Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid (12 page)

She hadn’t been surprised that Ned had wanted to accompany
her, given his protective streak that seemed to be growing by the hour.  But what
she hadn’t expected was for him to fit in so well with the Wheeler children. 
She’d heard bits and pieces of their conversation.  He’d made them laugh and
taken their minds off their sister’s illness. 

And he’d paid for Penny’s medicine.

She knew he had a generous nature.  But she’d never felt
comfortable being in anyone’s debt.  She already owed him the £100 he’d paid
Cantwell and for the provisions his man had picked up in town.  Now there was Penny’s
medicine.  She knew he didn’t expect to be repaid.  But she wondered if it was all
part of his strategy to get her to marry him by showing how indispensable he
was.

She’d never seen John Wheeler take to an outsider like
this.  Granted, Ned had likely saved his daughter’s life, but by the way the
two men were carrying on and joking, you’d think they were old chums from Eton.

Jane began to feel decidedly out of sorts that Ned might be
waging a campaign to ingratiate himself not just with her, but with her friends
and neighbors.

Sneaky, that.

“So how do the two of ye know each other, milord?”

“Jane saved my life in Belgium.”

“That sounds like our Miss Jane,” said Wheeler as he guided
his wagon down the road.  “I lost track of all the lives she’s saved in Marston
Vale, so it don’t surprise me none to learn she saved ye in Belgium.”

“I was so pleased to find her again.  I hadn’t seen her in
seven years.”

“I can imagine ye was glad to be reunited after so long,”
said Wheeler as he glanced at Ned, then did a double take, staring at his green
eyes.  “How many years ago did ye say it was?”

“Seven,” said Ned.

Wheeler looked away.

That fiend!  Jane couldn’t believe Ned was doing this.  He
might as well have just come out and told Wheeler he was Vi’s father.

The farmer looked at Ned again, his demeanor stern.  “Ye say
ye haven’t seen her in seven years?”

“I didn’t know how to find her.  It seems there was a
miscommunication.  I didn’t know Jane’s real name, but I did look for her.  You
can’t imagine how surprised and delighted I was to finally find her again after
so many years.”

“And now that ye’ve found her, what do ye plan to do with
her milord?” asked John, sounding for all the world like an irate father.

“I’m going to marry her, of course.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“How could you do that?” asked Jane, once a delighted
Wheeler had dropped them off with a “Good luck to you milord.  Ye’re gettin’
yerself a fine family.” 

It didn’t matter how many times Jane said they weren’t
getting married, Wheeler had continued to ignore her.  And Ned was ridiculously
pleased with himself.  The man was overbearing and insufferable and any number
of other words that began with “over” and “in.”

“You can’t tell people we’re getting married.  And you
particularly can’t tell them you’re Vi’s father.”

“First of all, I didn’t tell him I’m Vi’s father.”

“No.  You just dropped enough hints that only an imbecile
wouldn’t have figured it out.”

“But, strictly speaking, that isn’t telling, is it?”

She was just about to answer that with some of the words
she’d learned from her experience with the army but rarely had good enough
reason to use, when they were interrupted by Vi, who ran down the steps and
flung herself into her mother’s arms.

“Mama!  Where have you been?  I’ve missed you.  Can we play
now?”

Knowing the subject was closed for the time being – she
didn’t want to give the wretch any excuse to let their secret slip to Vi – Jane
turned to her daughter.  “I missed you too, my love.  What would you like to do?”

“Can we run in the woods?  I think Titania would like to get
out of the house.”

“Don’t you think it’s too cold and wet to play in the
woods?”

“She won’t mind.  And it stopped raining.  Please?”

Ned watched an exhausted Jane smooth back her daughter’s
hair before agreeing like he knew she would.  Then she excused herself to
change, leaving Vi in Ned’s care, but not before giving him her best “Be good”
look.  The girl put her hand in his, then looked up at him. 

“Is Mr. Wheeler’s daughter going to be okay?” she asked.

“I believe she will be.  Your mama does a very good job taking
care of people like she takes care of you.”

Vi mulled that over for the moment, then looked up at him
with wide eyes.

“She gets sad sometimes.  She thinks I don’t know it.  But I
can tell.  Maybe if I had a papa, she wouldn’t be so sad.”

Ned couldn’t believe it.  Vi was matchmaking like the most
savvy matron of the
ton
.  She just didn’t realize the person who needed
convincing was her mother.

When Jane rejoined them, they stopped by the barn to pick up
Titania, who seemed more than a bit displeased to have her nap in a warm pile
of hay disturbed to go tramp about in the woods. 

*                   *                *

“Where is he?” Madeleine Merriman said to herself as she
stood at the sitting room window looking out into the bleak weather.  She was truly
at wit’s end.  Never had she been closer to her goal, only to have it slip
away.

