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Authors: Janet Woods

Tags: #Romance, #Historical

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BOOK: Salting the Wound
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‘Tell me about Nicholas Thornton,’ he said after a while.

‘I’ve told you about him. He’s a persistent rat.’

‘I didn’t expect you to react the way you did to him. Who taught you to shoot?’

‘My father. He could shoot the eyes from a frog, even when he was drunk. I was tempted to wing Nick.’

‘I’m glad you didn’t. Enemies are something I’d prefer not to have. Has there ever been anything serious between you two?’

‘We were playmates when we were small, that’s all.’ She gave a faint smile. ‘By now he will have got the message that he doesn’t have any claim to me on the strength of that.’

‘Which is the main reason why you married me in the first place, I imagine. To teach Nicholas Thornton a lesson.’

She shrugged, and decided that truth was better than deceit with Seth. He was no fool. ‘It was one of the reasons. I thought you were a decent enough man and John needed a mother. What was the boy’s own mother like? Did you love her?’

‘Aye, I loved her. Mary didn’t have a mean bone in her body. John was only young when she died. I promised her I’d look after him and I brought him back to England.’

Envy slithered through her body like a cold worm at the thought that her husband had genuinely loved another woman. She knew she was selfish, possessive and stubborn, and she hated knowing it. ‘You lived abroad? You didn’t say.’

‘You’ve never been interested enough to ask before.’

‘I’m asking now.’

‘I was an officer in the army, and my regiment was attached to Port Arthur, which is the penal colony in Van Diemen’s Land.’

‘Where’s that?’

‘It’s a small island off the south coast of Australia. I met Mary there. She was widowed and destitute, and she had a small baby to care for. When she died I sold my commission and returned to England. John missed his mother for a while then he seemed to forget about her. I wish I could forget her as easily.’

The woman was dead and of no risk to Charlotte, yet still she experienced envy. The wistful tone in Seth’s voice said he still thought fondly of his former wife. Charlotte had avoided discussing it with him before. ‘Didn’t you mind taking responsibility for another man’s child?’

‘Of course not. I always regarded John as my son. I still do. I hope you’ll accept him as such in time.’

She nodded. ‘Your mind can be at rest about that, Seth. John and I get on well, though I think he prefers Marianne to me.’

‘That’s because she’s more easy-going, and plays games to keep him occupied. He’s learned to respect you over the past two months.’

‘About Nick Thorn—’

‘I would have preferred to have known about the situation with him beforehand.’

‘You did. I told you yesterday when I saw his ship come into harbour that he’d proposed and I’d turned him down.’

‘You should have told me about it before then. And you should have left the situation for me to handle, Charlotte. I don’t like to see a man humiliated like that, especially when his intention towards you appeared to be entirely honourable.’

‘Nick hasn’t got an entirely honourable bone in his body. He’s always thought he owned me.’

‘Now he’s aware that it’s me who owns you . . . but what’s more important is that you should realize that. I bought you with the house and business.’

Her temper flared at that. ‘I’m not a slave to be bought and sold. I only married you because you wanted a mother for John.’

‘Not quite correct, Charlotte. You’re not that altruistic. You asked me to marry you for your own reasons. I thought it was for the house, but now I learn that the marriage was also a weapon to use against Nicholas Thornton. I weighed up the drawbacks as well as the benefits of marriage to you, very carefully, for John’s sake as well as my own. That one wasn’t part of the equation.’

‘What drawbacks?’

‘You have a mulish disposition. I can understand why, but I’m hoping marriage will cure you of that, since I’d rather not make an enemy of my wife, and it wouldn’t be wise for you to make an enemy of me. Let me make one thing very clear. I will not be treated with the same lack of respect you offered Nick Thornton.’

She gave a small huff of annoyance. ‘What of the benefits of being married to me? I suppose there are some.’

‘There will be in the future. You’re beautiful to look at and can cook well . . . and you’re an intelligent and amusing conversationalist when you put yourself out to be. Also, you’re of childbearing age.’

‘The likelihood that you’d wed a woman who wasn’t is rather remote, since she’d be either too young or too old.’

He kissed the spot between her neck and her shoulder, and she stiffened, then shivered. Her eyes flew open to encounter his and her mouth dried. She’d never seen his eyes so predatory. ‘What do you think you’re doing, Seth? When we married you agreed to wait until I was ready.’

