The Scandalous Duke Takes a Bride (35 page)

“How many rooms does it have?” she asked.

“Sixty.” He laughed a little. “My father came from a family of twelve children. You can imagine how full the house would have been fifty years ago.”

The thought had the reality of her inability to stay pregnant overwhelming her so suddenly she found it difficult to breathe properly and tears filled her eyes.

“Hayden—”

He cut her off on seeing her expression. “Don’t say it, Jess. We have plenty of time for children. And if we aren’t so blessed, I have a plentitude of uncles and cousins that I respect a great deal. Any one of them could assume the title with my blessing.”

Her tears fell, and more replaced them till her vision was blurred. “You can’t throw that away for me.”

Hayden drew his horse close enough that one of Jessica’s thighs rubbed along his. Feebly she wiped away at her tears. It wasn’t till she used the back of her jacket to rid herself of them that Hayden came into view.

“I can and I will if it’s necessary, Jessica. But I think the fault was with Fallon, not you. Time will tell.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss against the backs of her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers, as though that alone would make his point stick. “We have a lot of time on our hands.”

Her smile was smaller this time, but he had at least coaxed one out of her. She really ought to stop feeling sorry for herself. It would amount to nothing but wasted moments in the end.

“Feeling better?” he asked when she sniffled and wiped away the last of her tears.

She nodded.

“Good,” he said, dismounting from his horse.

This time Hayden helped her down from her horse. It had to be around eight in the morning by the time they’d arrived at his estate. Feeling slightly more normal, she inhaled deeply and set her shoulders back with newfound determination. There wasn’t time to be nervous, as she was about to meet the staff who kept the house running. Hayden didn’t hesitate to introduce her as his fiancée and the future mistress of the household to the long line of servants on the drive. She hadn’t expected that for some reason. And now she almost had second thoughts about wearing trousers for the sake of ease in her and Hayden’s ride. Almost.

Though she did wonder what the staff would think of her traveling without her maid and the lack of clothes she had brought along with her.

Not one of their expressions showed an ounce of disdain with Hayden’s announcement that she’d soon be their mistress. Keeping her disposition sunny, as though she’d not felt like a failure of a woman only moments before, she was determined to win every single servant over. If she could win Fallon’s servants over, she could do the same here, she thought as she smiled and greeted each member of Hayden’s household.

Once they completed introductions, Hayden took her hand in his and led her up the front stairs so fast they were nearly running. Once inside, he picked her up, spun her around, and crushed their bodies together so he could kiss her good and hard.

“I should have carried you over the threshold,” he said with a frown.

She shook her head. “It’s too soon for that.”

“It’s never too soon for anything. But now that we are here, what should we do before I clean up and head out to Tristan’s?”

“I can think of a few things to occupy ourselves.” She looked up at the high ceilings all around her, recalling how he’d teased Lady Locksley about her old drafty castle. Hayden’s house stretched a good quarter mile in both directions. “How am I ever going to find my way around here?”

“You’ll have time to explore all the rooms in my absence.”

“I don’t think that’ll be enough time.” She laughed and focused back on Hayden, her hands resting on either side of his face as he set her down on her feet again. His gaze was dark, the brown of his eyes eaten up by the black of his pupils. There was no doubt in her mind that he wanted her again. She stepped up onto the tips of her toes so she could nibble at his lower lip.

“You’re insatiable,” she whispered.

“That, Jess, is all your fault.”

Then he pinched her bottom.

Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she pulled away from him in shock. “I cannot believe you just did that.”

His look was devilish. “I can do it again so it’s more believable.”

She shook her head, backing away from his outstretched hands.

“I think that’s something you should be saving for behind closed doors, Hayden.”

“I can’t say I agree to those terms.”

The look in his eyes told her he had every intention of doing it again, so she did what any intelligent woman would do and hoped she didn’t get lost as she ran up the stairs to the second floor, Hayden hot at her heels.

He caught her at the farthest end of the long corridor. She turned and pressed her back against the dark wood of the doors, which she thought might be the master bedroom, since these were the only double doors on the second floor.

“Good guess,” he said, then he tumbled them both into the room and toward the bed.

The room was the size of a ballroom, with high arched ceilings painted with a fresco of angels. The walls were painted a sky blue, enhancing the brightness from a wall of windows that faced south. The sitting area was large enough for three sofas and too many chairs to count. The bed was a four-poster monstrosity of blond wood and flanked between bay windows so tall she could imagine the room turned into a sunroom by midday.

When they tumbled onto the bed she felt his hardness against her thigh. “Don’t you have to be rushing out of here to see Tristan?”

“I need another reminder”—he released the buttons on her trousers and yanked them below her hips, which she aided by lifting her rear off the bed—“of exactly what I’ll be missing.”

She threw her head back and surrendered to the intimacy they had been flirting toward since the moment they were awake for the day.

