The Earl of Ice (12 page)

They were not disturbed that morning. No maid or valet entered the bedroom, and so Rollo felt that it was only right to take the opportunity to prove to his bride that making love was not painful after the first penetration. They kissed, caressed and consummated their marriage thoroughly before eventually rising.

Diana’s maid and Rollo’s valet reported back to the servants’ hall that only one bed in the guest suite had been used that night, and below stairs a lot of delighted giggling ensued.

The carriages to take Rollo and Diana and their staff on the journey to Brockwood Hall were on the drive all packed up by the time they’d finished breakfast two days later. A large wagon was loaded with several portmanteaus containing Diana’s trousseau. Demon was tethered to the wagon and Mary sat atop it, wrapped in a thick blanket, next to the driver. Diana and Rollo were to travel in his sumptuous town coach with the Brockwood coat of arms emblazoned in gold and burgundy on the door panels. Tilly and Rollo’s valet were to travel in a post-chaise, and had the items that the newly wedded couple would require on the journey.

Saying her farewells to her family was hard for Diana, even though she was excited about starting her new life with Rollo. Besides, Rollo had promised they would go to London in the autumn to help support Pru in her first season. They would spend the summer in Hampshire at Brockwood Hall, and Diana would gradually take over the running of the household from Rollo’s mother, now the Dowager Countess of Brockwood, who would move into the dower house.

“Take good care of my daughter,” Lord Westbury instructed Rollo, his voice breaking a little with emotion. Lady Westbury and Pru were crying and hugging Diana. Rollo had to physically extricate his wife from their grasp to escort her to the waiting carriage,

“I will treasure her,” Rollo assured them as he handed Diana into the carriage and took the seat next to her. As they set off, they both waved until the house was no longer in sight.

Rollo took Diana’s gloved hand and gave it a squeeze. “Are you alright?” he inquired.

“Yes, I am happy, but I will miss my family.”

“I’m your family now, too, and I promise I will keep you busy,” Rollo replied. He gave her a wicked smile and she smiled back.

* * *

It took the newlyweds four days of travelling at a leisurely pace to reach Hampshire. The wagon, with Diana’s belongings and Demon, had arrived in three. Brockwood Hall was as Diana remembered it, and Briggs was on the doorstep to greet them. How different the circumstances now from her previous visit, when she had left London in disgrace! What a lot she had lived through since then. She would not have believed then that her life could have turned around so well. She had a husband she admired and adored, a beautiful home and a loving family. She did not care what society thought of her, but as the Countess of Brockwood, she would have respect and be treated with courtesy.

In the coming weeks and months Diana’s happiness grew as she became familiar with the household and established a good relationship with her mother-in-law, who had now moved into the dower house. She was busy and kept up a regular correspondence with her parents and Pru, who were looking forward to Pru’s first season. Diana would make sure that Pru did not make the same mistakes that she had.

As for her husband, Diana saw little of him during the day when he was busy with estate matters, but their evenings were wonderful and the nights even better. She had not imagined when she accepted his marriage proposal that she would grow to love him so much and be so fulfilled. The agreement not to have children seemed a small price to pay.

* * *

The summer came and went in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it they were on their way to London for Pru’s season. It was raining the day they set out, but the roads were still quite passable.

“You will dance with Pru, won’t you?” Diana asked Rollo for about the hundredth time on the journey.

“I will dance every dance with her, if that is your wish,” Rollo said in an effort to placate his wife.

“No,” laughed Diana. “Only dance with her if she has no partner, for she needs to be dancing with young men.”

“Are you now saying I am too old to dance with her? I wish you’d make up your mind.”

Diana thumped his shoulder playfully. “You know what I mean. I only want to make sure that Pru enjoys her season.”

Another thought entered her mind. “You did remember to write Oliver to tell him we would be arriving today.”

“Yes, I did, and he is expecting us. I also warned him that he and his reprobate friends need to be on their best behaviour and not do anything to spoil your sister’s first season.”

“Thank you, that’s kind of you.” Diana was desperate for her sister to have a successful season and couldn’t seem to help herself from checking and double-checking that everything was done to ensure this.

Rollo smiled to himself and decided his best course of action was to feign sleep for a little while. At last the carriage pulled up outside the Brockwood London residence.