It was that damned Jane Wetherby’s fault.  She couldn’t
believe Ned would fall for a woman like that.  Especially when he could’ve had
anything he wanted with her.  Something would have to be done.

She rang the bell and when the much beleaguered butler came
to answer, she told him to bring paper and pen, then have a footman standing by
to deliver a very important letter.

*                    *                  * 

“But you must climb up in the tree to get her,” said Vi to
Ned as she looked at Titania on a branch high above them. 

Their walk had been a pleasant excursion until they’d
approached the river and Titania had decided she most assuredly didn’t want to
cross it, escaping to a nearby tree.

“Poppet, I know Titania can get down from there,” said Ned,
who was perfectly fine with allowing the cat to remain in the tree as long as
she wanted.  “She did it the last time.”

“But the tree is wet.  She might slip and fall.”

Ned looked to be considering the request so Jane decided he
needed rescuing.  To a point.

“Vi,” said her mother, “Ned is not going to climb that
tree.  Do you want him to slip and fall?  Besides, as the brother of a duke,
I’m sure he’s an absolutely terrible climber.  He probably couldn’t make it
higher than the nearest branch.”

Ned looked at Jane.  Was the blasted woman daring him to
climb the tree?  But her face was the picture of innocence.  Perhaps too
innocent.

“I can climb that tree, you know,” he said.

“I’m sure you think you can,” Jane replied.

“So that’s what it’s come down to?  Doubting my word?”  He
began taking his jacket off.

“Ned, I’m teasing,” said Jane.  “Please don’t climb the
tree.  I don’t want you to slip and fall.”

“No.  If climbing a tree is what it takes to prove myself to
you two ladies, then I’ll climb a tree.”

He gave his jacket to Jane to hold, then obtained no small
amount of satisfaction as she hugged it close to her body.  And, unless he was
very much mistaken, she breathed in his scent.

Ned began climbing the tree.

“Be careful,” said Jane, who sounded genuinely worried.

“Yes.  Don’t hurt Titania,” said Vi.

He climbed past two branches, then was reaching for a third
when he heard an ominous crack.  The branch he was on began to fall and his
first thought was for the safety of Jane and Vi. 

“Get out of the way!” he cried on the way down.  He was able
to slow his descent by grasping at branches, but was unable to halt it.  He hit
the ground hard. 

Titania jumped down to gaze at him.  Vi burst into tears and
Jane came running to check for broken bones.

“Poppet, please don’t cry” said Ned as he reached for the
girl’s hand.

“I’m I’m I’m so sorry!”

“Shhhh, it’s okay.  I promise.”

“Stop moving!  I have to make sure you’re all right,” Jane
said as she continued to probe his limbs. 

There was something quite comforting in the look of terror
that had been in Jane’s eyes when she’d rushed over to see if he was all right.  
Certainly that was a good sign for any future romantic relationship with her,
even if it did come at the cost of what would certainly be large bruises on the
morrow.

The walk back to the house was slow, Jane supporting him on
one side and Vi holding his hand on the other.  Ned could’ve made the walk on his
own and at a much faster pace, but then he wouldn’t have felt Jane’s curves
pressed into his side.  He probably would’ve cut off his own foot to feel those
curves pressed against him.

After they put Vi to bed that night after more singing and
stories, Jane and Ned sat out on the terrace.  It was a beautiful night.  The
air was fragrant from the rain.

“Thank you for being so good with Vi.  She’s had the time of
her life these past few days.”

“I enjoyed it.  She’s an amazing child.”

Jane nodded, then remained deep in thought.  “You should
probably leave soon.  She’ll get too attached, otherwise.”

“I don’t want to leave.  I want us to be a family.”

Jane thought about how much she wanted the same.  And how
difficult it would be if he eventually turned to another woman. She couldn’t
allow herself to weaken.  “I appreciate your offer.  I truly do.  But are you
really prepared to give up the rest of your life for us?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“But I do.  I don’t want a husband to marry me as an
obligation.  I don’t want a
ton
marriage where you’d spend more time in
other beds than mine.  And it wouldn’t be good for Vi to see you fade out of
our lives.”

Ned was silent for a long moment.  “What if I were to
promise not to do that?  What if I came only to your bed?”

Jane’s heart ached to even consider the possibility.  “Could
you do that?  And even if you could, would you want to do that?  Your heart
isn’t engaged with me, just as mine isn’t with you,” she said, knowing that
last part was a lie.  “What would happen when we both met our true loves?  I
don’t want us to be bound to each other and miserable because we promised not
to stray.”

Just the thought of Jane with another man sent jealousy surging
through Ned.  It was irrational because his heart wasn’t engaged and it
shouldn’t matter whether she took another lover, other than it would hurt his
pride.  But for some reason it did.  It mattered a great deal.

