A Bride for Lord Esher (7 page)

That said Tom was disinclined to marry just anyone. The whole purpose of the picnic was to get a better look at her. Her physical person was acceptable, though nothing out of the ordinary, and she was certainly nothing like Lady Esher, who had the form of a Goddess and the mouth of a slut. She was certainly intelligent and well-informed, but that was nothing, hardly the best attributes required in a wife.

He had intended to flirt with Lady Esher, to stoke the debutant’s passions, and was pleased to see she had a jealous and sullen streak. This made her interesting. Since he knew he would make a terrible husband, and knowing his wife was less than perfect would lessen the guilt of his likely ill-treatment.

Still, Tom wondered if it would be enough. The picnic was over, and his guests had gathered in his dining room to enjoy some light refreshments in preparation for the journey home. The excitement from Lady Ashworth’s fall had abated, and his guests were huddled together, talking over the events of the day.

Lady Sudbrooke stepped away from the party and joined Tom over by the window.

“You have no love for your friend’s new bride, I see.”

“And what makes you think that?”

Tom Warren sipped on a glass of burgundy, pretending her thoughts were of no interest. Yet inside he was dying to hear whatever it was the malicious girl had to say. “Your eyes follow them both constantly. The rest of us may as well not be here. With Lord Esher, despite your jibes, you admire him immensely. Love him, perhaps? Lady Esher you find beautiful, yet her humble origins repel you and you would love to do her mischief.”

There was a triumphant look on Lady Sudbrooke’s face, and for once Tom Warren did not counter. She had summed up the situation beautifully. He turned to look at her a little more closely. There was a mischievous artfulness about her, and of all the qualities in a woman, that was the thing he found attractive above all.

“What a delicious little observer you are,” he said. “Go on.”

“Word is that the union was engineered by some folly of yours but it seems your plan has backfired. Perhaps you had hoped that by a ridiculous marriage your friend would abandon his wife and spend his days in the company of friends in general, you in particular. But your plan has backfired. Your friend turns out to be a man of honor and is standing by his humble wife in spite of you. A bitter light glows in your eyes, my friend, and it grows brighter and more hateful by the hour.”

Tom Warren rested his hand on her neck and caressed the skin, fondly. Then his fingers tightened, just a little, and he leant forward close to her ear. Any onlooker would think they were sharing a confidence, just two lovers whispering sweet nothings.

“What do you know of hatred, my little dove?”

Lady Sudbrooke’s hand slipped between them both. Tom Warren eyebrows arched in surprise. “Really, madam, and you out in society for just a few short weeks? How shocking.”

Ever so carefully, he felt her hand rise up, and in the corner of his eye he saw she held something between her fingers. “Is that, Lady Ashworth’s cameo?” he whispered.

“So many things can be lost in a fall, it’s no one’s fault, some things just happen. But what if it wasn’t lost in a fall? What if someone took it? I wonder, perhaps society would overlook a person’s origins if they had humble beginnings. And with such a winning figure even a prosperous husband might stand by her. But what if that person were a thief? Would they be as accepted then? And would such a husband stand by her? Hmm. It makes one positively giddy just thinking about it all.”

Tom Warren released her neck and stared into her eyes. She truly was deliciously evil.

“I think you might be onto something. If you would permit it, perhaps you would stay behind when the others leave and we can discuss such… hypotheticals… in more detail.”

“I think I would like that Mr. Warren.”

“As would I, ma’am, as would I.”

Lady Sudbrooke had just returned the cameo to her pocket when there was an unexpected shriek from the across the room. Once again all eyes were on Lady Ashworth. Though the two conspirators shot each other meaningful glances, both had guessed at the cause of her distress.

“My love, are you ill?” said Lord Ashworth.

“My cameo, I’ve lost it.”

“Hells teeth,” said Lord Ashworth. “I told you not to bring it.”

“I must have dropped it in the meadow.”

“Darn it, I suppose I could ride back to the meadow before we leave.”

“I would be happy to join the hunt,” said Lord Esher. “The ladies can wait here while we look. Tom, are you with us?”

