Lord Rakehell (30 page)

“Don't tell me you will have to go to Norfolk?”

“I'm afraid so, sweetheart. And most likely I'll have to leave today. Teddy wants to be there for August. I'll have to hire a full staff of servants, buy horses and hunting dogs, as well as grooms to look after them. Since he wants to show Sandringham off to his friends, the place will have to be stocked with food and drink, and all the amenities that a royal prince of the realm is expected to provide.”

“James, thank heaven I followed my instincts and came to you last night. If I'd waited just one more day, you would have been on your way to Norfolk.”

He came to her and threaded his fingers into her hair. “I won't see you again until August. It will seem like an eternity.”
Unless, unless . . .
An idea came to him.
If I have only half the persuasive gifts of my father, I should be able to pull it off!

“Let's hurry with that bath, my beauty. Time is of the essence.”

•   •   •

At Marlborough House, Anne slipped upstairs to her room and changed her clothes. She took the gold signet ring from her finger, threaded it onto a fine gold chain, then fastened it around her neck. The ring, now hidden beneath her dress, came to rest between her breasts. She then hurried downstairs to join Princess Alexandra in the breakfast room. “I'm so sorry I'm late, Your Highness.”

“You're not late, Anne. I only just arrived myself. Edward couldn't stop talking about Sandringham. He's already making a list of guests he wants to invite.”

“Where's Frances?”

“While we're here at Marlborough House, she decided to get the maids to start my packing for Sandringham. Then she's going to pack her own clothes. That way we will be able to leave from Chiswick, and won't have to return to London.”

“That's a marvelous idea.” Anne selected a russet apple from the fruit bowl. “I'll go up and get my own clothes packed.”

“I'll be up shortly. This is the first day I've been able to face breakfast for weeks.”

Just as Alexandra was finishing her second cup of chocolate, James Hamilton arrived in the breakfast room.

“Good morning, James. I must thank you for all you do for us. I know that Edward has charged you with the responsibility of making Sandringham Estate ready for our August arrival.”

“It will be my pleasure, Your Highness. I will make sure you have a couple of well-mannered riding horses that are worthy of you. I feel comfortable selecting household servants, cooks, and kitchen staff, but personal maids who will serve you are a bit out of my range of expertise. I think perhaps that if one of your ladies accompanied me, she would be much better suited to this task.”

“That's an excellent idea, James. She could also make sure Sandringham has enough linen and other amenities that would make our guests' wives comfortable. I'm sure your sister Frances would be happy to accompany you.”

James stared at her, for once at a total loss for words.

Suddenly, Alix began to laugh. “I'm teasing you, James. I know perfectly well which lady you would like to accompany you. As a matter of fact, she's upstairs packing. I assume you're leaving today?”

His eyes glittered with amusement. “You assume correctly, Your Highness.”

“W
hen Alix asked me if I would go with you to Sandringham to select some suitable maids and make sure the estate was ready to receive female guests, I couldn't believe my good fortune. Then it began to dawn on me that you likely put the idea into her head.”

James grinned as he tooled his horses along the Great North Road. “
Mea culpa.
However, I think that the Princess of Wales is a romantic at heart. The idea of throwing us together seemed to titillate her.”

Anne threw him a saucy glance. “It certainly titillates me.”

“Then I take it you have no regrets, sweetheart?”

“My only regret is that it took so long. I should have gone home with you the night of the masquerade ball.”

“Memories of that night will stay with me forever. You told me that I would never offer you marriage, but I proved you wrong, my beauty.”

“Marriage isn't as important to me these days,” she said lightly.

His face turned serious. “It is extremely important to me, Anne. I want you to be my wife more than I've ever wanted anything before. Trust me to find a way.”

When they reached Cambridge, James decided to stop for l
unch at the Eagle, an inn that had been built in the sixteenth century. Afterward, while the horses were watered and rested, they went for a walk along the River Cam. It was busy with punts being poled by university students,
whose carefree laughter filled the sunny afternoon.

James and Anne strolled along the riverbank with their arms about each other. “This is such a lovely place, and the best part of being here is that no one knows who we are.”

He dipped his head to kiss her, but that only whetted their appetite for more, so they stretched out on the grassy bank, trying to satisfy their need to touch, and whisper, and embrace in the glorious sunshine.

Finally, James sat up. “Come on, if I don't stop, I will get arrested for indecent exposure.”

Anne looked up at him and laughed. “I thought it was called outdoor fucking.”

James rolled his eyes. He loved her bawdy humor. “Though difficult, it will be prudent to wait until dark.”

•   •   •

They entered the Sandringham Estate grounds through wrought-iron gates, then continued along a winding driveway for at least a quarter of an hour before the house came into view. When they first saw Sandringham, the sun was setting, and it made the soft red brick and stone look warm and inviting.

Anne gazed at the bay windows, towers, and gables. “Oh, James, it's lovely! It's more manor house than palace. I think Alexandra will be enchanted.”

