Saved by a Rake (12 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Rebecca had spent the first part of the morning in the carriage reminiscing about the events of the previous evening. She had enjoyed every minute of it apart from Daniel
’s discomfiture after he had climaxed, which was why she had made light of it. She had not wanted him to feel bad.

Every time she had
glanced at him that morning, he had been staring at her and she would blush and look away. After luncheon, she had yawned, and he had offered her his shoulder to sleep on. Now she awoke to find herself on his knee, her shoulder against his broad chest. His head rested against the Padua silk but closer inspection told her he was peeking at her from under his eyelashes. She snuggled against his shoulder.

“
I am sorry about last night.”

“
Why would you be sorry? You have nothing for which to be sorry.”

“
You were embarrassed, and I manipulated you into allowing me to see you climax.”

“
The embarrassment was momentary, and I must admit that it was a relief. I had been aroused for days without any release and it may have sent me to Bedlam today if you had not been so insistent.” She glanced up, but he was still looking at her through his lashes.

“
Lord Ramsey, are you ogling my décolletage?”

“
Perhaps.” He teased. “It is a very nice décolletage.”

“
One would think you are trying to work out how to take off my stays.”

“
My dear Lady Ramsey, I would not think about how to do it; I would merely undress you here in my carriage if that was the case.”

“
Lord Ramsey, that would be extremely inappropriate.”

“
Maybe so but it’s my carriage, therefore my rules.”

“
You would not dare!” She tried to sound scandalised, but his fashionable ennui made her want to laugh.

“
No, I would not, but only because I would not want Betty to think ill of me.”

“
She already does. You are not a very good lady’s maid, as my hair was full of tangles this morning because you did not plait it.”

“
Ah yes. I am a dreadful and incompetent maid. It is just luck that I was born an aristocrat.”

“
Indeed.” His mouth was curved, and his eyes were now open. She reached a hand up and cupped his cheek. “I would like to consummate our marriage tonight.” Once the words were out, she felt much better. Not that she would back out, but she was making a commitment to him.

He bent down and kissed her softly.
“Good. But remember that you can say no at any point.”

“
Yes. Thank you.” She ran her hand around to the back of his neck and kissed him properly, allowing her tongue to flick over his before she withdrew and smiled coquettishly. “I think we should stop there. We don’t want anything growing hard that should not.”

He chuckled and bent to her ear.
“Too late.”

She wriggled slightly on his knee and realised that he spoke the truth. He tapped her on the rear and said,
“Get back to your own seat, wife, and stop making it worse.” She slid back onto the seat and sat up straight while he pretended to go back to sleep.

****

It was Sunday—three nights since they had consummated their marriage. Three glorious, passion-filled nights and Rebecca felt wonderful, despite everything. As was usual, they did not travel on Sundays even though they were but twenty miles from Drumbane.

It had rained for the past two days, making the journey much slower. Rebecca had insisted that Betty come inside the carriage despite the maid
’s protests. She had looked sternly at the young woman and lectured her about not being able to face the people of Drumbane village without a decent coiffure if Betty caught a chill. Betty had eventually relented, and Rebecca had made a point of asking Daniel about the staff at Drumbane House so Betty would have some knowledge before she arrived at her new home.

Daniel had then regaled them with humorous stories of his boyhood and his time at E
ton with James. He had described how all the chaps had called him Jock, because of his thick Scottish accent.

“
But you sound English now,” said Rebecca.

“
Only to untrained ears. There is still a hint of Scottish accent, and you may hear me relapse sometimes when I am at Drumbane.”

She had soaked up all the information and stored it away for a later date when she would need it.

And now she sat in a private parlour in an inn somewhere close to the Scottish border. She suspected Daniel had disappeared to the privy, but he had not said and she had not asked.

He arrived back a few minutes later, beaming.

“It is a very nice day. Temperate, dry and only a slight breeze. I wondered if I may tempt you to go on a walk with me.”

“
A walk? Oh, Daniel, I would love to go for a walk. We have been cooped up in that carriage for a full week. I fear my legs will stop working altogether.”

Daniel chuckled.

“Go and get ready, and I will meet you at the door.” She stood and was about to walk to the door, when he grabbed her around the waist and kissed her passionately.

“
Daniel!” she reprimanded, despite being thrilled.

“
Do you dislike my kisses, Lady Ramsey?”

“
I fear where they may lead, my lord.”

“
So we are going back up to our bedchamber rather than for a walk.”

“
Indeed we are not. You promised me some fresh air, and I shall have it.” He brushed his thumb lightly across her nipple and even through three layers of cloth, she wanted to succumb to his touch. “And that, my lord, will just make me as frustrated as you.”

He grinned and let her go.
“I will wait at the front door for you.”

“
I only need my Spencer and bonnet since the weather is so nice.”

Within minutes she was ready and hurrying down the stairs to meet him. He looked very dashing
in his black riding boots, buff breeches, a light blue waistcoat and dark blue coat. She noticed his neck cloth was more simply tied, probably because he had no valet with him.

