Duchess Beware (Secrets & Scandals Book 2) (17 page)

“Silver,” he whispered into her ear, “the books are yours.  All of them.”

She turned to face him, her eyes shimmering with delight.  “Truly?”  When he nodded, she threw her arms around his neck.  “Oh, Daniel, thank you.”  She kissed his cheek.  “Thank you so much!”  She kissed him again and again and again until he gathered her close and settled his lips over hers.

Several minutes later, a sharp knock sounded.  Daniel swore and removed his hand from the front of Silver’s dress.  He gave her a few seconds to make the necessary adjustments before giving the command to enter.

Larkin opened the door and bowed.  “Forgive the intrusion, Your Grace, but the dowager duchess wishes you to recall that Lady Charity is to begin her choral performance in a few minutes.”

Daniel sighed deeply.  “We are on our way.”

When Larkin bowed out of the room, Daniel turned back to her.  “We shall finish this soon.”

Silver stared absently into the mirror two hours later.  Babbling like a brook, Molly brushed out her hair, but she hadn’t been listening to her maid.  Her husband consumed her thoughts.

The half-smile on her lips bloomed full as she recalled how she and Daniel had acted in the library.  Their behavior had been shamefully wanton, truly outside of decent decorum.  She couldn’t wait to do it again.

Suddenly aware of the room’s silence, Silver glanced up in the mirror.  Molly stared at something to her left.

The muscles in her belly clenched.  Daniel stood lounging in the adjourning doorway that led to his bedroom.  He wore a deep blue dressing robe and excitement coursed through her middle, then she lifted her gaze.  His green eyes had grown dark and were focused intently on her, holding a promise he would continue what they started in the library.

Every nerve in Silver’s body tingled.

“Leave us,” he told Molly, his hungry gaze remaining on her.

Exhilaration raced down her back and pooled in the pit of her stomach.

The maid curtsied as the brush slipped from her hands.  It clattered onto the white marble top of the dressing table, scattering the collection of scented oil vials.  Molly froze, her eyes wide and terrified.  The poor girl attempted to straighten the vials, but only made a bigger mess.

Silver placed her hand on Molly’s arm.  “Do not be concerned with this now.  You can finish tomorrow.”

The abashed maid squeaked out a response, then spun around and ran from the room.  She shook her head and turned back to her husband.

He pushed away from the door and approached her.  Taking her hands in his, he brought her to her feet, then his lips settled over hers.

Silver melted against him, wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his ardent kiss.  The evidence of his need pressed hard against her stomach and his sparring tongue made her tremble.  A throbbing heat pulsated between her legs, and she knew she would burst into flames.

As his hands worked the buttons on her night rail, tearing the last few in his rush to remove it from her, Silver pushed the robe from his shoulders.  Her hands eagerly explored his warm flesh, his sculptured muscles leaping at her touch.  Then he lifted her in his arms and carried her through the adjoining doorway, kicking the door shut.

Daniel carried her as though she weighed no more than a doll.  He placed her on the bed and moved over her.  As he dipped his head and brushed his lips lightly over hers, she forgot everything.

His fingertips grazed the side of her breast—his touch as soft as a butterfly’s wing.  Silver moaned, needing more.  And just when she wanted to scream in frustration, Daniel deepened his kiss and cupped her breast within his hand.  But that still wasn’t enough.  An unsettling throb beat within the damp area between her legs, demanding fulfillment.

She squirmed, growing frantic with the ravenous hunger building, becoming unbearable.

When her desire had equaled his, Daniel clenched his jaw and slowly moved his hips forward.  The tip of his stony member parted her then slid in full hilt.  He shuddered from the exquisite feel of her gloving his shaft as though she had been made especially for him.  His pleasure magnified when he moved, keeping his actions slow to savor the sensations.

