Passions of a Gentleman (Gentlemen of Honor Book 3) (17 page)

S
imon whistled
and hummed and even tapped his toe as he went about his work. Any time he started thinking about Rae and her perfect body molded against his, he’d get louder and speed up the beat. He needed to keep his attention on finishing up the last of the files and then he was going to see a townhouse Mr. Nelson had found for him that would be perfect for him and Rae. Apparently it was easier for a man to find a suitable family home than it was for bachelor’s lodgings. Or perhaps that was because Simon paid him a small ransom to make this his top priority.

Either way, the house was already empty and would be ready to move into within a week.

Simon glanced at his pocket watch. He still had two hours before he was to meet with Mr. Nelson.

He eyed the papers scattered on his desk and sighed. His need to stay so occupied so he didn’t have time to think of Rae had pushed him to finish all the work that had piled up during his series of brief absences this Season. All that remained was sorting them and putting some away and sending others out.

With a sigh, he set to work. At least it’d keep his mind on something else until it was time to leave.

“Mr. Appleton,” Mr. Crabtree, the secretary, said, poking his head in the door. “A missive has just arrived for you.”

Simon frowned at the man. Each day the post and any other messages Mr. Crabtree had received during the day was delivered at precisely two o’clock every afternoon. “Is this urgent?”

“I don’t believe so.” He lifted the letter up near his bespectacled face. “But it is scented, so perhaps you might think so.”

Simon snatched the missive from the insolent man and broke open the wax seal.

D
ear Simon
,

I
have returned
to London early! I look forward to seeing you again.

Y
ours
,

Rae

A
ll hope
of Simon being able to function from this very moment until the wedding had just flown out the window.

“Crabtree, these papers need to be posted.” He picked up a haphazard stack of papers and handed them to the man. “The rest, file.”

The man nodded his understanding with such vigor as Simon brushed past him his silver-rimmed spectacles slid down his nose.

Thirty minutes later, Simon was practically flying up Lord Townson’s front steps.

Impatiently, he
banged
the knocker and waited for the butler to answer. His impatience had reached new heights by the time the door opened. Simon shoved his calling card in the man’s direction and blurted out the reason for his visit.

The older man’s lips formed a tight line, causing deep wrinkles of disapproval to appear. “Very well,” he clipped. “This way.”

Simon dogged the man’s heels all the way to the drawing room, then stepped inside and halted. Rae was breathtaking sitting near the window, washed in the sun’s light.

“Hullo,” she greeted.

“Hullo to you.” He removed his hat and gave her a low bow.

Before he was back to his full height she was on her tiptoes in front of him, her lips scant inches from his.

He closed the gap and brought their lips together.

He’d been waiting for this since the moment their last kiss had ended.

“Eehmmm,”
came a voice from across the room.

Simon slowly pulled his lips away and looked over his shoulder to see a very curious Lady Townson.

“I do believe the mystery has solved itself,” she said, flashing them a wide grin.

Simon turned his head to the side. “What mystery?”

“Your whereabouts while I was away at the house party.” She casually picked up a piece of paper in front of her and extended it toward Simon.

A numb feeling came over Simon as he separated himself from Rae and strode over to retrieve the paper from Lady Townson.

That numb feeling only grew worse when his eyes scanned the lines.

…
a
certain young miss
with double initials and her mere, twice-bitten mister have both turned up missing since last being seen together walking in the park last week…

D
read washed over him
. “I’m sorry, Rae,” he rasped. “I didn’t mean to have you embarrassed this way.” Though to be honest, he couldn’t regret having gone to Crumbles.

“It’s all right.” He couldn't interpret her tone.

“What would you like for me to do to make this right?” He handed the paper back to Lady Townson, imploring her with his eyes that she’d suggest something sensible.

“Marry her,” Lady Townson said.

“I already planned to do that,” he bit out.

“Oh, did you now?” Lady Townson’s airy tone gave him pause. Had Rae not told her chaperone of their plans?

“Not now,” Rae clarified. “In August.”

“August?”
Lady Townson’s aghast tone mimicked his own feelings. “By then there could be a whole whirlwind of gossip circulating.” She sniffed. “I daresay you and Edwina’s husband, Sir Wallace, are two birds of a feather. Gossip follows you both like a hound to his master.”

“My apologies,” Simon said sheepishly, then bit his tongue so as not to remind Lady Townson about the cloud of gossip she created her first Season in London. He might not have reached his majority yet when she first arrived, but if even he knew about her scandals, they were hair-curling indeed.

