Lovers Forever (38 page)
Authors: Shirlee Busbee
As she started up the broad steps, Athena caught sight of them and stopped abruptly, her fine nostrils flaring when she spied Tess standing next to Nick. “My God!” she exclaimed furiously. “It is true! I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the announcement in the paper this morning.” Her lips lifted in a sneer. “
Such
a hasty wedding, dear brother. Why? Is she breeding already?”
Such
a hasty wedding, dear brother. Why? Is she breeding already?”
Having fired that ugly salvo, she turned away and stormed up the steps, her bishop's blue skirts billowing out behind her, leaving a stunned silence in her wake. It was Rockwell who broke it. “You know,” he said confidingly, “a lot of people don't think I'm very observant, but I'll tell you whatâthat sister of yours ain't best pleased by your marriage, old fellow!”
Chapter Twenty-two
I
n spite of the unpleasantness of the moment, Nick felt his lips twitch. “Yes, I suppose that you could say that,” he murmured as he ushered his guests up the steps that Athena had taken. He made no apologies for his sister. He had known his marriage to Tess was going to cause difficulties, and he had suspected that the most outspoken critic of the match would be Athena. He hadn't, however, expected such open, outright venom. Along with the very natural anger he felt at the insult given his wife, he was also a little taken aback.
n spite of the unpleasantness of the moment, Nick felt his lips twitch. “Yes, I suppose that you could say that,” he murmured as he ushered his guests up the steps that Athena had taken. He made no apologies for his sister. He had known his marriage to Tess was going to cause difficulties, and he had suspected that the most outspoken critic of the match would be Athena. He hadn't, however, expected such open, outright venom. Along with the very natural anger he felt at the insult given his wife, he was also a little taken aback.
It was true that the Talmages had no reason to love the Mandevillesâbesides the old tragedy of Benedict and Theresa, there was the more recent and unfortunate fact that Tess's uncle, another Baron Mandeville, had been the cause of Randal's death. Nick's lips twisted. If what he had heard about that infamous duel was true, one might say that Randal had gotten precisely what he deserved for deliberately provoking a man well known for his lack of interest or skill with weaponry to issue a challenge! Facing Sidney Mandeville on the dueling field should have been like shooting fish in a barrel for someone like Randal, and Nicolas suspected that no one had been more astonished than his brother when Sidney's bullet had actually found its mark. He sighed. Of course, Athena wouldn't look at it that way. In her eyes their brother could do no wrongâshe had been, he admitted, inordinately fond of Randal. . . . But if Pallas, who had suffered far more greatly from the actions of the Mandevilles, could accept his marriage, what the hell difference did it make to his sister? he thought in sudden fury.
Athena's arrival had shattered the relaxed air of the group. Once they were inside, they all scattered, as if realizing that Nick needed time alone. The aunts retired to the library to browse and the gentlemen hastened to the game room to amuse themselves. Only Tess remained with him.
When they were alone in his office, Tess said softly, “Lady Athena is very angry about our marriage, isn't she?”
Nick grimaced. “I knew she would be, but I didn't expect her to be so openly venomous about it.” He met her troubled gaze and asked, “I trust you were not too insulted by her words?”
Tess smiled wryly. “Why should I be, when we both know that it might be true?”
“Do you think you might be breeding?” he demanded abruptly.
“I couldn't possibly know this soon,” Tess returned tartly. “It has been barely ten days since the night at the Black Pig.”
His face softened. Bringing her hand to his lips, he pressed a warm kiss against the palm. His eyes locked with hers, and he said huskily, “I sometimes forget how briefly we have known each otherâit has been a whirlwind time for us, hasn't it, sweetheart?”
Drowning in his gaze, Tess nodded slowly, a lump forming in her throat. It didn't matter if she had known him ten days or ten years, she doubted that she could have loved him more than she did. He was in many ways the embodiment of a maiden's most cherished dreamâcharming and one of the most wickedly attractive men she had ever met in her life. There were some who might even have found the manner of their meeting and marriage vastly exciting and would have had no qualms about spending the rest of their lives married to a man like Nick Talmageâeven if he never said one word of love. He had proven himself to be an honorable, considerate man, even indulgent, and Tess couldn't pretend that he had been anything but kind to her and her aunts. But while she had accepted her marriage to him, she couldn't help wishing that they had come together under different circumstances. Their marriage, she thought wistfully, would be so much sweeter if she knew that he cared deeply for her and that he hadn't been forced to marry her.