“It's no wonder Teddy was excited when he saw the place. Will I let you off at the front door, while I go and stable the horses?”

“No, no. I'll come with you; then we can enter together. For the next couple of weeks, let's pretend it's ours!”

“We don't need to pretend, sweetheart; it
will
be ours.”

While the carriage was stopped in front of the house, James unloaded their trunks, then drove on to the stables. The stable block was large, with its own coach house, and pigeon lofts above. James noted that there were both large and small carriages, as well as coach horses to pull them, but there was a dearth of riding horses, a situation he would have to rectify. He spoke with the stableman, Daniel Hingham, and made sure there were oats for his matched pair.

When James and Anne entered the house, they were met by the housekeeper, who bobbed them a curtsy and told them her name was Roydon.

“I'm delighted to meet you, Mrs. Roydon. I am James Hamilton, an envoy for the Prince of Wales, and this is Lady Anne Howe, who serves Alexandra, Princess of Wales, in a similar capacity.”

“Pleased to meet you, milord, milady. I had the honor of meeting His Royal Highness when he visited Sandringham.”

“Prince Edward was most impressed by the estate. He and the princess have decided to make Sandringham Estate their country home. They will be arriving in early August, and Lady Anne and I are here to make it ready to receive them.”

Mrs. Roydon looked worried. “Will they be bringing their own servants, milord? I only have a skeleton staff.”

“We will be hiring a full staff of new servants, and your help will be invaluable to us, Mrs. Roydon. Of course they will all report to you in your capacity as head housekeeper.”

When Mrs. Roydon lost her worried look and began to preen, Anne thought,
James has such diplomatic skills he could charm the ducks off the pond.

“Does Sandringham have a cook?” he asked.

“Not a professional cook, milord. My daughter Ethel and I prepare the meals.” She hesitated. “Beggin' your pardon, but we aren't prepared to serve nobility, such as yourselves. We're braising some herons that Mr. Hingham shot on the mudflats.”

James smiled. “Heron is a delicacy to anyone from London. We don't need a formal tour, Mrs. Roydon. Lady Anne and I will enjoy exploring Sandringham ourselves.”

The housekeeper bobbed another curtsy and hurried off to the kitchens to spread the amazing news, and see what else she could find in the larder.

“Just look at this great main hall, it's longer and wider than any I've ever seen,” Anne exclaimed. “And the walls are painted in Alexandra's favorite shade of blue.”

“The carpet is rather magnificent. All this space will accommodate some sofas and at least a dozen more comfortable easy chairs.”

On the right of the great hall they passed by the library. The bookcases, desk, and chairs were light oak from an earlier time, and a welcome change from the dark, heavy Victorian furniture that was now in fashion.

They passed through a morning room, whose pale gray walls were painted with Highland scenes. “I wonder how many rooms there are.”

“Well over a hundred, I warrant, and far too many to visit tonight. I have other things I intend to explore,” James declared. “Let's go upstairs and take a look at the bedchambers, before it gets dark.”

To their delighted surprise they found that the east wing had many adjoining bedchambers. “How very convenient,” James teased. “It's as if the house has been waiting to welcome us.”

“I like this room with the ivy framed windows, and pale green carpet.” When Anne pulled back the covers to check the bed linen, she detected the fresh scent of lavender.

James opened the adjoining door and they entered the other chamber together. The wide bed and heavy mahogany chest and wardrobe declared it a man's room. James drew Anne into his arms. “Custom-made for lovers.”

After a lingering kiss, he firmly set her aside. “I'll go down and get our trunks. I don't imagine Mrs. Roydon is up to hauling luggage. I'd better employ a couple of strapping footmen. Teddy travels with two valets, but they're too prissy to lift anything heavier than a shoehorn.”

An hour later James and Anne, sitting across from each other, were served dinner in a small family dining room with an open hearth. They hadn't the faintest idea if they were eating heron or horse, since all they could think of was the moment they could withdraw from the world, shut their bedchamber doors, and carry on where they had left off the night before.

Their anticipation grew apace with each minute that ticked past. When their fingers touched across the table, heat leaped between them and they felt as if they would go up in smoke. James made love to her with his eyes, caressing her sensual lower lip with his smoldering glance. He hungered to take the pins from her hair and have the red-gold mass slide through his hands. Anne felt the unmistakable heat of arousal at the curve of her belly. When Mrs. Roydon brought them dessert and Anne didn't touch it, James knew that the only thing they hungered for was each other.

“You go up first. I'll have a word with Hingham at the stables.” James made a point of thanking the housekeeper for dinner, then bade her good night.

When he arrived at the stables, he checked on his horses. He saw that they'd been fed and watered and were settled for the night, so he joined Daniel Hingham in the carriage house. “Soon, most of the stalls will be filled, so we are going to need grooms to tend the horses and stablemen to keep the place clean. We can use boys to polish the harness.”