But when she lifted her arms and threaded her long, tapered fingers through his hair, he nearly growled with delight.  His mouth feasted on hers as he slid his hips back, then forward.  She followed his lead while he plundered her lips, their tongues dueling madly, and he increased his pace.  Tiny tingling bubbles of bliss worked up and down his spine.  As he swallowed her moans of pleasure, he couldn’t keep his hips from rocking faster.  The tingling expanded until he felt the first tremors of the eruption about to consume him.  His completion drew very near.  Then her body stiffened, she cried out, and he could withhold no longer.

With one last thrust to the hilt, Daniel groaned and released his seed.  Then he rested his head next to hers on the pillow and drew in deep gulps of air.

“I love you, Daniel,” she whispered.

Daniel wrenched his eyes open.  Had he just imagined her confession of love?  A long-buried memory rushed to the surface of his mind.  The pain of it shocked him, even now, all these years later.  And he could not forget the promise he had made.  The promise that would keep him from destroying himself and his family as his father had done.

Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at Silver.

Her fiery hair fanned over the white sheets, her swollen red lips still glistened from his kisses, and her eyes glowed with love.  He swallowed, realizing how tight his throat felt.  And then she drew his head down and kissed him.

An hour later, with the scent of roses still clinging to him, Daniel sighed raggedly.  Careful not to disturb Silver, who slumbered like a well-fed babe beside him, he slid out of bed.

Tying the dark blue dressing robe around his waist, he padded soundlessly from the room.  Since most of the lamps in the house had been extinguished, he remembered to light a candle just before exiting his sitting room.

Daniel ignored the chill in the air and made his way downstairs to his study.  His mind in tumult, he needed to think.  After lighting a lamp, he headed directly for the liquor cabinet and poured himself two fingers of Scotch whiskey.

“Hell,” he muttered, downing the burning liquid in a single gulp.  After pouring another, he grabbed the decanter and settled into the comfortable old leather chair he would never replace.  He closed his eyes.  The chair had belonged to three dukes before him and summoned forth memories of his father.  Memories full of anguish and unrequited love.  And the horrific memory of finding his father in the chair, slumped over the desk, with blood and brain matter dripping down the front of the wood.  The pistol still clutched tightly in his right hand.

Perhaps that had been the reason for his reaction to Silver’s admission.  Love weakened a man, his father had often told him after waiting days on end for his mother to come home.  His father, once a strong, powerful duke had been slowly reduced to a weak, love-sick milksop.  And for what?  All because he had given his heart and soul to another.

In the end, love had killed both of his parents.

Daniel opened his eyes and poured more whiskey into his glass.  He’d witnessed love’s destruction first-hand.  On more than one occasion.  He lifted the drink to his lips.  Garrett had suffered after Marie’s death, refusing to eat or drink, refusing to live again for a very long time.  For months after the burial, Daniel had been worried about his friend, afraid grief would take its toll and he’d have to bury Garrett alongside Marie.  Love damn near destroyed his best friend.

That’s what love did to a man.  It destroyed him.

Daniel had vowed to never let himself be in such a position.  Never would he lose control, break down, and nearly go insane with grief because of love. 
No.  Never.

Damn, why did Silver have to speak of love?  Things had been perfect before that.

He groaned and drained the glass.  The last thing he wanted to hear was any admission of love, dammit.  It made him feel funny inside, a small tickle he couldn’t identify in the center of his chest.  It also made him feel something he did recognize.  Pleasure.  And he did
not
want to feel pleased by her speaking words of love.  But he did.  God help him, he did.  And soon she would want to hear the same words from him.  But she would be disappointed when he didn’t speak the words.  Eventually, her disappointment would turn into anger.  Then, perhaps, hate.

He hung his head and moved his hand over the desk’s surface, remembering the sound of the pistol and running into the room.  He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to get the picture out of his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, and opened his eyes.  Silver hadn’t been exposed to Society, Daniel reminded himself.  She didn’t know the rules.  He mopped a hand down his face, the liquor’s numbing effects taking hold.  She would just have to learn, he decided, reaching for the blurry decanter.

