Dusky Duke and the Gypsy Pirate Princess (21 page)

Greyson pulled his head back, “and then what happened.”

“The next thing I remember was Lady Cantwell screaming and swearing, and I was in bed with Dalton. He was saying we had to get married because I was ruined. And his mother was in hysterics. And my head was killing me.”

“How old was Dalton?”

“My age, about eighteen I think.”

“What were you wearing?”

Honesty blinked in confusion at his question.

“When you woke up did you have all of your clothes on, all of them?”

Honesty paused and tried to remember, “Dalton was only wearing his trousers, but I don’t remember any of my clothes missing. My gloves were gone.”

“So you still had on your corset and pantaloons?” “Darling, I could see  me getting you out of your underthings with you unconscious, but I certainly won’t have wrestled you back into them if my goal was to compromise you.”

“But he said.”

“Yes, he said” Greyson smiled as the truth sunk in and Honesty’s face reflected her astonishment. “Now I don’t know whether to strangle the idiot or reward him.”

“Why?”

“Because of that fool’s lovesick actions, you were sent home to wait for me to find you and force you into marriage with me.”

Honesty’s eyes narrowed, “I would never marry someone I didn’t want too.” She sniffed.

“I am so glad to hear that, darling, as you have been compromised truly this time – I see a wedding in your very near future.”

“Is that a promise or a threat?” Honesty smirked.

Honesty met him halfway and kissed him with all the love in her heart.

♣♣♣

Several hours later, Honesty laughed against Greyson’s shoulder.

“What?”

She reached under them and pulled her hand up allowing the sand to trickle through her fingers. “There is enough sand in this bed to build a good sized castle. I think most of it fell out of my hair when it dried.”

“The rain seems to have blown over.” Greyson sat up and nodded at the glass paned doors.

“I guess we need to be getting back so everyone will not be worried about us.” Honesty bit her bottom lip.

“Not yet,” Greyson walked to the wardrobe and pulled trousers and a shirt out. He dusted them and then pulled them on. They fit perfectly. Greyson rummaged around in a drawer and threw Honesty a pale pink nightgown of beautiful thin crepe. She tugged it on over her head, and scooted off the bed.

“I love this gown,” Honesty twirled, “I wonder who it belongs too?”

Greyson’s eyes twinkled as he took in his gypsy pirate princess in the scandalous lingerie. “I try my best not to think about it.”

He opened the door to the stone balcony and waved at her to come. At the edge of the railing was a breathtaking view of the ocean some fifty feet below still clouded in fog. “It is beautiful,” Honesty exclaimed in delight, “I wonder who owns this lovely home? It looks like it has been empty for a long time. I hope they don’t mind us just barging in like this.”

Greyson chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. “I know the owner personally, and he will not mind at all. In fact, I am very sure that he would want us to be right here.”

Honesty’s eyebrows went up in question at the mischievous tone in his voice.

“This cottage belongs like everything around it to the Duke of Devonshire.”

Honesty’s eye grew round. “This cottage is ours.. . Why have you never say anything about it? We must be only miles from the castle.”

“Oh, I had every intention of bringing you here soon. This place is called Paradise cottage. My grandfather built it as a lover’s haven for my grandmother.”

“And the clothes are your grandparent’s?” Greyson nodded. “This gown is your grandmother’s?” Honesty giggled as she remembered his initial comment about not thinking about whom the gown belonged too. “So when were you planning to bring me here?” Honesty turned in his arms and slid her hand up his chest. She smiled as his eyes darkened with desire.

“At the first possible opportunity.” He answered in his best bored duke voice. His eyes discounted his tone as he swept her up in his arms; he laughed wickedly at her squeal of fright and carried her back to the bed.

Later Greyson dragged them both out of their warm blanketed haven and found suitable clothes in the closet for them to wear back to the castle. Honesty was dressed in all the necessary layers including a corset of black lace with matching black net stockings and a lovely dark green gown with a low neckline.

“Your grandmother left some interesting things in this cottage.” Honesty laughed as she tried to tug the low neckline up to cover a bit more of her cleavage.

“True, darling, but remember that you are a bit more endowed than the matron in question.”

They both looked down at the hem that was a good six inches too short. Honesty pulled on her wet boots.

Her eyebrow went up, “and the black French stockings and the sheer nightgowns, she was what sixty when your grandfather died.”

Greyson pulled on his wet boots. “ and I expect the same treatment when you yourself are of that age.. . It is after all a family tradition.” Greyson stood and wrapped the woolen cloak around her shoulders. “Sorry, love, but we much return to face the music.”

Honesty sighed and nodded.

Greyson picked up the lamp and twined his fingers with hers and lead her into the thick fog of the grey day.

They weaved their way down the overgrown path away from the cliff and the cottage.

“I’m sorry,” said Honesty again, “my running away has made a mess of our engagement and to add to that the rumor that mama has started. My family has given you nothing but trouble after you have been so generous to us.”

“Honesty, you are doing it again. You have done nothing wrong. This mess of our engagement is as much my fault as it is your’s. And it has given me my heart’s desire – you. I am only concerned about you. You are who she wishes to hurt.”

Honesty ducked her head, “Why does she have to hate my mother and me so much.” The pain filled each word.

“Darling,” Greyson paused and tried to think of something comforting to say. “Sometimes people do not know how big true love is. You have taught me this. When I met you, I did not understand love. I wanted, needed you to love me and I was jealous of the love and attention that you gave the children, especially that little bald headed baby.” Greyson chuckled ruefully at her surprised look. “So with planning and luck, I was able finally to have you all to myself. Well, almost, not counting Cousin Bridgette. But I quickly learned that my having you by yourself did not make you happy or me happy either. I have learned that the more people you have in your life that love you and that you can love the more love you have to give me.” He kissed her, “and I know that having your children leave again will be hard on you. That is why I plan to give you as many children as you want. Maybe, we are increasing already.” Greyson smirked.

