Pride and Fire (22 page)

Michelle turned her gaze to the floor.

Paul gently grasped her chin and tilted her face up to his. “Aren’t you happy to see me, Michelle?” he teased.

She returned his smile. He kissed her lightly and turned, taking her hand in his. His gaze settled on Reggie then. The man appeared to be hiding a grin.

“Thomas,” Paul said with a curt nod.

Reggie’s expression smoothed. “Leed. How are you this day?”

“Very well,” Paul said. He dragged his gaze from the silly fop and faced his wife. “Did you have a pleasant ride, love?”

Michelle gave a tiny nod in answer.

“Michelle,” Lady Helen began. “Surely you and your husband will stay for luncheon?”

Michelle looked to Paul for an answer and he turned to Lady Helen.

“We would enjoy that, madam,” Paul said.

Lady Helen turned to Reggie and placed her hand on his arm. “Reggie, dear, will you join us?”

Michelle stiffened at her mother’s suggestion. As Paul watched, Reggie caught the motion and smiled at her discomfort.

“I would love to, dear Aunt,” Reggie said. “But I’m afraid there are some pressing matters that need my attention.”

Paul felt Michelle’s hand tremble in his. What the devil was going on?

His gaze settled on Reggie’s smirking face once more. “Good day, then.”

Reggie lost his smile, reddening under Paul’s glare. With a bow, he turned to take his leave. He paused in front of Michelle, placing his hand on her arm. “I much enjoyed our ride, cousin. We must do it again. And soon.”

Michelle said nothing.

Reggie chuckled softly. He glanced at Lady Helen and Paul. “I trust I will see all of you at Thomasham.”

“Certainly, Reggie,” Lady Helen said. “We’ll have a splendid time, I daresay.”

Reggie bowed again and strode to the front door. The moment she heard the lock click into place, Michelle whirled to face her mother.

“Mother, pray tell me you didn’t invite Reggie to Thomasham?”

Her mother waved her hand in the air. “Of course I did, Michelle. He is family, you know.”

Michelle nodded slowly, her hands in fists. Paul watched the entire exchange, his senses sharpened. When Lady Helen left them to advise the cook of added guests, Paul turned to Michelle. “Michelle, is something troubling you?”

“W-what?” she stammered. “Oh, no.”

She stood on tiptoe and placed her lips on his. He returned the embrace, but when he lifted his mouth from hers he pressed her for an answer.

“Michelle,” he began. “I know you.”

Michelle began to say something but Lady Helen rejoined them before she could do more than open her mouth.

After lunch Paul and Michelle took their leave, and he watched her on the ride home. She perched on the seat across from him, her hands clenched in her lap. Apparently she was unable or unwilling to break the silence.

“I must say, Michelle, when your mother told me you went for a ride with your cousin, I was astonished.”

Michelle cleared her throat. “It was at my mother’s insistence, I assure you.”

“And where did the two of you go?”

“Where?” She looked out the window. “Nowhere in particular.”

Her nervousness was evident as she brushed her hands over her skirt.

“Michelle, did something happen on your ride you’re not telling me?”

His wife wore her emotions clearly on her beautiful face, and he was damned if she didn’t look guilty. But no. Michelle wouldn’t betray him, least of all with Reginald Thomas. But something happened on their afternoon jaunt.

“Did something happen, Michelle?”

Michelle knew she had to face him. She even managed a small smile. “No, Paul. Nothing.”

If Paul thought her smile looked strained, he said nothing of it. When they arrived at the townhouse, Paul led her into the parlor.

“I have work to do this afternoon, wife.”

“O-oh. I…I hoped we could talk for a while.”

His blue eyes stared unblinking at her. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

Lord, she wanted to tell him all of it, of her going behind his back and of meddling into his affairs. The memory of their awful argument a few weeks past was still fresh in her mind. And the discoveries she’d made last night, the speeches, the ledgers… As much as she hated his lying to her all these weeks, she now found herself in the position of lying to him.