Oliver, who had heard the carriage arrive, was at the door, along with the butler, to greet them. Diana was pleased to see him and now, as a married lady, felt she could relax and enjoy his company.

“You look as pretty as a picture,” he greeted her. She had indeed blossomed since he had last seen her; her face radiated happiness and she had gained back a little of the weight she had lost since leaving London

“Thank you,” Diana responded cheerily. “You, too, are in good looks,”

“Enough of that,” growled Rollo. “Let us agree you both look very well and then get inside the house before this rain soaks us through.”

After some refreshment Diana left the brothers to catch up with each other’s news and went straight to a small writing desk in the library. She penned a note to her parents, informing them that they would call on them the following afternoon.

The Westbury family had arrived in London the previous week, and Lady Westbury and Pru had been indulging in some shopping and sightseeing. Calling cards from friends and acquaintances had started to trickle in as it became known among the ton that they were in town. The note they had been eagerly waiting for had arrived the previous afternoon, and the family were now gathered in the drawing room ready for the visit from their eldest daughter, Diana, and her husband, Lord Brockwood.

Hearing a carriage draw to a halt outside the town house, Pru ran to the window. “They’re here!” she squealed, clapping her hands in excitement. She ran out of the room to greet her sister, followed by her parents at a more decorous pace.

Lord Westbury and Rollo exchanged a greeting, then wisely stepped out of the way and into the library while the ladies hugged, kissed and cried, all three talking at the same time.

“I swear you have grown, Pru,” Diana said. Pru gave a little twirl, then sidled up to Diana to measure herself against her older sister. Both sisters were petite, and there was little difference in height.

“And you look such a lady!” declared Pru. “Look at your coat, I swear it must be the latest fashion. Tell me, is it a redingote à la Hussar? I love the cream-coloured silk and the rows of yellow braid!”

“Yes, yes, it is,” confirmed Diana. She was more interested, however, in their family news than the latest fashion.

“We have vouchers for Almack’s, and Pru will be attending her first assembly there next Wednesday,” Lady Westbury told Diana as, coat now removed, Diana walked with her mother and sister into the drawing room. Within minutes they were joined by Rollo and Diana’s father, tea was served, and the conversation flowed until, upon hearing the clock chime four, Rollo indicated it was time for them to leave.

“It was so nice to see my family again,” Diana told him once they were in the carriage. “I have missed them so.” She paused, then asked, “Will we have time to secure vouchers for Almack’s before Wednesday?”

“I am sure if we call upon Lady Cowper or Lady Sefton, we will be able to,” replied a less than enthusiastic Rollo. “If you send them a card, I will accompany you, perhaps the day after tomorrow.” Rollo was eager to please his wife, and if he accompanied her, these ladies would be unlikely to snub her. He would gladly suffer through the assemblies to please her. And he was sure that, as a married man, the season would be a far less arduous undertaking.

It was Lady Sefton who, as a patroness, was able to grant them the vouchers for Almack’s; she had always had a fondness for Brockwood and was pleased to see him happily married. The events of two seasons ago were, hopefully, now forgotten, and Diana could once again enjoy the pleasures of the London season. Diana explained that her sister, Pru, was making her debut on the following Wednesday, and Lady Sefton said that she would look forward to being introduced to her.

Diana dressed with care for the assembly ball on the Wednesday, and at the ball, she and Rollo made a striking couple. Many pairs of eyes turned to watch them as they walked through the hall on their arrival, Diana with her head held high and Rollo flashing his cold blue eyes as if daring anyone to make an unkind remark about his wife. Lady Sefton, herself, greeted them, and when they brought Prudence to her for an introduction and Pru, dressed becomingly in white, executed a perfect curtsey, the patroness seemed delighted. Diana’s heart swelled with pride.

Rollo, having already secured several dances on his wife’s card, requested that Pru reserve him a set. Her eyes opened wide with both surprise and alarm, but as no one else had come forward to claim her as yet, she did not refuse him. Almost immediately the orchestra began playing the opening minuet, and Rollo led a nervous Pru onto the dance floor. At first stiff and unsure of herself, Pru soon relaxed and enjoyed the dance with her brother-in-law. Even though he looked fearsome, he was a wonderful dancer. Perhaps, she thought, that was one reason that Diana had lost her heart to him.

