In Bed with a Rogue (31 page)

Helena retired to her chambers with a stack of post with the best intentions, but no sooner had she dropped the pile on her desk than Luna dashed from under the bed to attack her petticoat ruffle.

She laughingly scooped the naughty cat into her arms and cooed to her as she scratched under Luna’s chin. Luna’s eyes closed and she began purring at once. “Is this what you wanted? A little attention for the poor neglected baby.”

A light knock sounded at her door before Ismay entered. “Laird Thorne has arrived. Fergus showed him to the drawing room.”

Helena’s heart gave an excited little flip. She deposited Luna on the desk chair and swept from the room to welcome her betrothed.

“Good afternoon,” she called in a cheerful voice.

Sebastian looked up from the glass of brandy he was pouring at the sideboard. “Lady Prestwick, how lovely and fresh you look after your journey.” He abandoned the tumbler and met her in the middle of the room.

She tipped up her face, knowing it probably glowed pink with pleasure at his compliment, and kissed him soundly. “Welcome, Lord Thorne.”

He grinned, making her feel light and tingly inside. “Did you miss me, love?”

“Not a bit,” she lied. Then to prove she didn’t mean it, she twined her arms around his neck and pulled him to her for a more leisurely kiss. His hands brushed slowly to her nape then down to her buttocks where he cupped her bottom as his tongue teased her lips. She opened to him and sank against his unyielding chest on a sigh. Carriages rattled beyond the drawing room window, everyone going about their day as if life weren’t suddenly extraordinary.

Olive was correct about Sebastian, of course. He flirted with scandal every chance granted him, but she wouldn’t have him any other way. And she suspected he wouldn’t have her either if he weren’t a gentleman who embraced risk.

When she eased back, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “If you are any more welcoming, I will carry you to your bedchamber without sharing the good news.”

Helena balked. “But the sun is still up.” He lifted a brow and she chuckled, heat flooding through her. “I know, there are no rules governing such things. Forgive my surprise. I am not yet accustomed to your roguish ways.”

His grin widened. Holding her hand, he guided her to the crushed velvet settee then sat beside her.

She angled toward him. “What is your good news?”

“I have several items. I’m not sure where to start. Perhaps with Gracie?”

“Yes, were you able to make progress on anything?”

“Arrangements have been made for Gracie and Edith to be on a ship bound from Dublin, at least in theory. They needn’t leave the comfort of Lavinia’s now. The owner will send word as soon as the ship arrives.”

She tossed her arms around his neck and planted a big kiss on his lips. “That is spectacular news. Thank you.”

“I thought that might make you happy.”

“
You
make me happy.” She kissed him once more before returning her hands to her lap and silently admonishing herself to behave. “What about the special license? Were you able to obtain one?”

“It took a little doing, but the Earl of Ellis had connections he was willing to speak to on our behalf. We could marry today if we wished it, assuming I could convince a clergyman to do the deed.”

She screwed her mouth to the side, uncertain how he would take
her
news. “There is a slight problem with marrying too soon. Olive came to visit a while ago, and she is insisting on hosting a wedding breakfast for us. I can’t imagine she would be able to arrange anything before the end of the week. Do you mind terribly delaying the ceremony?”

“Lady Eldridge wants to host a celebration? Does she know whom you are marrying?”

“Of course she does, and she is thrilled for us.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, as if he didn’t quite believe her. “As long as it makes you happy, I can withstand a couple hours of the countess fussing over you while glaring daggers in my direction.”

“She will not. She is going to adore you once she knows you better.”

“I think adore is stretching it, my dear.” He smirked, took a swig of his drink, and placed the tumbler on the side table. “There is one other happy piece of news to share. Eve received an offer of marriage from Sir Jonathan Hackberry. He requested an audience this morning.”

“How splendid. Is she over the moon?”

He shrugged. “She seems content. I told her she mustn’t feel pressured to accept his suit, but she assures me that she is fond of him.”

