His Obsession (17 page)

Now was her chance, Kate realized, her
opportunity to flee. Kate could reach down, hoist her skirts up to
her knees and run out of the chapel and the earl’s house as fast as
her feet could carry her. She could run home, home to the safety of
her father’s house, a place where she was loved and cared for.

The earl wouldn’t take such a slight happily,
though. His anger would be formidable. Doubtless, her father would
once more be ensconced in the county goal and Penelope, Helen and
herself cast into the streets by the time the sun reached its
zenith. No. Running away from the earl was definitely out of the
question.

Almost imperceptibly, Kate nodded to the
cleric and the man finally began the wedding ceremony.

Richard relaxed a little as the clergyman
droned on. For one brief moment, he’d thought that Kate might turn
and leave him standing at the altar. Apparently, she’d reconsidered
that embarrassing course of action, her courage apparently
bolstered a little by her maid’s attendance.

Grimsby might very well be right. Richard had
digressed to a new low. What man would deny his bride the
attendance of her family when she took her vows before God? In his
anger, Richard hadn’t even allowed Edgar Overton to give his
youngest daughter away. Instead, Kate had walked down the aisle
alone, no doubt trembling as she still was now. Richard regretted
that decision.

Kate couldn’t seem to stop shaking. Although
she attempted to calm herself, taking slow deep breaths, her body
refused to obey her commands. Could the earl feel her trembling,
Kate wondered? If he did, he hadn’t mentioned it.

In fact, Warwick seemed to be aware of little
except the gaunt vicar in front of the altar. He repeated the
vicar’s words in a strong, clear voice, his deep baritone echoing
around the small chapel. Although the earl’s grip on her fingers
had mercifully eased, Richard still held her hand more tightly than
was necessary. In an attempt to reassure him, Kate gently laid her
other hand over his and smiled up at him as she repeated her
vows.

Richard couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Beneath the thin veil, did he see a shy smile upon his bride’s
lips? The ghost of a smile tugged at Richard’s lips, too, as he
captured both of his wife’s hands in his.

The earl’s gesture was so sweetly romantic
that Ellen sighed at the back of the chapel. The vicar also
increased the tempo of the ceremony, at last reassured by the
couple’s apparent affection for each other.

The vicar asked for the rings and blessed
them on his open Bible. Richard’s large ring was a solid band of
gold. Simple and unadorned, it still dwarfed her much smaller band.
Kate’s ring was a beautiful circlet of gold topped by a square cut
purple amethyst surrounded by a circle of tiny diamonds.

At the vicar’s direction, Richard lifted
Kate’s ring from the open book and pushed the ring onto Kate’s
finger. Unfortunately, the band only went up to the second
knuckle.

Richard frowned in dismay. Although his ring
had slipped on with ease, apparently he’d guessed Kate’s size
incorrectly. The band refused to slide any higher on her finger.
Kate seemed to be a little disturbed by it, too. Richard would
definitely take the jeweler to task for his bride’s obvious
embarrassment.

The vicar droned on. Just as Kate was
becoming used to hearing his voice again, the chapel abruptly
seemed surprisingly quiet. The vicar had stopped speaking.
Goodness, had he asked Kate another question and was awaiting a
reply? Kate’s eyes widened in alarm and she glanced toward the
clergyman for direction. Unfortunately, the old man was no help at
all. He stood there, grinning back at her with obvious
pleasure.

Suddenly, Richard dropped Kate’s hands and
reached for the hem of her veil, lifting the sheer netting over her
head. No smile touched his lips as he gazed down at her. The
ceremony was nearly complete.

Despite Richard’s resolve to remain
unaffected, Kate was a beautiful bride. At last, she was his. His!
A fierce wave of possession rose up inside Richard, but he
contented himself with a kiss.

And what a kiss it was. Kate had never been
kissed before. Not like this. Even if she had, she sensed that
Richard’s attentions would have superseded her memories of all of
the rest.

Richard’s arms slid around her slender waist
and back, bringing her body hard against his own. Without further
ado, his dark head descended, creating a huge shadow that blotted
out even the candlelight flickering beside them.

