As an Earl Desires (17 page)

Understanding her driving need to be a duchess
didn't make it any more palatable. She'd considered
herself nothing, unworthy of even herself. Rank was an easy fix. If
that was what she wanted, he wished for her to have it.

“Why so sad?” she asked.

They were stretched out on his bed, her back
against a mound of pillows, he at her feet. He gave his gaze the
freedom to travel up the naked length of her until it came to rest
on her eyes. It seemed these days that they spent more time with
their clothes off than on. “I was simply wondering if
you'd still come to see me when our guests are
here.”

She puckered her brow. “I don't know.
We'd have to be ever so careful, so discreet. I think the
servants are beginning to suspect, but I don't want the duke
to think, to know…” She rubbed her hand up and down his
calf where it rested against the side of her chest.

“You're not married to him yet,”
Arch pointed out, rather practically he thought when he would have
preferred to growl it. “It's not as though you're
being unfaithful.”

“What of Lady Alice? You don't want to
give her the impression your attentions are elsewhere.”

He ran his tongue along the sole of her foot. Her
toes curled. He didn't care what Lady Alice or Lady Anne or
Lady Jane thought. Still, he understood that when the aristocracy
was about games needed to be played. “I suppose it would be
best if we kept our distance.”

“Pretend we're just taking a holiday
from each other.” Her voice sounded breathless and when next
his gaze traveled the length of her, it was to find her eyes
closed.

“I don't much like pretense.”

She opened an eye. “You seemed to like it
well enough last night when you were pretending to be a
stallion.”

He grinned, cockily, quite full of himself.
“And you humored me by being my mare.” He stopped
grinning, considered her for a moment, remembering the excitement
and something else. “You didn't much like me coming at
you from behind, though, did you?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I don't recall
complaining.”

He scowled. “Be honest with me, Cammie. I
never want us to do anything with which you're not
comfortable or don't enjoy fully.”

“I enjoyed it. Of course, I did. You always
make sure I do. You're so comfortable with every aspect of
two people coming together for pleasure. I want to be like that, I
truly do. But it's all new to
me, Arch.
That's all. Sometimes I don't know what to expect.
I'm not quite clear as to what you have in mind, but you
never disappoint.”

“If you didn't like something,
you'd tell me, wouldn't you?”

“Of course.”

“No more secrets
between
us.” He knew he had to qualify the
statement because there were secrets around them, secrets they kept
from the servants and others: her lessons in reading, her lessons
in bed. But he didn't want her having secrets that he
didn't know about.

She nodded. “I promise.”

“Good.” He cupped her foot between his
hands and kissed her arch, swirled his tongue over her sole,
between her toes.

“That seems terribly wicked,” she
murmured with a sigh.

“Oh, my darling, I plan to get a good deal
more wicked before we're finished tonight.”

He carried through on his promise in ways that
Camilla had never imagined, certainly had never envisioned. And
with anyone except him, she thought she might have felt exceedingly
uncomfortable. He kissed his way up one leg, licked his way up the
other. The heat started at her toes and shimmered up to her hair,
only to rush back down to her heels.

He kissed her hip, her navel, her hip again.
Then he settled his face between her thighs, kissing,
licking, stroking with his tongue. She released a tiny gasp,
clutching the sheets. She pressed her feet against his sides.
“Arch!”

He lifted his head. “You don't like
it.”

She nodded. “I do. I shouldn't but I
do.”

“Then relax and enjoy.”

Relax? How could she relax when her body was
humming with sensations. Each stroke of his tongue carried her
higher. She became lost in the pleasure, spiraling ever higher. Oh,
no secrets between them, but they would certainly have secrets.
She'd never tell a soul about this.

She released a tiny screech and as the world
shattered around her, he was plunging deeply inside her, carrying
her farther over the edge even as he carried himself. Together
their bodies jerked and clutched, and in that moment, she realized
there would never be another person in the entire world that she
trusted more than she did him.