“Pish posh. Apologies aren’t necessary. I rather like Sir Wallace…and you.” She tucked a fallen tendril of her dark hair behind her ear. “Because I like you, I shall help you.”

“Help me?” Simon looked to Rae for help.

She looked just as uneasy.

“Yes, I shall help you both.” She tapped her index fingernail against her teeth. “What we need is a plan.”

“No,” Simon, Rae, and Andrew said in unison.

Simon didn’t know how long Andrew had been standing where he could hear them.

“They don’t need a plan; they need to borrow a carriage.”

“A carriage?” Simon, Rae, and this time Brooke repeated.

Andrew nodded. “If my carriage is off traveling to say…Scotland, nobody will think anything of it.”

Simon’s gaze collided with Rae. She’d mentioned Scotland the other day. Would she be willing to go there now?

“What about our wedding Juliet is planning for August?” Simon asked praying Rae would give her blessing on Scotland.

“I think she’ll understand,” Rae said, a blush staining her cheeks.

Simon walked toward her and reached for her hand. “Is this what you want?”

“Yes,” she said, trying in vain to hide her excitement.

“Then it shall be as you wish,” Simon said before brushing a kiss across her lips.

I
t wasn’t quite
as Rae had wished. Her heart demanded the two of them leave that very second. Her brain, however, pleaded for logic and convinced her to pack a few things first.

While she packed some travel clothes, and a few costumes for a few extra days, at Brooke’s urging, of course, Simon said he needed to run a quick errand and would come back to collect her.

The three hours she waited for his return ticked by so slowly she was beginning to wonder if time had stood still.

Then at last, her dashing groom was on the front door stoop, ready to whisk her away.

The two-day trip to Scotland was both heaven and hell all rolled into one. Being so close and exchanging kisses all day made falling asleep impossible. Even awake, it was a struggle to remember their morals. With each kiss their lips would linger and their hands would start to wander. But always the gentleman, Simon would stop before he’d disrespected her.

Not that Rae believed Simon would ever disrespect her, but the fact that he was mindful of their boundaries and limitations as an unwed couple warmed her heart.

“The innkeeper said only four more hours,” Rae said as much for her own benefit as for Simon’s as soon as the door was closed behind them after their last stop.

“Good. Then fifteen minutes for the ceremony and then you’re all mine.”

“I’m already all yours,” she said, sidling up beside him.

Simon wrapped his arm around Rae and pulled her close. “Is your neck stiff?” he murmured against her hair.

Rae nodded.

Simon’s strong hand found the nape of her neck and started to slowly massage her neck and upper shoulders. “Perhaps we can stay in Scotland for a few days,” he suggested.

A thrill of excitement shot through Rae. Even though they weren’t truly running away, the idea of staying longer than just the wedding and wedding night suddenly made the trip seem that much more scandalous. She closed her eyes, letting her mind fill with daydreams of Simon and her kissing in the Scottish countryside.

“We’re here,” Simon said, pulling Rae from her slumber.

Groggily, she tried to sit up and right herself. Outside the windows were little wooden and stone buildings, similar to the village where she grew up, only there were far more buildings—and people.

“What about that place?” Simon asked, pointing toward a blacksmith’s shop across the street.

“It’d have to be a smithy, wouldn’t it?”

“It doesn’t have to be,” Simon said.

“No, it seems somewhat appropriate,” Rae said. “If it weren’t for a blasted smithy we wouldn’t be here having our wedding.”

Fortunately for Rae, going into Mr. McFarland’s smithy shop didn’t bring about the same chills that Mr. Fisher’s shop evoked.

“Can I help ye with something?” an older man with soft brown eyes asked.

“We’d like to get married,” Simon said.

The corners of the older man’s eyes crinkled. He quickly removed his apron and waved Rae and Simon over. “Me name is Douglas McFarland,” he said.

“Simon Appleton and this is Miss Henrietta Hughes,” Simon said.

“Good, good.” The older man swiveled on his stool and reached his hand into the dusty cabinet behind him. “Ye look like ye’d prefer the two-minute version.”

Rae released an uncontrollable giggle.

“Unless a one-minute version is an option,” Simon said with a wink.

“No.” The older man flipped through a little book in front of him. “Two minutes or two hours.”

“Two minutes,” Simon and Rae said in unison.

“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head and shuddered. “Only once have I been asked to make the ceremony so tedious.” He flipped a few more pages. “All right, ye two hold hands, look into each other’s eyes and repeat after me, ‘I pledge to love and honor you until death comes a-callin’—”

Simon and Rae repeated the man’s words to one another.

“—I will forsake all others for you—”

Again, they repeated the man’s words.