With warm possession, Richard’s lips claimed
hers. Richard was unyielding and seemingly oblivious to his
surroundings. He branded her with a fierceness that surprised Kate,
relentlessly moving his mouth over hers.

Caught between them, Kate’s hands pressed
against the solid wall of his chest. Her anxiety mounted as he
continued his assault. Kate’s mind spun with strange sensations and
a single tear slowly slid down her left cheek.

Suddenly, inexplicably, Richard’s hold on
Kate gentled. His lips became less demanding, softening until he
sipped at her mouth with a tenderness that took her breath
away.

At last, Kate stopped resisting and allowed
the delicious sensations to wash over her. Never had she felt so
wonderful. She was dizzy and breathless. Kate temporarily lost
track of where she was. Her only thoughts were of Richard and the
amazing things he made her feel. Unconsciously, she leaned into
Richard, seeking more of this sweet torment, this mind stealing
passion that she’d never known.

Of their own volition, Kate’s arms slowly
slipped up Richard’s chest to his shoulders as she silently offered
herself to him. It was an invitation that Richard could not
refuse.

With a growl, Richard tightened his arms
about Kate, straightening to his full height. Despite the presence
of the vicar and other witnesses, he lifted Kate easily from the
floor, his body throbbing with need.

Kate felt so right in Richard’s arms. Her
breasts were crushed against Richard’s strong chest. Although
Kate’s corset prevented Richard from feeling the softness of her
slender waist, Richard didn’t seem to care. His arousal grew as he
pressed Kate hard against him, reveling in the small measure of
relief that pressure provided him.

Kate’s sweet response both surprised and
pleased Richard. Richard could hardly call himself a man if he
didn’t sample a few of Kate’s charms and Kate couldn’t stifle the
soft feminine sigh of pleasure that bubbled up from deep inside
her.

The vicar loudly cleared his throat.
Reluctantly becoming aware of his surroundings, Richard finally
raised his head and slowly lowered his new wife to the floor. Kate
blushed crimson as the vicar frowned at her, but Richard didn’t
appear contrite at all.

“Congratulations, my lord. My lady,” Vicar
Williamson declared.

The old vicar gave the earl a toothsome smile
as he shook Richard’s hand. No doubt that he hoped his grin would
increase the size of his fee.

Reluctantly, Richard relinquished Kate to the
embrace of Will’s latest lady love, Sophia. Richard found himself
pumping his best friend’s hand, with a foolish grin upon his
face.

“Well, old man, at last you’ve done it!”
Grimsby chuckled.

Richard smiled. “Indeed, I have.”

“Although, for a moment there, I thought the
vicar might have to beat some sense into you,” Grimsby
whispered.

“Oh, Will!” Sophia sighed. “I think it’s
romantic. They’re so obviously in love.”

“Excuse me,” Kate murmured, stepping away
from the small gathering to stride toward the back of the
church.

Kate made it a point to hug a tearful Ellen,
who stood near the door at the back of the room. Ellen looked even
happier than Kate, gushing and blubbering with joy.

“Oh, my lady!” Ellen cried. “It was so
beautiful. Thank you for allowing me to stay.”

“You’re very welcome,” Kate told her with a
smile.

“Go on with you now. Your husband’s waiting,”
Ellen chided. “No bride should make her husband wait on their
wedding day.”

Kate allowed Ellen to squeeze her hand again,
then turned back to the group of strangers surrounding Richard
Warwick. Soon, Richard led Kate from the chapel and into the dining
room for a small reception.

The wedding breakfast was a small, intimate
affair. Richard and his two guests seemed to be enjoying
themselves. Kate bent forward a little at the table, hiding behind
the flowers while she picked at her food.

Sophia Carlisle chattered almost incessantly
about the latest gossip of the ton. Not only was she privy to the
latest announcements, but she was also keenly aware of the current
styles and fashion.

Sophia chided Richard for choosing a wedding
dress for his bride that was so hopelessly out of date. Kate,
however, found that she rather liked the style. The yards of white
satin and lace covered her from head to toe and the inset pearls
and lace accents must have taken hours to create.

Richard’s friend indicated an interest in
seeing the grounds before winter set in and his female companion
readily agreed.

“We’ll wait for you while you change, Kate,”
Richard told her.