T
hey
arrived on a Wednesday in every sort of conveyance available. Fifty
of London's elite. They came with their personal valets,
ladies' maids, drivers, footmen, horses, gowns, luggage,
laughter, gossip, and expectations.

Arch didn't know how Camilla managed it all,
but she did so—flawlessly. She welcomed them, introducing
them to him with little hints to help him remember them.

“My lord, you remember Lady Priscilla
Norwood, the Earl of Blythemoore's daughter…you danced
with her at the Duke of Kimburton's ball.”

Good God
! How had she
remembered all that, because he certainly didn't. Still he
responded as expected, “Of course. A delight to have you
visit us.”

And so it went all morning. Greeting people he
couldn't remember. Watching in amazement as Camilla made them
feel welcome, acquainted them with the servant who would see to
their needs, had them shown to their rooms, their luggage carted
up. He didn't know how she kept track of it all.

Lillian stood nearby with lists of things she was
checking off, but Camilla never referred to them, and he knew that
although she'd made great progress in her reading, she
wasn't yet skilled enough that she'd be able to use the
lists without stumbling over something.

So she didn't use the lists. Everything was
from memory.

Remarkable. Absolutely remarkable.

At one point he'd asked her if he could
scrawl each person's name on a scrap of paper and pin it to
his or her chest. She'd laughed at that.

“Relax, Archie. It's not that difficult
to remember everyone's names. Pretend they're your
students.”

“With my students I had a seating chart. I
could cheat to figure out who was who.”

Her eyes had sparkled. “Splendid idea.
I'll have Lillian give you the seating arrangements for the
meals that I've worked out. You can use it to
cheat.”

There was a moment of panic when the Duchess of
Lynchbrooke wasn't pleased with her accommodations and a lady
of lesser rank had to be shuffled around until the older was
satisfied.
Arch thought he'd have no
trouble remembering who the duchess was, and he made a mental note
to avoid her as much as possible.

A moment of disappointment followed when a missive
arrived from the Prince of Wales indicating that he'd be
unable to attend and sending his regrets.

Then the Duke and Duchess of Harrington arrived,
and Arch couldn't have been more pleased.

“Familiar faces at last,” he said, as
he greeted them.

They were a handsome couple, he with his black hair
and gray eyes, she with striking violet eyes and hair spun from
moonbeams.

“It seems you're to have quite a
gathering,” the duke said.

Rhys Rhodes had only recently come into the titles,
following his older brother's death. Arch had felt an
immediate kinship with the man because, like him, he'd not
expected to be titled.

“It's been utter madness,” Arch
confessed. “I don't know how the aristocracy does
it.”

The duchess smiled with pure joy. “This is my
first country party. I'm overjoyed to be here.”

Her voice was soft and carried a musical drawl.
She'd arrived from Texas only a few months before, and,
unlike him, was enamored with the etiquette and protocol. Still,
she was no snob, and he enjoyed Lydia's company very
much.

“I believe Camilla has a good many activities
arranged.” He leaned near and lowered his voice. “At
least I'm hoping so as I haven't a clue how to talk
with all these people. I shall no doubt bumble it all.”

She squeezed his arm reassuringly. “If I can
manage, you'll do fine.”

“Perhaps you could lend him your
books,” Rhys said. Then he looked at Arch. “She has an
abundance of books on etiquette. One she wrote herself. I've
told her she should see about getting it published.”

“I'd be the first to purchase a
copy,” Arch said.

“Camilla seems in her element,” Rhys
said, looking over to where she was greeting some other recent
arrivals.

“She astounds me with all she manages,”
Arch confessed. “I couldn't do it.”

“I have no desire to do it,” Rhys
said.

“I, on the other hand, plan to take
notes,” Lydia said, “so I'll know what to do when
we entertain at Harrington.”

Smiling with confidence, Camilla strolled over.
“Well, I do believe everyone is here and situated. We need to
change for luncheon, my dear,” she said to Lydia. “Do
let me know if there is anything you need advice on.”

