To Challenge the Earl of Cravenswood (Wicked Wagers 3) (15 page)

He was out of his depth. His soul consumed with relief; she hadn’t rejected him. “Deep in my heart, I knew there had to be a mistake. I didn’t believe it of Marcus and more importantly I couldn’t believe it of you.”

“Thank you.”

He pulled her into his arms and they stood there, skin to skin. They fitted together so perfectly. 

They stood like that for several moments until the movement of her small hand down his chest drew his attention. She leaned forward and licked his nipple. His body, which he’d been struggling to keep under control, could be denied no more.

He closed his eyes and willed his body to obey his command. She’d been a virgin and would not doubt be sore. Swallowing a groan, he opened his eyes and caught her wrist.

Amy’s look of embarrassing uncertainty tugged at his heart. “God, don’t look at me like that. It’s too soon, sweetheart. You’ll be too sore.”

Her other hand drifted from his chest, down over his torso... “Perhaps not. You don’t want to stop. Your body tells me otherwise.”

He cursed, meeting her gaze: rich, warm brown eyes that promised so much, her lips swollen from his kisses. “I don’t want you to regret anything about this night.”

“I’ll regret it more if you leave my bed before morning. Who knows how long it will be before we can make love again?”

He couldn’t dispute her words, didn’t want to, and her questing hands easily convinced him that taking her back to bed would be the smartest thing he’d ever done.

He scooped her into his arms and fell with her onto the bed.

And as he listened to her moans, and little cries of delight, he congratulated himself on being right.

#

He left before dawn broke. He hesitated, looking down at her, then bent his head, trailed a kiss to her ear, and whispered, “Next time I have you, you’ll be my wife. Then I plan on taking you to my bed and not letting you leave for a week.”

Utterly exhausted from their night of lovemaking, Amy had fallen back asleep before he’d even left the room. 

Henry was almost to his bedchamber when Marcus peeled away from the shadows, an angry hiss escaping his mouth. He was barefooted, wearing nothing but black trousers and a hastily donned white ruffled evening shirt. “I think I’ll thrash you until you can barely walk.”

“I thought you’d be pleased. Wasn’t it your plan that said if all else fails, I was to compromise the lady? It looks as if I’ve fallen to your level. Sorry if it disappoints.”

Marcus chuckled quietly. “Not that. You bedding Amy is marvelous because
I
know you’d never compromise a lady. You have feelings for her.” When Henry didn’t respond, he added, “I feel vindicated. I knew you were perfect for each other. God knows why it took you both so long to see it.”

Henry walked until he was almost in Marcus’s face. “Because my so called friend lied to me about an earring,” he uttered in a fierce whisper.

Marcus smiled angelically. “Nothing that comes too easily is treasured. I wanted you to have to work a bit for your happy ever after.” His smile died away replaced by a furrowed brow. He poked Henry in the chest repeatedly. “Which brings me back to our unfinished business. You were accusing me of having an affair. My honor has been questioned.”

Henry’s shoulders slumped and he stepped back from his friend. “I feel like a...”

“Yes, go on. Like a ...”

“I unreservedly apologize.” He rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I don’t know what came over me”-

-“I do. A case of man’s most hated disease—jealousy.” He grabbed Henry’s head in a playful headlock. “You’re bloody lucky Sabine never got wind of your ridiculous suspicions. She would beat you black and blue.”

Marcus released him and Henry cleared his throat. “We may still have a problem.”

Marcus’s eyebrows rose. “We better not have a problem.”

“Chesterton saw Amy leave the stables in her night attire. He knows she was there with you.”

“So?”

“Don’t be so naive. He thinks you’re up to your old tricks. I warned him to keep his mouth shut but I doubt he will. I’m off directly to London to Amy’s father. I’m hoping an announcement of an engagement between us might make everyone assume Chesterton’s got the wrong man.”

Curses issued forth. “I’m upset because it will hurt Sabine. She won’t believe the rumors of course, but she’ll still be upset for me, for Amy...And in her condition...”

Henry couldn’t help his whoop of glee. “I knew it. Sabine has the same glow Caitlin had when she was with child. Congratulations, old boy. A father! You’re going to be a father.” He slapped Marcus on the back. “I never thought our lives could be so perfect.”

