The Reluctant Bride (Regency Undone) (3 page)

Lord Challoner had arrived at eleven o’clock the next morning with a very stormy-looking Sophia in tow and had wasted no time, after courtesies had been exchanged, in informing Ralph that Sophia had something she wished to say to him.

‘Sophia?’ he ordered sharply when she seemed disinclined to speak.

Sophia glared at her father for a long rebellious moment before finally turning venomous eyes in Ralph’s direction.

‘I thank you for your kind offer for my hand in marriage,’ she said stiffly.  ‘I am given no choice but to accept.’

Her father turned puce in the face and stepped forward as if to remonstrate with her, but Ralph had hastened to diffuse the situation.

‘I am very glad you have changed your mind Sophia,’ he said coolly. ‘I will do my best to be a good husband to you.’

And had he not done his best, he thought now, staring at his wife’s rebellious profile as she stared doggedly out of the window? 
Ye Gods,
how many men in his position would have agreed not to consummate their marriage on their wedding night - agreed in fact to wait until she was ready before they did so?  Did she not realise how hard that was for a man?  And what incensed him more was that his original intention – so blithely suggested by his cousin Guy - of continuing to take his pleasures elsewhere down in London, had come to nought either.  For it seemed that now he had acquired a beautiful wife who was totally indifferent to him, it had piqued his interest – completely destroyed his desire for other women in fact.

He had now been celibate for over three months - a situation that was enough to drive a monk to sin.  He had a beautiful, desirable wife and he was living in torture; watching her, wanting her, but unable to bridge the rift that seemed to be widening between them on a daily basis.  It was more than any man could endure.

He should have been warned by that first meeting, he thought grimly.  Yet hardly was the thought out than it was dismissed.  Despite his desire for an easy life he found he was intrigued by his young wife; sensing an inner insecurity in her that went deeper than any emotions she displayed.  And for some unfathomable reason he could identify with that.

For the first time in years he’d found himself wanting to get to know a woman on more than a superficial level; to understand what governed her.  Yet even that knowledge irked him.  What the deuce did he want to do that for?  Hadn’t he found life much simpler keeping his relationships with women superficial?  Slotting them in when it suited him without the added burden of being responsible for their emotional welfare?

He looked again at his wife to find her eyes on him.  Their gazes locked and he made up his mind.

‘When we arrive,’ he said calmly.  ‘You will go up to your bedroom and prepare yourself for me to come to you.  We struck a bargain ... your hand in marriage in return for my settling your father’s gambling debts and providing him with an adequate income for life.  So far I have honoured my side of that bargain but I have had very little from you by way of return.  I feel that the sooner we start living properly together as man and wife, the better it will be for the both of us.’

Sophia’s cheeks paled in her face.  ‘But you said you would not force me...’

Ralph’s look was impassive.   ‘That was when I thought you would allow a relationship to develop between us naturally.  But you have resisted me at every opportunity and you show no inclination whatsoever to attempt to rectify the unreasonable hostility you feel towards me.  It seems to me that if I am to be pilloried as a monster regardless of what I do then I may as well live up to your expectations and get on with the business of providing me with my heirs.’

 ‘Pah!  You are just like all men,’ Sophia flung at him scornfully.  ‘All you think about are your heirs!  What if I do not provide you with any?  What if like my father, you have only daughters?  Will you make them feel as I do - unworthy?  A disappointment to you?’

Ralph’s expression softened and it had the effect of making Sophia’s back stiffen.  She did not want his pity. 

‘If your father made you feel unworthy then he is more of a fool than I already believe him to be,’ he said calmly.  ‘If I had such a beautiful, spirited daughter as you I would be proud of her.’

‘
Oh
...’  Sophia seemed momentarily disconcerted but she soon rallied.  ‘Yet you married me only to give you the son you need to carry on your family name ...’

His eyes fixed on her intently ... a slow perusal of her body that he could not prevent as he pictured the slender calves beneath the fullness of her skirts, the perfectly rounded breasts that seemed to be crying out for his touch.

