Unconventional Suitors 01 - Her Unconventional Suitor (22 page)

“Your solemnity is frightening me,” she admitted. “What could be so serious to warrant a vow of silence?”

“Just trust me, please,” he urged as he took one of her hands into his own.

Gillian stared at their interlocked hands. Despite all the things he had revealed that night, oddly enough, she did find that she trusted him. “Very well, I agree.”

Lord Danford exhaled in relief. “The reason I left your house that night was because of Anthony.”

“Whatever did that peep-of-day boy do now?” Gillian exclaimed with exasperation, for she knew firsthand what a troublemaker her brother could be.

“He didn’t do a blasted thing but smile at me and make polite talk.”

Gillian scrunched her eyebrows together. “But I do not understand.”

“And you won’t unless I explain myself. Several years ago, nearly eight to be exact, I overheard a conversation with my father and his lover discussing the child that he had fathered with her during their brief affair. I was devastated at the revelation, for I had always believed that my parents loved each other very much. The child, a son to be precise, was named Anthony.”

Gillian inhaled sharply as she pulled her hand free from his. “Surely it is just a coincidence.” Her mind refused to believe what he was telling her.

“I thought so too, but when he smiled at me, his face revealed the exact same dimple my father had, right here,” he pointed to his cheek, just under his eye, to show her the spot, but he didn’t have to, for she remembered Anthony’s dimple well. “I asked your brother his age and when he told me that he was eight, I just knew.”

“But there is always the possibility that you could be wrong, correct?” Gillian asked frantically. She could not even begin to wrap her mind around the possibility that her mother had had an affair with Lord Danford’s father and that Anthony was both of their half-brother.

“No,” he stated firmly.

“What do you mean no?” her voice was on the verge of hysteria. “There are plenty of young boys with the name of Anthony, and certainly a dimple is not a unique feature.”

“The reason for my sudden departure the other night was because of this revelation. I had to find out for myself if it were true. I went to West Sussex, to Penwitch House, and I confronted your mother so I could learn the truth of the matter for myself.”

“And?” she asked with the last shred of hope she could muster.

“Anthony is, without a doubt, my father’s son.”

Gillian collapsed into Lord Danford’s arms. It was more than she could bear.

***

Benedict held tightly to Lady Gillian, knowing full well the range of emotions she was experiencing at that precise moment. They were the same emotions he had experienced when he had first learned of Anthony’s existence—anger, betrayal, shock, and pain. He rocked her slowly in his arms as his hands soothingly rubbed the bare skin between the top of her gloves and her sleeves.

“It’s alright love, just let it all out,” he urged as she cried into his cravat.

After several minutes she pulled back and wiped her eyes. Her lips curved into a sad grin, “This is the first decent outfit you have worn and I am going to ruin it with my tears.”

Benedict laughed as he pulled her once more to him. “Nonsense, I have plenty of other clothes at my disposal. I had a new wardrobe commissioned immediately upon my return and it pained me greatly to see it hanging in my closest while I was forced to wear the hideous and outdated clothing my friends supplied me with. I think I will instruct my valet to burn it all once I get home.”

“Even that lovely dress coat that reeked of moth balls?”

“Especially that one.” Benedict smiled as he pressed a kiss into her hair.

After several moments of silence, Lady Gillian said thoughtfully, “Lord Danford, I am glad that you won the bet and that your mother never has to know about your father’s indiscretions.”

“Oh Gillian, I did not win the bet, but that does not matter to me now.”

“What do you mean? We are set to be engaged.”

“I told Griffin the bet was off when I learned about Anthony. I told him that I was going to tell my mother the truth for myself. I had planned to go visit her at our estate as soon as I had returned from gathering the truth from your mother.”

“But you aren’t now,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“No, not now. Though I do feel a consuming desire to apologize to her, now that the bet is over, and tell her how I regret the embarrassment I caused her. If she and your mother had been in a contest for who was the most affected by my appearance, it would have been a close call. I caused both of them to flee Town, though I have since learned your mother feared more about me than my appalling wardrobe and ability to ruin your reputation.”