“—and will honor, love, and worship you with my lips…and body.”

Simon and Rae both looked at the man.

He made a rolling hand gesture. “My Fiona and I had seventeen urchins.’Tis an important promise.”

Despite the way her face burned, Rae repeated the words and vowed to love and worship Simon with her body.

“Kiss yer bride, Mr. Appleton,” Mr. McFarland said with a wink.

Simon wasted no time closing the gap between them. His soft lips found hers, searing her with a warm kiss that sent sparks all the way down to her toes.

“If ye’ll both sign here, ye can go across the street and start honoring yer vows.”

Rae jerked and looked toward Mr. McFarland who was holding his registry book out toward them. She picked up the pen and hurriedly scratched out her name before handing it to Simon who did the same.

“Thank you, sir.” Simon fished in his pocket for some coins. “Hopefully this covers it,” he said, plunking down four pounds on the man’s worktable.

“Thankee,” Mr. McFarland said. He quickly swept the coins off into his hand then reached for his apron.

The inn across the street had one unoccupied room left. Not the grandest of rooms, to be sure, but all they needed was a clean bed. A heated blush stole over her cheeks.

Simon walked up behind her, his firm body pressing up against hers. “I think we’re sharing a thought,” he murmured in her ear before kissing her neck.

Rae tilted her head to the side, exposing more of her neck to him. Just as she’d hoped, his lips traveled down from behind her ear, down her neck and to her clavicle.

Rae sighed and her skin tingled beneath his warm lips. His fingers came up behind her and gently pulled loose the tie up at the top of her gown. Rae closed her eyes. Simon’s nimble fingers worked loosening the ribbon on the back of her gown then he began loosening her corset. When the last knot had been slipped and both her gown and corset loosened, Simon gripped the inside edges of both garments and slowly peeled them off her, leaving her clad in only her chemise.

Simon’s hands found her shoulders and slowly spun her around. He took a step back. “You’re breathtaking,” he said, his eyes doing a slow, thorough sweep of her.

Rae’s face flushed and she lifted her hands to cross over her nearly bare breasts, all of her earlier feigned confidence fleeting.

Simon encircled her wrists with his long fingers and pulled her hands away.

Rae lowered her hands and twisted her fingers into the filmy fabric of her chemise. Was he just going to stare at her nearly naked form or was he going to remove some of his own clothes, too?

He did neither.

A moment later, the space between them was filled with his large body and his lips were back on hers and his strong hands spanned across her back. Rae softened like butter in his embrace, winding her arms around his neck and leaning fully against him. Her nostrils filled with the spicy scent of his shaving oil. A smell she would never tire of.

Simon’s tongue flickered over the corner of her mouth. She gasped against his lips, and his tongue moved into her mouth, past her lips and to tangle with hers. It felt like an odd sensation at first, but she rather liked it and moved hers to match his movements, sinking her hands into the back of his thick, dark hair.

Simon’s kiss became less determined, but didn’t end. Rae wriggled in his hold. She moved her hands down between them to the gold buttons on his black coat and began slipping them free. Then set out to unfasten his red waistcoat. She ran her hands along the front of his fine lawn shirt. His stomach was such a contrast to hers, so hard and full of dips.

With a ragged breath, Simon pulled back and quickly shed his coat and waistcoat. He tossed them carelessly at his booted feet then ripped off his shirt with such sheer force the seam in his left sleeve ripped. All the while, his eyes were locked with Rae’s. He closed the gap between them again then reached for her hands and placed them on his bare chest.

Tentatively, Rae used her fingers to explore the broad expanse of his chest. Again, another contrast to her softer one. His was hard and hairy. She moved her fingers down to the ripples of his abdomen. Beneath her fingertips his muscles tightened and jumped. A coy smile took her lips.

Simon’s hand settled on her hips and slowly skated up the sides of her ribs until they were flush with her breasts, a question in his eyes.

Rae went still. Would he squeeze them painfully? Would he think they were too small? A million questions swam in her head, but none took root. The man before her was Simon. The very one who’d seen her swimming naked three years ago and had even mentioned he’d like a repeat viewing. He must have truly liked what he’d seen. Swallowing her unease at suddenly feeling like a wanton, she gave him the barest of nods.

Simon didn’t move, hesitation in his eyes.

Rae’s coy smile returned and reluctantly she removed her hands from his stomach. Covering his hands with hers, she moved them to cover her breasts.

