Gentleman's Guide 01 - His Impetuous Debutante (17 page)

“
Phoebe, watch out.”
Janine grabbed her arm and pulled her back on the sidewalk
forcefully enough that Phoebe lost her footing and landed on her
bottom. She was about to ask Janine what she was about when an out
of control carriage careened toward her, barely missing her foot,
and continued down the road. Had Janine not pulled her out of the
way, the horses’ hooves would have crushed her.

Marius Parker hastened to her
side.

“
Are you all right, Lady
Phoebe?”

She looked up at him and smiled.
Though she was a little shaken, she suffered no injury. How often
had her family told her to watch where she was going? “I am fine.
Thank you for your concern.”

He held out his hand and helped her to
her feet.

“
Thank you, Mr. Parker.”
Phoebe dusted off the back of her skirt, hoping there was no
damage. Heaven knew that if it were ruined she would need to shop
for a new one.

“
Let me escort you ladies
home. Sandlin would have my head if anything happened to
you.”

“
It is not as if you could
have stopped the carriage. You weren’t even near me.” Phoebe
laughed. “Besides, what could happen between here and home. Our
carriage is right there at the corner.”

“
All the same, I am
accompanying you.”

Phoebe didn’t argue further. If he
insisted on escorting her and Janine, she would allow him. Though
there really was no need.

*

Phoebe patiently waited for her maid
to wrap the bandage around her scraped hand when Taylor stormed
into her bedroom.

“
I heard what happened.
Are you sure you are unharmed.”

“
Good afternoon, Lord
Sandlin,” Phoebe greeted when she wanted to laugh. The man worried
overly much. “I am fine, but thank you for asking.”

“
You are not fine. If you
were, your maid would not be attending your injuries.”

“
It is only a scrape.
Would you like to see?” She held her hand out to him.

Visibly shaken, Taylor sat on the bed
and pulled her into a tight embrace. “If anything had happened to
you, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Touched by his concern Phoebe pulled
away. “I promise to be more careful in the future. Still it is nice
to know you care so much.”

“
You have no idea.” He
kissed the tip of her nose and pulled her to him again.

“
While you may have spent
questionable time with my sister in the past, it is not well done
of you to be in her chamber before the vows have been spoken,” Noah
said from the open door.

“
I had to assure myself of
her safety.” Sandlin stood.

Phoebe looked up at her brother,
afraid he was angry with them again, but an odd smile graced his
lips. She didn’t want to try and guess what he was
thinking.

“
Join me in the library?”
Noah stood back to allow Taylor to exit.

*

Taylor took the offered glass from
Noah. “Perhaps I shouldn’t marry her.”

“
Because of a simple
accident?” Noah scoffed.

“
I am sure the
ton
would understand if
I begged off, claiming I love her too much to see her
dead.”

“
Stop that. We are talking
about Phoebe. The reckless one. Things like this have happened to
her since before you knew of her existence.”

“
Then perhaps I won’t be
the one to survive,” Taylor groaned. At least he had finally
stopped shaking.

“
That is where I would
place my money,” Noah offered with humor.

“
Noah, you can’t imagine
what went through my mind.”

“
I have a good
idea.”

“
What if the others
weren’t accidents? I have always believed they were. But what if
they weren’t?”

“
We looked into them both,
remember? One was an illness and the other was an accident, pure
and simple.”

“
I know, but I just have
this uncomfortable feeling that I may not be able to keep Phoebe
safe either.”

“
Nobody can keep Phoebe
safe,” Noah returned. “Nothing bad will ever happen, I can assure
you. Do you have any idea how many stitches, bruises, sprains and
breaks she suffered before coming to London? I’m sure you will
eventually notice a scar or two. Remember that this is Phoebe and
accidents simply happen to her and I have no reason to believe her
future will be any different.”

“
I just wish I shared your
confidence.”

*

No further incidents occurred, and
their wedding day dawned warm and clear. So that her mother could
be present, a small, private wedding in their home had been
planned, with a gala to follow in the ballroom. Noah carefully
carried his stepmother down the stairs and seated her in a
comfortable spot where she could view the vows. Phoebe’s three
young sisters were also in attendance, having arrived the day
before from the country.

As the hour approached, Taylor found
himself pacing and anxious. It wasn’t like he hadn’t done this
before. But this time was different. His emotions were involved and
much more was at stake than merely titles and an
inheritance.

The guests took their seats and turned
anxiously toward the door. Taylor assumed his spot beside the
minister and tried to swallow past the lump in his throat. Phoebe
walked toward him on Noah’s arm. She was the most beautiful
creature he had ever seen. She wore the palest green silk gown,
midnight black hair curling about her head and shoulders, large
emerald eyes sparkling back at him. And in a very short time she
would be his.

They said their vows, listened to the
prayers and waited to be pronounced man and wife. After placing the
emerald and diamond ring on her finger, Taylor was able to turn to
her for their first marriage kiss. He kept it chaste. The
passionate ones would follow, in just a few short hours. If he
could manage to wait that long.

Phoebe quirked a smile at him when she
pulled back. She was probably wondering at the innocent kiss as
well, especially after that morning in the cabin.

Soon she was gone from his arms as her
sisters hugged her, one after the other, and led her to Lady
Felding. The woman dabbed her eyes one last time and held her arms
out to her daughter.

“
Are you happy, dear?”
Lady Felding asked in a whisper, yet Taylor still
overheard.

“
Yes, mama. Very
happy.”

More tears sparkled in Lady Felding’s
eyes and she pushed her daughter away. “Noah, call for the
champagne.”

“
I so wish you would join
us, Mother,” Phoebe asked for the hundredth time.

“
No, dear. This is your
day and you know I prefer the privacy of my suites, instead of
sitting on the sidelines while society asks awkward questions about
my paralysis. Eyes should be on you, not on me.”