She had to learn love couldn’t exist between married couples of the
ton
.  His parents were proof of that.

And the sooner she learned that, the better.

Chapter Fifteen

Watching from the library window, Silver smiled as the black carriages raced down the drive, dust billowing from the wheels. 
Good riddance.
  The vehicles grew smaller and smaller.  The peahens were going home!  No more nasty looks or acrid comments from Isabella and Sabrina.  And no more blank stares and dull-witted annotations from Charity.

Lord, she wanted to celebrate.

Silver had also grown more confident.  Partly because of her new dresses.  Wearing the exquisite clothes Madame Devereux and her assistants had so miraculously created was like her armor.  They protected her against self-consciousness while reminding her she was a duchess—a title of power that demanded respect.

But most of her confidence stemmed from her marriage to a wonderful man.  Silver trembled when she recalled the vow of love she’d made to Daniel last night.  She still couldn’t believe the words had spilled from her lips, but she spoke the truth, nonetheless.  She did love him, had loved him from the first moment she accidentally tumbled into his arms on the ship.

But she had no idea how he felt about her admission.  A small frown pulled at her lips.  She hadn’t seen him since falling asleep in his arms last night.  He must have been called away on some business early this morning. 

She glanced around the library, a smile creeping back into place.  She gazed at all the marvelous books neatly lined on the shelves surrounding her.  She reached out and patted some of the old leather spines. 
Epitome de Vitis Romanorum Pontificum,
a book by the French theologian Abbo of Fleury,
The English Traveller,
by T. Heywood, and Cicero’s
De Natura Deorum
were some of the titles she read.  There were thousands.  What a generous man, her husband.  She really did love him.

After giving the books one last glance, Silver decided to search for Daniel and thank him again for such a wonderful gift.  Thirty minutes later, however, she couldn’t locate him.  And no one knew where he had gone.  After an unfruitful exploration on the first and second floors, she decided he had probably gone to the stables.  She walked down the stairs and had been about to turn toward the rear of the house when Larkin opened the front door.

She halted beside the carved wooden newel post, curious to see who had come to call. 
Please, don’t be the peahens returning!
  But a lady stepped into the vestibule, and Silver gasped, recognizing her instantly.

Lady Megan’s portrait did not reveal one-tenth of the lady’s true beauty.  The goddess stood there outfitted in a glorious violet traveling gown, her skin glowing in good health, her shimmering dark hair arranged in an elegant twist-and-ringlet coiffure, and those eyes sparkled like the amethyst jewels hanging around her neck.

Silver bit her lip as her confidence waned, chipped away at the sight of true beauty.  And the thought that Daniel had once been engaged to Lady Megan, brought a sick, unsettling ache to her heart.

Torie rushed from the drawing room as soon as she spied Megan.  The two hugged, and Silver realized how very dear they were to each other.  She glanced around, wanting to escape, but was afraid her movements would be noticed.

Megan laughed and pulled away from Torie.  “I have a surprise for you,” she said and turned to the door, waving for someone to come forward.

Another young lady stepped in, her movements more hesitant and unsure than Megan’s.  This one didn’t possess such stunning beauty as Megan or Torie but had a quiet loveliness. 

“Evie!” Torie gave her the same tight hug she had Megan.

“Now, we are even, Torie,” Megan said.

The three chuckled and began talking at once.  Silver marveled that they were able to understand what each other said, but had a sudden, overwhelming urge to flee.  Watching the close friends was a painful reminder she had always been outcast.  She took a small step back, trying not to make a sound on the polished marble.

But Torie glanced her way.  “Oh, Silver, I did not see you there.”

When all eyes turned in her direction, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.  Attempting a smile, she prayed it didn’t resemble a grimace.  “Think nothing of it.”  She neared the trio, knowing it would be incredibly rude to just turn and leave.

“Silver, I would like to present my dearest friends.  Please meet Lady Evelyn Thornton, the Earl of Ashtonshire’s sister, and—”

“Megan, what an unexpected surprise.”

