The Devil's Good Intentions (19 page)

“
Did she enquire about the previous night or to the whereabouts of Abigail?”

“
She did not enquire to her illness but did enquire as to who I was only after I had her seated in the bath and was washing her up. She seemed a bit confused that Abigail was replaced by me, but I gave her the explanation you told me to this morning and she seemed to accept it.”

“
Very good. Is there anything else that I need to know about?”

“
No, not as of yet.”

“
Let me know if anything does come up. You are dismissed for the evening.”

“
Thank you My Lord.”

She got up, curtsied and then quickly vacated the room.

When Salvador entered the chamber he was struck with awe. His dashing beauty wore a dark golden velvet evening dress that scooped just low enough to tease the eye and delicately smoothed out her stomach. At the back of the dress, the velvet flaps opened to reveal a golden ribbed satin. Her hair flowed down her bare skin on her back with two subtle braids crowning her petite head.

“
You my dear wife are a sight to behold.” He managed to get out as he approached her.

She politely smiled and then blushed, trying to turn away.

He drew her close and kissed her cheek. He couldn’t find any words to say.

“
It is a lovely dress. I fear that when my skin begins to lighten, it will not have the same effect.” She admitted regretfully.

He ran his thumb up and down her arm and admired the tanned hue of her skin that her dress emphasized.

“
Do you plan to rid yourself of your tan?”

“
I would prefer not to, but after the tongue lashing the dress maker gave me this morning regarding how proper ladies were to protect their skin from the sun, and with all of the parasols you purchased for me, I just thought it would be inevitable.”

“
I prefer your skin beaming like gold rather than paling like ice. Would it sound over bearing of me to order you to maintain that glow?”

“
Easy for you to say, you are naturally golden thanks to your Italian heritage. I’m afraid I would need to spend a great deal of time under the sun and be pleasantly exposed. Will that be a problem?” She teased as she unwrapped herself from his arms and made her way to the sitting area.

“
We will work something out” he muttered while envisioning the gardeners climbing the trees to spy upon his little garden nymph as she bathed in the sun.

Taking a box out of his breast pocket, he made his way over to her. Leaning over her from behind, he kissed the top of her head.

“
I have something for you.” He murmured out as he took the chocker out of the box and held it out for her to see.

The rows of amber sapphires and studded diamonds twinkled in the light as she slowly placed her fingers along the jewels and smoothed them out.

He smiled as he proceeded to clamp the chocker around her neck. It fit perfectly, resting snug around her neck. The chocker had six rows of diamonds and sapphires mixed in together and were a definite statement. “It’s lovely Salvador, maybe even too much!” She gasped out as she looked up at him.

“
Never too much, just a little something I picked up while you worked with the dress maker.”

She reached her arm up and wrapped her delicate hand around his neck, pulling him down to her face. When he felt her lips touch his, he had to fight the urge to cancel the dinner and make sweet love to her while she wore nothing but her chocker.

He deepened the kiss and ran his thumb along her exposed cleavage, rewarding himself with a husky moan from her sweet lips.

She broke off the kiss far too soon and grinned up at him.

“
Your dinner guests will be arriving shortly Lord Salvador.” She teased while gently placing her finger along the chocker and smiled.

He gave out a heavy sigh and then kissed her forehead before straightening up and readying himself for the evening.

As they made their way down the staircase, he casually played his fingers in her hair.

“
I should really be wearing my hair up. I need more hair pins to accommodate this mass of hair!” She giggled as they continued along their way.

“
You will wear your hair up when we attend social gatherings outside my estate and when my brotherhood are not the only attendees. Other than that, I prefer your hair down.” He responded arrogantly as he nudged her towards the library to await their guests.

“
Is there anything else?” She laughed out while shaking her head at his arrogance.

“
I’m sure I will think of something” He grinned.

She wandered over to a bookshelf and thumbed her fingers over various titles, finally settling with Shakespeare.

“
Is my wife a romantic?” He enquired with his devilish grin.

She smiled back at him sweetly and winked while settling into the sofa.

He had the sudden yearning to hear sweet words from her lips.

“
Would you care to entertain me with a sonnet while we await our guests?” He asked casually, acting as though he couldn’t care one way or another.

“
Let’s see dear Husband if I might find a suitable passage.” She teased as she flipped through the book.

“
Ah” she stated with a smile.

“
Those lips that Love’s own hand did make

Breathed forth the sound that said “I hate”

To me that languished for her sake;

But when she saw my woeful state,

Straight in her heart did mercy come,

Chiding that tongue that ever sweet,

Was used in giving gentle doom,

And taught it thus anew to greet:

“
I hate” she altered with an end,

That followed it as gentle day,

Doth follow night, who like a fiend

From Heaven to hell – is flown away.

