The Rake's Unveiling of Lady Belle (24 page)

The clock had just struck four when the deep rumble of men's voices came from the corridor, and Phillip and Ben stood in the doorway. Water dripped from them, and their stockinged feet left damp marks on the parquet.

‘I've asked for hot baths to be available as soon as you got in,' Clarissa said. ‘You look like drowned rats.'

‘We feel like it. Not one inch of me is dry. Come and wash my back,' Ben commanded his wife. Clarissa giggled and moved towards him with alacrity. ‘Dinner at six,' she said over her shoulder.

‘Shall I come and scrub your back?' Belinda asked Phillip in an innocent voice. ‘As dinner isn't until six.'

‘Tomorrow.'

‘Tomorrow never comes, you know,' Belinda retorted.

Phillip laughed and waggled his finger in the air.

‘This tomorrow will. As much as I'd love your undivided attention on my torso, I won't let you think I'm only marrying you because I've bedded you.'

Hmm.
‘Conversely, with that trend, I could think you are only marrying me so you
can
bed me.' She didn't think that, not any more, but it was worth saying it to see his eyes narrow and his expression change to one of incredulity.

‘Rubbish.' For one second he looked uncertain.

She grinned and Phillip shook his head. ‘Good try once more. No.'

‘You are cruel, my lord.'

‘It works both ways, ma belle. I'm trying, for perhaps the first time in my life, to do the right thing. Let me, eh?'

Put like that what else could she do? Belinda nodded. ‘I'll see you downstairs later.'

After a relaxed evening, where the vicar and his wife dropped by, to—Clarissa said later—be reassured Belinda wasn't being coerced into anything, Belinda finally climbed into bed and leaned up against her pillows. The vicar, Mr Tollybuden, was short, round and cheery, and his wife not much different. She brought with her a hymnal as a bride present, which Belinda accepted with thanks. Something else she hadn't thought about.

In a few hours she would be Lady Macpherson and, in the eyes of the world, belong to Phillip. It was both exhilarating and scary. She hadn't belonged to anyone since her mama died. This of course was different.

Oh, Mama, how I wish you were here with me.

Tomorrow was her wedding day, and thanks to Phillip and Tippen she'd be a well-dressed bride.

And if she didn't get to sleep, she'd be a bleary-eyed one.

* * *

‘This standing at the altar lark is much better from an onlooker's point of view,' Ben said cheerfully to Phillip as they waited for Belinda and Clarissa to arrive. Behind them several locals and servants filled the pews, along with Lady Lakenby who had been requested to come if she could. She had arrived before dawn, and confessed to sneaking out with Lacey, her companion, in an unmarked carriage. They did it, Lady L informed them, to avoid any nosy individuals who had been asking questions in the area about newcomers, specifically women.

‘Not that my servants would talk,' Lady L said confidently. ‘And they wouldn't count Belinda as a newcomer anyway, but better to be safe than sorry.' Both she and Lacey then had an hour's sleep and had woken up as if they had slept for a straight eight hours. Now the two ladies occupied the first pew, one on each side, so as Lady L explained, they were impartial. It seemed the locals had decided on the same tactics, because a quick look around the tiny church showed both sides of the aisle reasonably full.

The vicar moved to stand in front of them, and motioned to Phillip and Ben to stand. His heartbeat quickened as he half turned and watched Belinda move to join him. Her smile lit up her face as he took her hand in his.

‘All right?' he asked quietly. ‘Ready?'

She nodded. ‘Yes and yes.'

Phillip inclined his head. ‘Mr Tollybuden, it is all down to you.'

The vicar cleared his throat. ‘Dearly beloved, we are gathered here…' Phillip let the familiar words flow over him until one phrase caught his attention.

‘…then speak now or for ever hold your peace.'

There was silence. It was, Phillip judged, not a restful or peaceful silence, more as if someone was waiting to make an entrance.

Somewhere close by, a door banged and Belinda jumped and paled. Phillip squeezed her hand, and she gave him a grateful smile.

The vicar cleared his throat. ‘That's all right then, let's carry on, eh?'

He did and before long, Lady Belinda Howells became Lady Macpherson. Phillip let out the breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding and turned to kiss his bride.

