Portrait of a Scandal (18 page)

Thomas was quiet for a moment. “Did he give a reason for his early departure?”

“Yes. He said he grew weary of the city and wanted to return to Fleurit Park.”

“I can understand that. Fleurit Park is supreme to any aspect of city life.”

She frowned. “If you feel that way, why do you live in the city?”

Nellie felt him shrug. “I have never had a reason to stay in one place more than any other. London has been convenient, for the most part. Yet, that said, I am seeing the world more through your eyes and I would like to retire to the country for the winter, if you are agreeable. My only hesitation now, as it was then, is my parent’s presence at my family seat,” he said unenthusiastically. “Perhaps I could seek out an estate between there and Fleurit Park for us?”

Nellie sat up and turned to face Thomas. “You would do that?”

“It would make you happy?” he asked and at her nod, smiled. “Then it is what I will do.”

Tears leaked from her eyes once more, and she took Thomas’ face in her hands and kissed him. “Thank you.”

He frowned at her. “Why must you cry? I do not like seeing you unhappy.”

She laughed. “I cry from happiness.”

“But you did not earlier this evening?”

No, she had not. Nellie went to pull away from him and sit back on her heels, only to have Thomas pull her closer, not allowing any distance between them. She sighed and rested her head back on his chest, sliding her fingers though the soft hair that grew there. She inhaled. How she loved the scent of him. Strong and musky, yet sweet, just like the man himself.

“No, I did not.”

“I know you are close to your father, but I do not understand the distress Geoff and Parker spoke of witnessing. They were quite concerned for you, my dear,” he said, as he ran a hand along her back.

She was embarrassed by her display after her father had left, and the fact she had acted so in front of others. Poor Geoff had been beside himself. Anne had quickly removed her from the room and had brought her above stairs, where she had crawled into bed and wept.

“It was sweet of them to tell you.”

“Indeed, but will you tell me why it upset you so?”

“He was not well when my mother died, Thomas. I ran the holdings of my family and did things of which I am not proud, and before you woke I was wondering if I could do it all again to save him.” She choked out a sob. “And I don’t think I could. I hate that I could fail him.” She had become selfish in her mind, but the thought of losing Thomas was too much. She loved her father, but Thomas was now her world.

Thomas pulled her tight into him, his arms embracing her. “Shh, love. Do not fear. Your father will be fine. I will see to it for you.”

She thumped a clenched fist on his chest. “But you shouldn’t have to! He is
my
father!
My
family!”

“That is where you are wrong,” Thomas said with a determined voice. “You are my wife and therefore, he is my family now, too.”

Nellie looked into the eyes she loved and feared. Eyes that promised her the life of which she dreamt but also the possibility that Thomas could learn the truth about her, which would break her heart. She leant forward and kissed the lips of the man who had given her everything and could just as effortlessly take it away. No, he could never learn the truth.

Chapter Twelve

The tender circular motion of Thomas’ thumb as it caressed the skin of Nellie’s hand almost had her weeping. The absent-minded touch had her fighting a desire to sob with happiness. How could the man she had thought upon their first meeting to be selfish and heartless, be the man she saw before her now? The man she loved to distraction?

Thomas, of course, had no idea of the direction of her thoughts as he read the morning paper. Nellie attempted to busy herself with her magazine,
La Belle Assemblee
, but it was of little use. Her thoughts were on her husband, not this month’s fashions.

She had awoken to find her husband caressing and kissing her breasts, which had made her moan for more. Thomas had quickly provided that attention before dawn this morning. Making love had become her favourite activity of late, one she doubted she would tire of. She longed for his touch when they were apart, and when they were together she longed for more still, a passion and pleasure combination that only Thomas could offer her.

Nellie thought of the night they had shared their passion with a stranger, feeling somewhat guilty at what she had allowed another man to do to her, and how much it had pleased her. ‘Stranger’, though, seemed be the wrong word. He had been sure and commanding in his touch, but Nellie had felt tenderness behind the strength of his body and his powerful thrusts. She had never thought being fucked in the behind would please her, but it had. She loved how Thomas had fucked her hard that way and forced her to obey him. Her pussy now trembled with the memory, leaking juices as she clenched the muscles tight.

