The Theft of a Dukedom (11 page)

‘It’s a river. If father will let us, I’ll show you
Cauldron Snout and the falls at High Force while your
here, but it will be a massive outing and we’ll probably
have to take everyone.’
‘What are those places?’ he asked excitedly.
‘Waterfalls, for want of a better word.’ She said
and smiled. ‘But nothing like Niagara Falls in America.’
‘Have you been to America?’ he asked
‘No. But I hope to one day. I did see a very good
painting of the falls in London a couple of years ago.’
She stroked the head of the boy beside her. ‘Well, I
have to go and bathe. My father has already told me off
for my apparel, so now I must be the Countess.’ She
smiled at the boy. ‘I’ll see you at tea.’
‘I shall look forward to it.’ He said formally and
bowed his head. She gave him the proper curtsey and
quickly went to her room as she could see an army of
footmen bringing her bathwater.

Charles arrived in the drawing room just in time
to hear Abigail Trenchard say to Aunt Agatha, ‘She
looked positively wild! Her hair was loose for goodness
sake! And the britches!’

Margaret Bonham just looked amused. ‘She’s
like Thomas!’ she said. ‘They all are, that’s why Robin
was so wild. If Kitty had been a boy and a ducal heir, she
would probably have been just as bad!’

Charles looked at Lady Abigail quite coldly. ‘Have
you ever tried riding in the fells in a riding habit, Lady
Trenchard?’ He asked pointedly as he helped himself to
tea. ‘I can assure you, you would change to britches for
that kind of outing. The ground is rough and she had to
ford three rivers to get to her destination.’ He shook his
head and smiled. ‘Not conducive territory for a skirt, but
the scenery is stunning.’ He laughed. ‘When she gets
downstairs you’ll see the epitome of a Lady, I can assure
you.’ and he turned away.

‘I hope you’re as protective of Louise?’ Abigail
Trenchard said curtly and Charles stopped dead, span
on his heel and speared her with his coldest expression.

‘If I should be fortunate enough to receive your
husband’s permission to marry her, she will have every
form of protection I can give her!’ He walked quickly
away, biting his tongue so as not to make matters
worse. ‘Insufferable woman!’ he muttered.

Richard sniggered from his chair across the
room. ‘Are you sure you still want to marry Louise?’ he
said jokingly.

‘I’m marrying Louise, not her mother!’ Charles
responded as a footman gave him a cup of tea.
‘Where is Kitty?’ Richard asked softly.
‘She should be down in a moment.’ Charles
murmured and watched Louise Trenchard sitting with
Millicent Carter.
‘Have you kissed her yet?’ Richard asked
impertinently.
‘No.’ Charles said. ‘It’s too dangerous.’
‘Why?’ Richard asked perplexed.
‘Because I don’t know whether I could control
myself.’ And the two men laughed. ‘Have you kissed
Kitty?’ he demanded.
Richard shook his head. ‘No, for the same
reason!’
A moment later Kitty entered the room holding
the hand of a young boy, she looked the epitome of a
lady, just as Charles said she would, in a white muslin
dress embroidered with tiny gold flowers. The square
neckline was camouflaged with a lace fichu, draped
elegantly around her neck and shoulders and her hair
was braided harshly onto the back of her head.
The boy was almost jumping up and down in
excitement. ‘When can we go Kitty?’ He was trussed in
an exquisitely cut burgundy velvet jacket, chamois
britches and a fine lawn shirt with lace cravat. His boots
were highly polished and looked brand new.
‘I shall have to ask father. Cauldron Snout is
quite a long way; maybe we should go to High Force
first.’
‘Will you ask him today?’
‘Yes.’ She said and smiled indulgently. She
looked up at the guests. ‘Everybody? I’d like to
introduce the Duke of Wentworth.’ And she steered
Edward around the room, introducing family and
friends. She ended with Charles and Richard. ‘And of
course, this is your new brother Charles and his friend
Lord Richard Dunsmore.’ She offered Edward a chair,
which he clambered into with alacrity.
‘I remember you from the wedding.’ Edward said
brightly. ‘It was so exciting!’ he blurted to Kitty. ‘Mama
got married in a cathedral!’
‘And I’m sure the entire
haute ton
turned up to
drink father’s wine!’ Kitty said scathingly as she
accepted tea from the footman.
‘It was a very nice service.’ Charles said evenly,
‘and if Rochdale hadn’t been such a problem, you would
have enjoyed drinking father’s wine!’
Kitty was just sipping her first cup of tea when
Deacon, the butler approached her.
‘Excuse me, Lady Amelia, but your father
requests your presence in the study.’ He said formally.
‘Again!?’ She said in surprise. ‘That’s twice this
summer.’ She put down her cup and stood muttering ‘I
wonder who died this time!?’
Charles watched her go and then sniggered. He
looked at Richard. ‘You asked, didn’t you?’ Richard
smiled and nodded.
‘I can’t envision her in the arms of another man.’
‘I hope you’re prepared for some wildness.’
Charles warned jovially. ‘She’s too much like Robin at
times.’
‘So long as she doesn’t challenge me to a duel, I
think I’ll live!’
‘Don’t be surprised if she does, she’s an
excellent swordswoman!’

