Love Me True (11 page)

Poor Justin. Of all the indignities to suffer through on his wedding day. She’d have to make it up to him tonight. She would have him go to sleep a happier man than he’d awoken. The anticipation curled her lips into a wide smile. Beside her, the duchess chuckled then hurried away.

Tonight she would be Justin’s wife until death parted them. Clarry curled her hand over her belly as excitement filled her. She would be Justin’s. She would wake beside him sometimes, make love to him as often as she could tempt him, and hope he’d come to trust her enough to read his beautiful poetry to her before he showed anyone else. But she had to tell him she knew about that. She had to return the journal.

“Hello beautiful,” a male voice drawled.

Clarry spun about, startled out of her daydreaming.

Lord Roderick lounged against the doorway, leering at her. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. Lord Roderick at your service, Miss Wheaton. I’m a very good friend of your future husband.”

“I’ve heard of you, Lord Roderick.”

He pushed off the wall. “Please, call me, Roddy. All my close acquaintances do.” Lord Roderick paced closer and peered about the room. “And we are going to become quite close, my dear. As close as two people can be in fact.”

He’d come to collect on the wager. Although Clarry’s stomach tumbled over, she had to hide that he intimidated her. She knew what he wanted. The journal or, if he didn’t get that, he planned to lie with her. She couldn’t give him Justin’s journal and she certainly wouldn’t lie with him. He disgusted her.

Rather than play cat and mouse, Clarry decided to attack the situation head on. He thought himself irresistible. She’d prove otherwise. “I take it you’ve come to claim your winnings, Lord Roderick.”

The man stopped moving. His gaze raked her from head to foot, setting her resolve on its edge. She could do this. She could dissuade him from claiming the bet.

A slow smile lit his face. “You know of the bet already don’t you, my dear?”

“Yes.” Clarry clenched her hands together, very aware the gesture conveyed her distress. But she had to do something with them other than hitch up her skirts and bolt from the chamber. She wouldn’t become a plaything to Justin’s questionable acquaintance.

Lord Roderick smiled wolfishly. “Well now. That will make life much simpler. Hand over the journal or pay the piper his due.”

Clarry licked her lips. “The journal is lost, I’m told. I certainly don’t have it.” Actually the journal was six feet away from where she stood, tucked into its usual spot under a pillow. It called to her. She fixed her gaze on the man before her instead.

Lord Roderick sucked in a deep breath. “Well then, I imagine you’ve reconciled yourself to the alternative. Let’s have at it then.”

He took a step forward but stopped when Clarry flung up her hand. At least he could be stopped. She couldn’t deal with an animal. “What guarantees are you prepared to offer me in return?”

“Guarantees?” He flung his head back and laughed. “I’ve never had a woman doubt my prowess before. Don’t worry, little mouse, you’ll wish to be marrying me by the end and not Justin.”

Clarry could not believe that would be true. She didn’t find this man remotely pleasing. Not the way Justin was. “I imagine our opinions might differ on that subject since I appear to have no say in this debauching. But do you simply expect me to lie still while you rob me of my very life?”

“Woman, I’m not planning on killing you. Merely taking my fun in your arms for a romp. In fact, I can quite see why Justin was so out of sorts last night. Must be quite a strain, resisting taking you to his bed.”

Relief coursed through Clarry. Justin hadn’t told his friend exactly why they were to marry so swiftly. Lord Roderick appeared to have no idea Justin had bedded her either. But how could that work to her advantage if he thought her pure?

A sudden thought popped into her head. “What if you’re diseased?”

Lord Roderick drew back as if she’d slapped him. “I’ve not got the bloody pox, woman. I’m not that bad a friend.”

Not much of a friend at all to want to seduce a man’s future wife. But she had to keep him off balance. “Really? Yet you intend to force me into that bed.”

When she waved her arm in that direction, his eyes lit with anticipation. Curses. She’d lost ground again.