She sighed softly so only he could hear her. ‘I was so worried when that door banged.'

So had he been, but he had no intention of telling her. Five minutes before he'd left for the church a worrying missive had arrived from Macsporran. In it his agent had intimated that Belinda's father had left the capital, determined to bring his daughter to task, by fair means or foul. It seemed as if the wedding had come not a moment too soon. Lord Howells might well feel competent to attack his unwed daughter but he'd think twice before he attempted to do so to the wife of a fellow peer, especially a peer of a higher degree than himself. Or so Phillip hoped.

‘I was sure it was my father arrived to stop the wedding.'

So was he.

‘You're now my wife, not just his daughter,' Phillip said. ‘Now he has me to deal with, and I'm a lot more authoritative than his daughter. That by the way was by no means meant to be derogatory. It is just fact.'

‘I know and I'm pleased.' Belinda's tummy rumbled. She put her hand over it. ‘And hungry.'

‘Then I'll just thank Mr Tollybuden and we'll collect the others and head back to our wedding breakfast.'

In harmony they did as he said, and en masse they strolled back to the house, which was clearly visible from the churchyard. The vicar and his wife had made their excuses. As the vicar delicately put it, he had to see someone safely gathered in…into the churchyard and the newly dug grave. ‘Poor Desmond, he lived a good life, all seventy-three years of it in the village. However, ale was his downfall, and down he did fall. Over the weir on his way home from the ale house.'

How he'd kept a straight face at that pronouncement, Phillip wasn't sure and he'd had to nudge Belinda to school her features into sombreness. Her eyes twinkled and he was sure his own eyes mirrored them. The dear vicar had a way with words that didn't encourage sobriety.

As they left the lane and entered the grounds of Clinderford House, Belinda sighed and looked up at him. ‘That was so lovely. I have to thank you for my posy. Your choice of flowers was inspired.' She lifted the bouquet to her nose and inhaled deeply. ‘Roses, I love them.'

‘I'd like to say thank you and take all the praise, but Lady L hinted what would suit. Also, I warn you, she chose our wedding breakfast. I do believe it is composed of most of our favourites: pigeon pie, and venison, figgy pudding and lemon posset, amongst other things. Clarissa's housekeeper has spent all morning baking and preparing the feast for us.'

‘Then we better do it justice,' Belinda said. ‘Though I'm so excited and well…' she blushed ‘…I'm not sure to do what I hope we'll do is best on a full or empty stomach.'

Phillip stopped walking and stared at her. The others walked on, either unknowing or pretending they hadn't noticed the bridal couple standing still.

‘Not… oh, ma belle, I do so love your ideas. Food for the body now, and food for the soul later. You need to keep your strength up. You'll expend a lot of energy later.'

Belinda punched his shoulder. ‘Phillip.'

He roared with laughter. ‘It's true. Wait and see.'

‘How long must I wait?'

‘Until we can safely slip away. After we've eaten and had our good heath toasted. A few hours.'

‘A few hours? It will still be daylight.'

‘So it will. All the better to see you then.'

Belinda hid her face on his sleeve. ‘But they'll know…' she mumbled. ‘How embarrassing.'

‘We can wait until it's dark if you want. Sit in the salon and make conversation and have the others wonder if we have cold feet. Or intend to lead separate lives.' He nudged Belinda to encourage her to walk onwards.

‘Well don't we?' Was that not what a complaisant wife did?

‘Belinda, watch my lips. No, we do not. Not now, not ever.'

She looked up at him and bit her lip. ‘I said I'd be a complaisant wife.'

‘Yes you did, didn't you? I wonder though, if you actually know what that means?'

‘Well of course. That I wouldn't stand in your way when you decide to continue with the sort of things you want…need…oh you know. Carry on with your rakish ways.' Her cheeks were the colour of Clarissa's gown and the roses they carried. ‘Well, as long as you don't expect me to dress your mistresses any more.'

‘Oh that is not on the cards. Nor are mistresses. I'll have no need of a mistress when I have a complaisant wife. You see, ma belle, you only have one very small part of complaisant correct. The rest is as follows.' He stopped as they reached the gate, which led into the walled garden. ‘Are you ready?'

‘Well of course, but you've lost me, I'm afraid.'