Kitty ran to the study and then stopped outside
the door, smoothed her dress down and composed her
face for a serious matter. She rapped firmly on the
wood and waited patiently. She heard the ‘Come In!’
and gently turned the knob, pushed the door open and
stepped into the room.

‘Ah! Kitty!’ Thomas said and smiled. ‘Take a seat
please.’
‘Who?’ Kitty asked and Thomas looked up at her
in consternation to find a worried expression on her
face. She slowly sat, arranged her skirts and folded her
hands in her lap.
‘What do you mean, who?’ Thomas said and
frowned.
‘The only times I have been called to your study
was for you to tell me somebody died!’ she said, but
couldn’t stop the sob escaping.
Thomas roared with laughter and shook his
head. ‘No, my dear girl!’ He spluttered through his
mirth. ‘I’m not going to tell you somebody has died. I’ve
had an offer for your hand and would like to discuss it
with you before dinner.’
‘Thank God!’ she swore in relief, making
Thomas’s eyebrows shoot up to his hair line.
‘You can watch your language for a start!’ he
said in reprimand and then smiled gently. ‘Will you give
this some thought, because I believe this is a fair and
generous proposal?’
She slumped in her chair. ‘Just tell me who it is!’
‘Lord Richard Dunsmore.’ He said with a smile.
‘Richard?!’ she gasped. ‘Why would he ask for
my hand?’
‘I shall leave out all the unromantic aspects of
the matter, but he did say that it would kill him to see
you in the arms of another man!’
‘Was he argumentative over the settlement?’
‘He couldn’t have cared less about the money.
He was only interested if I thought you would accept.’
‘Are you still including the manor in Kent?’
‘I am. Eynsford Manor will be yours on your
marriage.’ Thomas said firmly, ‘well, it’ll belong to your
husband. He will also get the financial settlement and
will receive the portion of my estate when I die.’ He
smiled then. ‘So! What’s your answer?’
Kitty’s heart rate had gone through the roof
when her father had said Richard’s name.
Can I marry a
man I barely know?
She thought about that night on the
lawn, when he tried to strangle her and how she had
not retied the ribbon on her gown. She stared in the
empty grate and thought about how he made her feel
and she remembered how safe she felt when they were
dancing.
Thomas sat and watched the expression flit
across her face. The fact that she hadn’t blurted an
outright refusal was in Richard’s favour. He remained
quiet and waited.
Kitty thought of the sinful things that Millicent
had told her and her belly went hollow with excitement.
She felt her cheeks flush with heat and looked at her
father. He was calmly waiting. She cleared her throat.
‘Yes.’ She said clearly. ‘Yes, I’ll marry Richard.’
‘And when would you like this wedding to be?’
he asked, fully expecting her to give him a ridiculous
date for the following year.
‘As soon as possible.’ She said and smiled, ‘after
all, we’re all here. If Richard wishes his brothers to
attend I’m sure arrangements could be made.’
Thomas almost choked at her answer. ‘Is there
something I should know about?’ he asked with a
frown.
‘Like what?’ she asked innocently.
‘Like a pregnancy?’
‘Father!’ she said in horror. ‘Why would you
think such a thing?’
‘I just wondered whether you got a little carried
away on the lawn.’ He muttered still frowning.
‘I’m shocked you could think such a thing of me!’
she said indignantly and scowled at him.
‘It’s not so much you, my dear, but Richard is
handsome and he could have taken liberties?’ he made
it a question as well as an explanation.
‘Well, he didn’t!’ she said the scowl deepening.
She looked at him firmly and said ‘if it bothers you that
much, we can get married next summer in London!’
They were quiet and Kitty sat inspecting her hands.
‘I sense there is something on your mind?’
Thomas asked evenly.
‘I would like to apologise for frightening you in
the coach.’ She said softly. ‘I was just invaded by a devil
and I had to beat the carriage.’
Thomas sniggered behind his hand. ‘I was
surprised that Charles didn’t race you to it!’ he said.
‘I think his thigh was bothering him. Racing like
that is a strain.’ She said brightly. ‘I have a request?’
‘I’m all ears!’ he said and smiled at his favourite
child.
‘Can I take Edward to High Force and the
Cauldron?’ She looked fairly at him. ‘I promise to treat
him like cut glass. No silly racing, a proper outing.’
‘I’ll ask Victoria.’ He said evenly.
‘Thank you.’ She smiled then. ‘I promised I would
ask.’
‘You may have to take the nanny, as well.’
‘Well, I hope she can ride!’ Kitty said firmly and
crossed to her father.
‘Be off with you!’ he said jokingly. ‘You’ll give me
grey hair!’
‘But you’re already going grey!’ she said, stroked
her fingers through the grey wings appearing around his
ears, kissed his cheek and scuttled to the door.
‘Don’t be cheeky and send in Deacon!’
‘Yes! Daddy!’ she said and flew out of the door.
By the time she got back to the drawing room, tea was
over.

