Mysty McPartland (2 page)

Chapter Three

Across the room, Nathan observed his wife and was surprised to see her smiling and looking so animated while she conversed with the other two women. He could feel the desire start to stir within his body, and shifted uncomfortably on his feet before it became out of control. He let out a relieved breath when his friend Phillip cut into his vision.

“What happened Nath? I thought you were marrying Bethany Sharp?” Phillip stood beside his friend and frowned as he studied Nathan’s bride. There was something very familiar about her, but he couldn’t remember where he’d seen her before.

Nathan snorted. “The damn woman ran off just before the ceremony. So there wasn’t anything else I could do but marry her sister instead.”

Phillip’s head swiveled to look at his friend and he grinned, “Well at least she had a sister to take her place. Do you have any idea why she ran off?”

“No, but I intend to find out.” Nathan was about to say more, but before he could his wife joined them.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again Lord Mountford. Especially now that you are wearing your clothes.” Sheldon teased the man and swallowed her giggle when his face turned red.

Phillip’s eyes rounded and his face burned with humiliation. Now he remembered where he’d seen this woman before. He would never forget such an embarrassing moment as that night when this woman caught him naked in bed with a whore.

A scowl on his brow, Nathan’s watched the mortification come over his friend’s face and grew suspicious over his wife’s disclosure. Was what he thinking possibly true, his blood stirred with indignation? “Are you telling us wife, that you saw Phillip naked?”

The hissing angry words from her husband made her smile and Sheldon shrugged her shoulders, “Well besides seeing the both of you that night, I did see a half a dozen other men in ah…delicate situations. And I must say there was one particular gentlemen that certainly piqued my curiosity.”

Nathan also felt the heat crawl up the back of his neck, he was likewise furious at his wife. “You will cease going to such places. I forbid it.”

“You can forbid all you want, but let me tell you I have no intentions of obeying you.” Her smile dying, Sheldon lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes.

“Don’t you dare defy me in this wife? Surely you must realize the danger you are putting yourself in?” The warning was given in a low, harsh tone. He wanted to shake her silly, his hands clenched and unclenched as he fought the need to make her see sense.

“Of course I know the danger. What do you take me for, a complete imbecile? I have been attacked before and only a few weeks ago I suffered a black eye. I know the risks and take precautions.” Sheldon was furious over his demand that she stop trying to help those poor women, besides the insufferable brute practically called her stupid.

Horrified over her admission of being attacked, Nathan was ready to kill someone. What proper gentleman would lay a violent hand on this small delicate woman or any woman for that matter? “I order you, tell me their names.”

Sheldon rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Now why would I do something so foolish as to tell you who they are? If I do you’ll probably go out and fight a duel with each and every one of them.”

“Damn right I would. Now tell me who they are.” Nathan grasped her arm, he had no intention of letting her go until she told him. It was only his friend’s warning voice that cut through the rage clouding his thoughts.

“Ah hum, I would advise you to calm down Nath. You don’t want to cause a scene.” Phillip intervened, even though he was still embarrassed, was also fascinated with the conversation between his friend and his bride. However, he could see Nathan getting himself worked up.

For some reason Sheldon was unafraid of her husband and when Lord Phillip spoke up she gave him a wink, “I’m sure this will be another subject we will discuss later. I’m certain by the time we finish our talk it will be a new day.”

Surprised when the anger drained out of him, Nathan found himself fascinated when he spied the dimple on her left cheek. Her eyes were dancing brightly with amusement and her smile lit up her face. His wife looked stunningly beautiful and desire for her hit him low in the belly. The flaccid flesh between his thighs was starting to rise and thicken in anticipation.

Phillip chuckled. “I gather my lady that you and Nathan have a few things to discuss.”

“Oh yes we have plenty to say to each other and do call me Sheldon since we know each other so intimately.” She teased him and watched Lord Phillip’s face go red again.

Wanting to die with shame, Phillip cleared his throat.

Nathan stepped in and saved his friend from further humiliation from his wife. “I think you should refrain mentioning that night again.”

“If you wish.” Giving a slight shrug of her shoulders, Sheldon gave Lord Phillip a warm smile.

A dark brow arching in surprise Nathan eyed his wife suspiciously. “I don’t believe it. Are you actually agreeing to something I’ve asked of you?” He almost groaned when her light tinkling laughter sent another a sharp blade of desire ripping through him.