Kate wasn’t certain she’d enjoy walking the
grounds with Sophia and Will Grimsby, but she’d make allowances,
since she was trying to be an understanding hostess. So, she
climbed the stairs to her bedroom and Ellen met her at the
door.

Ellen bubbled over with excitement as she
unhooked Kate’s elaborate wedding dress and exchanged it for a dark
blue riding habit. The skirt was a simple circle cut, which flared
out over her petticoats in a smooth uninterrupted line. The jacket
with accents of black piping fit over her bosom and small waist
perfectly. A froth of white lace spilled over the top of the jacket
from Kate’s blouse and a little blue hat with a curved feather
perched jauntily on her head. At last ready, Kate sighed in defeat.
Mentally, she prepared herself for another painful hour in Lady
Carlisle’s sickeningly sweet company.

As Kate reached the base of the stairs,
Jeffries, the earl’s butler stopped her.

“Excuse me, my lady, but there is a visitor,”
Jeffries informed her.

“A visitor?” Kate inquired.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Oh. Very well. Please tell him that the earl
is out riding and should return in about an hour,” Kate directed,
pulling on her gloves.

“Forgive me, madam, but the gentleman is not
the earl’s guest.”

Kate frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“I believe the gentleman said he was your
father,” Jeffries added.

“Father! Oh, where is he?” Kate gasped.

“The gentleman is in the rear parlor.”

Kate started forward, then suddenly realized
that she had no idea where she was going.

“I’m sorry, but where --?” Kate inquired.

“Behind the stairs and to the right, my
lady,” Jeffries explained.

“Behind the – Jeffries, could you please tell
the earl that I won’t be able to join him after all?” Kate
directed. “Something important has come up.”

Jeffries’ eyes widened. “But my lady, his
lordship specifically said that you were to --”

“I really don’t care what his lordship said,”
Kate bristled. “My father is here and I am going to see him.”

Jeffries raised one eyebrow in silent
objection, but said nothing. Then he turned and went to tell
Richard Warwick the news.

Once the butler departed, Kate picked up her
blue skirts and practically ran down the hallway. She did not even
bother to knock, but swung the parlor door wide, calling her
father’s name.

Edgar turned and grinned as his daughter
launched herself into his arms. Kate seemed to be laughing and
crying all at the same time and Edgar gently stroked her back in a
soothing motion.

“Here, here. What’s all this?” Edgar asked.
“Tears on your wedding day? What happened to my happy little
girl?”

“She grew up, Papa,” Kate replied.

“That she did. Let’s have a look at you.”

Edgar pushed Kate back at arm’s length and
stared at her. His dark eyes swept over her from head to toe and
Edgar smiled in approval.

“Just look at you!” Edgar cried. “You’re all
grown up. You’re a woman now.”

“I was before today, too,” Kate
corrected.

“No, no,” Edgar objected, sliding his arm
around her. “Marriage matures a woman, sometimes virtually
overnight. I think you can understand how that might happen.”

“Really, father!”

Edgar chuckled. “Yes, really. Now, tell me,
how are you? Your mother wants to be sure you’re warm enough. The
earl is feeding you, isn’t he?”

“Of course.”

Edgar nodded, then he sobered.

“And how does your new husband treat you?”
Edgar asked.

“I hardly know,” Kate admitted. “We’ve only
been married a few hours.”

Edgar’s eyes probed Kate’s for some sign that
the earl had already claimed his husbandly rights, but that
knowledge was denied him. There was no outward evidence, no sign
that he’d possessed her, taking her from a girl to a woman in a
matter of hours. Secretly, Edgar was pleased. Maybe there was still
some shred of decency in Richard Warwick after all.

“How are mother and Helen?” Kate asked,
dabbing at her tears with her fingers.

“Fine, fine,” Edgar assured her, handing her
his handkerchief. “Things are a little better now. We have a new
cook, maid and butler. Your mother really was a horrid cook.
Everything we ate was either burned or raw.”

Kate giggled, pulling her father toward the
settee near the window.

“Oh, and I have Bertie back!” Edgar declared
excitedly.

“What? I don’t believe it.”

The chestnut stallion had been her father’s
favorite horse. Kate was amazed that the earl must have somehow
located him.