She looked away, unable to meet his piercing gaze. She couldn’t tell him of Reggie’s actions in the carriage. No doubt he’d be furious and demand to know why her cousin had dared to touch her. Information, his speeches… And she couldn’t tell him about the money. She simply couldn’t.

“I missed you today,” she said at last.

He sat beside her on the settee. “Perhaps we’ll have tea here in the parlor later?”

She knew to what he was referring, and blushed warmly. He finally smiled and kissed her. He stood then and strode from the room.

Michelle watched him go, guilt stabbing at her. She straightened her shoulders and went to the front sitting room. She’d promised her mother she’d help with the invitations to Thomasham, and the task would adequately fill her time. She settled herself behind the small writing desk and took out paper and pen.

Nearly three hours later she went to Paul. She stood in front of the door of the study, wiping her damp palms on her skirt. Fixing an bland expression on her face, she rapped lightly on the wooden panel.

“Enter,” she heard Paul say from within.

She opened the door and quickly took in his appearance. His jacket had been discarded and rested across the back on his chair and his shirt sleeves were rolled up. She brought her eyes to his face. He looked tired to her, and his hair was tousled. Paul looked up at her and smiled, warming her heart.

“Michelle,” he said, his voice a caress.

Michelle felt once more a stab of guilt and pondered the wisdom of disclosing her and Reggie’s actions. She changed her mind in an instant when he furtively stacked the papers and folders on his desk. She watched as he placed the stack into the center draw of the desk and closed it tight, reminding her of his endless deception regarding both his speeches and his accounts.

When he met her gaze once more, she forced a smile on her face.

“To what do I owe this visit?” he asked.

“When you didn’t come to the parlor, I thought we could have tea in here.”

He glanced at the clock on his desk. “Is it that time already?”

She nodded as the maid brought in the tray and set it on the credenza. After the woman left, Michelle closed the door behind her. “You’ve been quite immersed in your work, husband.”

“Um, yes,” he allowed. “I need to wrap up some things before we leave for the country.”

She nodded and sat down to face him. Perhaps he’d finally tell her everything. Perhaps then she could tell him what she did today and stop Reggie before he could think to press her for his precious information.

“What keeps you in here all the time?” she asked.

His eyes wore a guarded look, his face shuttered. His smile was certainly a memory. “It is nothing that concerns you.”

She sighed. Why did she bother asking him to share his troubles?

“Come here, love,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

She came to rest in his lap and looked deeply into his eyes, so filled with love for him she thought she’d burst. The events of the day crashed down upon her. Her deception, Paul’s lies, the threat of Reggie’s demands which could come at any time.

“Oh, Paul,” she sobbed, throwing her arms around his neck.

“Shh.” Paul hugged her, rubbing her back gently. “What is it?”

Michelle sniffed and wiped the tears off her cheeks. She couldn’t tell him what she did, what Reggie wanted in return. She went behind Paul’s back out of necessity. Her money was his, and if she had to trick him into taking it, so be it. Didn’t he realize what it meant to her? What
he
meant to her?

“I love you,” she said.

Paul brushed his lips over hers and she leaned into him, opening her mouth for his possession. He ran his lips over her throat, setting her on fire.

“I need you, Paul,” she whispered, nibbling on his ear.

She placed hot kisses on his throat, his chest, flicking her tongue over his skin. She slid off his lap as she worked her way down his hard stomach to the waistband of his breeches. He swore softly as he worked the buttons free and she grasped him in her hands. He was hot and hard and ready.

“You want me,” she said.

“Always,” he rasped.

She bent her head and took him in her mouth, her teeth raking over his shaft as he grew harder. His moans fired her. She looked at him, his head thrown back, his hands clutching the arms of his chair. He opened his eyes and stared at her. He stood and laid her across the desk, reaching under her skirts to remove her drawers.

She cried out as his mouth captured her center. His tongue stroked, his teeth nibbled. She began to shake with the first tremors of her orgasm when he lifted his head. He grabbed her hips and entered her with one powerful thrust.

Michelle cried out as she climaxed. He braced his hands on the desk and drove into her, again and again. With one final deep thrust, he climaxed deep inside her.