His voice sent pinpricks of delight down her spine.  Silver turned to her husband and smiled, although it quickly melted away when he walked directly to the ravishing beauty and kissed her hand, curse his rotten soul.  Then he greeted Lady Evelyn.  “What brings you here?” he asked Megan.

An ache developed in her temples, and Silver realized she gritted her teeth.  Surely Daniel wasn’t ignoring her?  As the four chatted on, she watched her husband smile down at what Megan was telling him, and something painful exploded in the very center of her chest.  She suddenly had to get away and edged back a half step.

Megan reached out for Daniel’s hands.  “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, but I had to come.”  She lowered her voice.  “I have something important to discuss.”

Silver pressed a hand to her stomach, not wanting to hear another word.  What could the lady want to discuss that was so important?  A hint of something foreboding whispered to her deep inside and she bowed her head.  She shivered, her body suddenly chilled at the thought that something was wrong.

At the sound of approaching footsteps on the marble, Silver looked up as Larkin announced, “The Duke of Claremont.”  She found the finest looking man—with the exception of her husband—nearing the others.  Then he did something rather shocking.  He stopped beside Megan and wrapped his arm right around her waist as he smiled warmly down at her.

“Claremont,” Daniel clipped with a stiff nod.  Silver drew her brows.  Could he be jealous?  She took a deep breath, trying to tamp back the alarm pounding through her chest.

“Huntington,” the duke returned, inclining his head, then swung his curious gaze to her.

Silver gripped the sides of her dress when everyone turned to face her. 
Oh, rot!
  She should have left while everyone was distracted.

“Meet Silver MacLaren Claiborne, my wife.”  Daniel glanced from the duke to her, yet she could read nothing in his expression.  “Silver, this is Nicholas Bradshaw, the Duke of Claremont.”

As Silver bit her lip, wondering how she was supposed to greet the man, The Duke of Claremont’s eyes widened.  “Wife, you say?”  He startled her when he stepped forward and scooped up her hand.  “This is, indeed, a rare pleasure,” he stated, raising her hand up to his lips.

She cleared her throat to get it working again.  “As for me, Your Grace.”

“Pray, call me Nicholas,” he said with a dazzling smile and released her hand.

Silver could only nod in an absurd fashion.  Who would have thought that she, the ugly Scottish gosling, would get along so famously with aristocrats?

Hearing footsteps behind her, Silver turned and found the dowager duchess and Lord Andrew arriving to greet the newcomers.  Prudence, thankfully, appeared immediately after.

Daniel turned to her aunt.  “Prudence, please make the acquaintance of Nicholas and Megan Bradshaw, the Duke and Duchess of Claremont.”  Then he introduced Evie.

The shock of those words vibrated down to her toes.  Silver had to choke back a gasp.  Megan and Nicholas were married?  She glanced at them and noticed how they smiled happily at one another.  In fact, when the two gazed at each other, love shimmered in their eyes.  Yes, this had to be a love match.  Some of the suffocating panic receded when Silver realized Megan’s presence was not so threatening.

But what about Daniel’s reaction to Claremont earlier?  She really didn’t know how her husband still felt toward his ex-fiancé.  And she wasn’t so certain she wanted to find out.

Everyone moved into the drawing room, and Mrs. Birch arrived with a heaping tea tray.  Unfortunately, after everyone had taken their seats, Daniel’s grandmother insisted Silver pour the refreshment.  She had never done so before and had no idea what to do.

Slowly, she glanced to the opposite sofa where the dowager sat perched beside the Claremonts.  Torie, Evie, and Andrew sat in the chairs perpendicular while Daniel and Prudence occupied the sofa with her.  Feeling her aunt’s calm presence, Silver plastered a smile on her lips and began pouring the steaming brew into cups.

She did remarkably well, she thought.  Not a drop spilled and everyone received the perfect cup of tea.  Well, everyone but the dowager who received honey and mint instead of lemon and sugar.