Helena’s high spirits fell a little. She wished for something more for Eve. She wanted her new friend to feel as overjoyed and in love with her bridegroom as Helena was with hers. Yet, people married for different reasons, and a sound friendship was a good basis for a loving relationship. Perhaps someday there would be more than fondness between them. “I suppose if this is what she wants, I am pleased for her. Have you told her about our betrothal?”

“Of course. Whether I want to confide in her or not, she has a way of wheedling information from me, but I was eager to tell her and Mother. I am under strict instructions to convey how thrilled Eve is you will be her sister. Mother is happy as well.”

Sebastian could come home with a beaver as a bride and his mother and sister would think it a marvelous development. He could do no wrong in their eyes, and she was beginning to feel very much the same about her future husband. Granted he didn’t in fact replace her with a beaver.

She chuckled at the image.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, I don’t know. You and a bucktoothed animal.”

He looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “I’m sure I have no desire to know what thoughts are swirling in your head at the moment.”

And because he looked so perplexed, she laughed again.

He grudgingly smiled and tugged a lock of her hair. “Someone is in a playful mood.”

Memories of their recent night of play drove all silliness from her mind. She held out her hand. “Come with me, sir.”

He placed his hand in hers and allowed her to lead him from the drawing room, up the curved staircase, and to her bedchamber where she turned the lock. Pivoting, she leaned back against the door. She crooked a finger and he went to herwithout hesitation.

Even though they had only been apart two days, it felt like an eternity. They tore at each other’s clothing—day gown, coat, cravat, petticoats—until Helena was only in shift and stockings and Sebastian was down to shirt and buckskins. He lifted her to the side of the high canopied bed and unfastened his trousers. Shoving her shift high on her hips, he grasped her bottom to pull her to the edge and filled her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held tightly as their lovemaking became a frenzied need. He urged her to lie back then found her sweet spot, circling it with his finger as he thrust.

Helena climaxed moments before Sebastian. Their cries of pleasure overlapped and melded. Both of them spent, he helped her sit and cradled her against his chest. His lips touched her hair, gently, reverently. “I missed you too, sweetheart. No more separations.”

An uneasy turn of her stomach made her ease from his embrace. She forced herself to take a cleansing breath to quiet her nerves. “I need to visit Aldmist Fell at least once more. There are people I must thank, and I will want to say my good-byes.”

His smile was soft, his eyes radiant. “We will visit as often as you like, assuming you will allow me to accompany you. I imagine Fergus and Ismay will be eager to return. I thought once Parliament was no longer in session we could take Gracie for a visit.”

“You want to travel to Scotland?”

He swept the hair from her forehead. “I want to see where you lived. And Fergus promised to take me fishing. Perhaps you and Gracie would like to come along too. Fergus said you are quite the angler. And he said his mother, the best cook in Aberdeenshire, will bake a pie in my honor. I am not one to turn down a sweet.”

She rolled her eyes, laughing, knowing sweets were not his weakness. “When did you and Fergus become confidants?”

“I’ll have you know Fergus and I are the best of friends now.” Sebastian tugged his trousers over his hips. “He invited me fishing when he offered his congratulations belowstairs earlier.” His eyes flew open and he jumped away from the bed. “Damnation!”

Helena gasped in surprise. Luna was clawing her way up his leg, clinging to his trousers as he hopped and tried to shake her loose. When she sank her teeth into his thigh, a string of curses poured from him.

“Luna, no!” Helena scrambled off the bed to intervene, but Sebastian pried her from his leg before she reached them.

The cat hit the floor at a run, sprang onto the desk chair and desk, then slipped on the pile of post before she gained traction and dashed into Helena’s dressing room. Letters plopped to the floor.

Sebastian turned incredulous eyes on Helena. “Did you see that hellcat? He tried to unman me.”

A laugh burst from her. “He is a she, and Luna didn’t mean to hurt you. She was playing.”

His dark scowl brought about another peal of laughter.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice muffled by her hand over her mouth. “Are you hurt?”

He lifted a brow. When his lips twitched, she knew he saw the humor too. “You could have warned me you had a guard under the bed.”

