A Kiss for Lady Mary (24 page)

“If we are going to take our places”—Phoebe linked her arm with her husband’s—“we had better go in now.”

“What did you do with the other man?” Rutherford asked.

Kit glanced toward the garden. “He decided he’d rather commune with nature.”

Huntley barked a laugh and Caro smiled.

“Good place for him, if you ask me.” Rutherford twined Anna’s arm with his. “I didn’t like the look of him.”

Mary refused to allow anything to ruin her mood, yet Rutherford was right. There was something awfully smoky about Mr. Munro. She shook it off. She was betrothed to the man she loved, and her closest friends were here. Nothing could go wrong.

They arrived on the dance floor as the music began. Kit held her closer than usual. “Are you happy?”

Why did he even need to ask? “I am perfect.”

The doubt left his eyes and he grinned. “You certainly are.”

Theo glanced over at her husband. “I believe a journey to England is in the making. I shall instruct my maid to begin packing.”

Titus narrowed his eyes. “I think you’re counting your chickens before they hatch, my lady. You’ll be eating that turban yet.”

Stubborn Scots. “Hmm. Just where do you think Munro is right about now?”

Titus glanced around. “In the card room, most likely.”

“If you wish, we can wager on it.”

“And just where do
you
think he is?” Titus’s jaw tightened. A sure sign he knew he was going to lose. Papa had taught her all about tells.

“I believe he is picking himself out of the holly bushes below the balcony.”

“Ha!” Titus scoffed. “As much as I admire Mr. Featherton, he’d never be able to take Munro.”

Theo suppressed her smile. “You think so, do you?”

“Aye.” The syllable was short and curt.

“Well then, if I’m right, you buy me that diamond necklace I’ve been admiring, and if you’re right . . .”

“We don’t go to England.”

That was only to be expected. After seventeen years, he’d still not forgiven her father for attempting to stop their wedding.

“Done.” She thought for a moment. “Let’s sweeten the pot.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you thinking?”

She widened hers. “If they marry within the next two days, you’ll spend Christmas with my family.”

“And if they don’t, you’ll agree to pack up and go on the next expedition. In two weeks.”

“I agree.” She slid a look at her husband and wondered how badly he would take losing their wager.

L
ate that night, after everyone else had retired, Mary sneaked out of her bedchamber, along the corridor, crossing to the other wing of the house where Kit’s room was located. They may have to wait another few weeks to wed, but she longed to be with him now.

Padding to the last door on the right, she stopped, took a breath, and opened it. Kit stood before a small writing desk reading a letter. She closed the door, and he turned, dropping the missive to the desk and hastily tying the cloth belt of his robe. He stared at her but didn’t utter a word.

Now that she was here, Mary wondered what she’d been thinking. Perhaps she should go back to her chamber. Yet they were betrothed. Everything she’d planned to say died on her lips.

In three steps, he was with her, and his arms were around her. “My love?”

Oh God! Now what?
Her throat dried. She could see his chest again, but this time she knew how hard it was. “I—I wanted to be with you.”

Kit’s forehead creased, and when he spoke, his voice was full of regret. “I’d like nothing better, but we cannot.” Lifting her in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all, Kit carried Mary to a large, stuffed chair. He sat, holding her on his lap as he stroked her hair.

“I don’t understand. We are marrying.”

“More than anything, I want to make you mine in all ways tonight. You have no idea how often I’ve dreamed alternately of tearing your gown off or undressing you slowly, kissing every inch of you. For weeks, I have fought taking you in my arms and making you mine. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Oh dear
. Her breath shortened. She’d never expected him to say all that. How stupid she had been. “I thought you didn’t want to kiss me.”

Kit chuckled. “I was convinced
you
would slap my face.”

“To think of all the time we wasted, but why
did
you wait so long?”

“I vowed not to kiss you until we were betrothed. Then this evening when I saw Munro and how pale you were, my last coherent thought was getting him away from you.”

Mary touched her forehead to his. “I think my friends were right, I should have kissed you first.” Still, now they were engaged. He had always been proper, but . . . “We are to be married soon.” Warmth rose in her cheeks. “Many couples anticipate their vows.”

“They do, and by the birth dates of their children, some of our friends have as well.” He settled her more securely in his arms. “Yet I once promised I’d never be part of ruining a lady, and if by some strange occurrence, something were to happen to me before we wed, that is what you would be. Mary, I love you too much to take the chance.”

Her heart was in her throat. No one, she was certain, loved her as much as this man. She laid her head against his shoulder. Someone or some occurrence must have affected him deeply. “What happened?”