And, after noticing a certain grimace from the opposite sofa, she grinned into her cup.  Her good mood didn’t last long, however.  As Daniel expertly dodged all questions about their marriage, she could only think of getting out the room.  Anger was beginning to replace some of the hurt and uncertainty, and she needed to get her husband alone to ask some questions of her own.  Something was wrong, and she needed to learn what it was.  Even Torie was giving her elder brother odd looks.  The not knowing would surely drive Silver to distraction, so it would be better if she faced Daniel to learn if he still held feeling for Megan.

One thing was certain, though.  If her husband had come to regret their marriage, it would destroy her.

So caught up in her own thoughts, Silver was startled when everyone rose and began to leave.  Perhaps this would be a good time to speak to Daniel alone, she thought, and hurried after him.

She stopped short just outside the drawing room door when she saw Megan reach for Daniel’s arm.  “Why didn’t you tell me Gabriella had foaled?  I must see right away.”

Certain he would refuse the request, she was stunned when he smiled down at the lovely little duchess and led her toward the rear of the house.

Everyone went their separate ways, and Silver stood there next to the massive stairway feeling more alone than ever before.  The monstrous clock holding sentry in one shadowy corner gobbled up the seconds in loud ticks that echoed off the walls.  She wrapped her arms around her body, unable to rid the nagging suspicion that something substantial had happened.  What, she didn’t know.  Nor did she know how it would impact her, just knew it was there.  And it wasn’t good.  She had the same feeling just before her father sent her to live with her aunt and uncle.

A chill raced through Silver, making her shiver, at the same time she thought she heard the faint sound of a lamb’s bleat come from somewhere in the distance.  With a gasp, she dashed upstairs.

The next morning, Silver hid a yawn behind her gloved hand as she entered the stables.  She had stayed up until the early morning hours waiting for Daniel but fell asleep before he came to bed.  And when she woke, she found herself alone.  Had he even come to bed at all?  The strange, unsettling foreboding from yesterday had grown, making her even more uneasy.  Today she would speak to Daniel and get some answers.

She started to yawn again when a sound caught her attention.  She glanced to her right and found Nicholas grinning at her.  She lowered her hand, knowing her cheeks had bloomed redder than the dowager’s prized ruby pin. 
Rot!

“Your Grace,” Nicholas greeted, giving a low, formal bow.  When he straightened, his eyes danced with such mischief that Silver was certain he must have played the very devil for his nanny.

Her embarrassment evaporated with his show of humor.  “Your Grace,” she said, collapsing into a deep curtsy that even the dowager would have considered faultless.

“The others await us at the lake.  I shall be your escort, if it pleases you.”

She nodded once.  “Very well.”  Turning away, she noticed Garrett walking toward her, leading a horse in her direction.  “Good morning, Garrett.” 

He halted before her, his eyes kind, and he inclined his head.  “Good morning, Your Grace.”  He moved to the side of the saddle to assist her up.

Silver gripped her gloved hands together, realizing she would have to ride to the lake on the horse, not in a carriage.  She swallowed, uncertainty creeping into her mind.  She hadn’t ridden a horse since her mother died. 
Oh, rot!
  What if she couldn’t remember how to ride?  She’d look utterly foolish.

“Are you unwell, Your Grace?”

She blinked, then glanced up to Garrett’s concerned face.  Oh, how she wanted to lie and say that she felt poorly, but she knew the same situation would arise again.  She also needed to speak with Daniel.

“No, I’m well, thank you.”  Drawing a full breath, she straightened her spine and stepped forward before she changed her mind.  She could do this.

After Garrett had assisted her, Silver recalled most of her father’s teachings.  And as Nicholas drew up beside her and they set out for the lake, her fears about riding all but evaporated.  Other fears remained, though.  Fears about learning Daniel may still harbor a great affection for his ex-betrothed.  Fears he might have decided he’d chosen the wrong lady.  Fears he might send her away.