An Improper Wife (8 page)

She wasn’t his Aphrodite, but he sensed passion simmering in her kiss. Her full breasts nearly spilled from her dress. He imagined her hardened nipples prodding into his chest. Tonight he would touch and taste them. He groaned low in his throat, tantalised by the way her belly cradled his stiffening cock. At least he could feel desire for his wife.

Taran released her and caught sight of the black handkerchief peeking out from her fisted hand. If the tenacity she’d shown with her inconsequential, but amusing, rebellions were any indication, their children wouldn’t be the mewling creatures he’d feared they might be. He’d underestimated Caroline Wilmont. She wasn’t the quiet schoolgirl he remembered. Amusement vanished. John had been a fool. Taran would bed his wife and bring her the pleasure she deserved. Caroline would want for nothing. He would provide husband, home, and children. However, when the time was right, he would seek Aphrodite. And, like all wives of society, Caroline would seek her interests elsewhere.

Taran linked his wife’s arm in his and glanced at her face. Her eyes narrowed and her lips remained set in a thin line. Everyone rose. Caroline stiffened, her stare straight ahead. Taran tensed. Had he misjudged her? He hadn’t mistaken the passion hidden in her kiss. Tonight would tell him if she was a bitch or just a woman protesting the only way she could. He started down the aisle. For better or worse, they were wed, though he would prefer a woman he could respect to one he hated.

Guests tossed shoes and slippers after them as he hurried them down the aisle and out the chapel doors to his waiting carriage. Taran opened the door and helped her inside, then leapt up and slammed the door shut as he dropped onto the seat opposite her. The carriage lurched into motion.

Her glare turned to him and he read fury in her eyes. “What kind of fool are you?” she demanded.

Despite her clipped tones in the chapel when she’d repeated her vows, the husky note in her voice incited a sense of desire that he found oddly comforting. Her raven hair contrasted with the emerald green eyes with startling clarity far more than he remembered. But he remembered a child, and wagered the woman was having none of his admiration, at least not yet.

“Not the insipid fool you take me for, madam.”

Her lips pursed and he couldn’t help wondering if she were going to punch him. She had clearly intended to do just that in the chapel. He deserved a good right to the gut. He was little better than his brother—or father. He fully intended on producing the needed heir, then leaving his wife to her own devices. As long as she was discreet, he wouldn’t take her to task. He convinced himself that she too would prefer to do as she pleased. Clearly, she would have chosen not marry him at all.

She leant forward. “I had no desire to marry your brother, and I have even less desire to marry you.”

This time, Taran couldn’t prevent a laugh. A mind reader for a wife was the last thing a man needed. She threw herself back against the cushion and a black stockinged ankle showed beneath the hem of the black underskirt.

“If I am not mistaken, that was Mrs Henderland who wailed at sight of your black undergarments,” he said. “I believe our good minister is certain a demon possesses you.”

His wife eyed him. “Something far worse than a demon possesses me.”

Taran blinked, then realised he shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, he should be surprised if she stopped at such paltry attempts to dissuade him as wearing mourning black to their wedding. He had underestimated her a second time. He would not do so again.

“Then our minister has a great deal of work ahead of him.”

She shot him a disparaging look that said
he
had a great deal of work ahead of him.

He forced the twitch at the corner of his mouth into a frown. “I had not realised you grieved so deeply for my brother. I only hope he does not become a barrier between us.” Taran shifted on the seat. “I shall do my best to rise to his stature.”

She gave an abrupt laugh and clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Taran snapped to attention. What was this? She had a sense of humour? His gaze caught on the long, slim fingers still covering her mouth. Memory of last night and Aphrodite returned with a sharpness that bordered on pain. Her warm fingers wrapped around his cock, the pebbled peaks of her nipples, hard, yet pliant beneath his tongue, the tight sheath that surrounded him when he entered her. Taran shifted his attention to the window and onto the townhouses as the carriage rolled past. He’d been a fool to allow Aphrodite to persuade him to take her maidenhead. He couldn’t regret having her, but if she bore her husband a son anytime soon, she would live the pregnancy—and years beyond—wondering if the boy would in some way resemble another man. Would that pain and guilt rob her of happiness?