She had tried to tell herself these past few days that she was being greedy, wanting him to love her as well as desire her, but it didn't do any good. She
was
greedy, she admitted fiercely. And she wanted more than just his name and bodyâabove all else, she wanted his heart....
was
greedy, she admitted fiercely. And she wanted more than just his name and bodyâabove all else, she wanted his heart....
When she didn't reply immediately, his hand tightened on hers. “You don't regret our marriage, do you?”
She smiled and shook her head. “No. I was just wondering how things might have been if we had met otherwise....”
He grinned wickedly and pulled her into his arms. “You mean if I had spied you at Almack's one night?”
She nodded. Her eyes wide, she searched his beloved features. Her breathing became erratic at what she saw in those teasing eyes, and she asked, “What would you have done?”
“Well,” he said slowly, brushing his mouth against hers, “once I had determined the identity of the beguiling little witch with the fiery hair, I would no doubt have gone off in a high dudgeon!”
“Why?” she asked in slight trepidation.
“Because it would have infuriated me,” he said softly, laughter quirking the corner of his mouth, “to discover that the one woman in all of England who had finally captured my attention was one of
those
Mandevilles! I would have been thoroughly enraged at the trick fate had played me.”
those
Mandevilles! I would have been thoroughly enraged at the trick fate had played me.”
Despite the teasing quality of his words, they did not ease the leaden feeling in her heart. She bent her head, seemingly fascinated by the buttons on the front of his waistcoat. “Do you hate me and my family so very much?” she finally whispered.
Nick groaned, crushing her next to him. “Tess, you little fool! I'm half mad for you, and when I hold you in my arms, hatred is the
last
thing on my mind!”
last
thing on my mind!”
He kissed her then, his mouth taking fierce possession of hers, and for a little while Tess forgot about the fact that being half mad for someone wasn't quite the same as being in love. When he finally lifted his mouth from hers, her eyes were shining. Slipping her arms around his neck, she said impishly, “I wonder ... do you think we should send Avery a note, telling him how much we appreciate his sending me fleeing from his advances?”
Nick shot her a look. “No,” he said firmly. “Avery Mandeville will never get any thanks from me.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Writing him a note, however, requesting that all of your personal belongings as well as whatever belongs to your aunts be sent over immediately to Sherbourne Court would be a very good idea.”
Tess looked impressed. “Oh, my. He's going to be absolutely furious!”
Nick smiled. “I know.” Then, reluctantly, he released Tess and asked, “Would you mind joining your aunts for a while? I'd like to begin reading the diary and”âhe frownedâ“I need to speak with Athena.”
Tess looked anxious. “Oh, Nick . . . don't fight with her! There has been enough tension lately with all that has occurred. Please, couldn't you just let it alone? Give her time to get used to me? ... It has been a great shock to her, and I'm sure that she'll eventually see reason.”
Nick snorted, his features grim. “I don't think we're talking about the same person. Athena
never
sees reason. And she's disliked me practically since birth. She's made it clear that she resents my standing in Randal's shoes, and if she had her way,
she'd
have inherited the title and all that goes with it.” Bitterly he added, “My marriage to you is just another example to her of how utterly unworthy I am to be the earl of Sherbourne.” He smiled tightly at her. “Believe meâAthena will not change her mind no matter how much time I give her. The situation needs to be settled nowâI won't allow it to fester, and I don't want you insulted again. Nor do I want my grandmother or my guests put in the uncomfortable position of being subjected to one of Athena's vicious tirades.”
never
sees reason. And she's disliked me practically since birth. She's made it clear that she resents my standing in Randal's shoes, and if she had her way,
she'd
have inherited the title and all that goes with it.” Bitterly he added, “My marriage to you is just another example to her of how utterly unworthy I am to be the earl of Sherbourne.” He smiled tightly at her. “Believe meâAthena will not change her mind no matter how much time I give her. The situation needs to be settled nowâI won't allow it to fester, and I don't want you insulted again. Nor do I want my grandmother or my guests put in the uncomfortable position of being subjected to one of Athena's vicious tirades.”
“I see,” Tess said slowly, wishing there were an amicable solution. Having been an only child and, except for her great-grandfather, having been surrounded by loving relatives all her life, she found it distressing that Nick and his only surviving sibling were at daggers drawnâand over her!
Sending him an uncertain little smile, she murmured, “I suppose, in this case, that you know best. I'll leave you then and go see what my aunts are doing.” At the door she hesitated and looked back over her shoulder at him. “Perhaps, now that she's had a moment or two to calm down, she won't be so angry.”