Kit groaned and kissed her hair. “I once had an older brother, half-brother actually. My father and his mother married when they were very young. Crispin was the only child they had before she died. A few years later my father married my mother. Crispin never forgave my father. He was ten years older than I and extremely wild. I shall never forget the pain he caused both my parents. Even though my mother had not given birth to him, she loved him as if he were her own.” Kit paused for several moments. “Crispin died after seducing a young lady who was engaged to another.”

“Did he love her?” Mary asked, afraid of what the answer was likely to be.

“No.” Kit shook his head. “He did it for sport, because he didn’t like the other man, and he could. The girl did not mean a thing to him. Her betrothed called him out, and Crispin died in the duel. I was fifteen and vowed that I would never give my parents any cause to be ashamed or worry about me.”

Oh God!
And here Mary was tempting him to do just that. There was nothing for it, they’d have to wait. “Very well, I cannot argue with you. If only we could reason with my uncle.”

Surprisingly, the corners of his lips lifted in a smile. “We may not have to. The letter I was reading when you entered was from my father. Your trust has been ended. He sent along the court order and the settlement agreement he and Barham worked out.”

She tried to straighten in his arms, but he held her tightly. “You were sure of yourself.”

“No.” Kit kissed her lightly on the lips. “I was only hopeful. My father ended up going to Barham. You should read the documents. If there are any changes you’d like to make, we can have Lord Titus’s solicitor wait on us in the morning. Or you can send them to your solicitor.”

Mary wondered how much of what she’d included in her stipulations to Barham the settlement agreement entailed. Though more than that, this was her chance to have what she wanted, and she refused to wait. For the first time, her happiness was in her hands, and she would seize it. “In that case, I’ll read the proposal now.” She kissed him as she slid off his lap, setting her feet on the lush carpet covering the floor. “I wish to wed as soon as possible.”

He led her to the table, pulled out the chair, and lit a branch of candles. Mary perused the letter from his father, one from her brother, and the agreement. She couldn’t believe what she was reading: Other than funds set aside for any daughters, all her money was exactly as she’d told her brother she wanted, and Kit had given her Rose Hill. Tears started in her eyes again, and this time she couldn’t hold them back.

“Mary.” Kit’s voice was full of love and concern. “Are you all right? As I said, if there is anything you wish to change . . .”

She chuckled wetly. “It is perfect. Just as you are.” She rose, nestling her head in his shoulder as his arms came around her.

“Happy tears?”

“Yes. Immensely joyous tears.”

“My love, the only thing in the world I want is to be your husband.”

She sniffed, wishing she’d brought a handkerchief, then one was pressed into her hand and she wiped her nose. “In the morning you shall be.”

Kit pulled her up, kissing her as he did. “As much as I hate for you to leave . . .”

“I know.” She sighed. “I must return to my bedchamber.”

She nuzzled his neck, then kissed him, not wanting to let him go. Kit groaned as he returned her caresses.

Later she crept back the way she’d come. After sliding between the now cool sheets, she lay awake, making plans for the morning. Finally she would have everything she had always wanted: a husband who so truly loved her, he cared not at all about her dowry or anything but her, and he thought she was beautiful. One more night, and she would be with him for the rest of her life.

 

 

 

“Brian, wake up.” He fought the gentle tugging on his shoulder until he could no longer ignore it. He rolled so he could look at Eunice. “What is it?”

“Mama is getting ready to leave.”

Damn!
“Can the woman not listen to reason? Kit and Mary are better off figuring this out on their own.”

“The only thing I can tell you is she is not listening to me.”

Blasted old woman. “And you think I can change her mind?”

Eunice shrugged. “I have no clue, but you can try.”

“Keep her here until I get down.”

She nodded, and it was then he realized his wife was completely dressed.

“I shall.” She climbed off the bed. A moment later, the door opened and shut.

Brian rubbed a hand over his face. How much would the Lord punish him for locking the dowager up until Kit and Mary returned? A better question might be how much his wife would punish him. This was the reason God gave man woman: to earn their keep on earth.

Heaving himself from his nice warm bed, he saw the wash water set up. His valet had laid out his shaving gear. In less than fifteen minutes, he was in the hall.

“I must leave,” the Dowager Duchess of Bridgewater said to Eunice.

“Mama, I thought you agreed to wait until we heard from Mary.”

“No, that was what Lucinda agreed to.”

“Really, dear,” the Dowager Vicountess Featherton said. “I think we should wait, but if you do have a feeling . . .”

“I do. Otherwise I’d not drag you out again.”