“
Ready?”

“
Yes, my lord.” He ushered her out of the door then held out his arm to her. They rounded the side of the inn and started along a path through a field of cows. Rebecca breathed deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh country air and lifting her face to the sun. There was definitely some heat coming through. Summer was certainly almost upon them.

The
y walked in silence for a long time, both absorbed in their own thoughts. Rebecca was thinking back over the journey. The actual travelling was boring, though Daniel did his best to point out interesting landmarks. But she lived for the night time when they would make love. Last night, he had taken her on the rug in front of the fire. It had seemed very risqué, but also decadent as she had watched and felt him move on top of her.

“
Are you happy, Rebecca?”

“
I am. More happy than I could ever have imagined.”

“
I did my very best to ease you into married life, considering what you had experienced.”

“
Daniel.” She stopped and moved in front of him, barring his way. Then she reached up and stroked his cheek. “You are the kindest, most patient man I know. I could not have asked for a better husband or a more considerate husband. But I know that men have needs that I may not be able to fulfil. I watched you last night when the maid came in. She had a large bosom and she was flirting with you. You are only human. I would only ask that you are discreet in your affairs”

“
I thought I made myself clear. There will be no affairs. And I was being friendly. I was not flirting with the maid. And I cannot say I noticed the size of her bosom.”

“
No one could have failed to notice the size of her bosom. She was practically popping out of her gown.”

“
Is that why your décolletage is more pronounced today, Lady Ramsey? Do I detect a hint of jealousy?” He was looking down at her breasts with a very admiring gaze.

“
I am sure I do not know what you mean, my lord.” And she whirled around and started walking in the direction in which they had originally been heading. If he was denying his intention to have affairs already, then she had confidence that he would be discreet in his dealings with the widows of the
Ton
in future. That was all she really could ask. Everyone knew that rakes could not be transformed. She had heard too many rumours over the years.

They walked into a lightly-wooded area that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. The dark green canopy shut out a large amount of sunlight
, and she shivered.

“
Are you cold?”

“
Not really. It is just a bit of a change from being in the bright sunlight.”

They picked their way over large tree roots and the carpet of last year
’s autumn leaves. The ground was springy underneath, and Rebecca suddenly wondered what it could feel like to lie on the bed of old leaves while Daniel made love to her.

She put her arm around his waist and he put his on her shoulder. She needed to be near him
—to feel his touch. They only had these few precious days then she would be responsible for the running of the large house at Drumbane and Daniel would be taking over much of the work of the earl on the estate.

They arrived at a river and sat on the bank, Rebecca leaning against his shoulder, listening to his steady breathing and watching the way he clicked the toes of his riding boots together.

“Would you like to continue walking? Do you have excess energy? I am sure you miss not being able to ride, or box or fence.”

“
I do to an extent, but I am happy here with you, my love. I was however wondering if you would like to paddle in the river. It is not deep, and the water runs fairly slowly.”

“
Will it not be cold?”

“
That is half the fun.” He grinned.

His eyebrow was cocked in a challenge
, and she could not resist. She pulled off her boots and stockings while he pulled off his. Grabbing hold of her skirts, she accepted his hand and allowed herself to be pulled up.

“
You look like a little wood nymph. Come, before I change my mind and lay you down on the ground and make love to you.”

The temptation to dig her heels in and see if he would make good on his threat was almost overwhelming. Rebecca had never wanted anything so much or so frequently as she wanted to be in Daniel
’s arms and making love to him. It was almost like laudanum. If she took it too often she felt that she needed it. And she needed Daniel.

But she allowed him to guide her down to the water
’s edge, and he stepped in first, his breath hitching at the cold. She delicately dipped her toe in the water. It was freezing.

“
It is too cold,” she complained.

“
Nonsense. Once you are in, your feet will get used to it.”

He ben
t down, scooped up some water in his hands and poured it over her bare feet. She squealed and tried to pull away, but he caught her around the waist and lifted her. Her buttocks were encased in his arms, her feet reaching his knees.

“
I am going to let you down into the water, so you had best lift your skirts or the hem will get wet and what would the ladies of the
Ton
have to say about that?

She giggled but grabbed her skirts
, knowing he was serious about placing her into the running water. He allowed her to slide down his body until her toes touched the water. She hissed out a breath then held her lungs empty of air until she felt her feet on the river bed. He allowed her to find her footing before letting her go.

“
You are nothing but a bully, Lord Ramsey.”

“
I am merely extending your horizons. Have you ever been paddling in a river with a handsome gentleman?”

“
I used to go swimming with James when I was a girl. There is a small lake in Chapelbrooke Park and we would spend hot summer days jumping in and out of it.”

“
Maybe we could go swimming in the small loch at Drumbane—if the weather is warm enough, of course.”

“
Swimming? But I have not tried swimming since I was a girl.”

“
I will be there. You have nothing to fear. At worst, it will be cold.”

“
Yes. Can we walk a little downstream?”

“
Not too far since our boots are here.”

“
Of course not, but my feet are freezing. I need to warm them up.”