“Surely not,” Honesty gasped.

“Well, then we will just have to try harder, darling.” “I don’t think your mother understands that someone she loves can love many more and still love her.”

Honesty frowned, “but she knows that papa loves the children.”

“Her children… I don’t think she has ever been able to accept that your father can still love your mother and her child and love her also.”

Honesty wiped her sleeve across her eyes and sniffed. “But she is the only mama I remember.”

“I know, darling.”

“Ho, Your Grace,” called a voice from the darkness. A footman appeared at the edge of the light from the lantern.

“Gibson?” Greyson recognized the young man.

“True, Your Grace, your grandmother has sent me to escort you into the house, Sir.”

Honesty looked up in surprise to see the shadow of Devonshire Castle raising up from the darkened landscape in the near distance.

“We must extinguish the light, Your Grace,” instructed the footman. Greyson did as he asked and then pulled Honesty along the broad grass field adjacent to the west lawn.

“What is the mood of the house, Gibson?”

“I can not see that it is different from usual, Your Grace. Her Grace has instructed me to accompany you to the grand music room in the back of the castle, Sir.”

The three traveled through the fog for a good half hour before they reached the grand music room’s French doors.

As they stepped through the doorway, they found SarahBeth asleep in one of the overstuffed chairs. Greyson moved to her side and touched her arm. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat forward, “Greyson,” she breathed in wonder.

“Yes, Grandmother,”

Sadness and disappointment clouded her eyes, “Oh, for a second I thought you were. . . you are wearing his coat.” SarahBeth patted the lapel of the jacket Greyson wore.

“We weathered the storm out in the cottage.”

SarahBeth nodded and swallowed with difficulty. “Good, good, and you are both well?”

The two nodded. “Except for some bumps and scrapes we are excellent.”

“Good,” she repeated, “You have an hour to dress for dinner. No one knows you were unaccounted for. Greyson, you were called away early this morning, and Honesty has taken to her room with a headache. Several of the other ladies have the same, brought on by the storm no doubt. Neither of you were missed at lunch as this was the first day we started the two lunches as you suggested, dear, to accommodate everyone for meals. If you dress now, you can both be ready for the later supper.”

Greyson and Honesty stared at her in shock. “No one knows.”

“Precisely, dears, and we must keep it that way. Teresa has spent the whole afternoon since we heard your signal, having all the cousins who were present at Honesty’s coming out recount what a fool Dalton Cantwell made of himself over her and how she turned down his advances. The Captain, such a nice man, has restricted his wife to her room. Now hurry, children, we haven’t much time. I will escort Honesty. Greyson, you go round to the stable and then come in. Lose the cloak, girl, you wouldn’t have needed it in the house.”

Greyson cut his eyes to his wife. “I guess we are back to being engaged, darling.” He sighed in disappointment.

Honesty slipped the cloak off. “It is only one more week.”

Greyson’s eyes strayed to her dipping neckline, “Keep telling us that, love. We will see how far we make it.” He squeezed her hand and gave her a kiss on the lips before strolled back outside into the fog.

SarahBeth pulled on Honesty’s arm to move her toward the door. “I had forgotten that there were clothes at the cottage. I haven’t seen that dress in ages. It doesn’t do you justice, girl, but then;” the old lady looked mischievous, “Greyson seemed to appreciate the effect.”

Honesty looked down at her cleavage almost spilling out of the top of the black lace corset that barely showed about the lace edge of the gown neckline, and blushed scarlet.

Within the hour, Honesty had been bathed and redressed in clean, dry clothes. Her freshly washed hair had been braided and styled, and all of her bruises and scraped from been dressed with salve. She had difficulty pulling the elbow length gloves on. Her fingertips throbbed. Dressed in a dark blue dress with a long string of white pearls, Honesty made her way to the front salon.

Greyson was waiting for her to arrive. He was once again dressed in a clean-cut black dinner jacket with a silver vest. As he walked to her side, and kissed her gloved hand, Honesty was reminded of the hours he had spent kissing her earlier. Greyson looked up and met her eyes. The corner of his mouth tilted up and he moved closer to whisper in her ear. “Darling, your expression will give us away. If you keep looking at me like that everyone will know that you want what you should not be aware exist yet.” He chuckled and folded her hand over his arm as the dinner gong sounded. Honesty ducked her head and blushed. “One week, darling.” He whispered as he pulled her chair out and seated her.

Teresa sat in her grandmother’s chair and signaled for the meal to be served. Honesty was surprised at how hungry she was, then she remembered that she had not eaten since breakfast and between climbing a cliff and making love all afternoon she had surely used up a considerable amount of energy. Her mind flashed back to the cottage, and another blush stained her skin. Greyson squeezed her hand under the table, and then they both whined at the pain of the bruises and scrapes on their hands.

After dinner Greyson excused them for their nightly walk, but instead led Honesty and Teresa to his study. He pulled Honesty into his lap and just held her. He shushed his sister’s question, and just sat relaxing with Honesty leaning against his chest.

“It has been a long day. We will answer questions, tomorrow.”

In a short time, Honesty’s eyes began to slide closed.

Greyson reluctantly stood up and pulled her to her feet. “Go to bed now, love.” He whispered into her hair.

Honesty shook her head and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t want to go; I don’t want to be separated from you.”

“I know, but we must play this game out before we can begin a new one. That one we will play by our own rules.”

Teresa’s ears perked up at the reference to games played by new rules. She had to remember to ask Honesty what the conversation over the chess board had been about. She stood and walked toward the door to give the two a little privacy for a goodnight.