He kissed her and she cried, silent tears.

“What is it, love?” he whispered against her cheek.

She shook her head and sniffled, unable to find the words to express all she was feeling. Her passion, and his response, had stunned her.

“My God, Michelle. Whatever possessed you?”

She lowered her lashes. “You.”

At least they had this. But for how long? If he ever found out that she went to Reggie, he’d never touch her again.

Chapter 21

The tea was cold by the time Paul and Michelle rearranged themselves. She rang for more tea as they devoured the biscuits on the tray, taking some time to rein in her emotions. She thought to discuss their upcoming trip to Thomasham.

“I’ve written the invitations to all of our friends, Paul.”

“It should be quite enjoyable,” he said. “Pity dear Reggie will be in attendance.”

Michelle stiffened his mention of the name. “I daresay Thomasham is large enough we won’t have to suffer his company very often.”

Paul chuckled at that, furthering her ease.

“When will we leave, Paul?”

“A few more matters require my attention, love,” he answered, lifting his tea cup. “I should be finished by the end of the week.”

“Have you spoken to your father?”

Paul froze, his cup halfway to his lips. A frown darkened his face.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “I haven’t spoken with my father yet.”

Though he said nothing else, she knew there was more to the matter. He looked furious. She wouldn’t press him now. And she certainly didn’t want to bring the conversation around to her cousin again. How on earth would she avoid Reggie during what was sure to be an extended country visit? And was he truly adamant to collect his reward?

* * * *

After sharing a quite dinner that night, Paul escorted Michelle upstairs. He waved her into the room and closed the door. He leaned against the panel, content to wait while she went through her nightly routine. She ducked into the dressing room and after a few moments emerged wearing her nightgown and wrapper, a sweet smile on her face.

“Paul, are you still standing there?”

He pushed away from the door and crossed to her. “I was waiting for you, love.”

“Well,” she said, sitting herself in front of the vanity. “The dressing room is all yours, then.”

He quirked a smile at her and went into the dressing room. After he readied for bed he came to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. She looked troubled, her brow furrowed and tiny lines bracketing her full mouth. He thought of her ride with her cousin, followed so swiftly by her shocking and incredible passion in his study, and of the strained silence afterward.

“What were you thinking of, wife? You appeared miles from here.”

She shrugged and favored him with a smile. He lifted her hair away from her neck and brushed his lips against her flesh. She sighed and closed her eyes.

“This afternoon was incredible,” he whispered. “But tonight will be different.”

“Mmm,” she murmured. “Different.”

He would set aside the events of the afternoon and her strange mood tonight. He would worry about his father’s behavior at another time as well.

“Yes, different.” He eased her wrapper off her shoulders. “Tonight I plan to take my time.”

* * * *

Paul woke at dawn. He glanced at Michelle beside him, still deep in slumber, and his mind returned to the troubling news Lord Chester had given him. It had taken all of his restraint not to go directly to his father’s home and demand satisfaction yesterday afternoon. But he had a tenuous hold on his temper where his father was concerned, and he didn’t want to alarm his sisters. His father might have diminished in Paul’s eyes—he’d rather not disappoint his sisters.

Gambling! Paul wasn’t concerned for himself. He was certain with his government work he’d be more than able to provide for his wife and children. But what of his sisters?

The confrontation would have to wait. At least his father would leave Town shortly to join them in the country. One thing was certain in Paul’s mind—he’d call on Graves and assure his father’s estate wouldn’t continue to finance the man’s sport.

Michelle sighed then, a soft sound in the quiet of the room. He turned to her and kissed her awake. They roused themselves and set about their day.

As he sat in his carriage on the way to his father’s solicitor’s office tension drummed through him. When the carriage stopped in front of Graves’ office, his resolve was strong. No more of the estate’s money would be squandered. He alighted and entered the building and was immediately shown into Graves’ office.

The man stood as Paul entered the room. “Leed, what brings you so early this day?”

“I have something to discuss with you, Graves. Something of the utmost importance.”

“What is it, pray?”