Christmas with the Duchess (35 page)

“I believe you,” she said.

“You do?” he said eagerly.

“You have an honest face,” she explained. “Now let’s put my flowers back where they belong,” she went on. Moving toward him, she pried the wet stems from his fingers and tossed the flowers away. “Everything in its place, would you not agree, my lord?”

Nicholas shuddered as she took hold of him firmly. “It seems I am in no position to dispute you, ma’am,” he said, red faced.

“Then let us find a better position,” she gently suggested.

They did not quite make it to the bed. As he had two years before, Nicholas entered her without preliminaries, and took his pleasure almost immediately. While he was recovering, Emma began to undress. Her progress was interrupted by another attack, this one of much longer duration. It was some thirty minutes before she was able to join him in complete nakedness. By that time, she was too exhausted to do anything but collapse into his arms.

Nicholas was ready for more, but he cheerfully accepted her silent refusal to permit him a third time. “You are a brute,” she complained, snuggling closer to him. “An animal.”

“No,” he said. “It was lovely. Wasn’t it? Better than the last time.”

Emma propped herself up on her elbows to look at him. “I’m sorry, my dear. If anything, it was worse. It was dreadful.
You
are dreadful.”

“If I am so dreadful, then why are you smiling?” he countered.

Emma laughed softly. “I am smiling
because
you are dreadful,” she explained. “It’s obvious you have not been with anyone else. You have never been with anyone but me, have you? Not Lady Bellingham. Not Lady Caroline Arbuthnot.
They
would not put up with your bad habits. They would have taught you better.”

“Are you going to teach me better?”

“Perhaps,” she said. “Eventually. I think I will. But for now, I think I’ll keep you in a state of helpless innocence.”

“I don’t feel innocent,” he said.

“But you do feel helpless,” she laughed.

“Only because I love you from the depths of my being to the heights of my soul,” he answered, tugging at a loose curl of her hair until she took the hint and brought her mouth down to his.

“Very poetic,” she murmured.

“Don’t you recognize your own words?” he said, laughing.

“Did I write that in my letter?” she said.

“You’re not going to deny it,” he said.

“No,” she assured him. “I won’t deny it. I meant every word.”

Reaching down between their two bodies, she gave him a hard pinch on the thigh. “That,” she said as he yelped in surprise, “is for making me write it at all! You should have come to me the moment your marriage was annulled. Why didn’t you?”

Nicholas sat up and rubbed his thigh. “I couldn’t. By the time I was free of Julia, there was another…entanglement. I am still not free of it, Emma.”

Emma drew away from him. “What are you talking about? You are not free of what?”

His shoulders slumped. “You know my cousin Lady Catherine gave birth to a daughter this year,” he began, not looking at her. “I told you that already. It was a difficult birth. The doctors—it is a certainty that she will never bear another child. It will be up to me, after all, to produce an heir. She has asked me to marry again, as soon as possible. Emma, I gave her my word.”

“Is that all?” said Emma, almost ready to laugh. “You cannot break your word to Lady Catherine. I understand.”

Nicholas glanced at her. “You understand? It means I will have to go to London after the first of the year and select a bride from amongst the eligible debutantes. It means I will not be able to see you again, Emma. It wouldn’t be fair to the girl.”

Emma recoiled as though he had struck her a blow to the chest. “Is that what it means?” she said coldly. “You don’t want to marry
me?
You think I am too old to give you a child, is that it?”

Her voice reeked of bitterness, but she could not help it.

“Of course I want to marry you,” he said, pulling her roughly into his arms. “I have always wanted to marry you. You’ve always said no.”

Emma laughed shakily. “I said no two years ago, Nicholas. A lifetime ago. Well, to be perfectly accurate, I never said no because you never asked the question!” she went on. “Two years ago, you simply announced it at dinner, without talking to me first. Last year, you only mentioned marriage to exclude it. You asked me to sail around the world with you as your concubine.”

“Concubine! Who do you think I am? The Sultan of Baghdad? Emma, I am asking you now.”

“That’s not a proposal,” she said.

“Emma, will you marry me?”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather marry some seventeen-year-old debutante?”

He shuddered. “Please don’t make me go through all that again.”

“Very well,” she said primly. “Since you
ask.
Is there anything else you would like to ask me?” she went on, climbing on top of him and nuzzling the side of his face. “I’m in a very generous mood at the moment. You could probably ask me for anything, and I would give it to you, provided, of course, that we do not leave this bed for another hour at least.”

“That is generous indeed,” he agreed breathlessly as she began to touch him.