“There's two dozen empty stalls, Lord Hamilton,” Hingham pointed out.

“Yes, and we'll likely put them all to use. The Prince of Wales prefers to be surrounded by his friends, all of whom will be expected to be provided with a mount for hunting. The prince has a friend in Doncaster who owns a breeding farm. In a couple of days horses will be arriving and you can help me sort the grand from the bland. In the meantime, let it be known that Sandringham will be employing stablemen.”

Hingham touched his cap. “Right ye are, milord.”

•   •   •

Upstairs, Anne opened the windows and lit the lamps in both bedchambers, and left the adjoining door open. Then she unpacked and hung everything in her wardrobe. When there was still no sign of James, she undressed, donned a white silk nightgown, and slipped into bed to wait for him. The anticipation made her breathlessly excited, because she now knew that the reality of his loving was a thousandfold more thrilling than her daydreams had ever been.

When she heard a noise in the adjoining chamber, Anne felt her toes curl. Next thing she knew, James lifted off her covers, swept her up in his arms, and carried her through to his room. He stood her on his bed and turned up the lamp. “I'm hungry for the sight of you, and starving for the feel of you.”

She saw by the lamp's glow that he was already naked, and wrapped her arms about his neck. Then she felt his strong hands slide up inside the silk nightgown to caress her legs and thighs, and come to rest possessively on her bottom cheeks.

“Your bum is deliciously round and firm. I'm tempted to lay hands on it whenever you are within touching distance, no matter who is there to see. I'm constantly having to tamp down my desire.”

“Now you don't have to,” she said breathlessly, “and neither do I.”

James lifted off her nightgown and let it drop on the carpet beside the bed. His hands moved to her waist and he pulled her toward him so that he could kiss her belly. She shivered as the tip of his tongue circled her navel, and dipped inside. Then he drew back so his eyes could focus on the red-gold curls that covered her high mons. “You have no idea how often I've pictured your honeypot, and longed to taste it.”

She drew in a swift breath wondering if he was serious about doing such a wicked thing, but before she had time to exhale, James dipped his head and slid his tongue into the sensitive cleft at the tip of her mons. When he began to lick her, a surging wave of arousal made her arch into his possessive mouth. She opened to him without regret or reservation and allowed him to thrust into her honeyed sheath. The rough-soft slide of his tongue made her cry out as the exquisite sensations made her breathless with passion.

James felt fire snake through his groin as her cleft opened to the satin slide of his tongue and he felt his cock begin to throb. He withdrew his mouth and blew on her curls. She laughed down into his dark face, falling more in love with him every minute.

“Enough foreplay, my beauty, ready or not, I need you now.”

“Ready when you are, milord.”

He pulled her down on the bed. “Wrap your legs around my back.” He thrust into her hot center, and then he kissed her. His lips were firm, slanting across her mouth, caressing, coaxing, molding, generously giving and selfishly taking all at the same time.

His tongue plunged into her honeyed mouth, moving in unison with his hard cock, and the hot driving thrusts made her writhe and moan as he unleashed the fierce desire that had been riding him for months.

Tonight her climax came hard and fast; then she was stunned when she became aroused again, almost immediately. This time the pleasurable sensations went on and on as she slowly climbed to a peak, and then the night exploded in hot shuddering tremors and she lay beneath him in wonder as she realized she could feel his heartbeat inside her own body.

They clung together in the warm nest they had thrashed out in the massive bed, savoring these precious moments when they could lie naked together. She smiled across the pillow into his eyes. Strangely, she felt no guilt that they had become secret lovers. Anne was filled with a sense of rightness and perfection, and the overwhelming contentment that filled her heart.

With his body curved about her back, her bright head tucked beneath his chin, Anne finally drifted off to sleep. Next thing she knew, it was dawn and James was carrying her back to her own bed. When she protested, his lips brushed the disheveled tendrils that curled on her brow. “You never know who might be about at an early hour, especially once the house is filled with servants.”

Suddenly, her eyes flooded with tears and she buried her face against his shoulder. “James, you wouldn't have to do this if I'd been able to get my father's permission for us to marry.”

“Hush, love, hush. The only thing that matters to me is that you love me.” Incredibly, it was true. His heart was singing. His senses were dizzy from her close proximity. He kissed the tears from her eyes; then he kissed her mouth, realizing that by nightfall he would be starving for her.

•   •   •

“Today I plan to visit all the nearby villages to get the word out that we will be hiring a large indoor and outdoor staff for Sandringham,” James announced when Mrs. Roydon served breakfast in the small dining room with the open hearth.

“I would like to pass the word among my relatives, if you have no objections, Lord Hamilton. I have a large family of brothers and sisters who would give their eyeteeth for a chance to work at Sandringham.”

“I would greatly appreciate it, Mrs. Roydon. You can tell them that we will pay better wages than any of the other estates in the vicinity, and while we're on the subject, I imagine you would welcome a rise in pay yourself.”