Despite the fear, he couldn’t help wondering how many women would have risked scandal, or worse, to attend a masque before they were wed. Aphrodite had been as brave as she was foolish. He returned his attention to his wife. She sat, hands folded in her lap, lips set in a thin line. She hadn’t the courage Aphrodite had, but he thanked God for the backbone she had shown. They would get on well enough, once she accepted she hadn’t made as bad a bargain as she might have, had his brother or father been the alternative.

They rode in silence until arriving at her uncle’s townhouse. The carriage came to a rolling stop. “I would like a moment alone.” She brushed non-existent lint from her dress. “I will see you at breakfast.”

He placed his hand over hers, stilling her movement.

Small hairs on her arms quivered when he raked his thumb over her knuckle. “Perhaps I would prefer to join you.” She snatched her hand away, and he chuckled.

“Not to worry, wife, we will spend many moments alone. I can be patient.”

“I will take some comfort in knowing you have at least one virtue.” The door opened. Grasping the layers of her dress, she gave her hand to the waiting footman. Taran couldn’t take his gaze away from the rounded fullness of her backside as she bent and, in a flounce, ascended the porch steps.

* * * *

Caroline sat in the drawing room of her uncle’s townhouse, spooning a second teaspoon of sugar into a teacup as she released a temporary sigh of relief that the last of the wedding guests had departed. She glanced up to see her uncle in the doorway, a shoulder leaning against the doorjamb. Apprehension tensed her shoulders when he straightened and strode towards her. His anger at her attempts to ruin the wedding had been plain throughout the meal, but she had managed to avoid being alone with him. Time to pay the piper.

She stirred the tea with remarkably steady fingers considering the clamouring within her. She set the spoon on the tray. He lowered himself onto the opposite end of the divan and stretched a hand out across the back of it. Caroline leant against the cushion and met his gaze while blowing across the surface of the tea. He had the same raven hair and dark green eyes her mother had…the same colouring as Caroline.

At forty-five, his broad shoulders and muscled thighs still made him a match for even the younger bucks who vied for female attention. Caroline understood why women were attracted to him. The mystique of the privateer turned pirate proved a powerful aphrodisiac and opened more doors—bedchamber doors—within the ton than even his wealth had.

“Your trifling attempts to fend off Lord Blackhall will cost you,” he said.

“You mistake me for your former ward,” Caroline replied. “I am no longer under your rule.”

“Do not be a fool. I still have a great deal of power. Your husband might find your actions amusing. I do not.”

She sipped her tea. Oddly, her husband
had
found her actions amusing. She steadied the tremble in her hand. The gold band on the third finger of her right hand weighed her down like lead. How had she managed to lose her innocence to the one man she wanted to avoid?

Another thought struck. Perhaps the light of day had brought Lord Taran Blackhall to his senses and he’d realised the passion he felt for Aphrodite was nothing more than lust. Lust incited by the debauched atmosphere of the masque. That would make his anger all the worse.

Taran appeared in the doorway. Caroline jerked. Tea sloshed over the cup’s rim, onto the saucer and her dress. She cried out.

He uncle straightened.
“Caroline.”

Taran was at her side in an instant. He snatched a napkin from the table, dropped to one knee, and dabbed at the spot on her thigh. Fire shot to her core.

“My lord.”

She leant forward in order to set the cup on the table, realising too late her breast would brush his arm, and tried to dodge him. Cup and saucer hit the table with a clatter.

Taran paused in dabbing at her dress. “Something wrong, my lady?”

She snatched the napkin from him and glared.

“No need to be embarrassed. The guests have all gone,” he said.

“Clumsy girl,” her uncle muttered.

Taran shot him a hard glance, then returned his attention to Caroline. “Forgive me for startling you.” He rose.

Despite knowing the spot on her skirt was no longer wet, Caroline wiped at it.

“I also ask forgiveness for forcing you to travel on your wedding day,” he said.

She jerked her gaze onto him. “What?”

“I am sorry you must face the journey back to Scotland so soon, but I—”

“Scotland?”

Taran frowned. “Yes, that is why I asked that the wedding be held here in Newcastle.” She started to reply, but he shifted his gaze to her uncle. “You did not tell her?”

