Sins of a Duke (25 page)

“But I’m not a princess. You know that. I never was one.”

Slowly he gathered her skirts in his hands, pushing them
up past her bare thighs to her waist. “You’re
my
princess,” he rumbled, kissing her throat as his fingers roved along her skin.

As he dipped between her legs, she moaned. “I think you should tell me your plan,” she gasped, fumbling at the fastenings of his trousers.

“In a minute.”

She pulled open his trousers, and he came free, hard and erect and aroused—all for her. Sebastian kissed her again, dragging her right leg around his hip so that she straddled him. He grasped her bottom and slowly pulled her forward, both of them watching as he disappeared tightly inside her.

Josefina flung her arms around his shoulders and tilted her head back, the sensation of him moving inside her still new and terribly vital to her all at the same time. How could she want someone so much when she still considered the wisest thing to do would be running as far from him as she was able? Whatever his new plan was, it had best be miraculous, because she didn’t think she could make herself run from him again. Not for anything—not even for his sake.

“Come here,” he murmured roughly. “Kiss me, Josefina.”

Immediately she straightened, tightening inside as she kissed him, their tongues dancing in the same rhythm as their bodies. She moaned again, then cried out as she pulsed and shattered. “Oh, God,” she breathed. “Oh, God, Sebastian. Tell me everything will be well. Just lie to me.”

“I’ll never lie to you,” he said with a hard, breathless groan of his own. He lay back, pulling her with him to drape across his chest. “And everything will be well.”

While her own breath returned to normal, she lay with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “Conchita
was supposed to wake me at ten o’clock. They’ll know I’m missing by now.”

“Did you leave a letter?”

“No. I didn’t want my father to have any idea where I might be or why I’d gone.”

“You think he might realize that you’ve been unhappy with his plotting?”

She lifted her head to look at him. “My father is very good at convincing people of things, and I think it’s because he half believes them, himself. So no, I don’t think he’s realized anything he doesn’t wish to.”

He kissed her on the chin. “Then we’ll have to invent a reason plausible to him for your temporary disappearance. Because I’m sorry, but I badly need you to return home.”

“He means to kill you after the wedding, Sebastian. Whatever you’re planning, he’s willing to murder you if you get in the way.”

“I won’t give him the chance.”

“How are you going to accomplish that?”

“I have a surprise planned during the Tuffley soiree. We all need to be there. At least your father and my brother-in-law do. I left Valentine in command of my troops. And if you’re missing, your father may not attend.”

That made sense. Stephen Embry would stay where he felt the safest until he’d determined exactly what had happened with her. “I’m sorry,” she said, lowering her head again. Damnation. Even when she tried to improve matters, she threatened to destroy them. “I’m so stupid.”

“No, you’re not. This brilliant plan of mine may just crumble into dust. At the moment, however, I consider it our best hope.” She felt his chest rise and fall as he sighed. “I’ve recently become a believer in hope.”

She considered her escape from her father’s point of view. “I’ll tell him I went to see Harek,” she said finally. “As far as my father knows, I’m more comfortable with the idea of marrying someone less…diligent about the truth.”

“Should we include Harek in this, then? I’ve always seen him as a bit of a square toes, but more ambitious than willing to work for his blessings.”

After all this, he continued to ask her opinion. She smiled. “I would agree with that. He…When he thought he would be the one to marry me, he encouraged me to continue an intimate relationship with you. His thinking, I believe, was that if I bore your child, you would see that the family lived in comfort.”

“The muckworm. No. We’re not using him. Think of something else.”

“You disagree with his assessment?”

“My disagreement is with the idea that he could marry you and let another man touch you.” He sat up, setting her back a little from him so he could look her in the eye, the stern, unyielding Melbourne in his gaze. “That will never happen.”

She shivered deliciously. “I have no argument with that, Sebastian. Where shall I have gone this morning, though?” She frowned. “Perhaps we should stay close to the truth. That’s always easier.”

“Which truth?”

“I’ll tell him that this has been overwhelming, and I nearly fled back to Jamaica. Then I realized that I couldn’t fail him, and I returned.”

