Dark Duke (7 page)

She shuddered around him as spirals of delight rose within
her. She couldn’t believe it, but she knew her crisis was rising again.

He moaned as she clenched, and his lunges deepened. They
became shorter, faster, harder, each and every one hitting the mark.

She buried her face in his throat, trying to muffle her
squeals. It was phenomenal, this feeling, this possession, this bliss. In and
in and in. She wanted it to go on forever.

And, Lord love him, it did.

Her arse burned, as did her nipples, for with his every
move, the wiry hair on his chest abraded them. But it was delicious. She loved
it.

And then his strokes took on a new intensity, a harsh,
desperate tenor. His cock swelled inside her and with it, the unbearable
tension, the agonizing need for—

Her body seized. Everything narrowed down to one exact point
of her being. That quivering place in her womb, kissed as it was by his furious
thrusts. Her vision went black as delight, unlike anything she had ever known
or dreamed of, took her, shook her. Wave after crashing wave of delicious
delirium washed over her until there was nothing left but the awareness of his
cock, jerking inside her, bathing her with warmth.

In the end, there was nothing left of her that wasn’t part
of him.

Edward wasn’t sure how he came to be in the drawing room at
teatime that afternoon. Normally this was a happenstance he would avoid at all
costs.

It was probably Kaitlin’s fault.

After their astonishing frolic that morning, he would follow
her almost anywhere. While he considered himself a man of the world, no
delusion would allow him to belittle the impact of their encounter.

It had been, in a word, transporting.

Funny that. He’d been with some of the most highly trained
courtesans in the world. Partaken in the most debauched activities. Had a damn
lot of fun.

This had not been
fun
.

It had been divine. Better than divine.

He’d spent a great deal of time after she’d left his study,
trying to think of a word that described what they’d shared, but he couldn’t.
Every word he came up with sounded feckless and shallow.

In fact,
he
was feckless and shallow. When he looked
on the endless parade of mindless diversions his life had become, he was
mortified. What was it about her that made him look at himself with fresh eyes?
What was it that made him see—finally see—what was missing?

She was no courtesan. No practiced whore. But that
fuck—though he had to allow it had been much more than a mere fuck—had been the
best of his life.

He wanted more.

So here he was. Following her like a dog.

Enduring anything just to have the opportunity to be with
her. Look upon her glowing smile.

Yes, he would even follow her into the maw of certain doom
that was teatime with the Wyeths of Perth.

They weren’t all there. Thank God for small favors. The
younger ones had been taken to the park in the middle of the square by a brave
and enterprising maid—who would be getting a promotion—to rain their terror on
the neighbors for a while.

Only Hortense, Violet, Ned, Malcolm and of course Kaitlin
and himself sat around the tea table.

She looked beautiful, serene, quietly working on an
embroidery hoop as the others chatted. Edward occupied himself with devising a
strategy for getting her alone again. And soon.

He should probably have her in a bed the next time. The
divan had been a trifle limiting—

“Well,” Aunt Hortense gusted, scattering his thoughts to the
four winds. “I had a missive from Perth.”

“Really?” Violet raised a brow.

“Apparently Agnes is on her deathbed.” Hortense poured
another cup of tea.

“Finally,” Malcolm grumbled. Ned kicked him under the table.

“How many times is this?” Violet asked, selecting a lemon
tart. She passed the dish to Kaitlin. As all good companions were, she was a
silent mouse, there in the corner. Although her looks in his direction spoke
volumes. Fortunately, the others were occupied with their food.

“Do be kind, Violet.”

“I am being kind, dear aunt. Merely asking—”

“She does nearly die with annoying frequency,” Ned observed,
brushing the crumbs from his lap, although not very efficiently.

Hortense pretended to bristle. She was terribly loyal.
Edward liked that about her. “Agnes has a delicate constitution.”

“She’s healthy as an ox.” This from Ned, beneath his breath.

And Malcolm’s response, “She
looks
like an ox.”

“
Boys
.” Yes. Loyal. And shrill. “She is my dearest
sister.”

Malcolm snorted. “Your only sister.”

“She took me in when dear Henry died—”

“As a
servant
.”