“I forgot she was in here.” She went to him to pull his buckskins down his thigh to inspect. “No broken skin, thank goodness. I hope you don’t hold this against her. She is a very sweet cat. The poor thing was a bedraggled mess when I rescued her from the rookery.”

He shook his head, smiling, as he fastened his trousers. “I suppose I didn’t look much better when you rescued me.”

“Even in your pathetic state, you were breathtaking.” She glanced at the letters strewn everywhere. “What a mess.”

Sebastian joined her on her knees to help gather the post from the floor then offered her a hand up. As she placed the mail atop the desk, an odd envelope jumped out at her. She set the letters aside and snatched it. It was addressed to her, but no sender was indicated. She turned it over and located no insignia in the wax seal either to identify who sent the letter.

Grabbing the letter opener, she broke the seal and unfolded the paper. Heavy black script was scrawled across the page.

Dear Lady Prestwick,

Unless you want everyone to know your sister is a whore and your husband won you gambling, come to the pleasure garden at midnight tomorrow with 130 pounds. Leave the money in a bag at the foot of the Handel statue. If you do not meet my demands, your story will be sold to the gossip rags.

The floor seemed to be rushing up at her, and she collapsed on the chair. She felt as if she was floating outside her body.

“Helena, what is it?” Sebastian’s voice sounded far away. “Helena?”

Dear God, this was exactly the type of thing she worried might happen. Everyone she loved would be hurt if her secrets made it into the gossip sheets.

“Helena?” His hand on her shoulder broughther back.

She blinked and held the letter up to him. “Check the date. That is tonight.”

Sebastian scanned the paper then tossed it on the desk with a glower. “You cannot go. It is dangerous and I won’t have you—”

“I won’t.” He closed his mouth and his lips thinned. She didn’t know how to interpret his response, but he seemed to be spoiling for a fight. “I won’t go, Sebastian. I am aware of the risks.”

His eyes narrowed. “You will not go to Vauxhall? You will not meet the blackmailer?”

“No, I swear it. I have no idea who is behind this, but I am not stupid. I only take necessary risks.”

Suspicion slowly faded from his expression. “I expected more of a fight.”

“Well, I hate to disappoint you then.” This brought a smile to his face. “Even though I have no intention of meeting the blackmailer, I don’t think it is wise to ignore his demands.”

“Oh, we will not be ignoring the demands, but neither will we be paying.”

It was
we
again. Not
you
or
I
, but
we
. Tears burned the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away.

Sebastian made his way to his discarded cravat and grabbed it from the floor. “I will place a bag with no money and wait for the person to collect. Then I will deal with the demands.” Draping the cravat around his neck, he collected his waistcoat and jacket. “You do realize there are very few people who know the truth, which means the blackmailer is likely someone you know.”

“There is only Pearl, Lavinia, and Cora. And my sisters wouldn’t betray me.” The answer came to her. “It was Lord St. Ambrose. He knows the truth. He was there at Lavinia’s that night. She must have told him everything.”

Sebastian shook his head. “St. Ambrose has nothing to gain by drawing attention to his mistress. Besides, he has little need for money, and I feel certain he loves your sister.”

She scoffed. “If he loved her, he wouldn’t make her his whore.”

Sebastian returned to her side and smoothed a hand over her hair. “We cannot know what has passed between them, my love. Perhaps we should both withhold judgment until we discover who the culprit is.”

She nodded. Those blasted tears were clogging her throat, and she really didn’t want to cry at a time like this. “We can rule out Pearl, though. I left her this morning, and she would have no place to stay.”

He lifted her chin, his eyes compassionate. “Pearl is too pure of heart, of that, I am certain.”

His concession lifted her spirits somewhat, but she would rest better once he realized none of her sisters were capable of such a despicable act.

“I should go, sweetheart. I will need to recall the layout of the gardens in case a chase ensues. Are you going to be all right?”

She nodded. “Please be careful. I won’t be there to rescue you if footpads waylay you this time.”

That smile she loved with all her heart flashed. “I promise to keep up my guard this time.”

“I would feel better if you took Fergus withyou tonight.”

He fell silent, perhaps considering her suggestion. “That is sound advice. I will come by for him before midnight.”