Sebastian kissed her again. “Perfect.” With a slow smile that made her insides melt, he helped her to her feet and refastened his trousers. “Let’s get back. I’ll tell you the plan along the way. Just promise me, Josefina, or Mabel,
or whomever you wish to be, that whatever happens, you won’t run again.”

“You would trust my word?”

“I would trust your word.”

“Then I promise.”

S
ebastian handed Josefina to the ground one street away from Branbury House, then dismounted. For the story she’d conjured to have the most plausibility he should have hired a hack for her the moment they’d reached the outskirts of Town, but he remained reluctant to let her out of his sight.

Even back in the heart of Mayfair he couldn’t stop touching her shoulder and smelling the lilac scent of her hair as she sat sidesaddle in front of him. His sister, especially, could attest to his tendency to be overprotective, but this was beyond that. The sight of her disappearing around the corner in that hack was still too fresh to dismiss.

“I’ll see you tonight.” He brought her knuckles to his lips. “I love you, Josefina.”

“I still think you’re making a very large mistake, Sebastian, but I love you, too.”

The statement didn’t reassure him overly much, but he left it at that. He untied her bag from Merlin’s saddle and handed it to her. “I’m a powerful man,” he said quietly,
swinging back onto the bay. “People fear me, what I can do if they cross me. You, Josefina, terrify me. Be careful.”

“You, too.”

He watched her down the street, keeping a stand of trees between himself and the house. When the front door opened and her mother came rushing out, he turned Merlin for Corbett House.

He’d said he would never lie to her, and he’d been serious. But when he’d told her that she terrified him, he hadn’t quite meant it that way. It wasn’t so much her, as it was how fiercely he’d come to care for her, and what losing her could do to him. He’d lost Charlotte from something completely beyond his control. He would allow nothing within his control to keep him from Josefina.

The front drive of Corbett House was liberally cluttered with carriages. Apparently Valentine had notified the entire family of this morning’s events. As he dismounted from the weary Merlin, one of Valentine’s grooms met him. “I’ll stable Merlin here tonight,” he said, patting the bay on the withers. “See that he gets a nice ration of oats and an apple.”

The groom rubbed Merlin on the nose. “I’ll see to it, Your Grace.”

He felt ready for rest and an apple, himself, but his day was barely half over. Rolling his shoulders, he headed to the house.

“Papa!” Penelope scampered out the front door and flew into his arms. He lifted her, ignoring the sore muscles low in his back. At four-and-thirty, fisticuffs took a bit more effort than it used to.

“What have you been up to today?” he asked her.

“I’ve been very worried about you,” she said, hugging him tightly. “You smell like lilacs.”

“Do I?”

“Yes. Lilacs and dust.”

Shay stood in the doorway as he climbed the shallow steps, but evidently he realized the wisdom of not questioning his older brother’s scent. “Any trouble?” he asked instead.

“No. She’s back at home.” He set Peep down with a kiss on her forehead. “I apologize for worrying you, my dove.”

“Are you still getting married?”

“That is my plan, yes.”

“I would like to wear a tiara to the ceremony.”

He grinned. In all of this, his staunchest supporter had been his daughter, the one he’d thought might resent Josefina the most. “I think you should wear one. You and Josefina are my two princesses, after all.”

“Yes, I know.” She looked at Shay, who’d been joined by Sarala and Eleanor, and frowned. “Do I have to go back to the nursery now? I’d really like to know what’s going on.”

“I’ll tell you what I can, as soon as I can,” Sebastian answered. “I’m afraid that will have to do.”

She sighed. “Very well. I’ll finish teaching Rose how to talk.”

When she’d thudded up the stairs, Sebastian raised an eyebrow at his brother. “Where’s everyone else, then? I’m not telling my tale more than once.”

Eleanor touched his arm. “Just tell me whether you and Josefina are…of the same mind about this, then.”

“We are.”

His sister pulled his shoulder down to kiss him on the cheek. “Good.”

Silently echoing that sentiment, he followed the lot of them into the downstairs sitting room. Their troop had two new members, John Rice-Able and Anne Witfeld. “Welcome to the game,” he said, nodding at his sister-in-law.

“Thank you for trusting me. Now could we go over this once more? I’ve just discovered that I’m being courted.” The petite blonde grinned at the explorer-cum-professor.