“I know how you respond to my kisses,” he said.  “I know how
we were together in Belgium.  I find it hard to believe you could so easily
turn your back on that.”

They were seated several inches apart, but from the way he
looked at her, she felt the caress of his gaze. The passion of his words. They
flooded her with heat.  And she wanted to laugh because turning her back on Ned
had been anything but easy.  She’d lain awake half the previous night wondering
what she’d do if he came to her.  Then she’d spent most of the day wondering
why he’d stayed away.

His very presence in the village had reawakened those
desires he’d sparked many years ago.  Of course she responded to his kisses. 
How could she not respond to the most exciting feelings to ever invade her
body?

“I should retire,” she said as she rose, avoiding the hand
he held out to her.  “Good night.”

*                *                *

Ned stared at the ceiling of his bedchamber, unable to
sleep.  Being a father was complicated.  His father had never gone through worries
like this.  His father hadn’t suddenly learned he’d sired a child who was now
six years old.  He hadn’t had to beg the mother of his daughter to marry him. 
He hadn’t had to sleep down the hall from an infuriating woman who heated his
blood, but seemed perfectly satisfied sleeping alone.

How his brothers would laugh if they could see him now. 
Except for Lynwood, who might possibly thrash him for getting into the
situation in the first place.

Suddenly, he heard a noise in the hall.   He got out of bed,
threw on his dressing gown and grabbed his knife.  Perhaps it was that bastard
Cantwell come to take his revenge.  No one – no one – would get the chance to
hurt his family.  He was almost to the door, when it slowly began to open.  He
reached blindly for whomever it was then closed the door and pushed the
intruder up against it. 

But it wasn’t an intruder.  It was a most welcome visitor. 

“Jane? What are you doing here?”

She swallowed, then found her voice.  “I’ve come to…find out
what I’ve been missing.”

Ned couldn’t believe his ears or his eyes, now that they
were adjusting to her presence.  She was wearing a dressing gown over a
perfectly prim white nightgown.  She didn’t look like she was dressed for
seduction.  Or, rather, no other woman wearing that ensemble could be accused
of trying to be alluring.  But on his practical Jane, it was perfect.  And it made
him hard as stone.

“I thought you said…” he began, unsure of what his next
words would be and wholly afraid she’d rethink her purpose and leave.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.  “I’m here now.”

Ned had many more questions, but talk wasn’t high on his
list right now.  Not wanting to miss seeing an inch of her, he lit several
candles and placed them by the bed, while she stood unmoving near the door. 
Good God, don’t let her leave, he thought.  It’d be humiliating to have to run after
her and beg her to change her mind, but that’s exactly what he’d do.

When he placed the last candle, he turned and waited for
what she’d do next.  She remained near the door, staring at him.  Her gaze ran
from his bare feet, up the portion of his calves visible beneath his dressing
gown, then up to the V at his neck, where some hair on his chest was visible. 
She licked her lips.  Then Ned could remain still no longer.

He was within inches of her in two strides and she barely
had time to lift her gaze to his face before his lips were on hers.  He pulled
her to him hard, and his hands seemed to be everywhere at once.  He untied her
dressing gown then peeled it from her shoulders before she knew what he was
about.  He was hiking up her nightgown, when she finally found the strength to
push him back.

The look on his face was one of shock.  And profound
disappointment.

“You first,” she whispered.  “I want to see you.”

She reached for the tie of his dressing gown, which was only
loosely knotted.   As she pulled it open, she was struck by the expanse of his
chest she remembered so well.  Then she pushed the gown off and stepped back to
look her fill.

His body was even stronger than it had been all those years
ago.  He’d come into his own as a man since then.  His broad shoulders gave way
to muscular arms.  She put her hands on his chest with the light dusting of
hair.  She drew a hand down, over the ripples of his stomach.  Then, daringly,
her eyes slid down to see his cock jutting out from his body.

With the lightest touch, she brushed her fingers over the
head and he drew in a quick breath.  His stomach muscles tensed as she moved
her hand down his shaft, then gripped it lightly.  He moved his hand over hers
to squeeze her fingers tighter around him. 

While she began to stroke him slowly, her other hand closed
around his sac.  That was met with a groan, followed by a passionate kiss.  She
continued to stroke.  His cock grew even harder and his sac pulled upward. 
Finally, he pulled her hands away.

“No,” she said.  “I want to do this.”

“And I very much want you to continue, but there’s a limit
to what I can handle and we’re rapidly approaching it.”  His voice was husky, a
mere rasp.

“But you’re not there yet, right?” she asked with a wicked
gleam in her eye.

“No, but I’m getting there quickly.  I should also warn you
that if you continue to wear that gown there’s a chance it’ll be ripped off
you.”

“Now, Lord Edward,” she said teasingly, as she continued to
stroke.  “I don’t have an unlimited supply of them, so I would ask you to please
take care with my wardrobe.”