Finding his remark funny, Sheldon laughed. “Oh I assure you sir, I can be quite agreeable when I choose to be.”

With a snort of disbelief, Nathan couldn’t help grinning back at her. “And no doubt that isn’t very often. Now come along. I’ve had enough of this wedding breakfast. It’s time we said goodbye to our guests and have our conversation. Phillip, I’ll see you soon.” With that, he clasped his wife’s hand, placed it on his arm and walked away.

Sheldon managed another wink at Lord Phillip before her husband dragged her off. She definitely wasn’t looking forward to her talk with her husband, but she wasn’t going to back down either. There was no way on earth she was going to just fall into bed with him and he better understand the fact right from the beginning.

Nathan made it half way across the ballroom when he was stopped by his latest mistress. Damn it to hell. What in tarnation’s was she doing here? He eyed his wife out of the corner of his eye and nearly groaned knowing that there probably would be an ugly scene about to erupt. He could only hope that he would be able to head it off before it happened.

“Nathan, darling could you steal yourself away for a few minutes? I need to speak to you on a matter of some urgency.” Lidia reached out and stroked her fingers down his chest while she fluttered her lashes at him. Inside though, she was infuriated that he actually went through with his plan to marry another woman. She had schemed from the beginning of their affair to have him propose to her. Instead, he turns around and marries someone else.

“I’m afraid I’m rather busy at the moment Lidia. After all, I only married a few hours ago.” Nathan removed her hand and made sure she saw the warning in his eyes. The woman was acting foolishly and she was going to pay dearly for it. He took another sneak peek at his wife and couldn’t believe she was looking so serene. Perhaps she hadn’t realized who Lidia was and hopefully he could keep it that way.

Sheldon stood beside her husband and frowned at the woman’s display of intimacy with him. She could tell by the sound of her husband’s voice that he was angry, and she was surprised the other woman didn’t notice it. She watched in fascination when the brazen lady sidled closer to Nathan, almost rubbing herself against him.

“But Nathan, my love, it will only take a few minutes. Surely you can spare that for me? After all, I’m sure you little wife won’t mind.” Lidia swept a quick glance at Nathan’s wife and smiled confidently knowing she would have little to worry about from the other woman.

Nathan took a quick step back, putting a small distance between him and his mistress. “Go home Lidia. I’m sure whatever problem you have you can sort out yourself.”

Wide eyed in curiosity, Sheldon watched her husband and his mistress. Maybe she thought she could delay the coming confrontation just a little bit longer. Tugging on her husband’s sleeve to gain his attention, she waited for him to acknowledge her. When he turned to frown at her, she smiled sweetly at him. “Oh I don’t mind if you talk to her. If she has a problem I’m sure she will most happily
benefit
from your help.”

The very second he spotted the mischievous light in his wife’s eyes, Nathan knew she was up to something. And he knew he was right the moment she finished speaking and why, he glared hotly at her. “Well I do mind and Lidia can sort out her problem on her own.” He swung back to his mistress. “Goodbye Lidia.” He stepped around her and with his wife practically running beside, him strode out of the ballroom.

Chapter Four

Breathless Sheldon stood in the middle of her bedroom, and eyed her husband warily knowing that things were about to become more than heated. Well so be it, in this she was going to be adamant. He could bellow and threaten all he liked, but she wasn’t going to change her mind.

“Did you really think you could put this conversation off?” Nathan wasn’t surprised when she shrugged her delicate shoulders.

Nervously clearing her throat, she decided to just get the whole thing over with. “Well I thought you would appreciate spending some time alone with your mistress. After all you won’t be sharing my bed.”

Nathan sucked in his breath, it surprised him a little that she knew all along who Lidia was, but he shook it away. He had more important matters to deal with beside her knowledge of his mistress and that was his wife’s refusal to consummate their marriage. “You are my wife and it is your duty to supply me with heirs and that means sharing your bed with me.”

Her head shaking in refusal, Sheldon ignored the fear that was making her body tremble. “I am your substitute wife. I was forced to marry you and you know it. I sent a message to you through my father specifically telling you I was not going to be your substitute bedmate.”

His jaw clenched, Nathan tried to keep hold of his rising temper knowing that if he lost it, things would only turn even more difficult. “Well let me assure you, I never received the message. Besides you promised to honor and obey me or have you forgotten?”