“Yes,” Lady Gillian said dryly, “I can see that her reputation was of far greater concern to her.”

“Not entirely true, my love, for I can assure you that despite her desire to keep her secret in the dark, she did indeed find me a boorish and highly unsuitable suitor.”

“Well I hope she can at least find it within her to be nice to you now that she knows you can blackmail her if she is not.”

“Yes, I daresay she will behave herself from here on out. Who knows, maybe over time she will even come to like me.”

“Oh she will, Benedict,” Lady Gillian said passionately as she looked lovingly into his eyes. “How could she not?”

Benedict chuckled as he rose from the sofa, offering her his hand for assistance. “We better get back to the ball before your Aunt notices our long absence and determines I am not a proper gentleman”

Lady Gillian followed him obediently out of the library. When they had just barely escaped into the hall, she came to a stop. “Lord Danford, what is your prize for winning the wager?”

Benedict slowly turned around to look at her. She was taken aback by the sudden sorrow that had overcome his face. “The bet was a two part challenge. Not only was I supposed to be engaged to you before the season’s end, I was supposed to get you to fall in love with me as well. The night I called the bet off, I had yet to secure an admission of love from you. I did not win the bet.”

Time stood still for two short seconds before she exclaimed, “Benedict St. Claire, you are the most foolish, idiotic man I have ever met. Of course you won the bet!”

She watched his face intently, waiting for him to register what she had just professed, but understanding never dawned. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him down the hall until they came to an alcove, which she promptly pushed him inside. “I love you.” She enunciated each word slowly, speaking each one with conviction. Then, just to prove it to him, she pressed her lips to his so she could show him just how much she cared.

Benedict’s heart soared, for he had truly begun to doubt that his feelings were reciprocated. “Say it once more,” he commanded between kisses.

“What? That you are the most foolish, idiotic—”

His lips silenced her. When he was finally able to bear parting from her, he pulled back and petitioned once more, “Say it again.”

Her lips curved into a wide, beguiling smile. “I love you Benedict, so, so much.”

He rewarded her with another kiss.

Gillian pulled her Chinese silk wrapper tightly around her body, tying it tightly at the waist. Though Benedict still remained in bed, she could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move. She turned to look at him and was dismayed to see that he was scowling.

“Whatever is that unbecoming look for?” she asked as she walked to the edge of the large canopied bed where he was laying, the sheets pulled up to his waist, leaving his chest fully exposed. She shuddered delightfully at the sight.

Benedict pushed the thick burgundy bed hanging away from his face so he could put his hands on her waist and pull her into him. He laid his head against her stomach and her hands, of their own accord, wound tightly into his hair. “I am only upset that you are covering up your glorious body from my view. Have you plans today that I am unaware of?” he asked with a pout.

Gillian laughed at his behavior. “Benedict, we have been home from our honeymoon for nearly a fortnight and I can count on one hand the moments we have left your chamber.”

“Nine times, we have left nine times,” he mumbled into her belly. “That requires more than one hand to count, my love.”

“You must be including the times we simply moved into my chamber when the servants insisted on tidying this one up, and that does not count for we were still blissfully alone and caught up in one another’s love. Have you forgotten that tonight is the Dallingham Ball? We have already sent our reply promising that we would attend.”

“Devil take it,” he growled as he pulled her down on top of him. Gillian giggled as he rolled over, taking her with him. He pinned her onto the mattress with his body, trapping her beneath his weight. He propped himself up on one hand and used his other to stroke her long, tangled hair, fanning it out on the pillows beneath her. “Who needs to dance?” he asked in that sultry tone of his that she loved.

“Not I, though I do need to eat to keep up my strength. Have you no appetite?”

He pushed his mouth to her neck, causing a sigh to escape from her parted lips. He pressed slow, tantalizing kisses up her neck, then to her jaw, working his way slowly towards her ear where he whispered, “My appetite is hearty, have I not proved that to you already?”

His warm breath swirling in her ear caused her to shiver, her toes curling in delight, and for the next thirty minutes she forgot entirely about her obligations and duties for the day and focused on her favorite duty of all—that of loving her husband.