Kitty was wearing indigo silk. Her gown was
stunning, with seed pearls adorning the bodice and puff
sleeves, and the ivory silk gloves were highlighted with
tiny indigo coloured glass beads. She wore a simple
string of pearls that sat around the bottom of her
throat, emphasising the length of her neck. The lustre of
her skin made them pale into insignificance.

The guests seemed small against the size of the
dining room and Kitty was quiet. She had watched
Deacon fetch Richard to the study from the library door
and now she was sitting opposite him. Her stomach was
still hollow with excitement. She again picked at her
food through the entire meal. Dinner was interminable,
but eventually the footmen brought in the port and
cigars and Kitty got up to leave with the rest of the
ladies.

‘Lady Amelia?’ Richard called before she left the
table. She looked at him over the huge candelabra that
had stopped them from conversing during the meal.

‘Will you take a turn around the terrace with
me?’
‘Of course.’ She said and smiled.
He walked around the table and offered his arm.
She gently rested her hand on his forearm and they
walked to the french windows. She could hear Edward
asking if he could go with them and Victoria saying no,
not tonight.
Kitty tried not to laugh. Once at the door she
removed her hand to lift the hem of her exquisite gown
as she stepped out onto the terrace. She walked over to
the balustrade and looked at the stars. The new moon
was just rising and it made a silver scimitar in the night
sky.
‘Did you have nights like this in Spain?’ she asked
Richard.
‘Many. But never with such beautiful company.’
He replied from just behind her shoulder. ‘It’s quiet
here, just like Portugal. London is always so busy.’
‘I shall miss it.’ She said sadly.
‘What, London?!’ he asked surprised.
‘No. Here.’ She murmured. ‘I shall miss the
rugged beauty and the earthy realism of life here. It’s
one of the reasons I was reckless today.’
‘Why will you not be here?’ he asked confused.
‘I’ve just finished my first season.’ She sighed.
‘By now I should already be betrothed. Soon my father
will insist and choose a husband for me. When I’m
married I will be too busy being a wife and with any luck
a mother. Mickleton is too far from London and I shall
be most fortunate to have a husband that does not
object to a week in a carriage to get here.’ She sighed
deeply again.
‘Kitty?’ he whispered her nickname and she
turned at the tone of his voice. He lifted his hand and
stroked his fingertips over her cheek. ‘You are so
beautiful.’ He murmured as his hand cupped her chin.
He dipped his head and gently brushed her lips with his.
She jerked and gasped, as if a current had passed
between them. It gave him the courage to go further
and he pressed his lips against hers with light pressure.
She did not back away, so he rested his hand on her
waist.
Her heart was thudding in her chest and she was
suddenly breathless as he deepened the kiss and licked
the line of her compressed lips delicately with the tip of
his tongue. She gasped again and as her mouth opened
he almost plundered her mouth, but instead he kissed
her carefully, he didn’t want to frighten her. He vividly
remembered her reaction to Rochdale when he tried to
kiss her. His hand slid around onto her back and he
pulled her against him. Already his erection was testing
the strength of his britches and he carefully kept it away
from Kitty, turning his hips slightly so that she wouldn’t
feel it. Her hands were resting on his shoulders and he
was very aware that the fingers of her left hand were
resting right on one of the wounds in his back. Slowly he
lifted his head, breaking the kiss and looked down into
