The Seduction of Lady Charity: The Baxendale Sisters Book Four (22 page)
Read The Seduction of Lady Charity: The Baxendale Sisters Book Four Online
Authors: Maggi Andersen
Robin helped her to mount him, and she moaned as she eased down, feeling him deep inside.
She rose and fell as her thoughts fragmented and his hands continued their hungry search of her body. His eyes grew heavy lidded, and he groaned when she quickened the pace. She loved having control. There was no pain. Instead, a coil tightened low in her stomach. When he touched her in that secret place, she threw back her head and cried out as exquisite pleasure radiated out and flowed through her belly.
“Charity!” Robin groaned and gripped her hips, driving into her until she collapsed down on top of him.
“This lovemaking is more interesting than I’d imagined,” she murmured against his chest while their rapid breathing quieted.
“I look forward to teaching you more, sweetheart. In fact, there’s a very interesting book in the library at the castle that we might read together.” Robin gently moved her to his side. “Now sleep; we still have a long way to travel.”
She smiled and settled drowsily against him, closing her eyes.
****
The carriage taking them home to Northumberland was now only a few miles from Harwood Castle. They hadn’t discussed what might await them there. Perhaps because they didn’t want to spoil the joy of being together. They’d stopped at two more coaching inns along the route, and those nights were even more blissful. Charity learned more of Robin’s body and what pleasured him most while a hot tide of passion raged through them both.
Now she must enter the castle as a duchess, and she was painfully aware that she had much to learn. Even if her stay there did not last long.
“If Madame’s claim proves to be true, what happens next?” She found the subject hard to raise, for it dampened the joy they both felt in each other’s company. But she needed to be prepared in order to help him.
“Madame Florence must petition the Lord Chancellor for a writ of summons to the House of Lords for the next session of parliament. She would then have to prove that she was legally married to my cousin and that the son was born after that marriage. And she has to prove that her son is a member of the Church of England.”
“But she would be Catholic.”
“But his father was not. In any case, the lad cannot take the title until he is twenty-one.”
She took his hand. “So what would happen in those intervening years? You’ll be appointed his guardian?”
“I shall have to consider all that in due course.” Robin’s fingers tightened around hers.
“Is that all?”
“Madame Florence would be asked to show why her son’s claim is better than mine.”
“But his would not be,” Charity said in a heated tone, her loyalty to Robin making her seek all avenues. “A duke must control hundreds of livings, appoint clergymen, not to mention maintain all his properties,
and
take his place in the House of Lords.”
He patted her cheek. “Have patience, sweetheart.”
When he tensed beside her, she sought to change the subject. “Did you notice that Chaloner attended our wedding without Lavinia?”
“Yes I did. Didn’t like to ask him why.”
Charity had no such compunction. She wanted to learn how Lavinia was. “She is having a difficult confinement.”
“This is her third child, is it not? One would expect it to go smoothly.”
“Not always. Especially in the early months.”
Robin’s gaze darkened. “I should not like you to suffer, sweetheart.”
She kissed him. “It is a woman’s lot. But such a joyous occasion. You have only to look at my niece and nephew. Are they not adorable?”
He smiled. “Yes, and with excellent lungs.” He frowned slightly. “Here we are.”
The carriage approached the castle gates. When she looked out of the window, her chest tightened, and she reached for Robin’s hand giving it a squeeze.
He smiled sorrowfully at her. “It will be all right, my love.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The carriage rattled along the gravel drive past the more modern dower house, built for Robin’s great-aunt after his uncle had married. There was no sign of Madame Florence and her son.
When the footman showed Charity to her suite, Robin sought out his secretary, his dog leaping joyfully at his side.
“I must congratulate you on your nuptials, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Spencer. You shall meet my wife directly. Any news?”
“A letter arrived from France today, Your Grace.” He held it out.
Robin turned it over in his hands, would this be the end of his life as a duke. He sat down, patted Henry’s head, which rested on his knee, took a deep breath and tore the letter open. “Let’s see what it says.”
Mr. Sprog’s neat cursive covered the page. Robin read quickly. Then he sat back as the words sunk in and closed his eyes. “It seems, Spencer, that the marriage license required a signature from Madame Florence’s father to be valid, as she was underage. It appears my cousin forged it—the man was dead. This is what the solicitor has discovered, and it is easily provable.”
“That’s splendid news, Your Grace.” Spencer stood quickly. He came around the desk and offered his hand.
Feeling numb, Robin stood to shake it. “Thank you.”
“Madame Florence should be thrown out into the street for all the trouble she has caused,” Spencer said darkly.
“I don’t believe she understood any of this, Spencer,” Robin said thoughtfully. “Her eyes never lied to me.”
“Her Grace will be very pleased,” Spencer said.
“Yes, I must tell her, but before I do, is there any other news?”
“There is correspondence for you to sign, Your Grace. But nothing urgent.” Spencer returned to his seat. “Lady Katherine Boothby has become engaged.”
“Kitty? To whom?”
“The Duke of Sheen.” Spencer’s mouth twitched.
Robin stared at him. “Sheen’s seventy!”
“Yes, and in poor health so they say.”
Robin shook his head. “Poor Kitty.”
He walked to the door. “Send a message to Madame Florence. I shall see her in the salon at three o’clock. And prepare a letter I shall give her. I’ll purchase a house should she wish it, either here or in France. The boy shall be educated at the best schools. I will also arrange for a stipend until he reaches his majority. It would be what my cousin wished. His dying wish I imagine, which is why he rushed into the marriage. He would have been quite aware that the marriage wouldn’t ensure that his son would inherit the dukedom—if he should have a son. He must have known his father would not live long, I imagine he hoped to send Florence to me for help.”
Robin took the stairs two at a time as the news sank in. They could spend their honeymoon in Italy. When he reached the landing, he had finally accepted the truth. He burst unceremoniously into his wife’s dressing room, where she was climbing out of her bath, with an open-mouthed maid holding the towel.
“I beg your pardon.” Robin retreated to the bedchamber, the vision of his wife’s flushed body in his mind’s eye.
Charity padded after him wrapped in a towel. She shut the door on the shocked maid. “What is it, Robin?”
He laughed and caught her up in his arms. “You’d best call me Harwood when in company, my love!”
“Oh, Robin!” She breathed his name and drew his head down for a kiss, the towel slipping to the floor. “You must tell me all!”
“I will, but first…” Robin lifted her up and strode across the bedchamber, depositing his fragrant wife onto the bed.
“So,” Charity said gazing up at him with an impish smile, “Which room can I have for my studio?”
He grinned as he sank into her welcoming embrace, and his lips slowly descended to meet hers.
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MAGGI ANDERSEN
Maggi lives with her husband a retired lawyer, in a quaint old town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She has a BA in English and an MA in Creative Writing.
When not creating stories, Maggi reads, enjoys her garden, long walks and feeding the local wildlife. Her kookaburras (Australian Kingfishers) prefer to be hand fed.
Maggi’s books and novellas are Amazon bestsellers in Regency and suspense. She has published more than 20 novels and novellas and writes in several genres, contemporary and historical romance, romantic suspense and young adult novels.
Maggi loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website.
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Books by Maggi Andersen
THE SCANDALOUS LADY MERCY
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Book Five
Released August 2016
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