‘Oh no, ma belle, on the contrary, I've found you. You see complaisant is…' He took a deep breath and nudged her chin upward so she stared straight into his eyes. ‘Willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, cooperative, accommodating, obliging, biddable, compliant, docile, obedient. Can you give me all of those?'

Chapter Twelve

Have I heard aright? It is what?

‘Probably not,' Belinda said honestly. ‘Well, definitely not some of them. I've never been said to be docile, for one thing, and as for biddable and obedient?' She rolled her eyes and Phillip laughed.

‘I did think you hadn't researched your answer with enough thoroughness. However, even one or two of them could be interesting. Ma belle, shall we call a truce? Start again, and work out what we both want and need in a marriage?'

Could she?
Why not?

‘Why not? Now?'

‘I think we'll need to wait a while. It seems the rest of the wedding party are getting impatient.' He let go of her chin and inclined his head towards the house where the others stood, patiently waiting. ‘Let's go and do the things we must with them, and then…' he winked ‘…we can go and do the things we must without them.' He laughed as Belinda put her hands to her heated cheeks.

‘Phil-lip.'

‘Ma belle?'

‘I have to go and be polite with that thought in my mind. My cheeks are red, my body heated and my mind… Well, it's full of things I have no idea about and well…' She let her voice trail off. ‘I'm not in the right frame of mind to do what's necessary.'

‘Now? Or later? The first is nothing—they'll just think you're a blushing bride. The second? Follow my lead.'

Belinda choked and Phillip patted her on the back. Was he a bit too vigorous? She spluttered. ‘Enough now, I just need water, not knocking to my knees.'

He dragged her towards the others.

Clarissa looked at Belinda in consternation. ‘What's wrong?'

‘She swallowed a fly,' Phillip said without a blink or a blush. ‘Needs water, and then food. Flies don't have a lot of sustenance in them.'

‘Hmm. I suppose you were using your skill at innuendos again. Ignore him, Bel, or he'll never stop.'

Belinda rolled her eyes. Clarissa and Phillip took great delight in teasing each other, but at this moment she wished they would spare her and get her some water.

Ben seemed to realise it, because he tapped his wife on the rear. ‘Enough. Let's go in and get Belinda the water she needs and then eat. After that we can all relax in whatever way we wish. You and I are going for a walk. A long one.'

‘We are?' Clarissa said, startled. Phillip laughed as Ben bowed to his wife.

‘I thought towards the folly.'

Clarissa's cheeks reddened even more than Belinda's as she gasped, swallowed and giggled.

Belinda swallowed her grin, as Lady L cackled and Lacey hid
her
grin behind her hand and a very forced cough.

Ben smirked, and Belinda wondered if they had all gone mad or whether it was just marriage that had addled her brains and made her assume that.

‘Food.' Lady L barked the word. ‘Now, or we'll end up here bandying quips all day, and I for one am too old for that sort of lark. Phillip, take your bride and lead the way.'

He bowed and held his arm out to Belinda. ‘My dear, shall we?'

She curtsied, very correctly. ‘It will be my pleasure my lord.'

An hour later, Belinda watched as Lady L and Lacey stood up and both yawned very obviously.

‘Time we left,' Lady L said. ‘We'll nap in the carriage. It would be best if we aren't away from Sinton too long. It's a better place to find out what's occurring in the world of the ton. No, don't get up either of you. Well not for us. We'll see you back in town when it's viable. For now though, if we have information you need, I'll send young Martin with it.'

‘We'll be back in town in a few days,' Phillip said.

It was the first Belinda had heard of this and her heart dropped. Why?

‘Taking the offensive, Phillip?' Lady L asked shrewdly.

He nodded. ‘Oh yes. Taking it to where I can control it best.'

‘Sensible. Then we'll see you there next week.' Lady L dropped kisses on everyone's cheek and shepherded Lacey out.

Ben stood up and looked at his wife. She scrambled up after him and giggled.

‘It seems I'm to be taken on a tour of discovery. Of my grounds. Er, I'm sure you can entertain yourselves until we get back.' Clarissa yelped as Ben tugged her arm and hauled her away from the table and out of the room. ‘Enjoy yourselves…ooft. Be…en…'