her flushed face. She couldn’t hide the light in her eyes,
or the heaving of her bosom as she panted.
‘Marry me, Kitty?’ Richard asked softly. ‘And
then I can kiss you all day long.’
She cleared her throat and looked at his cravat,
which was right in front of her eyes, pulling her hands
down onto his chest. She could feel his heart pounding.
‘If what Millicent told me is anywhere near the truth,
you’ll be able to do more than kiss!’ She looked up
abruptly and the expression in her eyes made him gasp.
He could read it like a book, she wanted him.
‘I suspect that Millicent only told you the basics.’
He said with a knowing smile. ‘I can take you on a
journey of sinful pleasure you can’t imagine.’
‘Really?’ she asked in surprise.
He pulled her against his chest and whispered in
her ear. ‘I can show you things Millicent hasn’t even
heard of and I can make you scream in ecstasy while I’m
doing it.’ He boasted and nestled his lips under her ear.
‘Why do you wish to marry me?’ she said
suddenly.
‘Because you took my breath away the first time
I saw you on the lawn with Charles.’ He murmured.
‘You’re funny and brave and I would like to spend the
rest of my life with you. See you bear our children,
watch you grow old.’ He put his hands on her face and
looked in her eyes. ‘Please say yes!’
‘Kiss me again, just to make sure.’
‘Make sure of what?’ he asked, bemused.
‘To make sure I wasn’t wrong the first time.’ She
said and smiled, her teeth flashing in the moonlight. He
dipped his head and took her lips in a searing kiss, and
as she gasped this time, he delved deeply tasting every
sweet corner of her mouth, clutching her body to his.
She wrapped her arms around his chest and squeezed
him with her hands flat on his back. It made him jerk
and groan, breaking the kiss with an imprecation she
hadn’t heard since Robin left. She took a pace
backwards. ‘What did I do?’ she asked in trepidation.
‘Sorry.’ He muttered. ‘I’m still sore in places.’
She was quiet while he stood and tried to
combat the stabbing pain she had wrought just by
pressing on his wounds. Unfortunately she had found
them with her hands.
‘I’m sorry.’ She whispered. ‘I didn’t realise your
wounds still bothered you.’
‘I suppose when you have a wound like Charles,
it’s obvious, but my injuries were actually more severe
than his. Canister is not pleasant.’
She could see a film of sweat on his brow. ‘You
must make me a promise.’ She murmured as she pulled
his handkerchief from his sleeve. ‘To tell me everything.’
And she blotted his brow.
‘No.’ He said firmly. ‘I won’t tell you everything.’
‘Then I won’t marry you.’ She said and handed
him the linen, turning away to go back into the Hall.
‘Kitty!’ He called plaintively and she turned to
look at him. ‘I will tell you what I can, but I will never tell
you everything.’
‘Why?’ she asked her interest piqued and she
walked back to him. She stood looking up at his
handsome face in the moonlight. He had an oval face,
she decided. He had a deep brow that was camouflaged
by his dark wavy hair falling over it in a question mark.
She had felt like stroking it off his forehead from the
first moment she saw him. His eyebrows arched over
clear blue eyes that were set wide apart either side of
his very straight nose. It flared down to his lips which
were full without being fleshy. His cheeks were angular
and his jaw strong and determined. She lifted her
gloved hand and pushed the hair off his brow.
‘I can’t tell you everything, because some of it
would be just too sickening to hear.’ He whispered.
‘War is most unpleasant and anybody who says
different is a liar.’ His voice had gone hoarse with pent
up emotion. She knew he needed to cry, just as Charles