He smiled back at her, color reddening his cheeks. “All for a good cause,” he returned.

Sebastian sat in a chair near the fire. They always saved one for him there, though he wasn’t certain whether it was in deference to his position as head of the family, or whether they were indicating that he was old and took a chill easily. “Very well. I’ll tell you of my day’s adventures, and we’ll rehearse one more time.”

“We should stay in tonight,” Maria Embry said, as she fiddled with the lace on Josefina’s sleeve.

“No one but the members of this household know that anything unusual happened today,” Josefina reminded her. “And since we said we would be there, and since my betrothed will be there, we need to attend.”

Her father straightened the sash over his left shoulder. “I agree.” He pinned Josefina with annoyed blue eyes. “I’m grateful you decided to return,” he continued stiffly, “and I’m thankful that Melbourne has no idea you tried to flee the country. But that was damned selfish, Josefina. You might have ruined this for all of us.”

He’d done that to himself. “That’s why I returned, Father.”

“Let us speak no more of it.” Her mother gestured them toward the foyer. “You look very beautiful tonight,
querida
.”

“
Gracias, Mama
.” She felt beautiful, not so much because of the splendid lavender gown and silver tiara she wore, but because she knew Sebastian cared for her. And because even with the heart-stopping guilt she felt at standing against her father, she’d made the right choice—quite possibly for the first time in her life.

Sitting opposite her parents in the coach, she gazed out at the deepening twilight. Nervousness rattled through her muscles, but she knew how to conceal that, even from
the man who’d taught her how. She wondered whether her father would ever realize how lucky he was that Sebastian had chosen to be merciful.

“You’re quiet this evening,” her mother commented.

“My life is changing,” she returned with a small smile. “It’s a great deal to think about.”

“You do like Melbourne, do you not?”

Josefina nodded. “I do.” She refrained from commenting that her feelings didn’t much signify one way or the other, since the rey had already stated that he would have Sebastian killed once the duke had outlived his usefulness.

For the first time, though, she wondered whether her mother knew that. How much of any of this did she realize? Always she deferred to her husband in matters of family and income, but was she ignorant about the worst of them? Josefina had allowed herself to be fooled about how far her father would go. She preferred to think that her mother was the same, but she wondered if she would ever know for certain.

“Look at that,” her father said, peering out the coach window. “Half the peerage must be in attendance tonight.” He grinned at Josefina. “It’s because of you, you know. It’s your first public appearance with Melbourne since the announcement of your engagement appeared.”

Apparently her short-lived flight had been forgiven and forgotten. Josefina took a deep breath, then another. It didn’t help. Whatever the Griffins planned for the evening was a surprise; these people were here to see her with Sebastian.
Goodness
.

“Melbourne should have escorted us.” The rey frowned. “Then you could have walked in together.”

“I think he’s probably still annoyed that you didn’t give him any funds to invest.”

“Yes, well, he’s simply going to have to learn that he can’t best me.”

“He’s beginning to realize that, no doubt. And I think it’ll be very eye-catching when he greets all of us in the middle of the room.”

He chuckled. “It will be that.”

“I still would like to leave early,” her mother said. “If Josefina has been overwhelmed by events, we need to make it otherwise.”

“She can rest after the wedding.”

The coach stopped, and two liveried footmen appeared to hand them to the ground. Josefina wanted to look for Sebastian’s coach, but neither did she want to appear too eager to see him. Aside from that, with so many vehicles lining the drive and the surrounding streets, she would probably never be able to pick out a Griffin coach, anyway.

Lord and Lady Tuffley bowed as the butler announced the Costa Habichuela contingent and they entered the upstairs ballroom. “Good evening, Your Majesties, Your Highness. Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence.”

“The pleasure is ours,” her father returned, seeming to expand as his social superiors fawned over him. “Your house is splendid, Tuffley.”

The viscount chuckled. “Thank you, but I give that compliment over to my wife.” He leaned closer. “Prinny is to be here tonight, you know,” he said in a conspiratorial tone, rocking back on his heels. “Quite the coup for us.”

“Indeed. I shall raise a glass to him, myself. Without his kind assistance, my dreams for Costa Habichuela would never have been realized.”