“I only pretended.”

Lord, give him strength, he was going to have to hit her where she was most vulnerable, her pride. “Whether you pretended or not, you did give your oath or are you as deceitful as the rest of your family?” Nathan threw at her and saw by the stunned hurt look on her face, he scored a blow to her pride which he knew he would. Yet he was surprised at the twinge of guilt that swept through him, but he wasn’t going to apologize. Be damned if he would.

The attack on her integrity wounded her, Sheldon turned away so he wouldn’t see it. “I always honor my word. However, can’t you understand that I find it quite impossible for me to jump into bed with you? We’re strangers for goodness sakes, and besides we don’t even like each other.” Hopefully, he would consider her argument as a valid one.

Nathan wasn’t sure about not liking each other, but he could understand her reluctance, and he only admitted it grudgingly though. He lifted his head back and stared up at the ceiling as he tried to come to a reasonable arrangement. Time was running out and he needed to father a child, but perhaps give or take a few weeks he could put off bedding his wife until she was more comfortable with him and the situation.

Wisely deciding that it was the perfect solution, he turned his attention back to his wife. “Perhaps you are right and we both need time to acquaint ourselves with each other.” He could see he’d stunned her with his consideration and he forced himself not to grin.

Her eyes widening over his acceptance, Sheldon couldn’t help her relieved smile. “Thank you. I appreciate your understanding and thoughtfulness. I would also like to mention I do not mind if you continue seeing your mistress. However, I would be very disappointed and unhappy if you continue to seek your pleasure at the brothels. You must know a lot of those poor women don’t have any other choice, or that some of them are forced into such a degrading life.”

To say he was shocked was putting it mildly. Nathan could only stare at the women in stunned disbelief. He gave a rough shake of his head so he could clear his jumbled brain. Even though he had every intention of continuing to see his mistress, for his wife to actually give him permission was unbelievable. He almost smiled, well he had planned to keep seeing Lidia, but after her little show down stairs, he decided their affair was over. However, he did intend to find another woman to take her place. Now though, after his wife giving him her consent, it just didn’t feel right.

He rolled his shoulders and sent his wife a humorless grin. “Well I must say that is very accommodating and decent of you. However, I don’t have a mistress and as for visiting the brothels, I’ll refrain from doing so from now on.” He wanted to laugh at seeing the disbelief sweep over her lovely face, but her come back surprised him once more.

Did he really think she would believe him? Sheldon wanted to clout him over the head instead, she smiled sweetly. “I think poor Lidia would disagree with you. Why don’t you go down and visit with her awhile? I’m sure she’ll make you happy, at least for a few hours.”

Oh she was smart as a whip and it annoyed him, Nathan sent her a heated glare. “I don’t give a damn about what Lidia thinks or feels. And if you have forgotten this is our wedding night and I have no intentions of sharing it with anyone else but my bride. Now I’ll leave you to change into something more comfortable and then I will be back.” Not giving her a chance to argue, he strode to the connecting door, opened it, stepped through and closed it soundly behind him.

Damn infuriating woman, well she might think they weren’t sharing a bed, but he had every intentions of sleeping with his bride on their wedding night. Even if he wasn’t going to make love to her. The little witch was going to learn she couldn’t have everything her own way and tonight would be her first lesson.

Distrustfully watching her husband stalk out of the room, Sheldon sank into a chair once she was alone. She was positive the man was up to something. He gave in too easily. Denying that woman was his mistress was ludicrous. Putting her mistrust aside, she stood up when the maids who helped her dress for her wedding returned to the room, she suspected that her husband must have sent for them.

While they undressed her and fussed over her, she thought about her sister and wondered where Bethany was. She didn’t understand why her sister would run away, when from the moment their father mentioned a betrothal with the duke, Bethany had been ecstatic. It just didn’t make sense. She could only think her sister was up to something devious. Well, there was little she could do about it until her sister returned, and she found out what it was all about.

A little surprised the maids were finished dressing her in her night attire, she watched them scurry out of the bedroom and took a glance at herself in the mirror. She gasped in dismay and embarrassment, the nightgown they put on her was scandalous. Well if one could call it a nightgown. There wasn’t one inch of her that wasn’t visible through the dark red gossamer thin garment. Oh, she’d seen nightwear like this before in the brothels she visited, but she’d never owned such an indecent item herself.