Diana watched the pair dance and was proud of both of them. Pru danced well, and her face, which at the beginning of the dance was tense with concentration, was smiling with enjoyment by the end of the dance. Because she partnered the notorious Earl of Ice, people noticed her and soon after she returned to her seat a steady stream of young men begged introductions. Pru’s dance card filled up in no time.

Oliver secured a dance with both sisters as did his old friends, Woody and Henry Straw. Diana was pleased to note that Lord Cotson was not in their party.

“Is Miss Colpert in town with you this season?” Straw asked Diana as soon as the dancing allowed conversation. His attempt at nonchalance failed utterly and made Diana smile.

“I had a note from Caroline just this morning,” Diana told him, “to say that she will be arriving in town on Saturday.” She saw his face light up. It seemed this young man still had feelings for her cousin that the passing of months had not diminished. The previous season in Bath it had seemed he had been gaining Caroline’s trust and she still harboured affection for him. Perhaps this season her cousin would find it in her heart to forgive him.

At the end of the evening the ball was declared a success by all. Even Rollo had found it enjoyable and was pleased to see Diana looking so happy. They agreed to be included in the Westburys’ theatre party the following week, and the number had been further extended to include Caroline and her younger sister, Emily, who, like Pru, was in her first season.

When Oliver learnt of their plans for the theatre, he immediately told Straw and Woody, and they managed to secure seats for the same evening. They did not give a fig that the play was Shakespeare’s
Macbeth
and the famous actress Sarah Siddons was playing Lady Macbeth. They were interested only in being granted an audience with the ladies in the Westbury party. Straw, in fact, was quite desperate for an opportunity to speak with Miss Colpert.

In the end it was contrived so Oliver and his two friends joined the Westburys in their box. This pleased Pru, who enjoyed practicing her wiles on the three young men, safe in the knowledge that Rollo would not let them do anything untoward. Diana saw Caroline’s face light up when she saw that Henry Straw was in their party. Perhaps enough time had now passed for the upset caused by the wager to be forgiven if not forgotten. Diana hoped so, because she was aware that Caroline had never shown any partiality toward any of her other admirers.

“What a magnificent performance from Sarah Siddons,” declared Diana as they travelled home at the end of the evening.

“It certainly was,” agreed Rollo. “I am not sure that your sister or cousins took note of any of it, they seemed too distracted by my brother, Woody and Straw.”

“I know,” agreed Diana, “and do you think that Henry Straw will continue his pursuit of Caroline? I hope so, because I know she still holds a tendre for him.”

“Do I detect some matchmaking going on here?” teased Rollo. “If so, I think I will keep well out of it.”

Rollo and Diana were busy throughout the London season, but they did not accept every invitation they received, and they certainly did not accept the invitation they received in June for the Whittington Ball.

“I am surprised that Lady Whittington had the cheek to send an invitation, considering how she treated me after what happened to me there,” Diana said in annoyance as she read the card.

“But, my dear,” Rollo pointed out, “had it not been for the incident at that ball and the chain of events after it, we would not, in all likelihood, be married.”

This pulled Diana up short. “Oh, I had not thought of that, but you are right. You would never have married and I might well have been another’s choice of bride.” This thought made Diana realize how lucky she was, and she walked over to where her husband was seated and placed a kiss on the top of his head.

“Thank you, what did I do to deserve that?” asked Rollo, giving his wife a rare smile.

“I think, perhaps, I should be grateful for what happened at the Whittington Ball, because I cannot imagine being happy with anyone but you.” She gave him another kiss, this time fully on his mouth. In lightning reaction, Rollo grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap, whereupon he began to kiss her more thoroughly.

“I love you, Lady Brockwood,” he growled between passionate kisses.

“And I love you, Lord Brockwood,” was Diana’s swift response.

Pulling her bodice down, Rollo caressed her pink nipples till they hardened. Unable to resist, he took one in his mouth and suckled hard. Diana’s cry of delight only inflamed him more. He moved his hand to caress her thigh, pushing up and up, under skirts and petticoat, until he found his prize. She was moist and inviting, and his breath grew ragged as he pleasured her with his fingers until he could contain his passion no longer. Sweeping her up into his arms, Rollo carried a quivering fully aroused Diana into their bedchamber.