“
I hate” from hate away she threw,

And saved my life, saying “not you.””

His breath caught in his throat as his heart sped up. How appropriate of her to recite and dare he hope? Before he could return his appreciation, a knock sounded at the door.

He smiled gently at her and then granted entry to his servant.

“
Lord Charles and Lady Rachel.” The servant announced as he opened the door wider to allow entry to the room.

“
Salvador, you old Devil! When did you return?” Charles approached and cuffed him on the back in greeting.

“
Yesterday Eve, I’m certain a messenger so late at night would not have been welcomed in your household Charles!” He laughed out. “Ah Rachel, you do look lovely as always.” He grinned at her, taking her hand in his and brushing his lips along her knuckles.

He felt the slight tap of her fan on his head followed by a giggle.

“
Oh Salvador, you are such a rake!” She laughed.

“
A married rake, thank you very much.” He beamed as he led the couple over to his shy wife.

When she stood and approached them, he heard both Charles and Rachel suck in their breath and smirked when their eyes widened.

“
May I present to you, Lady Katherine Rochester Cresta” He beamed as he placed his hand on the lower back of Katherine and slightly nudged her forward.

“
Lady Katherine, it is my utmost pleasure to introduce to you, Lord Charles Devry and Lady Rachel Cunningham Devry, two of my dearest friends.”

“
It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Katherine said softly.

Both Charles and Rachel managed to close their mouths and regain their composure.

“
My God Salvador! She’s almost as lovely as my Rachel!” he bellowed out in laughter.

Katherine blushed and Rachel slapped Charles on the belly with her fan.

“
Come Charles, you’re embarrassing the poor girl.” She chuckled.

“
It’s also a pleasure to meet you Katherine, I do hope that I can call you Katherine since my hopes is that we will become good friends.” She smiled a friendly smile that made Salvador proud.

Rachel was one of the sweetest Ladies he knew, besides his Wife. She was courteous, honest, well-tempered and well humoured. When Charles set his eyes on her a year past, he pursued her like a lion would pursue its mate. Salvador and the rest of their brothers helped him every step of the way. It took almost two full months for Rachel to give Charles the time of day and then another six months for her to agree to marry him. They were one of the happiest couples he knew and envied them of their marriage, until now.

“
Of course you can call me Katherine and I do look forward to getting to know you better” She smiled genuinely at Rachel and then allowed to be whisked out of the room by her without a backwards glance.

Both he and Charles stared at the empty doorway, stunned as the ladies disappeared.

“
Well, am I to assume that Rachel has taken Katherine under her wing?” Salvador managed to say when he recovered.

“
It’s looks as though. When you announced before you left that you thought you may have located Katherine, Rachel was very concerned.”

“
Why’s that?"

“
Being a woman, Rachel understands how Katherine may have reacted to finding out that she was to be wed to a stranger. Rachel fears that Katherine may need a friend.”

“
Ah, She compares me to Hades does she?” he laughed out. “She need not worry that my sweet Persephone suffers any trials.” He grinned evilly as Charles chuckled along and shook his head.

“
Tell me Salvador, was she in the cabin? What was her reaction? Come now! Don’t keep me in suspense!”

He laughed and walked over to pour them both a drink while Charles settled in to the seating area.

“
She was indeed at the cabin. I was amazed at how well she was able to survive. She had only a small vegetable garden for food and a small wooden stove for heat. She had no money whatsoever and survived by her own strength. She baffles me Charles.” He admitted as he handed Charles his glass and sat down with him.

“
She looks quite healthy” Charles piped in.

“
She is. I will not go as far to say that she would have remained so. The cabin was very small and drafty and even she admitted that she wasn’t entirely sure if she could survive another winter.”

“
So why did she run?”

“
Fear. Her Father left her in severe debt as you know and she decided to try her hand at freedom rather than face the consequences.”

“
And how did she react to your sudden presence?”

“
As I suspected she would. She begged to be released from me and gave me a good fight when I dragged her away. I meant to wed her when we returned to the estate, but decided that I could not wait until the end of our journey to do so.”

“
So you really are wed?”

“
Oh yes. I put my ring on her finger the first chance I could get!” he laughed out. “Can you blame me?”

Charles laughed along with him.

“
No I cannot. And I am curious how she is managing now.”

“
After she recovered from her initial shock, I would say she is handling it quite well. I’m happy Charles; she is everything I could have hoped for in a wife, and more.”