‘Did you think I would wait for ever, even though encouragement was not forthcoming?’

Outside, John and Marianne were chattering and laughing as they left. Charlotte was tempted to call her sister back on some excuse, but something stopped her. Cowardice was not one of her many faults, nevertheless she could feel her face flaming. ‘No, of course not. Damn you, Seth! You’ve embarrassed me. Didn’t it occur to you that I wouldn’t know when I was ready to become a wife in that way? I’ve never been one before. The longer a union between us was avoided, the harder it’s become for me. I thought that you . . . didn’t find me attractive.’

His grey eyes softened and he smiled. ‘I find you exceedingly attractive, which was one of the reasons I accepted your surprising proposal. And perhaps we should have discussed this before. Even so, I’ve decided to claim what I bought with the house.’

‘Please don’t regard me as a commodity you bought . . . it doesn’t endear you to me.’

‘I’m sorry, Charlotte. Suddenly discovering that I’ve got a rival for your affection has added a little spice as well as some urgency to the situation.’

‘Nick’s not a rival.’

‘Ah, but he is. His regard for you is such that he’s prepared to give his all for you. Yet still you profess to hate him. A man who brings such a strong reaction from a woman is a rival, and I’d prefer that passion to be expended on me.’

Her heart began to flutter. ‘You might as well know, Seth, I hold you in no affection . . . I haven’t even decided if I even like you yet.’ She shrugged. ‘Well, yes, I do like you, but if I’d just wanted the house I could have married Nick and had it all back. Erasmus Thornton intended to give it to us if we wed. And Nick would have given it to me as a wedding present. He couldn’t get it through his head that I didn’t want him along with it.’

‘Yet you took me—’

‘On the spur of the moment.’ When Seth winced, she smiled ruefully, ‘and for better or worse. Remember that you’ve been warned, when my worst comes out.’

Seth chuckled. ‘It matters not if you feel affection for me, and I’m sure I’ll find a way to handle you, since I didn’t imagine that you’d fall instantly in love with me. However, I’ll expect you to respect our marriage and remain faithful. From now on you’ll spend your nights in my bed, but I intend to show you exactly what to expect from your marital duty now, so you needn’t wonder about it any more.’

Her blood chilled. ‘I didn’t think you’d go about it in such a cold-blooded manner.’

‘I promise you it won’t be that. I’ve sent Alice into town on an errand and we’re quite alone, so there’s no danger that we’ll be disturbed.’

‘You planned this right from the start, didn’t you?’

‘Your seduction? Yes, of course.’ He gave a regretful sigh. ‘I’d intended to give you six months in which to get used to me. After your gentleman friend left I decided to bring it forward.’

‘How many times do I have to tell you. Nick is not my gentleman friend. He’s not even a gentleman, and after today he certainly won’t even be a friend. Stop being tiresome. Better we wait until the six months is up.’

‘Hush, Charlotte, I will not be manipulated.’ Seth slid his hand under her chin, tipped her head back and kissed her. He kept her face there when she tried to turn away, his mouth caressing an eventual response from her. Sneakily, he slid his other hand over one of her breasts, his thumb brushing the nub to a response.

Charlotte wanted to push it away and fought the sensations jostling inside of her. Further down his caress went, over her thigh to her knee, where he gradually bunched up her chemise and drew the filmy material back up and under.

She stiffened at first, especially when his touch became more intimate, but she didn’t struggle, and resigned herself to what now seemed inevitable. She just hoped it didn’t hurt too much.

Against her back she experienced the hard, urgent nudge of his arousal and nearly panicked.

She felt at odds with herself, and her feelings embarrassed her with their sheer unexpectedness. All at once she was lethargic, helpless and filled with the need to cover up, or leave her body exposed to his gaze.

Even while she struggled to contain what he was making her feel, she knew she was fighting a losing battle and would have to surrender to it eventually.

And she did, easily dispensing with her initial inhibitions when she allowed her instinct to take over.

Sensing her surrender Seth pulled her to her feet then to the comfort of her bed. She lay there without averting her eyes, watching with curiosity as he divested himself of his clothes. His body was lean, muscular, and beautiful in its manly angles, so she wanted to reach out and touch him, take his arousal into her hands and into her body. But she didn’t dare. He would think her immodest.