had done.
‘I’ll accept that. But I will insist on no secrets.’
She whispered as she looked in his bright eyes. ‘Secrets
kill a marriage quicker than a forest fire.’
‘Very well, but I will keep quiet if I should take a
mistress!’ he said with a smile.
‘I hope you never feel the need for one.’ She said
as he took her in his arms again. This time she didn’t
touch his back, but kept her hands on his arms and he
kissed her thoroughly, until she was panting again.
‘So, my lady, what’s your answer?’ he
demanded.
‘Yes. I’ll marry you.’ He made an inarticulate
sound and crushed his mouth over hers again.
‘I think you should come back in now!’ Thomas
said from the door. ‘It’s time to join the ladies.’
Slowly Richard removed his lips and let her go.
He offered his arm again and this time she put her hand
in the crook of his elbow. It was a very intimate gesture,
the way a wife would hold her husbands arm. He
proudly turned her for the door.
‘He’ll probably announce it now.’ She said and
sniggered.
‘Maybe.’ He murmured. ‘We may have to wait
for the Earl.’
She frowned. ‘The Earl? What’s he got to do with
us?’
‘I’m surprised.’ He said as they passed through
the doors. ‘I expected Louise to tell you.’
‘To tell me what?’ she demanded as she turned
to block the door way. He stopped, looked down into
her determined face and could see exactly what Charles
had meant. She was a warrior at heart and he’d stake
his life she would be as ruthless as some of the Spanish
Ladies.
‘Charles has made an offer.’
‘I know, he told me this afternoon.’ She laughed.
‘The Earl will say yes.’
They followed her father to the music room and
Kitty was astonished to see Aunt Agatha sat at the grand
piano.
Thomas walked over to the piano and rested a
hand on Agatha’s shoulder while he whispered in her
ear. A beaming smile lit her face and she nodded.
Thomas cleared his throat. ‘I have an
announcement to make. My daughter Amelia has
agreed to marry Lord Dunsmore.’ This news was
greeted with ooh’s, aah’s and a round of applause. ‘So I
should think we’ll have an autumn wedding?’ He asked
and looked at them.
Kitty looked up at Richard’s face as he looked
down. ‘I should think so, Daddy.’ She said coyly.
‘Well, before we hear Agatha play, I have an
announcement to make. My daughter Lady Louise has
accepted the proposal of the Marquis of Pikeston. I
suspect their nuptials will be sooner.’ Robert Trenchard,
the Earl of Westbrook said firmly.
‘When did he ask her?’ Kitty enquired of Richard.
‘I have no idea.’ He murmured and kissed her
cheek softly. ‘Shall we be seated?’ And he guided her to
a seat.
Agatha entertained them for a good hour on the
piano and Edward complained bitterly when Victoria
sent him to bed. Then the cards started. Kitty and
Richard thrashed Millicent and Benjamin Carter at Whist
and Charles thrashed everybody at Hazard.
Agatha escorted Kitty to her room and Richard
stayed downstairs with Charles and Thomas to finish the
brandy.
‘Why aren’t you bedding your new wife?’
Charles asked cheekily.
‘I’m letting her get ready.’ Thomas said with a
smile. ‘This will be the first night in our ancestral home
and I expect she will make it something special.’
‘Do you have any advice for a new husband?’
Richard asked softly, a frown creasing his forehead.
‘Are you worried?’ Thomas asked.
‘No, but I don’t want to frighten her. I would
prefer it to be memorable for the right reasons.’
‘Take your time and make sure she’s ready!’
Thomas said firmly. ‘It’ll be the greatest night of her life
if she wants it and is ready for it.’ He looked firmly at
Charles. ‘Don’t just fuck her! She’s your wife not some
whore in Lisbon!’
‘I don’t think I could just fuck Louise.’ Charles