*

For Phoebe, the rest of the evening
flew by. The wedding breakfast lasted no more than a minute, of
that she was certain.

Guests mingled and she spent very
little time in Taylor’s company. With each second that ticked by,
her nerves mounted. She had been to several wedding celebrations
before and knew they could drag on. Why was hers flying
by?

She grabbed another flute
of champagne as a servant passed. Was this her second or third? Did
it matter? She gulped it down as her husband,
her husband
, approached.

He held his hand out as the strains of
a waltz began. The warmth of his brown eyes pulled her near him and
she placed her hands in his. Could he feel her tremble?

She placed her hand on his shoulder.
He snaked his hand around her waist and pulled her closer than was
proper. His sandalwood scent filled her nostrils and she inhaled
deeply. At the end of the floor, Taylor executed a turn and she
lost her footing. Perhaps she had drunk too much wine. Did it
matter? No, this was her wedding and she was waltzing with the man
she loved. Besides, without the wine, she would be too petrified to
move. Oh, why had her mother told her what to expect. Ignorant, she
would have been able to enjoy this perfect day.

*

“
Are you enjoying
yourself?” Taylor smiled down at her.

“
Yes. And you?”

“
I was. It is time to take
our leave.” Taylor grinned down at her.

Phoebe’s eyes flew open wide, and she
paled beneath her flushed cheeks. “Isn’t it early?”

No, she hadn’t drank too much, Taylor
decided. “We could have left an hour ago, and no one would have
said a word. I waited because you seemed to be enjoying
yourself.”

“
Couldn’t we stay just a
bit longer?” she asked shyly.

Taylor chuckled. “I am afraid
not.”

“
Then I must return to my
room for my things.”

“
They have already been
sent to my house.”

“
But I should
change.”

“
Why ruin another set of
clothing you will wear for less than an hour?”

Phoebe bit her bottom lip.

“
If I didn’t know better,
dear, I would think you were afraid to be alone with me.” He gave
her a half smile. “We have been alone before.”

“
We have never been
married and alone before,” she argued.

A few couples who had been dancing
nearby must have overheard her because they laughed.

Taylor escorted her from the dance
floor and onto the balcony. “There is really nothing to be afraid
of.”

“
I know. It is just… Oh,
I don’t know how to explain.”

“
I understand.” He
wouldn’t make her talk of it. He offered his arm. “Shall we
go?”

Taylor pulled her onto his lap for the
short ride and began kissing her. If he left her alone to stew, she
would be so overcome with nerves by the time they arrived, he would
have to start giving her champagne again. Phoebe melted against him
immediately, slowly opening her mouth, granting entrance. A small
moan came from the back of her throat and Taylor deepened the kiss.
He anchored his hand in place on her waist, afraid he would have
her half undressed by the time they arrived at his townhouse. When
the carriage stopped he didn’t bother to set her aside. Instead he
waited until the door was opened, lifted her in his arms, carried
her up the steps and into the house. He didn’t care if anyone saw
him and he didn’t pause to greet the butler or maids waiting up. He
continued up the stairs and into his chamber, kicking the door shut
behind him. Taylor let her slide down his body, never taking his
lips from hers.

Still molded to his body, she tilted
her head back and looked around. “How did we get here?”

“
I am very good at
distraction.”

She stepped away and looked around the
room. Some of the heightened color drained from her face. “Is this
your room?”

“
It is our room
now.”

“
Oh.”

“
There is a room for your
use, right through that door, if you would like to change.”
Immediately, he wished he could take the words back. He had her
melting just a few minutes ago. Perhaps he shouldn’t let her out of
his sight. “On second thought, you can see that room tomorrow.” He
pulled her back into his arms and began kissing her all over
again.

A million thoughts ran through
Taylor’s head. He wondered how he was going to manage to get
undressed, and get her undressed while kissing her. The task was
going to be next to impossible, and it was a task he had never
faced before. Deciding he would have to risk her heightened nerves,
he stepped away. It was better to get comfortable now, than have
awkward interruptions during his seduction.

“
I am being selfish. Go,
change. I’ll ring for more champagne.”

It took Phoebe a moment to realize
what he was saying, but when she did, she practically ran from the
room. Ringing for his valet, Taylor had him assist with his boots
before sending the man for a bottle and two glasses. While he
waited, he removed all but his shirt and pants. These he knew he
could manage to remove without the slightest interruption of his
quest. He took the bottle and glasses, then closed and locked the
door behind his servant. He wanted no interruptions tonight. By
stirring the fire and adding a few logs, he brought it to a full
burn. He poured champagne into the glasses and waited.

What could be taking her so long?
Taylor glanced at his pocket watch. It really hadn’t been all that
long. He sipped from his flute and paced before the fire. At this
rate he would be as nervous as his wife.

It didn’t take long for him to empty
the glass and he stalked to the table to refill the crystal. Surely
she had changed her clothing by now? Then again, women did wear a
tremendous amount of layers, so it could be awhile yet.

*

Phoebe nervously waited in the
doorway. Holly had brushed out her hair so that it was flowing down
her back but Phoebe brought some of it forward to hide her breasts.
The gown the modiste insisted on for the evening was very sheer.
She took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for what was
to come. She knew what to expect. Her mother had explained the
entire process in detail. More detail than Phoebe cared to know,
though she still couldn’t comprehend how it all worked. Her mother
had also assured her that there was a good chance that she would
find the experience enjoyable, eventually. Phoebe couldn’t fathom
what her mother could possibly mean by that. What her mother
described sounded like the most unpleasant activity on the earth,
yet it was required and she loved her husband. Thus she would
endure what was necessary to make him happy and provide an
heir.