Josefina could barely breathe. She had no idea whether Sebastian’s plan tonight would work. Adding the Prince Regent to the roster of players—oh, goodness. She’d never fainted in her life, but she was ready to do so now.

Lady Tuffley left her hostess duties at the door to per
sonally guide them to the refreshment tables. “The sugared berries are especially tasty tonight,” she said. “Do enjoy yourselves. And Your Highness, I would be honored if you would join me for luncheon on Friday. Several of we high-ranking ladies meet weekly to discuss our charitable activities.”

“Thank you, Lady Tuffley. I need to confer with Lady Deverill about my schedule—I know the Griffins have several events they wish me to attend—but I will let you know as soon as I can.”

The viscountess smiled. “Of course. Thank you.”

As she walked away, her father sampled a berry. “These
are
delicious,” he muttered. “And why in the world didn’t you accept her invitation? You heard her—a group of high-ranking ladies.”

“Because I don’t know her politics,” Josefina whispered back. “I prefer to discuss this with Eleanor before I accidently ally with the wrong party, or support a cause the Griffins oppose.”

“I don’t think we’ll be remaining in London long enough for that to matter.”

“I prefer to be cautious.” Oh, she hoped Sebastian would arrive soon. It felt as though every conversation tonight had two meanings, two reasons behind it.

It only got worse. Everyone had to come by to talk with her. She smiled and chatted about nonsense, reminding herself every few seconds that Costa Habichuela was a paradise, that she was anxious to see the new settlers arrive and take possession of the land they’d purchased, and yes, she looked forward to joining the mighty Griffin family.

“Have you had a chance to see Queen Charlotte’s garden yet?” Lady Jane Lyon asked. “The roses are—oh, they’re here. He’s here. It’s Melbourne.”

The murmur seemed to reverberate around the large ballroom. The hair on Josefina’s arms lifted. With a shal
low, shaky breath she turned around.

As they usually seemed to, the Griffins had arrived together. Melbourne himself greeted Lord and Lady Tuffley, brothers and sister and their spouses directly around him. Just behind them Caroline’s family stood, most of them doing their best not to look awestruck.

Sebastian wore all black again tonight, the close-fitting coat and trousers emphasizing his tall, lean, handsome build. He seemed to emanate power. From the reaction of the other party guests, she wasn’t the only one to think so. But when those gray eyes lifted and searched the room, he wasn’t looking for any of them. He was looking for her.

The moment their gazes met he left the Tuffleys and strode across the room to her. Everyone else simply stepped back, out of his way. Not even her supremely confident father dared put himself between the two of them.

Sebastian took both of her hands in his, bringing them to his lips and looking down at her over them. “Good evening, Your Highness,” he murmured, the low, intimate tone rumbling through her.

“Your Grace,” she returned, knowing she must be blushing. It wasn’t that his presence made her feel weak or twittery; rather, with him she felt more confident and strong than she ever had before. With Sebastian, she didn’t need to daydream or prevaricate—and for her, that realization was a heady, exciting, arousing one. She wanted to throw herself into his arms and kiss him right there in front of everyone.

She heard the mutterings around them—the chorus of “Look, it’s a love match,” “Who would have thought?” and “If it smells of power, Melbourne must have it.” They didn’t seem to trouble Sebastian as he finally released her to greet her parents, so she ignored them, as well.

“Did you hear that Prinny’s to attend tonight?” she asked, working to keep her voice smugly happy rather than
nervous and anxious.

“I had not,” he said with an easy smile that elicited still more commentary. “I imagine he’ll want to dance with you to celebrate our engagement.”

He was warning her, then. She would have to continue the farce with Prinny, himself. Thank goodness she had time to prepare for that bit of torture. “As long as His Highness knows that the first waltz of the evening is taken.”

“By me, I would hope.”

The crowd laughed as he grinned. The rest of the Griffins surrounded them, offering her and her parents public greetings and congratulations, and more private kisses to her cheek and touches to her hand to show their support. And this family was to be her family. Then and there she vowed to be worthy of their confidence.

“Tuffley!” Melbourne called, looking over his shoulder at their hosts. “How about that waltz?”