‘An heir would be good,’ he conceded, ‘but that was not the only reason I married you Sophia.  I won’t pretend this is a love match – we have both made our feelings abundantly plain on that score – but there were benefits to us both from this marriage …’

‘For you and my parents maybe.  I fail to see any benefit whatsoever for me.’

‘Your family name and reputation have been saved from shame and your home has been secured.  I would have thought those were quite considerable benefits - and perhaps you should reflect on where you might be if that had not happened.  Do you really think your calf-love would have offered for you had you lost those two things?

 ‘Edward
loves
me…’

‘You are young and you would soon have discovered that love is a transient notion that is surprisingly fickle when challenged by reality.  His parents would not have allowed him to offer for you and as a younger son he is in no position to defy them.  It’s about time you acknowledged the reality of your situation and moved on.  I have been patient, realising that you are inexperienced and needed time to adapt to your new circumstances, but a man has needs.  Our wedding night as I hardly need remind you was a fiasco – and your rejection of me this morning has made me realise you will never come to me willingly without a little ... encouragement.’

‘I will never come to you
willingly
under any circumstances,’ Sophia declared hotly.

‘Which convinces me all the more of the need to take things into hand now.’

His loins stirred as he remembered the picture she’d presented the previous night.  He’d partaken of more alcohol than normal and had been unable to resist the urge to enter her bedroom and look at her while she slept - but the sight of her beautiful hair strewn over the pillow, her soft voluptuous breasts rising and falling with each breath she took, had almost been too much for him.  He had wanted her with a fierceness that had consumed him.  If only she knew what it had cost him to settle instead
for slipping in beside her while she slept so that she would wake in the morning to find his arms around her.

And then this morning when she had indeed awoken ... his expression smouldered at the shock and yes, fear he had seen reflected in her eyes.   What had he ever done that she should be
afraid
of him?  Had he not spent countless hours of an evening talking with her, getting to know her, in order that she may become more familiar and comfortable with him?

It was more than any man should be expected to endure.  Anger and a sense of rejection so strong it had overwhelmed him, urged him to take command and persuade her into submission with his kisses.  But she’d only shied away the more, her slender body rigid at the unleashed passion he’d displayed.  Disgusted with himself he had dragged himself off her before things had gone completely beyond his control; but he’d returned to his own room shaking and more aroused than he could ever remember.  And he had resolved there and then that this situation could continue no longer.

Now as the coach and four rattled on, his eyes settled again on the gentle swell of her breasts beneath the tight bodice of her dress.  His breeches strained at the thought of freeing them, caressing them with his hands.

‘Come here ...’
he said softly, patting the seat beside him.

She stared at him, the atmosphere in the carriage suddenly charged. 

‘Wh ... what do you mean?’

 ‘Come here and sit next to me.  I wish to learn you.’

He patted the seat again, his eyes never wavering as he watched the different emotions cross her face.  For a long moment he thought she was going to defy him and he couldn’t help wondering what he was supposed to do if she did.  But then, as if coming to a decision, she tilted her chin haughtily and rose unsteadily to her feet in the swinging carriage.

‘Oh!’ 

This as a particularly bad dip in the road plunged her straight onto his lap.

His arms grasped her, pulling her more firmly onto his knee before she could do anything about it.  Their faces were but a few inches apart.

She struggled forcefully.  ‘Let me go!’

But his hold only tightened further.    

‘You will need to get used to the feel of my arms around you little one ...’ he murmured in her ear, ‘... once you are truly mine.’

He raised his hand to slowly trace a line from her cheek down to her mouth, his eyes watchful on her face as he did so.  

Sophia froze, but then confusingly found her body relaxing at the gentleness of his touch; her lips beginning to tingle where his fingers played idly along their outline, as if he
enjoyed
touching them. She held her breath as they continued on down her neck – whisper-light traces that sent an unexpected tremor shooting through her.