“Actually, Robert, I have something very particular I wish to discuss with Lady Sudbrooke,” said Tom Warren. “Would you mind if we stayed back a little? I’m sure you and Lord Ashworth together will make an ample search party.”

Lord Esher shrugged. “Whatever you wish Tom.”

The two gentlemen left the room immediately, and Tom Warren bowed respectfully to the ladies. “Please, have some more wine. My business with Lady Sudbrooke will not take long.”

Chastity was too busy looking after Lady Ashworth, and that lady herself was far too distressed to pay any attention to the departing pair. Once out in the hall, Tom Warren took Lady Sudbrooke by the hand and walked her into the small morning room, where he knew they would not be disturbed. The room was scantily furnished, with a small desk by the window which overlooked a very natural pond. But Tom was not there for a tour. He turned to Lady Sudbrooke and got straight to the point.

“Well, my dear, you have my full attention. What do you propose?”

Lady Sudbrooke withdrew the cameo from its hiding spot and placed it down pointedly on the desk. “Such a small thing could easily be slipped into her ladyship’s dresser. Her lady-in-waiting could be bribed perhaps, though there’s always a risk when you bring in more people to a scheme. Tongues that are purchased have no scruples about wagging.”

Tom Warren stepped a little closer. He found the lady’s scheming arousing. His voice dropped a little deeper. “Very true that. So, what other option presents itself?”

He noticed Lady Sudbrooke’s own voice had dropped a few decibels too. “An intimate could perhaps do it, a close friend of her acquaintance, someone like you, maybe.”

“I could, or I could simply return it to its owner.”

Tom was so close now, he could almost catch the rhythm of her heart. “But where would be the fun in that,” she asked.

Tom bent forward and his lips met hers. For such a sourpuss she tasted deliciously sweet, and he probed her mouth aggressively with his tongue. Though she received him well enough, he sensed she was still holding back, and knew her hand would come between them any moment to stop him from going too far.
Annoying little virgin
, he thought. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained, and he pushed her toward the desk until her backside collided with it and she was forced to drop her hand to the wood to steady herself.

Lady Sudbrooke indulged his kisses for the longest time, but just as he was sensing her total submission, the expected hand shot up between them, and breathless, she pushed him away. “Stop I tell you, this cannot go on. What of my virtue? I am keeping my chastity for a husband, and since no such offer is on the table, I think we’d better leave things there.”

Given her skill with her mouth, Tom seriously doubted the truth of this statement. Still, there was only one real way to be sure and her wickedness had piqued his interest. If nothing else, he was about to make his mother a very happy woman.

Tom Warren got down on one knee, and picked up the cameo from the desk.
What a sinfully delicious twist
, he thought. “Lady Sudbrooke, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he said.

“Oh Tom! How unexpected,” she cried.

They both laughed.

“Well, will you?”

The lady accepted the brooch in lieu of a ring, and then clasped his hand in her own. “Oh Tom, I accept gladly, and trust you will furnish me with something better than this gaudy bauble as soon as you are able.”

“I do swear it.”

Tom got up from his knees and went to kiss her again. There was no restraint this time. Virgin or no, he planned to have her now, here on the desk in his morning room, before the others returned from the meadow. He slipped the silken neckerchief away from his neck and caressed his fiancée’s cheek with it. “My love, if you want me, you must give yourself to me now. I am not a man to be kept waiting.”

Lady Sudbrooke thought it unwise to give herself so freely before the contracts were drawn up, but her blood was on fire, and Tom was so devilishly wicked. “I give you my consent, so take me now if you want me. I am yours to command.”

“You will be obedient, and do as I say without comment?”

“I will.”

“I want you silent,” he commanded. He swirled the neckerchief around his her head, then tied it tightly behind her, just below the set of her wig. He could see a giddy mix of confusion and resolution in her eyes, she had, after all, agreed to be obedient. For this woman—one who loved to hear her own voice—a silk gag was perhaps the cruelest punishment of all. Once secured, his hands went straight down to hips and he turned her around, so her back was to him. He nudged her down, till her face collided with the highly polished wooden deck, then raised her skirts and threw them over her head.