He gazed at her, smiling when she blushed, as if he could read her thoughts. Her heart began to pound too fast to count when he joined her on the bed. He kissed her mouth, her eyes, each taut breast and then whispered against her ear, ‘Now, Charlotte, let’s put that passion of yours to good use.’

A short while after that Charlotte forgot to pretend that Seth was Nick Thornton.

Two

N
ow Charlotte had become a married woman and Seth had joined the various business associations open to him, many more invitations came the way of the Honeyman sisters. As well, more people took the trouble to visit the occupants of Harbour House. Charlotte was becoming a good hostess.

Seth was the perfect escort for them. He was good-looking, especially in an evening suit, he was mannerly and he could dance well. Marianne had never seen him lose his temper over anything.

He had taken over their father’s study, and spent most of the early evening poring over the company books. ‘The clay and gravel pits are making a profit,’ he’d told them with some satisfaction.

Charlotte hardly ever tore her eyes away from Seth. Sometimes she fussed over him, and he’d give a small grin as he allowed her to; sometimes she had a soft, dreamy look in her eyes when she looked at him; and sometimes they exchanged glances that were entirely personal.

Marianne thought that her sister might have fallen in love with Seth, though she never mentioned it, and she hoped some man would look at her that way, one day . . . preferably Lucian Beresford.

Tonight they were going to a Christmas ball at the assembly rooms. Seth had urged them to buy a new gown apiece, and he’d hired a couple of rooms at the inn, which was just a few steps from the assembly hall, so they wouldn’t have to cross the heath in the dark.

‘I’ve got a beautiful woman to wear on each arm and I want to show them off,’ he’d told them with a smile.

Charlotte was in dark blue silk with a fringed, tiered skirt. For herself Marianne had chosen an unfussy white muslin with a pale blue stripe, blue embroidery and ribbons. A lace collar matched the flounce of lace at her elbows. Their gowns had been made by a local dressmaker.

Charlotte finished fussing with her own gown and turned her attention to Marianne’s. ‘That gown is prettier than I first thought. It’s simple, but it suits you.’

‘Are you saying I’m simple, Char?’

Her sister laughed. ‘Certainly not, in fact, you’re more complicated than you know. You grow more beautiful by the day, Marianne, and even if you wore a flour sack you’d look wonderful.’

‘What a horrible thought . . . though that would set the rumour mill going. As for you, Char, you’re positively glowing with health. Marriage seems to suit you.’

Her sister’s glow took on a pinker tinge. ‘Oh, I’m happy enough. Seth is a good husband. He isn’t overbearing like most men.’

Marianne wondered if she was thinking of Nick Thornton, but decided not to mention him and possibly spoil the evening. She missed Nick coming to the house because he’d been so much fun. Not that he’d even noticed her when Charlotte was around, except to pull her braid or tease her. He’d always spent his visits arguing with Charlotte about the most ridiculous of things.

She twisted a lock of Charlotte’s hair around the curling tong. ‘Ouch,’ Charlotte said, that’s too tight and it’s burning my head.’

‘Sorry.’ Hastily she loosened it, rewinding another lock of hair. This time she was careful not to overheat the curling tongs, less she frizzle Charlotte’s side ringlets. It was a perfect ringlet, and she smiled as she dealt with another. Long hair was a nuisance, Marianne thought, and she wished she could wear it short like a man. But then she’d have to shave her chin and wear a moustache, like Seth did. That must be worse than fashioning the odd ringlet.

‘I wonder if Lucian will be there tonight?’ Marianne said, keeping her voice casual.

Charlotte caught her gaze in the mirror and laughed. ‘You’ve always wanted Lucian to be your sweetheart.’

‘I have not. I was just making conversation. He wouldn’t want me anyway. I haven’t got any money.’

‘Not all men marry women for their property. Seth didn’t.’

‘He did in a way. You told him you’d burn the house down rather than allow Erasmus Thornton to kick you out and sell it from under you – and if he wanted the house he’d have to marry you and provide us both with a home. Lor . . . how Seth laughed. I was so surprised when he said yes that I nearly fell over.’

Half laughing and half protesting, Charlotte said, ‘So did I. I can’t believe I did such a forward thing, now. You must have been eavesdropping at the door, you wretched girl!’

BOOK: Salting the Wound
4.93Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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