of my inexperience in the saddle.”

Cyril continued to stare at her. Slowly the implication of her words sank in, and he shook his head in disbelief. Braden’s new wife had
no
idea of what he meant. And
that
could only signify one thing.

The realization was staggering.

“You don’t think that could be it?”

Kassie’s question touched the periphery of Cyril’s mind, breaking into his wildly careening thoughts.

“Pardon me?” He was totally at sea.

“You shook your head,” Kassie pointed out. “Does that mean that you do not believe Braden would be troubled by my inexperience?”

“Your … inexperience?”

Kassie looked at him with utter exasperation. “Yes, my inexperience. After all, he knows that I have spent little time on horseback and therefore cannot ride.”

“Oh … yes … riding.” Cyril gathered his thoughts quickly, disgusted that he sounded like a blathering fool. “No, my dear, I am sure that Braden would not be deterred by your inexperience. In fact, I believe he finds you totally refreshing. As do I.”