But when he had shared her, Nellie had tried not to think of the other man. She had loved the feeling of being filled by two cocks, had loved the pressure and how quickly it had built, and the explosion had been mind-blowing, but it had been nothing compared to what she and Thomas had shared the evening before. Was this love? Had that been what making love truly was—the tenderness, the feeling of pure happiness and the desire to scream the words, declaring it so, for the whole world to hear?

Yet, Nellie had not said the words, nor had Thomas. She had bitten her lip, swallowing what she wanted to tell him most of all. While there had been something in his eyes, she worried what her announcement would mean. What would Thomas say? He had told her he cared for her when he had proposed and claimed he did not feel love for her yet, but he would declare it when he felt it so…or would he not?

“Nellie?”

She looked up, surprised to see him gazing at her with a furrowed brow.

“Are you well?”

“Quite. Why do you ask?”

He grinned. “You have been reading the same page for some time now. Is the writing so captivating?”

She forced a chuckle. “I will admit I was not even reading it, husband. My thoughts had carried me off.”

“To grand places, I hope.”

“Indeed,” she said with a nod, removing her hand from his as Geoff entered with their meals.

Thomas had entered her room after dressing this morning and had leaned against the doorway, watching her maid prepare her for the morning. Nellie had glared at him, and he had merely grinned and continued to watch. Anne had been giggling behind her as she had fastened the stays of her dress, seemingly amused by either her mistress or Thomas—Nellie had not been sure which. But it had been after Anne had finished pinning her hair, and had moved to hand her gloves, that Thomas had first spoken.

“No gloves, Anne. There is no need for my wife to cover every inch of herself while inside our own home. Surely I am allowed to see a morsel of her flesh without the covering of cloth.”

“Indeed, my Lord,” Nellie had replied for her maid, in a dry tone. “Anne, please make a note to tell the seamstress to make all my dresses low in the bust, giving his Lordship a plentiful view of his wife’s flesh in the future,” she had drawled.

Thomas had laughed. “Certainly, Anne, you must do that.”

He had then taken her hand and had escorted her to breakfast, and until a moment ago, he had not released it. What did this mean? Did he desire her touch as much as she desired his? Was it just the desire to bed her that drove him to display kindness towards her? She hoped there was more, truly hoped.

“Geoff, is her Ladyship’s mare ready for her to ride yet? Her saddle was scheduled for delivery yesterday. Did it arrive?” Thomas asked the footman as he buttered his toast.

“Yes, my Lord. I believe Karla is more than ready for her Ladyship to ride. She is eager to stretch her legs and therefore could be somewhat spirited, though.”

Thomas smiled at Nellie. “I still cannot believe that speaking to the mare in another language is all it took to calm the beast. It has the earl wrapped in annoyance. He was still steaming over it yestereve.”

“You saw the earl yesterday?” Nellie asked.

“Indeed. He was at the club.”

Nellie frowned. “Club?” She had thought her husband had been absent due to matters of business.

Thomas nodded. “Yes, Father thinks it is best to discuss all matters of business over a brandy at White’s. I think it is an excuse for him to catch up on his gossip,” Thomas said with amusement.

Nellie wondered why the idea of Thomas being a member of the exclusive gentleman’s club would surprise her. He was a future duke and a wealthy member of nobility. It was to be expected that he socialised with his class, as she was expected to do with the wives and ladies of the
ton
. She had so far neglected that duty, though was hardly inclined to rectify it.

“Do you wish to go for a ride around Hyde Park to test out your new mare this afternoon?” Thomas asked, regaining her attention.

She had planned to ride that morning and frowned at Thomas. “The afternoon? Must we wait that long?” She had the desire to canter along the banks of the lake and cobbled paths of the park with a horse who craved the freedom as much as she did. Moreover, the mornings were when the park was at its quietest.

He chuckled. “No, my dear, we need not wait. How about once we have finished our meal? Will that satisfy you?”