“I thought it best she not be given more reason to balk.”

Taran’s lips thinned. He looked back at her. “Forgive me.
I
should have told you. We leave straightaway.”

“Surely, I need not go with you. I am content to await you here.”

He shook his head. “I have business that cannot wait an extra day.”

Her stomach knotted. He couldn’t wait the night it would take to consummate the marriage. If he were anyone but the kilted god she had met last night, she would lead him to her bedchamber and be done with the consummation.

“My lord, such a trip will require packing and a maid. Surely you would not demand I go without a maid.”

“Bring anyone you like.”

“But, I have not arranged with anyone among the staff to leave.”

“Your personal maid?”

Caroline shook her head. “I employ no personal maid.”

“You may employ one when we reach Strathmore.” She started to argue, but he added, “I am sorry. Your bags can follow. They will reach us within a day of our arrival. Anything you need between now and then may be purchased.”

Anger bubbled to the surface. He spoke easily enough of making purchases with
her
money. “Mabel cannot know what to send. How long will we stay?”

“We will live at Strathmore.”

Caroline stared. “Live? But—”

“You will do as your husband says,” her uncle cut in.

Caroline took care to keep her attention on her husb—Taran—he was not yet fully her husband, at least not until they consummated the marriage. The fact that the wedding night had taken place before the wedding would be of no consequence, so long as no one knew.

“John and I were to reside in London,” she continued.

“Caroline—” her uncle began.

She swung her gaze onto him. “You have married me off, sir. As I said earlier, your right to command me is lost.”

His mouth tightened. “Careful, my dear.”

She didn’t flinch from his gaze. “Will you lock me in my room, or perhaps a dawn appointment will teach me a final lesson I shall not soon forget?”

His eyes darkened. “Do not press me, Niece.”

Strong fingers closed around her arm. She found herself pulled to her feet and face-to-face with Taran. “Go on,” he said in a low voice. His warm breath fluttered her eyelashes. “See to your things. One hour should suffice.”

“One hour?”

“Caroline,” her uncle’s voice turned hard.

Taran gently pushed her towards the door, then faced her uncle. “Which will it be, Etherton, being locked in her room or a dawn appointment?”

Caroline froze, her stare on her husband’s back. She couldn’t see his face, didn’t need to see his expression. The near whisper with which he’d spoken the words left no room for question that Lord Taran Blackhall had threatened her uncle.

A glint appeared in her uncle’s eyes that said he understood full well Taran’s willingness to miss his all-important business in Scotland and remain in England through dawn tomorrow. A chill snaked down Caroline’s spine. Phillip Etherton climbed the social ladder just as he had plundered the South Seas as Peiter Everston. Dawn appointments were one prize among many.

“The earl asked that I see to it my niece complies.”

Taran didn’t twitch a muscle. “I have married your niece. Your obligation—and mine—have been fulfilled.”

“She intends to force your hand, as you witnessed during the ceremony,” her uncle replied in smooth tones. “I am well acquainted with her tactics and can ensure she does no lasting damage.”

“Lasting damage?” Taran repeated with a condescension Caroline feared would push her uncle to immediate violence. His reputation kept all but the most foolish youngsters and the occasional enraged husband at bay. “Her amusing attempts to discomfit me,” Taran went on, “are no more damaging than that tea she spilt on her dress.”

Her uncle regarded him for a long moment. “The earl would not appreciate his son interfering where he should not.”

“Beware
you
do not interfere where you should not.” Taran started to turn, then added, “Give my regards to the earl.” He turned on his heel and scowled when his gaze met Caroline’s. He took two steps towards her, catching her elbow as he propelled her forward. “Madam, if you insist on dallying at every turn, I shall miss this, and every other meeting, for the duration of our marriage.”

Caroline tripped and his hold on her tightened as he navigated her out of the study. She stared at the long dark fingers encircling her arm, the same fingers that had gently caressed her breasts. How much more steel would she feel from those fingers if he discovered the honour of the woman he defended had been lost to him only the night before? Taran released her at the stairs, inclined his head in a slight bow, then pivoted and headed towards the kitchen.