“Again, I don't think we're talking about the same person,” Nick replied. “Athena's rages, both in magnitude and longevity, are legendary, and she can hold a grudge longer than anyone I know. You can wager your next quarter's allowance on the fact that our marriage, accomplished so quickly and clandestinely, is something that she is not going to forgive or forget any time soon.” His jaw hardened. “She'll be furious about it twenty years from now.
That,
my dear, I can guarantee!”
That,
my dear, I can guarantee!”
His words did nothing to reassure Tess, and it was with a deepening unease that she left him and went in search of her aunts. She found them happily examining the fine library at the rear of the house. Though she tried to show proper enthusiasm and interest in the magnificent collection of leather-bound volumes that lined the walls of the spacious room, her thoughts kept straying to her husband and the confrontation with his sister.
After Tess had left, Nicolas immediately rang for Bellingham and requested the butler to inform Lady Athena that he wished to speak to her in his officeâat once. Not at all looking forward to the meeting with his sister, Nick paced the confines of the room, wondering if Tess had been right. Would time soften Athena's hostility to the match? Should he be more understanding? Once the first shock of his marriage was over, would Athena relent and accept the inevitable? He didn't think so.
He hadn't known precisely how he was going to settle the situation, but as he paced, he happened to stop before one of the tall windows that overlooked the expanse of wood to the west of the house, and he caught sight of the towers of the Dowager House soaring above the trees. A grim smile crossed his face. Of course. The perfect solution.
There was a sharp rap on the door, and at his command, Athena surged into the room, slamming the door behind her, the purplish blue skirts of her gown flowing wildly about her ankles. With a haughty expression on her beautiful face, her black eyes full of malice, she halted in the middle of the room and demanded, “Well? What is it? Have you ordered me here to throw me out of my own home?”
Nick seated himself behind his desk. Meeting his sister's angry eyes, he said calmly, “Perhaps nothing quite as dramatic as that, but I am going to ask you to treat my wife and her relatives with the respect they deserve and to restrain yourself from putting on any more scenes like the one you displayed for us when you arrived, or . . .” His voice grew cool. “Or, you can remove yourself to the Dowager House. The choice is yours.”
Athena's face darkened, and she leaned forward, her hands gripping the front of his desk. “You would
dare
?” she breathed furiously, hardly able to believe her ears.
dare
?” she breathed furiously, hardly able to believe her ears.
Nick met her wrathful gaze unflinchingly. “You don't leave me much choice. But yes, I would dare. I'll not have my wife insulted by anyoneâand particularly not by my own sister!” His voice softened. “Athena, I don't want to fight with you . . . I know that things have not always been easy between us, but can't you put your dislike of the situation behind you? I know that you are shocked by my sudden marriage, and I apologize for not giving you any warningâthere were reasons....” Athena's lip was curling contemptuously, and he realized she was indifferent to his words. Wearily he said, “Very well, then, this is my final word on the subject: Either apologize to my wife and give her the respect she is due or plan on living in the Dowager House. I won't,” he added somberly, “prevent you from visiting our grandmother whenever you choose, provided you don't use your visits as an opportunity to create trouble for my wife. I will not have either Tess or our grandmother distressed. Do you understand me?”
Athena dramatically flung herself away from the desk. Standing before him, her magnificent bosom heaving, she said with loathing, “I always knew that you would act this way! Behind your charming smile and fine manners lie a domineering despot. I knew it was only a matter of time until you showed your true colors.” She took an agitated step around the room and glared at him. With black eyes glittering feverishly, her delicate nostrils flaring, she spat, “Oh, God! If only I'd been born a male!” Her hand swept out to encompass the room. “This should all have been
mine.
I was born
before
Randalâin a fairer world, I would have been the heir! You're the youngest sonâI should have inherited everything, not you!” She took a deep, angry breath and said harshly, “And now, instead of enjoying the wealth and power of the Sherbournes, I am reduced to living on the pittance you give meâbeing banished to the Dowager House.” An expression of utter loathing on her face, she added tightly, “I've always resented you, you know, but it wasn't until now that I
hated
you. By God, but I wish it were you instead of Randal who had died!”
mine.
I was born
before
Randalâin a fairer world, I would have been the heir! You're the youngest sonâI should have inherited everything, not you!” She took a deep, angry breath and said harshly, “And now, instead of enjoying the wealth and power of the Sherbournes, I am reduced to living on the pittance you give meâbeing banished to the Dowager House.” An expression of utter loathing on her face, she added tightly, “I've always resented you, you know, but it wasn't until now that I
hated
you. By God, but I wish it were you instead of Randal who had died!”
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