A hour later to the moment, Harry went to his mother’s room. Giving it a smart rap with his knuckles, he strode in. “There’s something I have been meaning to talk to you about, Mama,” he announced, strolling over to the window with his hands clasped behind his back.

On the other side of the room, Nicholas dove under the bed. Emma came running out of her dressing room. “Harry!” she cried, pulling her dressing gown around her.

Harry looked at her in surprise. “You look like a mad-woman, Mama,” he said. “Your hair’s all tumbled. I thought you were in the bed just now,” he added, puzzled.

“No, I was just about to have a bath,” Emma said quickly. “I tried to have a nap,” she went on, making an effort to smooth out the bed, “but I couldn’t sleep.”

“I’ve upset you, Mama,” the young man said contritely. “I’m sorry.”

“You said there was something you’d been meaning to talk to me about,” Emma reminded him gently. “Something besides little Michael, you mean?”

“Yes, Mama,” he said, allowing her to lead him over to the window seat. “I tried to before, but it just felt so awkward. I don’t really know how to talk to you about it, but now I must. I can’t put it off any longer.”

“Is it a girl?” Emma asked, delighted.

“A girl!” he said scornfully. “I hope I don’t need to talk to my mother about a girl!”

Disappointed, Emma folded her hands in her lap. “All right then. What is it?”

“Well,” he said, “to peel the bark from the tree, it’s your dower portion.”

Emma met these words with a look of blank astonishment. “My dower portion?” she repeated. “What about it?”

“I might have mentioned it earlier when I was talking of Aunt Harriet’s allowance, but I didn’t want to embarrass you,” said Harry. Standing up, he began to pace back and forth in front of her. “As you know, it’s twenty thousand pounds a year. You’re thirty now, or thereabouts, but you’re very healthy. You could live to be eighty.”

“Thank you,” said Emma. “I hope so.”

“So do I, naturally,” said Harry, with a brief frown. “But that would be fifty years, if you see my point. Twenty thousand pounds a year for fifty years. Why, that’s a million pounds, Mama. A million pounds!”

“Harry, I will gladly forego the money,” said Emma. “You know I don’t need it. I’ll give it back to you, every penny. You can make little Michael a very handsome settlement at no real cost to yourself.”

“It’s very tempting,” said Harry, “but I can’t let you do that, Mama. I’m the Duke of Warwick. How will it look if I don’t pay my mother her dower portion?”

“All right, then. Pay me, and I will give it back to you.”

“I’m not a charity case, Mama!” he said angrily.

“What is it you want from me, Harry?” Emma asked quietly.

“I was just thinking,” he muttered. “If you were to marry again, there would be no question of a dower portion. Have you…have you ever thought of marrying again?”

He looked at her sheepishly.

“I have, as a matter of fact,” said his mother.

“You have?” Harry was delighted. “I wouldn’t ask you to go to London, of course,” he went on quickly. “You would not want to be in competition with a bunch of silly young debutantes.”

“No, indeed. It wouldn’t be fair to the debutantes.”

“I have someone in mind for you. You wouldn’t want to go through a lot of courtship and nonsense, after all.”

Emma folded her arms and looked at him with stern frown. “What do you mean, you have someone in mind for me? That is presumptuous, Henry Fitzroy.”

“Oh, but he’s someone you like, Mama. At least, I think you like him. He’s practically a member of the family. He is a bit younger than you, I suppose. I’m not really sure how old he is. But I’m sure he will suit.”

“He is twenty-two,” Emma said, amused. “And he will suit very well.”

Harry grinned at her. “You do like him, then? Good. I suppose we’ve only known him a couple of years, but it seems longer, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Emma agreed.

Harry knelt at her feet, taking her hands in his. “Does this mean you’ll do it, Mama?”

“For you, Harry,” she told him gravely. “I’ll do it for you.”

“Thank you, Mama,” he said, throwing his arms around her and hugging her fiercely. “I—I’ll let you have your bath now,” he added, his nose wrinkling.

“Thank you, Harry,” she said.

“We’ll make the announcement at dinner,” he said, “if that’s all right.”

“I must speak to Grey first, of course,” Emma replied, “but I don’t see why not.”

He went out quietly, closing the door.

“Did you think it would be so easy?” Nicholas asked, sliding out from under the bed.

“I confess I did not. It must be a Christmas miracle,” Emma said, beginning to laugh.

It was six-thirty in the evening when Lord Ian Monteith and his wife arrived at Warwick. The Westphalia had been made ready for him.

“That will never do,” Lady Ian said indignantly. “Not for a married man, Carstairs.”

“No, indeed, Lady Ian,” Carstairs readily agreed.

“We must have a suite! The St. Petersburg, I suppose, is occupied?”