She had long, well-shaped legs and a tight, boyish backside which pleased him. He pulled down her pantaloons, exposing the soft, virginal flesh beneath.

“Very nice,” he murmured. “You will take your first lesson in wifely obedience now. Tom raised his hand high in the air, and then spanked her raw skin. Lady Sudbrooke groaned, but the sound was muffled by the silk in her mouth, and though she looked truly startled, she closed her eyes and resolutely braced herself by holding onto the rim of the desk.

He hit her again and again, till at last her cheeks were blushed and bruised. Tom stood back to admire his handiwork. To him, her red and blue skin shone like precious jewels, and he was pleased with the result. He quickly undid his breeches, and slipped himself between her buttocks.

“Your maidenhood you can keep for our wedding night. It wouldn’t do for my first son and heir to come into the world scandalously early. I can take my pleasure a different way.” He caressed the heat of her backside, his finger sliding against her cleft, coming to rest against the space he intended. “Do you give me your consent?”

Caroline startled as he touched her there. She had never heard of such a thing and curiosity won her over.

He wasted no further words. He aligned himself and thrust.

Lady Sudbrooke might have cried out from the sudden shock of sensations had Tom not gagged her. Hot tears shocked her as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Marriage is pain, my Lady, you should know this now if you want to spend your life with me.” His hand gripped her tightly on the shoulder as he worked himself up into a steady rhythm. The thought of the others returning at any moment spurred him on, and he thrust deeper and deeper. She was tight, which pleased him, and at the moment of climax he pressed harder still, thrusting his orgasm against her.

Tom paused for a moment to catch his breath, and while still inside her whipped the neckerchief from her mouth and used it to wipe himself clean. “You were certainly a virgin there, my love,” he said. “But we must hurry back, so hide the brooch and dress yourself quickly.”

Lady Sudbrooke rose slowly from the table. She was a little shaken but not displeased. Though the initial shock had been more than she could handle, in the end it hadn’t been entirely dissatisfactory. She recovered her undergarments and smoothed down the front of her dress. Her small wig was a little disordered, so she straightened that, and then checked herself in a nearby mirror.

“What I wouldn’t do for a dab of powder,” she said. Then without shame or embarrassment, she held her head high, and headed back to join the others.

To return the hospitality, the entire assembly had pre-arranged to meet at Lord Esher’s the following evening for a more formal dinner. It was a beautiful evening, so they dined with the patio doors open, and the scent of flowering honeysuckle gently infused the air. Disappointed in the loss of her brooch, Lady Ashworth could talk of little else.

“I’m sure I can buy you another, dearest,” said her husband.

“Thank you, my love, but it won’t be the same. That one was special.”

“I have never understood a woman’s fascination with shiny, cold things,” said her husband. “Yet they all treasure them, anyone would think you lost someone dear to you.”

“It’s kind of like your dogs, my love, only my darlings appreciate in value as they get older.”

Lady Sudbrooke stood admiring the paintings that decorated the wall. She seemed rather reluctant to join the others at the table, and delayed for as long as possible before finally taking her seat. Lord Esher thought he saw her wince when she eventually sat down. It was probably nothing.

“You like the paintings, Lady Sudbrooke?”

“Er, yes, I suppose so. You have a very lovely house here, quite charming.”

“After dinner either I or my wife would be happy to show it to you, if you would care to see more.”

“Yes, I would love that.”

Lord Esher noted the lady cast a wry leer across the table to Tom Warren, but as he wondered at her meaning, Tom himself rose to his feet, a glass of wine in his hand. “I hope the lady doesn’t think me precipitous, but I have an announcement to make. Yesterday, I asked Lady Sudbrooke to consent to be my wife, and fortune must have been smiling, for she has accepted. This morning I met with her parents and an agreement in principle has been made. So I ask you all to raise your glasses, and drink to the health of my future bride.”

A sea of chairs scraped the floor as all present rose and held their glasses aloft. “To the future Mrs. Warren,” said Lord Esher, and the others all followed.

“Thank you, thank you,” said Lady Sudbrooke. “The formal announcement will be made shortly but we wanted you all to be the first to know.”