“You’re not his wife yet. And he agreed to the bet. My honor demands satisfaction.”

Clarry circled him, hoping her movements appeared the result of nervousness not imminent flight. “Well, my honor demands proof that you are as healthy as a horse.”

He took another step back. “I beg your pardon.”

Honestly, anyone watching them must think them inventing some new dance. But the threat to her virtue was very real. She would not let this man touch her. The bedchamber door lay evenly between them now. She’d have to move quickly and surprise him to outdistance his longer legs if she tried to escape. “You heard me. I want proof that you are as free of illness. It is my intention to give Justin a son and I cannot do that if you disease me.”

Lord Roderick scratched at his jaw. “The only way to do that, my dear, is to be on intimate terms.” His smile widened again. “On the bed with you then.”

“I may be young and innocent, but I’m not so foolish as to fall for that.” And not such a fool as to move away from the door. “Proof can be provided right here.” She cocked her head to the side. “I’m waiting.”

Eventually, Lord Roderick caught her meaning and a wicked smile crossed his face. She steeled herself as his hand reached for the buttons of his trousers. As his shirt lifted and disappeared under his waistcoat, Clarry held her breath. She let it go with a whoosh when Lord Roderick dropped his trousers suddenly, exposing himself to the light.

He stood still and let her look her fill.

She gaped. “That’s it?” Goodness! Justin was much better proportioned when aroused.

His hands dropped from his hips. “I beg your pardon?”

Clarry took a step closer. “Really? Is that all you’re going to put in me. Honestly, I thought you must have had a formidable staff to have made such a bet. How terribly mundane.” Her eyes strayed and caught on a tattoo etched into his upper right thigh. Despite her curiosity, Clarry chuckled to grind insult deeper.

Lord Roderick’s face heated. “How dare you?” Although the hissed words sounded as gruff as her father when he had his dander up, his stance hinted at discomfort. He covered his groin with his hands.

Now she might just be winning. Clarry shook her head. “That’s like a pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?” When Lord Roddy made no move to continue Clarry cleared her throat. “The terms of the bet have been met, Lord Roderick. This is as intimate as we will ever be. I am aware of your proportions, small as they are. I believe you may leave me now.”

When he didn’t move, she glanced down at his thigh. “Is that a tattoo of a woman’s name?”

Lord Roderick quickly tugged his trousers up over his hips. “Who are you to gaze upon a naked man and not even flinch?”

“I am Lord Justin’s already, my lord.” She smiled at how good that felt to say aloud. “Anything else offered is simply not enough to tempt me. We will not speak of this matter again, but I will not hesitate to spread the intelligence that you have a woman’s name tattooed on your skin if word of our meeting ever spreads. Beth. Would that be the missing Lady Elizabeth by any chance?” I do hope we understand each other, my lord?”

Lord Roderick scowled as he finished dressing. “That we do.”

When the door slammed behind his back, Clarry sagged into a chair. Goodness that had been dreadful. Necessary, but dreadful. She would not have that scoundrel laughing at her for years to come whenever they met. She hoped he’d avoid her like the plague. Clarry took another deep breath.

“That was very well played,” the duchess said as she clapped her hands.

Oh no, the duchess. Clarry turned to face her future mother-in-law. “You heard?”

“Heard and saw it all. What there was, of course. Risky, but well played. I cannot imagine Lord Roderick ever approaching you with anything but the utmost respect from now on.”

Clarry gulped. “I couldn’t give him Justin’s journal.”

The duchess grinned. “Because you love my son.”

“I couldn’t lie with him either.”

“Because you love my son and couldn’t bear another to touch you as he does.”

The duchess’s repetitions could get on her nerves quite easily. Clarry frowned. Did she really love Justin after only four days? With the proof of her own actions before her, Clarry conceded that she did feel more for him than she originally imagined possible.