“What are you men doing out in the corridor making such a ruckus? Both of you underdressed, too. What
have
you been up to, Lord Cravenswood? Something naughty, I hope.” Sabine glided to Marcus side and he immediately wrapped a protective arm around her waist. 

“I caught him coming out of Lady Amy’s room.”

She immediately became animated. “I see our matchmaking has achieved a result. Fabulous. It took you longer than I suspected it would.” She pressed a kiss to Henry’s cheek. “I’m so happy for you. When can we make an announcement?”

He smiled at Sabine, warmth filling his heart at the joy his friends took in his happiness. “Not until you go back to London. I’m off to formally ask for Amy’s hand at first light.”

She looked between the two men. “The duke won’t be a problem, so why are you both looking so grim?”

It wasn’t Henry’s place to tell her. Marcus hugged her tightly against his chest. “It appears our well intentioned machinations have inadvertently caused a slight scandal.”

“Not that slight, actually.” Henry glanced at the floor, searching for the delicate way to phrase the situation.

Marcus jumped in before he could speak. He stroked Sabine’s face and looked her in the eye. “It appears Chesterton thinks I’m back to my wicked ways. He saw Amy and I talking in the stables the other night.”

Sabine reached up and cupped his cheek with his hand. “He doesn’t know you like I do.”

That was all that was said. Henry was humbled watching the look of love and longing the couple before him shared. The absolute trust and faith they had in each other moved him more than he would have thought. He hoped that he would grow to share this unspoken bond with Amy. The way she’d taken his word about Millicent led him to believe they were on the right path. The honesty between them bode well for their future.

He cleared his throat and spoke to Marcus. “Can you protect Amy until I’ve spoken with the duke?”

“But Chesterton left this evening for London,” Sabine told them.

“Damn. Chesterton’s angry. I don’t doubt he’s off to do damage.” He looked bleakly at Marcus. “I must leave immediately. Can you take care of Amy and see her safely back to London?”

Sabine nodded. “We’ll leave at once. The house party was due to finish tomorrow, but it will just have to end a tad early. Perhaps Marcus has urgent business in own?”

He kissed Sabine’s forehead and shook Marcus’s hand. “Once this mess is sorted, then I’ll thank you properly for showing me the happiness that was under my very nose.”

Sabine smiled. “No need. We love you.”

He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”

As he hurried toward his room to change and gather his belongings, it was interesting to come to terms with just how happy he actually was. And it was down to one woman. Amy.

His hopes and dreams hinged on making Amy his wife, and no one or nothing would keep that from happening. Not even the duke himself.

Chapter Eleven

The Duke of Westerly agreed to see him, even though Henry called unannounced, and at the unsociable hour of eleven in the morning.

The duke seemed perplexed at his arrival and genuinely had no idea why he would call. Henry didn’t blame him. The St. Giles’s were his neighbors, and had been for at least two generations, yet they rarely called on each other. He certainly had not been interested in courting his daughter.

The duke motioned to a chair with a wave of his hand.

This was perhaps the most important moment in his life and he didn’t know how to approach the subject. The duke would no doubt want to understand how his affection had developed toward his daughter and he could hardly explain that he’d drunkenly groped her in his garden.

He moved restlessly in his chair. What if her father refused? The conversation would be most interesting if he did. For the duke was no longer in any position to refuse his suit. Amy was his.

“My lord,” he said formally.

“Cravenswood. What brings you to my door this early in the day?”

“I’m here because I wish to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

The duke regarded him from under heavy brows. “Amy? We are discussing my daughter Amy?”

“I was under the impression you had only one daughter.” The minute the words were out he cursed under his breath as he watched the duke’s face redden. He had three illegitimate daughters.

“I want to marry Amy.” He paused and then went on. “This is a formal offer and we can involve our solicitors in, say,”—he looked up at the clock on the mantle—“an hour’s time?”

“That soon?”

“I want a special license.” Chesterton wasn’t the only reason for the swift haste. He wanted to make Amy his more than he wanted to take his next breath. The idea of sharing his life with her, his home, sharing his bed… He couldn’t stop thinking about holding her in his arms and making love to her until he grew heartily sick of hearing her cry his name. That would no doubt take a lifetime. She filled the emptiness in his soul.