***

The thrill of arriving at one of society’s events on Benedict’s arm and being introduced as his wife, the Countess of Danford, would never get old to Gillian. She smiled radiantly as he led her to the dance floor as the orchestra was beginning to play a waltz. She thought back to the first time that she had ever danced with him, the first time she had ever waltzed in public and she smiled. Her eyes scanned the same handsome face that she had beheld that evening, noting that the only thing that had changed, besides his awful clothing, was that when she looked at him now, her heart was so full of love she thought it would burst. His captivating gray eyes mirrored her emotions to exactness.

“Benedict,” she asked as he led her around the room effortlessly. “Remember the day you took me riding through Hyde Park and asked me to tell you one of my secrets?”

“Yes, I remember it very well. You told me that you did not have any secrets.”

“And that was true, at the time,” she admitted. “However, I do have one now.”

Benedict squinted his eyes curiously. “Truly? Then you must tell me, for I do not wish to have secrets between us, my love.”

Gillian gave him an impish smile. “Remember when we burned all of your hideously outdated clothing?”

“Yes,” he answered slowly, in a way that told her he was confused.

Gillian looked away from his arresting gaze and sighed. “Perhaps I shouldn’t tell you after all, for you might think I am silly.”

“Tell me and let me be the judge.”

“Oh very well,” she sighed, her gaze returning once more to meet his. “I saved that horrible puce tailcoat from being burned. I kept it. It is at this very moment hanging in my closest.”

“The one with the ripped sleeve?” he asked incredulously. When she nodded, he laughed and said, “Of all the articles of clothing to keep, why pick that one? Surely you do not wish for me to wear it ever again, for I will absolutely refuse.”

Gillian pretended to be repulsed at the thought of him ever donning the tailcoat again. “I kept it as a remainder of our first kiss. You were wearing the horrible thing that first time in the library. I knew that night that I would never be the same again, for you had branded me yours.”

His eyes danced with merriment at the memory. “I remember it well. I believe you rewarded me with a slap to my face.”

Gillian laughed. “Yes, but you did deserve it.”

“I will not admit nor deny that,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

As they were leaving the dance floor after the waltz had ended, Benedict turned to Gillian, “I just spotted Miss Graham conversing with her brother in the corner. Do you mind if we go greet them?”

Gillian gave him an unbecoming glare to which Benedict responded with a laugh. “Do not tell me you are still jealous of Miss Graham, for that would be absurd. My heart belongs to you and none other. But I will however admit that I do have a matter of business to discuss with her. It would seem I owe her a slight favor in return for her aide in making you jealous.”

“Very well,” she relented with a smile.

Marcus and Miss Graham greeted them politely as they approached, once more congratulating them on their marriage. Gillian watched Miss Graham shrewdly, relaxing noticeably when the girl showed no ill feelings towards her and did not express anything other than a polite interest in Benedict. When Benedict invited her to dance, Gillian gave the girl an honest nod of encouragement and told her to enjoy herself, sincerely meaning every word.

She watched as Benedict and Miss Graham walked away, wondering what sort of favor he owed the girl. She would be sure to pry the information from her husband later. Turning to Mr. Graham, she smiled politely and waited for him to ask her to dance, which he promptly did. She placed her arm in the crook of his elbow and allowed him to escort her to the dance floor. They took their places and waited for the dance to begin.

Gillian looked across form her at Mr. Graham and blurted curiously, “My husband never did reveal to me what he gained by winning the bet you challenged him to.”

Mr. Graham flashed her a contagious and lighthearted smile, revealing his dimples. As he took a step forward and met her in the middle, taking her hands into his, he said in a satisfied tone, “He won nothing. He failed to meet all of the requirements.”

Gillian gasped as they parted, switching partners for the next steps of the dance. She had to wait several long moments before she met back up with Mr. Graham. “That is not true, my lord, for not only were we engaged and wed before the end of the season, but I had fallen in love with him as well. Surely that was obvious.”