Just the thought of the duke seeing her in something like this would not only be dangerous, but also mortifying. Hurrying over to the dresser, she tugged a drawer open and rummaged through the items until she found a suitable gown. Quickly she changed and turning around, she blushed hotly when she spied her husband leaning in the doorway with his arms folded over his chest with a wicked smile on his handsome face.

“Now that is a pity. I really prefer the other nightgown my dear.” Nathan was more than pleased his wife never noticed him while she stood in front of the mirror, or when she changed her garment. It was a shame though that she was now covered completely, but it did give him ample opportunity to admire her well-proportioned figure. And it was quite a delectable little body at that. It was enough to excite the lust in any man, because it certainly ignited his.

He realized he was going to have a problem keeping his hands off his wife, however, he was determined that she would willingly and eagerly fall into his arms. And to accomplish that feat it was time to start seducing his bride. Straightening up, he moved further into the room and sat down on one of the chairs by the empty fireplace. “Come wife and sit down. I have ordered a light repast for us and while we eat we can start to further our acquaintance.”

Sheldon swallowed nervously but slowly walked forward, she was still embarrassed and a little breathless. She hated to admit it but she found her husband very desirable dressed in his long silk, black dressing gown, his dark brown hair tussled. It was the first time she’d ever seen him looking so relaxed and it made her distrustful. He was being so darn obliging that she knew he must be up to something. Nevertheless, she sat down and warily waited to see what he would do next.

It didn’t take much of a genius to sense his wife mistrusted him, he almost chuckled. And so she shouldn’t, but he wasn’t going to warn her though. “Tell me, why do you think your sister ran away? I thought she was quite happy with the arrangement?”

Glad to have something other than herself to talk about, Sheldon frowned thoughtfully. “So did I. It came as a complete surprise to me. I am afraid Bethany only does what Bethany wants and only if it is beneficial to Bethany.”

Her answer made him reflect, once more he thought the sisters were different as night and day. Perhaps he was lucky after all in marrying Sheldon and not her sister. He acknowledged though he hadn’t spent much time with his betrothed and knew very little about her. And now he admitted that it had been a mistake. “Tell me, what else you do besides visit brothels?”

Sheldon stiffened in her chair and sent him a condescending glare. “If you must know, I help out at some of the hospitals for the poor and a few orphanages.”

His brow rose in amazement. “That must keep you very busy. Whenever do you find time to enjoy yourself? I know I have never seen you at any of the balls or soirées I’ve attended.” Most women didn’t surprise him but this particular woman was certainly continuingly doing it and often.

“I can assure you sir that I do find time to enjoy myself. And though you haven’t noticed me I have been to balls and soirees. I even attend the opera on occasion as well as go to Vauxhall Gardens.”

Nathan grinned at her snappish tone. “Well I’m pleased to hear it and we’ll be attending such things together in the future.”

Before she could reply there was a knock on the door and Nathan commanded whoever it was to come in. When the butler entered with other servants, Sheldon watched them place the trays down on the table between them and quickly leave the room. When her husband handed her a crystal flute of champagne, she accepted it and reluctantly raised it in a toast to their marriage. This, she thought unhappily, was going to be a long excruciating night. Thankfully she didn’t have time to dwell on her misery when the duke spoke to her again.

“So tell me how long have you been helping these poor unfortunate women and what does your family think of it?” Nathan could tell that his question irritated her and suppressed a grin. She was certainly a fiery little thing, full of spit and vinegar. He hoped she would have just as much fire in her when he made love to her. Just thinking about it he was hit with a fierce blade of desire and he fought to suppress it.

A casual shrug of her shoulders, Sheldon was suspicious and knew she would have to be careful how she replied. “I have been helping those women for two years. And as for my family, they don’t pay any attention to what I do. I’m a terrible disappointment to them, or so they keep telling me.”

Two years, it was a wonder she hadn’t caught him with his pants down before now. As for her family, he would like to confront her father and beat some sense into the man for letting her run wild all over London. What sort of family did she have that they took so little interest in her and to tell her often that she was a disappointment? What in the hell were they thinking? His bride was far from being a disappointment, she was extremely intelligent and fascinating. He decided not to continue the subject and spoke of other matters. However, deep down in his gut he simmered with rage for the way her family treated her.