“Indeed, husband, that would satisfy me greatly.”

* * * *

It is a pity galloping is strictly prohibited.

Karla tossed her head in apparent glee as they cantered through one of the winding paths of Hyde Park. The mare was not as fit as she ought to be, but she was nonetheless eager. Nellie knew it would not be long before her mare was in top form and as fervent as any steed. She could not wait to take her to the country and allow the horse to truly stretch her legs.

As the concealed path wound farther into the gardens, Nellie was forced to slow the mare down, gradually returning her to a walk as Thomas and his stallion came up beside her.

“I must admit, I will never tire of riding behind you, wife.”

She snapped her gaze to him and she noted his amused expression. She instantly thought back to the time his horse had become lame during the hunt at her family estate. It had been a shock to a maiden, such as she had been, to feel a man’s desire as he had plainly displayed his to her. It had both frightened and excited her to be the cause of such desire in a man. Now, the notion of Thomas riding behind her, his cock pressed against her arse, would be most welcome.

“And I must admit, husband, I will never tire of you riding behind me either.”

His expression went from amused to heated. She smiled, pleased to see she was not the only one who felt the desire between them. A wife was not supposed to enjoy her marriage bed, simply to suffer it and provide her husband with heirs, but she craved what transpired between the sheets. Nellie doubted her fingers would be able to give her the relief they once had, when she had been virginal. Now just thinking about the pleasure a man could bring her had her shifting in the saddle to rub against the horn.

Thomas’ attention snapped to her hips as she gently rocked forward, his eyes becoming darker. Did he know what she was doing? As his gaze moved up her body and settled on her face, she knew he did indeed know that a woman’s saddle could pleasure its owner. She felt a blush heat her cheeks and looked away, hoping those gracing the park, regardless of its early hour, would think her flushed from her ride.

It was then she saw a familiar person watching them and she smiled, urging Karla into a canter. She came up beside the couple standing just off the path, Thomas not far behind.

Headline gave her what seemed to be a forced smile before he looked to the woman at his side.

“Lord and Lady Sterling, allow me to introduce you to Lady Amelia. Lady Amelia, Lord Sterling and I attended Oxford together.”

The girl curtsied and Nellie smiled down at the young woman. She was indeed young, perhaps fresh from her first season. Headline towered over the girl with his now oddly hard features and solid muscle, but through the small amount of time Nellie had spent in his company, she had found him to be a decent man, one Thomas thought of fondly. Knowing his reputation and seeing the innocence that radiated from this young woman, however, Nellie couldn’t help but be concerned as to what they were doing together—alone. His apparent unease at their presence only made her grow more suspicious.

“Has your family come to London for the season?” Nellie asked the girl, with what she hoped to be a warm smile.

The girl looked slightly overwhelmed, but finally smiled, as if sensing Nellie’s genuine interest in her. “I have, my Lady. My brother is the Earl of Suffolk and my mother and I have journeyed for my first season.”

“Oh, that is wonderful.” Nellie barely resisted asking why she was unchaperoned in the park, let alone standing with a notorious rake who could ruin her reputation simply by association. It was then she saw a couple, hand in hand, emerge from the trees behind Headline and Lady Amelia. The man carried a small basket, with a blanket rolled up and poking out of it. The woman, seeing them talking, suddenly went from looking happy upon the man’s arm, to whispering something to him and walking towards them. However, she stopped a distance away under a tree, as a good chaperone should.

Nellie returned her attention to the couple before her, with whom Thomas had been conversing. None seemed to notice how her attention had wandered, but she sensed Lady Amelia’s anxiety.

“Well, it was lovely meeting you, Lady Amelia. I am sure we will see you at an event soon,” Thomas said.

“It would be an honour, my Lord,” the younger woman said with a curtsy.

“Ours, I’m sure,” Nellie said, and the girl beamed at her. “If you and your mother are ever in Mount Street, please call in on me. I would much enjoy getting to know you, Lady Amelia.”

The girl’s eyes widened. “Well, thank you, my Lady, but uh… I do not…”