Everything faded from around them. The only thing she could make sense of was Simon’s hands were covering her breasts, creating a warm feeling to pool in her abdomen. Rae released her hold on Simon’s hands and ran her open palm up his bare arms and to his sinewy shoulders. Simon moved his hands to the outsides of her breasts and ran the pad of his thumbs over her nipples. They hardened in a second and she shivered, a hint of mortification coming over her. What must he think of her?

“Perfect,” he rasped, banishing all doubts from her mind. He swallowed audibly then moved his fingers up to grip the thin straps of her chemise. With a marked slowness, Simon eased the straps from the tops of her shoulders to the sides, his cheeks visibly tensing with each inch he moved them. And then, he released his grip and her chemise tumbled to her feet, leaving her clad in nothing but her stockings and slippers.

Though a cool rush of air hit her the instant her chemise fell, her skin felt hotter now than before—every inch of her burned with excitement.

Simon must have felt the same excitement, for his hands flew to the flap of his breeches and worked feverishly to unfasten them. His grimace would have been comical had Rae not been just as impatient as Simon for him to undo his trousers.

He gave the chord one final yank, breaking it and loosening his waistband. He slipped his thumbs into the top of his waistband, and in one swift motion, his trousers were at his ankles.

Rae suddenly felt timid and bit her lip. Simon cupped Rae’s face and using his thumb pulled her lower lip free from her teeth’s brutal hold. Instinctively, Rae turned her face and placed a kiss on his palm. His hand lingered for a moment, then slowly he lowered it, trailing it down her neck, shoulders and chest as he went.

As unladylike as some might claim it to be, Rae could no more stop staring at Simon’s naked form then she could stop breathing. Moistening her lips, Rae reached her hand forward to settle on the slim line of hair that bisected his chiseled abdomen. Her eyes followed the line down toward his waist, her fingers not yet daring enough to follow suit.

“Please,” Simon choked.

Rae jerked. “Is something wrong?” she asked, pulling her hand away.

Simon caught her hand and placed it on his erection. “Not anymore.”

Holding him firmly with her fingers, she used her thumb to explore the underside. It was hard…yet soft.

Simon groaned.

She smiled, tightened her hand a fraction, and slid her hand from the base toward the tip, eliciting a strangled groan from her new groom.

Taking mercy on him, she released him.

“Should we?” Simon asked hoarsely, cutting his eyes toward the bed.

Rae nodded once. She quickly kicked off her slippers and stepped out of the fluffy mass of skirts and petticoats at her feet while Simon bent down and unlaced his boots. Simon lifted his foot and with a grunt pulled off one of his boots.
Thump
. He tossed it next to him on the floor. After a series of three more grunts, the other hit the floor with a similar
thump
. Simon quickly stepped out of his trousers then peeled his stockings off.

Realizing she was still standing beside the bed, Rae quickly scampered up onto the thick feather mattress then scooted over to give Simon room.

The mattress dipped beneath Simon’s weight. He moved to settle between her parted legs. Coming up on his knees, he dropped a trail of kisses from just above Rae’s waist all the way to her lips. “I love you, Mrs. Appleton,” he murmured before taking her lips in a soft kiss.

“I love you, too, Mr. Appleton.” Rae brought her hands to his back.

Simon knelt a little lower, bringing his lips to her chest. He scattered kisses across the plane of her chest, slowly making his way toward the crest of her right breast. His lips closed around her budded nipple. Rae sucked in a breath.

Simon peeked up at her, running his tongue over the tip of her breast.

Rae sucked in another breath at his action, sparks firing from her breast throughout the rest of her body.

Simon released her right breast and repeated the same action on the left while bringing his hand up to mold and form and gently massage the breast his lips had just freed. Rae shamelessly arched her back, pressing her breasts into him, not sure which she wanted him to continue more. Simon ended the delicious torture with his tongue and pressed a kiss on her skin, his hands settling on her hips. He scooted down the bed, pressing open-mouthed kisses down her left side as he went. His mouth stopped at the sensitive skin by the little hollow right above her hip. Simon kissed his way across her waist to the other hollow then moved lower to her hip and then to her thigh. His fingers found the top of her stocking.

Simon sat up.
“Tsk, tsk,”
he chastised, rolling down the top of her stocking with a maddening slowness. When he finished peeling off her first stocking, he turned his attention to the other. Gripping the top, he pressed a kiss just above the top of her stocking then peeled it down an inch and kissed the newly exposed skin. He again pulled her stocking down a fraction and pressed another kiss where her stocking had just been. Simon repeated this slow torment, kissing all the way down to the tops of her toes before discarding her unneeded stockings and bringing his face back up to hers, his hands massaging its way up her thighs.