The duchess patted her clenched fingers. “You do not need to admit to such feelings to me, but you should admit them to yourself and to Justin that you do not love his brother. Not every woman knows there own heart in the beginning—or at the end for that matter. Marriage is a painful experience when you are plagued with doubts.”

Puzzled by the duchess’s last comment, Clarry asked a question that had troubled her for some time. “Do you not love the duke?”

The duchess rocked back on her heels, lips pressed tight together.

“Forgive me. That was an inexcusable question to ask you.”

The duchess closed her eyes. “Our marriage was arranged by our families. I had a large dowry and the dukedom had large debts.”

Clarry closed the gap between them and caught the duchess’s cold fingers in hers. “I’m sorry. That must have been an uncomfortable beginning.”

“Oh, being a duchess has its perks. I get to have my way somewhat more often than most wives.” A smile tugged her lips. “Now, enough of my problems, I have a surprise visitor for you.”

The duchess rushed off while Clarry tried to stem the ache from the words the duchess hadn’t uttered. What a horror it would be to never love or feel comfortable with the man you married. To never feel peace with the life you had to live.

When the door opened again, Clarry turned, expecting to see her future mother-in-law. She gaped and then fell back in the chair again.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Justin strode up the steps of Staplehurst Hall flanked by his brother and his pregnant sister-in-law. He needed their support today. Despite the pain Clarry might feel over Tristan’s presence, he wanted his brother to stand up with him.

Brinkley let him in, a relieved smile pasted on the old butler’s face. “Welcome home, Lord Justin. The other gentlemen are waiting in the library until the ladies are ready.”

“Thank you.’ He turned for the library, conscious of Tristan kissing his wife farewell behind his back. Pain tightened his chest. A morning spent with the newlyweds had proved uncomfortable. Their obvious affection—a knife twisting in his heart.

“Justin, my boy, you look dreadful.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Justin took the brandy offered but nursed the glass rather than drank it. His head pounded bad enough as it was. He glanced around and found Roddy standing somewhat away from everyone else. He crossed the room to join him. “I lost track of you last night.”

Roddy’s hand shook as he lowered his glass. “Not surprising. You hit the amber pretty hard last night. I’m surprised you can stand.”

Justin gestured toward his brother. “Tristan is hard to ignore when he pours ice cold water over your head.”

“Remind me never to spend time with your brother.” His eyes narrowed. “Were you reluctant to marry today?’

“No. No of course not. I just drank to much last night. Clarry’s dowry is worth any shackle about my leg.”

Roddy peered at him oddly. “She is something, isn’t she?”

Justin’s head cleared. “You were introduced?”

Roddy winced. “Let us just say I had the opportunity to introduce myself earlier today. A decision I’m regretting. She is not quite what I expected for you but congratulations. You will have an interesting marriage.”

“Thank you.” What the hell had happened while he’d been gone? He glanced toward the door wondering if he could seek Clarry out before the ceremony to be sure she was still here and not upset. Who knew what Roddy would have said if they were truly alone.

“Oh, and the wager is paid in full.”

Justin’s vision turned red as he snapped his attention back to Roddy. “You have my journal?”

“No. She said it was lost. Did she lie to me and put me through hell for her own amusement?”

Justin’s fingers curled into a fist. “What happened this morning?”

“Steady there, old boy. You’ll burst your head with all that hot headedness.” Roddy looked left and right as he backed himself into a corner. “Luscious as she is, nothing happened. But you’d do well to stay on her good side.”

Justin uncurled his fingers suddenly, aware that Tristan had hold of his arm. “If you touched one hair on her head I’ll disembowel you where you stand.”

“Justin,” Tristan warned. “Lower your voice. There are other people in the room. Your future father in law for one.”

Justin forced himself to relax. Roddy had promised that nothing had happened and he was many things but not a liar. “Perhaps you should recall a sudden appointment, Roddy. I don’t think I’d care for your presence at my wedding after all.”