murmured. ‘She’s too special for that.’
Thomas pulled his fob watch and checked the
time, smiled beatifically and said. ‘Goodnight,
Gentlemen. I have to go and satisfy my wife!’ He almost
leaped out of the chair in his haste to get to his room.
Thomas took the stairs two at a time and Chivers
was waiting in his suite. ‘Chivers! You can get straight
off to bed. I can undress myself tonight!’ he said fairly
loudly and looked directly at the adjoining door to
Victoria’s bedroom.
‘Of course, Your Grace.’ Chivers said cheerfully
and almost slammed the door on his way out.
Thomas shrugged out of his jacket, draping it
over a chair as he reached for his cravat. He sat on the
edge of the bed and removed his boots, throwing them
through the doorway into the dressing room. He slowly
unbuttoned his fine lawn shirt and walked over to the
chair folding it carefully over the seat.
‘Am I early?’ Victoria asked softly and made him
jerk around in surprise. He let out a huge groan and his
manhood almost burst from his britches, as his beautiful
wife walked naked across his room to the bed. With her
back to him, she yanked the bedclothes back and flung
them over the foot board at the bottom of the huge
bed. She peered at him over her shoulder with raised
eyebrows. ‘Has the cat got your tongue?’ she asked
inquisitively and climbed onto the bed.
Thomas had been shocked by her appearance
and then riveted by her shapely buttocks as they
minced their way across his room, peeking out from the
golden curls cascading down her back. He gasped as he
caught a glimpse of one perfect breast as she threw the
covers aside and by the time she had climbed on the
bed he was moving. He stopped in front of her as she
turned on her knees to the edge of the bed.
‘You haven’t finished undressing!’ she said glibly.
‘Here, Darling, allow me to help.’ And she reached for
the buttons on his britches. She was nervous, but
managed to keep her hands from trembling as she
flicked the buttons open. She had determined that this
was the night! The night to shock a Duke! Slowly she
pulled down the flap and released his erection. ‘My!
Aren’t you big tonight!’ she said lasciviously and looked
up at him as her forefinger slowly traced up from his
scrotum to the crest of his penis.
Thomas was unsure, he’d never seen that
particular look in her eyes before and suddenly he
didn’t quite know what she was going to do. And then
she moved for an unmistakeable target. Her fingers
tightened around his manhood and suddenly the
molten heat of shock and desire coursed through his
veins as her lips slid over the silken head of his penis.
His heart hammered in his chest.
Dear God!
He thought,
she’s sucking my cock!
Never had he been so surprised in the bedroom. Not
even a whore had done this to him, without his request.
Except Connie Beresford, she couldn’t get her mouth
around it quick enough!
He thought and promptly forgot
her as Victoria swirled her tongue around the crest and
he felt his penis engorge more than it had ever done
before. It was so swollen that he could feel every pulse
of his racing heart in it. A groan was torn from his chest
as she gently sucked on the head of his penis. He thrust
his hands into her golden hair and was going to tear her
away as her lips slid down the length of him as she took
him as deep as she could. He felt the head of his penis
slide over the soft palate in the roof of her mouth and
then it slid back as her tongue licked up the length of
him to flick across the head before she did it again. She
repeated this manoeuvre over and over again, making
his thighs tremble with desire. Her palms rested on his
hips and her thumbs slowly stroked his groin, stoking his
desire.