“Yes, Lady Ian. By their graces, the Duke and Duchess of Chilton.”

Lady Ian’s dark eyes sharpened. “But their graces must be quitting it soon,” she said shrewdly. “They will be leaving for Chilton within a day or two, I should think. I rather wonder at their being here now! You may put us in Westphalia, for now, Carstairs,” she decided. “But Lord Ian and I will move to St. Petersburg when the Chiltons quit it.”

Carstairs coughed gently. “I fear, Lady Ian, that Lord Camford is to take the St. Petersburg tomorrow, when their graces depart.”

Lady Ian gaped at him in astonishment. “Lord Camford? Lord Camford! Lord, what is
he
doing here? Never mind! We shall go straight to the drawing room. You may announce us, Carstairs.”

“Should we not take the baby to the nursery ourselves?” Monty said.

Lady Ian frowned at him. “Lord, why? The servants will look after him. Announce us, Carstairs. Lord, I cannot
wait
to see the looks on their faces!”

“The family are not assembled in the drawing room at this hour, Lady Ian,” Carstairs apologized.

Lady Ian pouted. “No, of course not,” she said crossly. “They will be dressing for dinner. Come, Monty. We must dress for dinner, too. I suppose Westphalia will have to do for now. We must
not
be late for dinner. Not
too
late, anyway,” she added with a laugh. “We will want to make an entrance, naturally. I believe I will wear my yellow satin, with my amethyst parure. Thank you, Carstairs. I know the way.”

Colin was in his dressing room, studying his cravat in the cheval glass. Bored by the effect, he frantically motioned to his valet to start over. The offending neckwear had just been removed, when he heard Lady Harriet’s voice in the next room, his bedroom.

“Just set me down here, boys. Mind the arm, Mr. Carter!”

“Yes, Aunt Harriet. Thank you, Aunt Harriet.”

“Wait outside,” she commanded her adolescent slaves as Colin strolled out of his dressing room.

Lady Harriet was in a foul temper. “Why didn’t you tell me your Scotsman was coming?” she demanded. “You didn’t even tell me you’d invited him!”

Colin was appalled. “Monty! Monty is here?”

“He only just arrived. Didn’t you know?” She looked at him curiously. “He’s brought a Lady Ian with him, too. I’ve not seen
her
yet, but I caught a glimpse of the baby as it was being whisked off to the nursery.”

“He’s married?” Colin snorted. “And with a baby, too!
What
a hypocrite!”

“So you didn’t invite him,” Lady Harriet said, grunting with satisfaction. “Well, hurry up! Get yourself together. I want to get a look at this Lady Ian.”

“She isn’t likely to be anyone
we
know,” said Colin. But he went obediently back into his dressing room to finish his cravat.

They went down together, Lady Harriet on her throne and Colin on foot. They arrived at the lounge almost simultaneously with the Duke and Duchess of Chilton. The Duke of Warwick and his friends had already taken over the room. They made a loud, boisterous group at the fireside while Lord Camford stood quietly in the corner.

Lady Harriet directed her boys to set her down in a spot commanding an excellent view of the doorway. She sat with her lorgnette at the ready.

“You may go.” Colin dismissed the boys. “I’ll look after the old harpy.”

“Has anyone seen her?” Cecily inquired. “Lady Ian, I mean? We saw the baby in the nursery before we came down. He has no hair and he’s called Charles. I think he must be about Mimi’s age,” she added.

Colin shrugged to show his complete disinterest. He went to join Nicholas in the corner.

“You’re very late this evening, Mama,” Harry complained as his mother came into the room. He seemed completely oblivious to the way his friends all stopped talking at once and regarded the duchess, openmouthed.

“Well, I’m here now,” Emma answered, smiling as she took his arm. “But I see we are still waiting for Lord Ian and his wife, so I’m afraid you must wait a little longer.”

“Lord Ian’s not married, Mama,” Harry told her. “If he
were,
it might excuse his tardiness,” he added impatiently. “Why can we never have dinner on time?”

“I believe he is married,” said Emma. “Carstairs tells me he is married, and, you know, Carstairs is never wrong. Has anyone seen her yet? Is she a Scotswoman?”

“We have not seen
her
yet,” said Cecily, “but the baby is as bald as an egg.”

“There’s a baby, too?” Harry cried in dismay. “Mama, I swear to you—if I had known he was married already, I would never have invited him here!”

Emma blinked at him. “
You
invited him? Why, I just assumed that my brother had invited him.”

“I assume by
brother
you mean Otto,” Colin said coldly. “Because I have no desire to see Lord Ian ever again, I can assure you. And even less desire to see his wife.”