Her response did not go unnoticed.  ‘I will enjoy awakening you ...’ he whispered.  His burning gaze moved to her bodice.  Then to her disbelief his hand drifted over her breasts, first one then the other, his thumb rubbing purposefully through the soft material of her gown.  

‘Oh!  What are you ...?
’

A gasp exploded from her as he tweaked her nipple.

 ‘
That is what I like to hear,
’
he rumbled, burrowing his head in her bosom.   ‘Soon there will be no more thoughts of your young cub, Edward Rawden ...  my body will ride yours and your gasps will be for me alone.’

The feel of his mouth on her breast, even though it was through the material of her gown, jolted her out of the daze she seemed to have fallen into.  With an indignant squeak, she broke free of his hold and flung herself across to the other side of the carriage where she sat staring at him quivering.  His look on her was intent with some deep emotion she had never seen before and his eyes seemed to burn into the very depths of her soul.  She thought she would never escape the all-consuming passion of that look.

‘Ah ... we arrive at last ...’ her husband said softly.   ‘I suggest you retire to your room and wait for me there...’

CHAPTER FOUR

The big house loomed large and even more intimidating than usual as Sophia allowed herself to be helped from the carriage by the lackey.  Unlike her parents’ home which was considerably smaller with far fewer staff, Avalon Hall occupied an impressive position at the base of a hill with a lake to one side and a vast stretch of velvet lawn sweeping away to distant trees at the front.  The vista was outstanding but Sophia had little time to appreciate it today.  Hurrying ahead of Ralph she nodded briefly to the butler as he opened the door, stalking past him head held high as she made her way purposefully towards the morning room.  If he thought for one minute that she was going to
accede
to his wishes …

‘Not that way,’ her husband’s voice called after her.

She ignored him carrying on defiantly, confident that he would not dare to make a scene in front of the servants.  The next moment she shrieked as strong, firm hands swept her bodily into his arms and he headed for the stairs.

‘Her ladyship and I are not to be disturbed Beaumont.  Please ensure that her staff are informed.’

‘Yes my Lord.’  His voice as always was neutral, his eyes appearing not to notice Sophia’s tiny struggling form, her hands hitting uselessly out at the hard wall of her husband’s chest.

‘Put me down this instant,’ she demanded outraged as he took the stairs two at a time.

‘I will be only too happy to do so in a moment my love,’ he laughed, but she could see his light hearted response was for the benefit of the servants only – his eyes promising a retribution that made her quail in her shoes and her puny punches halt in mid-air.  After all, how well did she know her husband?  She had no idea what he was capable of.

Once in her bedroom he kicked the door nonchalantly shut behind him, swinging her round to dump her unceremoniously to the floor so that she was trapped between him and the door. 

‘
How dare you!’
she fumed, smoothing her dress in agitation.  Her eyes met his furiously.  ‘How dare you treat me like that in front of the servants as if I was some sort of common
wench
!’

‘And how dare you defy me, Madam.’

She noticed his breathing was unsteady as he watched her with some fierce emotion she did not comprehend.

‘By God,
wench
is a good description for you.  And a wilful wench at that.  You do what you like and take no heed of those around you. Well I have had enough of your histrionics and your defiance my dear.  You may have been able to twist your mama around your little finger but you will find I am not so easily swayed.  It’s time to put all this nonsense behind us.’

She stared horrified as he purposefully began unbuttoning his jacket.  She had never seen him like this – raging with an aggression that seemed to be directed completely at her, his hot gaze raking her body in a way that made her skin prickle.  Yet at the same time ... she could not believe it but as he removed his jacket to reveal the broad muscular strength that lay beneath, she was aware of a ripple of
excitement
as she looked at him.

Horrified she gave a little gasp and tried to dodge past him but he caught her effortlessly in his arms, and swung her carelessly back against the door, placing one hand either side of her so that she could not escape.

‘Not so fast little one,’ he taunted softly.  ‘You’ll have to do better than that to avoid your fate.’