Her voice held sincerity, which Arch thought Lydia
most likely appreciated. For much of the
Season, the ladies had been at odds with each other,
both vying for attention from the duke. Lydia had won out, and he
thought Camilla was being a rather good sport about it now. He
wasn't quite certain why the Duke of Harrington hadn't
been concerned about acquiring an heir when he'd initially
become betrothed to Camilla, but it was no longer important. What
mattered was that the duke and his wife were madly in love, and it
was apparent with each gaze they gave each other.

A few more pleasantries were exchanged before
Camilla offered to help Lydia select the proper attire for her
first country luncheon. Rhys stared after them as they headed for
the stairs and once they were out of sight, he turned to Arch.
“What have you done to the countess?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Rhys angled his head thoughtfully. “Camilla
has always possessed a…a selfishness, a brittleness.
She's never, not as long as I've known her, been this
pleasant.”

Arch smiled with satisfaction. “All I can
say, then, Your Grace, is that you never really knew
her.”

 

As the first day melded into the second, Arch was
fairly certain that the same couldn't be said of the Duke of
Kingsbridge. He was indeed coming to know Camilla. He seemed to
have her
undying devotion. He wasn't
certain how she managed always to sit near the duke during meals.
He was certain
Debrett's
wouldn't have put them together. They took strolls through
the gardens, and when Arch would ask a lady to go on a walk with
him so he could follow closely behind, he would hear
Camilla's joyful laughter echoing around him.

Games of badminton and croquet provided
entertainment in the afternoons. Luncheons and dinners were
extravagantly prepared meals. The guests' stay would end with
a grand ball Friday evening, with everyone departing Saturday. It
couldn't come soon enough as far as he was concerned.

No time for a hunt this go-round, for which he was
immensely grateful.

 

The Duke of Kingsbridge and his daughter came down
for breakfast shortly after Camilla and Archie had sat at the
table. Their other guests had yet to appear, which wasn't
uncommon. Camilla would order that the food remain on the side
table for many hours, so everyone could awaken at their
leisure.

“I say, Sachse, have you a yacht?”
Kingsbridge asked.

Archie cast a quick glance at Camilla before
saying, “Not that I know of, no.”

“A pity, a pity. They're a good deal of
fun.”

“But extremely expensive to keep,
Papa,” Lady Alice said.

Camilla didn't remember Lady Alice looking
quite so young.

“Too true, my dear, too true. Still, if you
go to Cowes, let me know. I'll lend you my yacht.”

“That's very kind of you, Your
Grace,” Camilla said.

Winking at her, he lifted his glass, and she was
reminded of the last time that a gentleman had winked at her across
the table. She peered over at Archie and could tell from his half
smile that he was remembering as well. It was a special moment,
shared by only the two of them, and she thought it would be
marvelous to have shared memories that were special with someone
else that could be quietly remembered as this one was.

“Have you met the Prince of Wales,
Sachse?” Kingsbridge asked.

“No, I haven't,” Archie said.

“A shame that. He's a fine yachtsman.
Has a beautiful ship.”

“We always go to Cowes after the
Season,” Lady Alice explained. “Papa tends to go on and
on about it until he gets it out of his blood.”

“I've never been to the seaside,”
Archie said.

Lady Alice smiled sweetly. “You must go
sometime. I love the seaside.”

Camilla didn't like thinking that this girl
might acquaint Archie with the seaside as she'd acquainted
him with London. That Lady Alice would see the sparkle in his eyes
as he experienced new things, discovered the wonders of the
sea.

“I'm not sure how well I would fare
near the sea,” Archie said. “I don't
swim.”

“Neither do I,” Lady Alice said,
laughing lightly. “But it's still enjoyable to walk
along the shore. Have you gone to the seaside, Lady
Sachse?”

“No, I always thought the sand would be a bit
of a nuisance.”