“Excellent, my boy. The sooner the better.” The duke rubbed his hands in glee.

Henry took in a breath and let it out slowly. Amy was his, but he frowned at her father’s lack of concern. “Aren’t you curious as to why I want a special license?”

“I assume it’s because you need one.” Lord Westerly rose from his chair to pour them both a drink.

“And that doesn’t concern you? You haven’t even asked if Amy is agreeable to the match.”

The duke sat down again. “Is she?”

“Of course. I would not wish to marry her if she were not.”

“Then what is the problem, my boy? I’ve given my blessing. The sooner you take her off my hands, the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

Too angry to stay seated, Henry stood. He leaned both hands on the desk. “You really don’t care what happens to Amy. You were quite prepared to marry her off to a man like Chesterton.”

“She’s a woman. She is supposed to marry to strengthen family bonds. What’s wrong with Chesterton?”

Henry clenched his teeth so tight he thought his jaw would break. “If you’d bother to assess her suitors rather than trying to wed her off in indecent haste to the first man who proposed, you’d know Chesterton has a vicious reputation with women. Is that the kind of life you’d have for Amy?”

The duke sat back in his chair. “I didn’t know,” he uttered almost to himself.

Henry sat back down and ran a hand through his hair. “Although I’ve requested a special license, I do wish to make
her
my wife.” He added quietly, “I love your daughter.”

The duke raised his glass. “Here’s to a happy life then. I wished I’d been sensible enough to marry for love.”

“You will do one more thing for me.” The duke raised an eyebrow at Henry’s steely tone. “You will make a fuss of the fact you have reluctantly agreed to the special license. You will ask Amy if she wants this marriage and indicate that she is under no obligation to accept me. You will make it seem that you are not pushing her into this marriage and that you want what is best for her.”

“I see she has told you quite a bit about our family,” the duke said wryly. He sat looking at Henry for a few moments. “You really do love her.”

“What is there not to love? She’s beautiful, accomplished, kind and intelligent.”

“Plus, there is her very large dowry.”

Henry’s temper sizzled once more. “I’ve no need of your money, but if you’d like to give the dowry directly to Amy, please feel free to so. Or better yet, put it in trust for your grandchildren.”

The duke humbly nodded. “Apologies. One of my good friends is a bishop, and I am sure he can expedite proceedings. When did you wish to marry?”

“As soon as I’ve formally proposed and Amy has accepted my offer. I want her to have a proper proposal since she will not be having a grand wedding.”

“Shall we say a week from tomorrow then?”

Henry rose and shook his soon-to-be father-in-law’s hand. “Thank you, sir. If you don’t start taking an interest in your daughter I shall make it my mission over the coming years to wreck financial havoc upon you.”

The duke slammed his glass of brandy so hard on the table the liquid sloshed over the side. “Are you threatening me?
Me!
I won’t stand for it.”

Henry leaned menacingly over the desk. “As you seem to have no heart where Amy is concerned, taking your money might make you realize what you’ve done to your daughter. How you’ve cheated her.”

The duke’s face reddened and his eyes bulged. “You impertinent pub. Don’t tell me about my heart.” He rose to his feet. “My heart’s desire has been denied me for years and now I deserve to spend my remaining years being happy.”

“At the expense of your daughter’s happiness. What kind of man are you? What life does Amy deserve?”

The duke slowly sank into his chair and dropped his head in his hands. “Oh, god. What have I done.”

“There is still time to put things right. Talk to her. She her for who she really is.
Your
daughter.” 

Henry made to leave when a whispered voice said, “Thank you, Cravenswood. You’ve saved me from making a terrible mistake with Chesterton. I’ve been selfish in wanting Amy married quickly. My only excuse is that I have lived the last twenty-eight years longing for a different life. I’ve not considered others have suffered as I have.”

“That would make you a selfish bastard wouldn’t it? Perhaps, for once, you can do the right thing by your daughter.” Henry moved to the door. “Knowing how a marriage can be, you should have wanted more for Amy. You’re a disgrace.” With that, he took his leave and went to make the necessary announcements.