“But, Harry, why would you invite Lord Ian here?” Emma asked. “You are not friendly with him. Are you?”

“You know why, Mama,” he answered, lowering his voice. “You needn’t put on a brave front with me. If he’s married already, we can hardly ask him to marry
you.
”

“What?” Emma said sharply. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“Lower your voice, Mama,” he pleaded with her. “Please don’t embarrass me in front of my friends.”

“How could you possibly think that
I
would marry Lord Ian?” Emma whispered. “He’s one of your uncle Colin’s friends, you know. You know what that means, don’t you?”

“But that is
why
you would want to marry him, of course,” Harry answered. “Another man might expect you to be, you know, a wife to him. You wouldn’t want
that,
would you? Don’t worry, Mama. Uncle Colin has a lot of friends. We’ll find someone for you.”

Emma had not decided how best to reply to this when Lord Ian and his lady were announced. Lady Ian was immensely pleased by the general amazement that met her arrival.

“Good evening, everyone,” she said, giving them all a dazzling smile. “We are not too dreadfully late, I hope?”

Harry was thunderstruck. “Cousin Julia!” he stammered.

Lady Ian moved down the room to him in yellow satin, amethysts glittering at her throat. “Good evening, Cousin Harry. I think I know everyone here, except for these handsome young men,” she added, eyeing his friends with great interest. “Will you be good enough to present them to me?”

“But what are you doing here?” Harry demanded. Taking her roughly by the arm, he propelled her toward the door. “You are in disgrace in Lincolnshire!”

Lady Ian twisted away from him. “What do you mean, what am I doing here? Did you not invite my husband to spend Christmas here at Warwick?”

“No,” said Harry. “Camford came on his own. He had…business.”

Lady Ian threw back her head and laughed. “Camford? He was no more a husband to me than
you
were, Cousin Harry. I am married to Lord Ian now.”

“No!” said Colin.

“That is impossible,” said Harry.

“Did you think I would be content to be buried alive in Lincolnshire?” Julia asked, her dark eyes flashing. “Of course, I found myself a husband. And
you
said I was damaged goods, and that no respectable man would take me! Ha! You said I wasn’t fit to be married. You said the best I could hope for would be to become
your
mistress!”

Harry paled. “Mama, I never said that,” he cried. “I swear it. I may have said she was only fit to be someone’s mistress, but not mine.”

“I know what you meant,” said Julia.

“Then the child in the nursery…” Cecily began. She trailed off, her mouth forming a perfect, soundless O.

“It’s Palafox’s!” Colin said angrily.

“That’s right,” said Monty, turning on him. “You have
your
wife and
your
baby, and now I have mine. At least, there’s no reason the next one won’t be mine. No reason at all.”

“No, indeed!” said Julia, reclaiming her husband’s arm. “And, just for the record, Lord Ian is quite twice the man you are, Nicky.”

Nicholas made her a stiff bow. “I am glad to hear it, ma’am.”

Bewildered, Harry looked at his mother. “What are we going to do, Mama? All my friends are staring. I’m sure nothing like has ever happened before.”

“But this is good news, Harry,” she told him, smiling. “You will now be able to lease the Lincolnshire house to some paying tenants.” Moving forward, she surprised Julia by kissing her warmly on both cheeks. “You are very welcome, Julia. Congratulations on your marriage. I am certain you will be happy. And Monty,” she added, turning to the gentleman, “you are very welcome, too. Shall we go in to dinner?”

Much of Harry’s anxiety had already passed by the time she returned to him. “I’m beginning to think you had a narrow escape there, Mama,” he whispered to her. “If Lord Ian is twice the man Camford is, you would not have been very comfortable married to him.”

“There is a silver lining to every cloud,” Emma answered cheerfully.

“I wonder,” said Harry. “I think we all know that Lord Camford couldn’t cut the mustard. It’s why Julia ran off with that blackguard Palafox in the first place. Do you think Lord Camford would marry you, Mama?”

“Oh!” Emma seemed quite surprised. “I don’t know, Harry.”

“We could ask him, couldn’t we?” Harry whined. “Of course, if it’s too embarrassing for you, Mama, I’ll ask him for you.”

Emma took her place at the other end of the long table. “I will marry Lord Camford,” she said, “on one condition.”

“Of course, Mama. Anything.”

Emma pointed to her cheek. “You must kiss me.”

“What! Here, Mama? In front of my friends?”

“I
could
live to be ninety, you know,” she told him sweetly. “That would cost you one million, two hundred thousand pounds.”

“I suppose it’s worth it, then,” he grumbled. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to his mother’s cheek.

“It’s worth it to me, darling,” Emma said softly.

And she meant it.