Ah yes. Aunt Agnes was, altogether, an unpleasant sort. In
truth, Edward could only remember meeting his father’s eldest sister once. He
had the vague recollection of a quivering nose, sharp eyes and sharper words.
Something like a rat terrier. She’d managed to snag a wealthy baron and had
lorded it over everyone, badgering and berating anyone who chanced to wander
into her path. His father was the only one who escaped her disdain, but only
because he’d been better practiced at lording his position. When Hortense’s
husband had died, Agnes had taken her in. As a paid companion.

She had leapt at the chance to desert her sister and come
here to chaperone the Wyeths of Perth—even knowing the truth about them. That
was telling.

“Nonetheless. She is on her deathbed. I shall have to go to
her.”

Edward started. What?
Go?
Oh no. She wasn’t deserting
him. Leaving him unprotected. With
them
.

He opened his mouth to protest, but she forestalled him with
an even more horrific pronouncement.

“And you are all coming with me.”

As warbles of dissent rocked the room, panic snarled in his
gut. No. No. She wasn’t taking Kaitlin. She couldn’t. He wasn’t finished with
her yet. Hell, he’d barely begun.

“
Silence
! She’s my sister.” Hortense skated an
incisive gaze around the table, goring them, each and every one. “And she is
your aunt. She’s on her deathbed. You are all coming too.”

The boys groaned. Violet made a face.

“I don’t see why we should have to go,” Ned said.

“To pay your respects.”

Malcolm put out a lip and flopped back on the divan in an
unbecoming sprawl. “She didn’t respect
us
. When our house and everything
we had was sold to pay Papa’s debts, and we needed a place to stay, she turned
us away.”

Hortense meticulously arranged her pearls. “She feared for
her life.”

Edward swallowed his snort at the dry observation. He was
really coming to like the old bat.

“Ballocks. We’re not that bad. She just didn’t want to be
bothered.”

“Malcolm, watch your language.” Violet nibbled at the smile
skirting her lips. She turned to her aunt. “How soon must we leave?”

Hortense grunted. “A day or two at the most. She is on her
deathbed, after all. We should not tarry.”

Violet nodded, and then her gaze fell on Kaitlin. She froze.
A strange expression flickered over her face and she said the oddest thing.
“You cannot come, of course.”

Kaitlin flushed. Her lips parted. “Oh no. Of course not.”

Edward’s brow creased. Why could she not go?

But he didn’t ask. He didn’t want her to go.

“Too true.” Hortense narrowed her eyes. “That begs the
question, where can you stay while we’re gone?”

“She can stay here.” The words were out before he even
considered them. And why not? They were damn fine words. She could stay here.
She should.

“Nonsense. You, my boy, are coming with us.”

“I most certainly am not.” While he did dislike lording his
rank over others, there were times when it was absolutely necessary. Like now.
He was not going to Scotland, not if they tied him to the coach and dragged him
along behind in the dust. He was staying here. With Kaitlin.

Violet set down her teacup. “She cannot stay here with
you
.”

“Why do you say
you
in such a tone?”

Her lips flapped like a trout. “Really, Edward. You’re a
single man. And something of a rake.”

“I can stay too.” This from Malcolm. Edward glared him down.

“You’re not staying if I have to go.” Ned crossed his arms.

Violet ignored them both. “Edward, I cannot fathom what
you’re thinking.”

“I fail to see the issue. She’s a hired companion, not a
highborn lady who needs to guard her sterling reputation.” This, he tossed out
without thought. In retrospect, he should have thought. It was curious how both
Violet and Kaitlin averted their gazes. He winced. He had not intended to
insult her.

Then Violet’s eyes lit. “She can stay with Helena and
James.”

Edward blinked at the suggestion—because it surprised him
that hearing her name didn’t make him ungodly melancholy. It usually did. He
rather liked the freedom from that melancholy. “They’re on their honeymoon.”

“Oh. Drat. Of course.” Violet nibbled her lip. “Then she can
stay with Eleanor.”

“At Ulster House? With
Ulster
?” Edward’s skin
crawled. Ulster was singularly the most depraved and wicked person he had ever
had the displeasure of meeting.

Violet stilled. Her gaze flicked to Kaitlin. “No. Of course
not.”

“She can stay here. Under my protection.” He flicked a look
at Kaitlin. She interpreted it correctly and flushed. “She shall be perfectly
safe.”

“I’ll be fine, Violet.”

Still, Violet balked. “There should be a chaperone.”