Brian drew Eunice aside. “My love, I’ve dealt with enough old ladies to accept that when they get
a feeling
, nothing will keep them from their purpose.”

Lips pressed together, she nodded. “You’re most likely correct. I just hope they don’t ruin everything.”

She had a point there. “Kiss your mother farewell. Something tells me we’ve not seen the last of her.”

Finally, Eunice smiled. “You’re right, again.” She turned back to her mother. “We want you to come for a longer visit on your return trip.”

The dowager hugged her fiercely. “We shall.”

“At least we know we will be welcome here,” Lady Featherton said.

Eunice would love to be in Edinburgh to see how Mary and Kit responded to seeing their grandmothers. Eunice glanced at Brian. He shook his head and mouthed, “No.”

She’d better attempt to warn them in any event. A few minutes later, she and Brian waved as the coaches left, then she went to her parlor.

She sealed the letter and handed it to her maid. “Please see that this goes out immediately. I can only pray it will reach Edinburgh in time.”

 

On his second day in Alnwick, Gawain was eating luncheon when his groom entered the inn’s common room. “Any news on when the wheel will be ready?”

“Another hour or so, the wheelwright said.”

He kicked out a chair, indicating Whitely should sit. “We’ll leave as soon as we can. It’s still one hundred and forty miles to Edinburgh.”

The groom pulled a face. “Four days unless we can afford to have the horses changed.”

Gawain took a pull of his ale. “If I knew for certain we were headed in the right direction, I might spend the brass.”

“Those old ladies lost us good.” Whitely ordered a pint and stared out the window. “
Bloody hell!
” He jumped up and dashed out of the inn. Moments later, he ran back in. “I just saw them.”

“The dowagers?” Gawain couldn’t believe his good luck.

“The very same. Recognized the coach right away.” Whitely grinned. “We won’t catch ’em at the speed they’re goin’, but we’re headed the right way.”

Gawain drained his mug and ordered another. An hour later they were on the road toward Edinburgh. His plan would work after all.

 

Kit woke as the sun crested the horizon, and smiled. Finally, in a few hours, he’d be wed to Mary. Hopping out of bed, he tugged the bell-pull. Fortunately, Piggott was an early riser and would already be awake.

Piggott entered carrying a pitcher of water. “You’re up betimes.”

“It’s my wedding day.”

“Would you like a bath?”

Only if Mary was in it. “Not at present. Please have Lady Mary’s maid wake her. I shall also require—” Kit had to think. Who would least object to being woken at sunrise? “Lord and Lady Huntley.” Surely the others would forgive him for allowing them to sleep; after all, the children had been fussy. “They will need to attend her ladyship and me.”

Piggott nodded. “I shall see to it.”

An hour later, Kit, Mary, Caro, and Huntley met in Lord Titus’s study. Mary and Kit signed the settlement documents, and their friends witnessed the signatures.

Caro hugged Mary. “This almost reminds me of when Gervais and I wed.”

“Absent a marquis who should have been in Bedlam,” her husband commented dryly.

Caro smiled softly. “As bad as he was, without him we would not have married.”

Huntley’s arm snaked around her waist. “Very true, and I would not have the most wonderful wife in the world.”

Mary glanced at Kit and grinned. No lady could be a better wife for him than Mary. “When do you think the church will open? I’d rather have a more regular wedding.”

Piggott knocked, then entered. “I have ascertained that one of the clergymen at St. Giles’s Cathedral will be expecting you.”

Someone had been busy on their behalf. Kit wondered if it was Lady Theo. At least he knew where the church was. He and Mary had toured it. “We will depart in a moment.”

His valet bowed. “The carriage will be waiting.” Piggott paused for a moment. “You also have chambers at the King’s Arms, not far from the church. Lady Theo left a message saying your wedding breakfast will be held to-morrow.”

Kit had his answer, yet why the hotel? Then the light dawned. This was Scotland. The marriage had to be consummated. Mary had been bold last night, but he didn’t know how she would take being with him for the first time when she was aware that the whole house would know what they were doing. The hotel was a good idea.

“Thank her ladyship for me.” He took Mary’s hand. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” She nodded, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as she did when she was nervous. “I am.”

They made their way to the coach waiting in front of the house. Kit had a sudden feeling of rightness. No matter what happened, he and Mary were meant to be together.

The carriage traveled through the busy streets, until they reached the sixteenth-century gray stone church. One of the footmen accompanying them hopped off the coach, went to a small wooden side door, and knocked. A few moments later it opened a crack, then opened wider.

“Here we go.” Kit jumped down and gently lifted Mary to the pavement.