The Ideal Bride (72 page)

 
Michael studied his face, heard truth ring in his tone. Wisdom from the mouth of one of the ton’s foremost rakes?

 
Timothy looked away, took another sip of his cordial. “One thing— before he leaves town with Muriel, can you tell Hedderwick about me?” He met Michael’s eyes. “While I shudder at the thought that she’s my half sister, I will want to keep track of her.”

 
Michael agreed; Timothy might want to remain advised of Muriel’s whereabouts purely for his own protection, but Michael was starting to suspect that Timothy was more likely to protect Muriel, and ensure her welfare, than anything else. For all he wasn’t like Camden, he was in one respect his sire’s son—a complex character.

 
Timothy grimaced. “I have two older sisters—half sisters. I’ve always in jest referred to them as my evil, ugly sisters.” He winced. “Never again.”

 
The words had barely passed his lips when a tap on the door heralded his man. “Lady Constance has arrived, m’lord. She’s heard about your injury and is demanding to see you.”

 
Timothy stared at him, then slumped back and groaned. Feelingly.

 
Michael laughed. Standing, he gripped Timothy’s hand, assured him he’d let Hedderwick know of Timothy’s interest, then beat a hasty retreat.

 
Timothy muttered darkly—something about deserting fallen comrades and leaving them to the enemy.

 
On the stairs, Michael passed Lady Constance Rafferty, a handsome matron grimly set on her task; they exchanged nods, but she didn’t pause, regally sweeping into her brother’s chamber.

 
Grinning, Michael left the house, abandoning Timothy to Lady Constance’s tender mercies.

 
Later that night, when he’d joined Caro in her bedchamber and she stood within the circle of his arms, he smiled down at her and mentioned his visit to Timothy and Lady Constance’s arrival. “He seemed stronger. I’m sure between you and his sisters, he’ll make an amazing recovery.”

 
Caro narrowed her eyes at him. “Was he taking my cordial?”

 
“I witnessed it with my own eyes.”

 
“
Humph
! Just as well.” She leaned into him, reached up and carefully speared her fingers through his hair, gently explored the back of his skull. “It still hurts,” she said when he winced.

 
“Nothing like it did.” He spread his hands and drew her to him, molded her to him. “And my head isn’t spinning in the least.”

 
Her eyes searched his; her smile was slow, filled with sultry promise. “Perhaps I should rectify that.”

 
“Indeed. I’m quite sure that falls under the heading of wifely duties.” He’d used the term deliberately; her lashes had been lowering, but now they rose and she met his eyes.

 
She read them, then drew breath, exhaled. “We haven’t discussed the details.”

 
“The details,” he informed her, “remain up to you. Whatever you want, whatever you wish. Whenever you wish.”

 
She studied his eyes, smiled. “I believe you mentioned a special license?”

 
She had remembered; he’d wondered. He nodded. “I have one.”

 
Gently, within his arms, she swished her hips side to side, back and forth, the exquisitely sheer figured silk of her gown a tantalizing whisper shielding her svelte curves. Her eyes never left his. “Perhaps we should marry as soon as possible…” Her gaze dropped to his lips; she licked hers, then met his gaze again. “Can you see any reason to wait?”

 
He could see every reason to rush ahead. “Three days.” He tightened his hold on her, anchoring her distracting hips, almost groaning as he realized how aroused she’d succeeded in making him. “Soon!”

 
She laughed, that light airy, truly carefree sound he’d heard too infrequently to date. “It’s the height of summer—hardly anyone’s in town. And they’ll never forgive us if we slip away and tie the knot without them.”

 
Michael thought of Honoria, and groaned aloud. “Invitations, organization.” More delay.

 
“Don’t worry—I’ll handle it.” Caro smiled up at him. “Let’s say the end of next week…” Her smile faded; her eyes remained on his, open, yet… “Can we hold the wedding breakfast at the Manor?”

 
“Of course.” He didn’t ask why, left the choice to her.

 
Her silver gaze remained locked with his. “When I married Cam-den, we had the breakfast at Bramshaw House. But that’s the past, one I’ve left behind. I want our wedding to be a fresh start—for me, it is. It’s a new start, walking a different road, with you.”

 
He looked into her silvery eyes, clear, decided, resolute. He’d been weighing whether to tell her what Timothy had revealed, to help her understand that the sexual failure of her first marriage had never been her fault, or whether to simply let the past die.

 
She’d just made the decision for him—she’d put the past behind her, shut the door and turned away. And now she was committed to walking into the future with her hand in his, and making the best they could of it together.

 
He smiled into her eyes. “I love you.”

 
Her brows lightly rose; her eyes glowed softly. “I know. I love you, too—at least, I believe I do.” She searched his eyes, then said, “It has to be that, don’t you think—this feeling?”

 
He knew she wasn’t referring to the warmth that was spreading through them, heating their skins, sliding through their veins, but the force that drove it—that power that most tangibly manifested when they were locked together, when they gave themselves each to the other, the power that at such times waxed so strong they could feel it, could almost touch it. The power that day by day bound them ever more closely.