“I’ll stay.” Malcolm again.

“You’re not staying!”
All three of them, Hortense,
Violet and himself, bellowed the exact same words in a chorus. Malcolm put out
a lip.

Kaitlin cleared her throat. “As his Grace said, a
companion
does not require a chaperone.”

“But—” Whatever it was Ned had been about to say, Kaitlin
glared it away.

They fell into an odd silence, all of the Wyeths of Perth
exchanging speaking glances around the table. Edward had the distinct
impression there was something not being said—yet quite clearly communicated
amongst them.

He shot an inquisitive glance at Kaitlin. She tipped up her
chin in that daring, indomitable way she had. The look that passed between them
was scalding.

“I’ll be just fine.”

“But Kaitlin,
darling,
what shall you do without me?”
Violet wailed. “You’ll be bored to tears.”

Oh, he could think of something for Kaitlin to do. The
prospects rained down upon him until he was swimming in a pool of
possibilities.

He wondered how soon he could get them all out of the house.
Perhaps he could help them pack—

“I don’t know.” Kaitlin pursed her lips to hide a slightly
fiendish smile. “I’ll probably just do some reading…” She flicked a teasing
glance around the assembly, just barely brushing him with it. But he knew it
was for him. All of it.

And there, in the drawing room, over tea with his relations,
he burned.

* * * * *

It took them three days to leave. Mostly because Tay and
Hamish found an inspired place to hide. Sean would probably have joined them if
the trunk in the attic could have held one more.

But Hortense was relentless. Like a general planning a
battle, she took the reins, and command of every member of Edward’s staff. A
flurry of packing and last-minute shopping—and searching—ensued. Everyone was
so busy, including Kaitlin, there was no time for them to be together. Each
night, everyone fell into their beds exhausted.

Except Edward. He wasn’t exhausted. He was restless.

Then again, he didn’t do much. His staff, however, was quite
enthusiastic in their efforts. Perhaps a little too enthusiastic. As though
they couldn’t wait for the Wyeths of Perth to leave.

But then, he could understand. He felt on pins and needles
at the realization that soon—soon—he would have the house, and Kaitlin, all to
himself.

Still, their leave-taking was surprisingly difficult.

They all assembled in the front courtyard that morning.

Sean and Dennis were sullen, but both Ned and Malcolm took
it like men, shaking Edward’s hand and saying their farewells as though they
were heading for the gibbet. Hamish and Tay simply wept.

It was Violet who nearly did him in. She enfolded him in an
effusive hug and held him for a very long time. “I shall miss you, Edward,” she
said, going up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He’d never had anyone to miss
him before, so he wasn’t quite sure how to respond. Thank God his father had
drilled politesse into him since birth.

He kissed her gloved fingers and murmured, “I shall miss you
as well.” And oddly enough, he meant it.

She hugged Kaitlin too, with equal fervor. He noticed
Kaitlin got two kisses. One on each cheek. “Do be good,” Violet said.

“Of course.”

Then Malcolm tried to give Kaitlin a kiss, and it wasn’t on
the cheek.

She stomped on his foot.

“Come along now,” Hortense warbled, herding them toward the
carriages. Edward had procured three for them, two comfortable traveling
coaches and one for the servants and baggage. He had also arranged for
accommodations at decent inns along the way, paying for their keep and meals in
advance.

Not that he was worried about them.

But traveling could be dangerous.

It took a while for everyone to get settled—Tay kept trying
to escape. But finally they were all ensconced. The driver of the first
carriage cracked his whip and they were off.

Edward and Kaitlin stood on the steps of Wyeth House and
waved as they trundled down the drive calling their goodbyes, still waving long
after the last coach disappeared from sight.

She sighed. “I shall miss Violet.”

“As shall I.”

“I’m sure they’ll be back soon.”

“I’m sure they shall.” Far too soon. He glanced at her.
“I’ve missed you.”

Her smile was charming. And a little naughty. It sent a
thrill skating through him. “They will be back soon,” she repeated. “We
shouldn’t waste any time.”

He threw back his head and laughed. God, he adored her. He
wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, right here on the street. But he
couldn’t do that. She was only a companion, but he still had a care for
propriety. “Let’s go inside.”

“Yes. Some light…reading, perhaps?”

He grinned. “Lead on, Macduff.”