“You're quite right, my girl, it could
be.” The duke leaned back and patted his stomach.
“Marvelous food, marvelous.”

He was trim for a man of fifty, but not nearly as
trim as Archie. She'd always considered taking a man to her
bed as something to be endured. Having experienced it now as
something to be enjoyed, she wondered how she would ever
endure
it again. Although with the duke
possibly there would be pleasure as well. After all, his wife had
loved him.

“I thought we might go for a ride in the
carriage this afternoon,” Camilla offered. “It's
a nice day. We could use the brougham.”

“Capital idea,” the duke said.

“I'd rather go riding. Have you
horses?” Lady Alice asked.

Before Camilla could comment, Archie said,
“Yes, we do. And I'd be more than happy
to join you.”

 

Camilla joined Archie at the stables, where he was
waiting for the carriage to be readied as well as two riding
horses.

“I didn't know you rode,” she
said.

“I was raised in the country. Of course I
ride,” he said, without looking at her.

“I would have preferred for us all to go in
the carriage.”

“So I could continue to have my shortcomings
announced to the world?”

“Whatever are you talking about?”

“Let's see…I've never met
the Prince of Wales. I've never been to the seaside. I
don't own a yacht. No telling what else will be discovered
during a ride in the brougham.”

“The duke was only making
conversation.”

“No, my lady, he was trying to impress
you.” He shifted his gaze over to her, and she was taken off
guard by the hardness in his eyes. “And he was doing a damned
fine job of it.”

“I was hardly impressed. I've dined
with the Prince and Princess of Wales. And I mentioned that I
wasn't fond of the sea.”

He tugged on his gloves, and she thought he did it
only to give himself something to concentrate on, because they
looked fine as they were.

“I'm not comparing him to you,”
she said softly.

“Because there is no comparison to be made.
He is a duke. I am but an earl. And rank is what you
value.”

She turned away so he wouldn't see the truth
in her eyes. Before she'd come truly to know him, before
she'd learned to read, she'd valued rank above all
else…but now? Now she wasn't so certain…but it
hardly mattered.

She forced herself to smile. “Here come our
guests. So be charming, Archie. She is a lovely lady.”

“I shall charm her until there is no more
charming to be done.”

He began to walk past her, and she reached out,
grabbing his arm and stopping him. “Simply be yourself,
Archie. That is all you need for her to fall madly in love with
you.”

She thought she saw pain cross his features.
“This is not the way that I would have gone about finding a
wife.” He leaned toward her, lowering his voice until she
almost couldn't hear him. “You would have known that
had you been in a position to read my letter.”

He straightened and smiled. “Lady Alice, we
have the horses ready. I thought we'd follow along behind the
brougham, so your father need not doubt my intentions.”

“That's a capital idea, Sachse,”
the duke said,
chuckling. “You keep an
eye on me, while I keep one on you.”

Camilla was beginning to think that her capital
idea wasn't so capital after all. She'd never had a
jealous lover. She'd never had a lover at all. Never had
anyone jealous. To have both was exhilarating and bothersome. She
didn't want to hurt Archie's feelings, but the purpose
in having guests was so they could determine possibilities.

She allowed the footman to help her into the
brougham. The duke climbed in and sat opposite her. She glanced
over and saw that Lady Alice was already mounted. Smiling and
confident.

“Come, Lord Sachse, I'll race you to
the main road.” With a laugh, she set her horse galloping,
Archie quickly in pursuit.

“Ah, to be young, eh?” the duke said.
“Driver, let's not let them get too far ahead, shall
we?”

With a lurch, the carriage started forward. Camilla
stared in the distance, but the riders were already becoming mere
shadows.

“What if she won't have him?” the
duke asked.

Camilla jerked her attention to Kingsbridge.
“Pardon?”

“What if my Alice has no interest in your
earl?”

Her earl
. Yes, he was
her earl, but she couldn't claim him as such. “Then
your daughter is a fool.”