 
“Yes,” he said, and lowered his head, found her lips, accepted her invitation and sank into her mouth. And devoted himself to showing her that to him she was the most desirable woman in the world.

 
By giving himself up to that power.

 
They were wed in the church in Bramshaw village. The ton turned out in force; so, too, did London’s diplomatic elite. It might have been a political and diplomatic nightmare, yet with Caro decreeing and Honoria enforcing, with able lieutenants among the many Cynster ladies and connections, no one dared create a fuss over anything, and the event passed without a single hitch.

 
From the packed church, running a gauntlet of flowers and a fine hail of rice, Caro and Michael made their way through the crowd that hadn’t managed to squeeze inside, then climbed up to an open barouche for the drive back to the Manor.

 
There, a massive feast had been laid out; everyone was welcome— everyone came. The crowd was enormous, the good wishes unfeigned; the sun shone down in glorious benediction as, hand in hand, they did the rounds, greeting, thanking, talking.

 
The crowd didn’t start thinning until late in the afternoon. Still wearing her ivory lace wedding gown heavily beaded with tiny seed pearls, Caro saw Timothy, a glass in his hand, sit down on the orchard wall, grinning as he watched the younger crew playing bat and ball along the back section of the drive. She leaned close to Michael, brushed his jaw with her lips, met his gaze. Smiled serenely. “I’m going to talk to Timothy.”

 
Michael looked over her head, then nodded. “I’m going to get Magnus inside. I’ll find you when I come out.”

 
Drawing away, leaving his side yet aware some part of her never truly would, she followed the lawn bordering the drive, and came up beside Timothy.

 
He glanced up as she sank onto the stone beside him. Grinned, and raised his glass to her. “An exceptional event.” He held her gaze, then took her hand and raised it to his lips. “I’m pleased you’re so happy.” Gently squeezing her hand, he released it.

 
They sat in the sunshine and watched the game, then she remembered and murmured, “Hedderwick sent his felicitations. He’s staying in Cornwall with Muriel. He’s a quiet man, but a steady one—I think he truly loves her, but she never seemed to see it.”

 
“Or wasn’t content with it.” Timothy shrugged. “That was Muriel’s choice.” Facing her, he smiled his rakish smile. “You, at least, have had the sense to plunge into life and live it.”

 
Caro arched a brow. “And you?”

 
He laughed. “As you know full well, that’s always been my creed.” His gaze went past her; he stood as Michael joined them.

 
They exchanged easy nods.

 
“How’s the shoulder?” Michael asked.

 
Caro listened as they swapped quips, inwardly smiled. They weren’t at all alike, yet they seemed to have settled into an easy camaraderie based on mutual masculine respect.

 
Then Timothy glanced down at her; she rose and slipped her hand onto Michael’s arm.

 
“I must leave,” Timothy said. “I’m off north to spend the next weeks with Brunswick.” He glanced at Michael, then leaned close and kissed Caro’s cheek. “I wish you both the very best of happiness.”

 
With an almost boyish smile, he stepped back, then turned and started up the drive.

 
Three paces on, he halted and looked back. Frowned at Caro. “When you come up to town,
don’t call
—send word. You’ve damaged my reputation enough as it is.‘

 
She laughed; hand over her heart, she promised. Timothy humphed, saluted Michael, then strode away.

 
Michael frowned. “Just how did you damage his reputation?”

 
Caro looked into his eyes and smiled. “His, not mine.” She patted his arm. “We should speak with Mrs. Pilkington.”

 
Noting the subject for investigation later, Michael let her distract him.

 
They moved through the crowd, chatting, accepting wishes and farewells. There were children aplenty present, running hither and yon through the gardens and shrubbery, whooping through the orchard, playing games in the drive. Michael caught a wild throw; releasing Caro, he lobbed the ball back, stopping for a few moments to compliment the boys on their style.

 
Watching him smile at a towheaded lad and tousle the boy’s hair, Caro felt her heart catch. She thought she might be pregnant, but… just the thought made her so emotional it was a battle to keep her face straight, to keep the blissfully happy tears from her eyes. Not yet; today, she’d enjoy today’s joys. Once she was sure, she would share the news with Michael—a new joy for them both, one to share privately—one she’d once thought she never would know.

 
So she waited for him to return to her, a smile on her face, giddy exultation in her heart. When he did, they passed once more into the crowd, chatting here and there until Therese Osbaldestone summoned her with an imperious wave.

 
“I’ll wait here,” Michael said. Lifting her hand from his sleeve, he kissed her fingertips, and released her.

 
She looked at him. “Coward.”

 
He grinned. “Indeed.”

 
She laughed, and left him. Michael watched her go, saw the sharp glance Lady Osbaldestone threw him, pretended he hadn’t.

 
Gerrard Debbington strolled up. “I wanted to ask if you and Caro would consent to sit for me sometime.”