“I’ll miss you just as much.” There was no telling if he’d be gone a few days or for a whole week. “I suggest you make love to me without delay, because I’ll need a reminder, too.”

Hayden didn’t disappoint, and they did spend a number of hours locked up in the master bedroom together.

When Jessica awoke late in the afternoon, Hayden was already gone. She stretched out on the bed, her hand hitting a folded piece of paper as she loudly yawned her greeting to midday.

Darling,
I had your dress pressed and hung in the dressing room, which is to the right of the master bedroom. The house is yours to explore, and the staff will help you with anything you are in need of.
I hope this task doesn’t take me away for too long. I will miss you. And I cannot wait till we are wedded so I can call you wife.
With all my love,
Hayden
Jessica found her dress precisely where he said it was and resolved to learn as much about the house today as she could. She’d need something to keep her mind off Hayden. She thought perhaps she should pen him a note and send it to Hailey Court—and discarded the idea just as quickly. No, that would leave Tristan wondering why she was writing to Hayden at all. She could wait a few days to see Hayden again, and then they would both give their friends the news of their engagement.

Chapter 23

Our fair marquess has been maimed by his challenger. Can you believe such a thing in this day and age? Though it’s still a mystery as to who precisely pulled the trigger, and it’s unknown how serious the marquess’s injuries are.
Mayfair Chronicles,
August 1846 Jessica’s maid arrived on the second day, with a carriage full of trunks and the last of her possessions. She’d amused herself during that morning by unpacking, even at Louise’s insistence she take to the garden with tea instead. She needed to keep busy, to keep her mind from worrying over Tristan and Hayden. It was tempting to have someone give her directions to Tristan’s estate, but she held herself back from doing that. Hayden would ensure nothing untoward happened. She trusted him implicitly to take care of Tristan.

“Did you have a chance to read the rags before you left London? I’m desperate to know if word got out about the duel.”

“I didn’t, my lady. It’s better you don’t fret.”

“I’m merely worried about the well-being of my friend and was curious what was being said.”

“Let the men take care of their business like the fools they are. Who would dare duel in this day and age?”

“I couldn’t agree with you more, but you’ll recall that it wasn’t Tristan demanding retribution. He’d gladly continue to thumb his nose at Ponsley for the rest of his days.”

“All we can hope is that His Grace can sort out the issues before it comes to a duel. He has a way with words that makes you want to agree to something you might not necessarily agree to.”

That comment had Jessica smiling to herself. He might have the ability over most, but not her; otherwise she’d have agreed to marry him a lot sooner. Her heart ached for him, though. She’d missed him terribly over the past two days, partly because there was little to amuse her time in the country, aside from her thoughts. And her thoughts had only been focused on three things: marriage, Hayden, and the duel. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to catch the scent of his cologne in the master bedroom, but it had long since dissipated.

When Louise cleared her throat, Jessica’s eyes snapped back open. “Warren didn’t stop by the house in my absence?”

“Not once. I’d have told you sooner if he’d picked up the note you left for him.”

And then it dawned on her why that might be. “He must be Ponsley’s second. I can’t think why else he’d not have stopped by, now that Miss Camden has left and can’t act as a buffer between us.”

“That would make sense. You said he was set to marry Lord Ponsley’s daughter, didn’t you?”

“He was.”

She suddenly wondered if Hayden would take his anger out on Warren while she wasn’t around to step in the way, and she realized she didn’t care. Hayden had every right to defend her.

“I just hope Hayden is back soon. I wanted to post the banns this Sunday, but I won’t if he’s not back.” Besides, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to wait another month to be married. She’d discuss that with Hayden upon his return, which she hoped was sooner rather than later; otherwise, she would search him out at Tristan’s estate.

*   *   *

My darling,
Proceedings and negotiations on the precise weapon for the dueling field have finally come to a conclusion. By the time you receive this letter, it will be two days’ time before the duel comes to pass. I long to have you at my side, and I urge you to join me once again. If you still feel you’ll be a distraction to Tristan, know that you are a more than welcome distraction to me. I will see you in three days should everything wrap up quickly on this end.
I miss you more than words can express.
All my love,
Hayden
Jessica folded the letter and placed it under her pillow, fingering the edge as she closed her eyes. Under different circumstances she’d respond. She could wait a few more days to see him. Though even one more day felt like forever. She missed him more than words could express, too.

*   *   *

Hayden looked at his watch once again. It was half past four in the morning, and he felt as though he hadn’t slept a wink as he’d strategized with Tristan on what was to be done should he be shot by Ponsley. The likelihood of that happening depended on two varying factors. First, it mattered whether Ponsley wanted to make a widow of his daughter after only a couple of weeks of marriage—Hayden and Tristan hoped that not to be the case. The second factor was just how angry Ponsley was with Tristan for stealing away his only daughter before he could benefit from a political alliance with Warren. Warren did have significant sway over the House of Commons and Warren would use that influence to Ponsley’s benefit when he sat on the side of the Lords once officially taking the seat as the Earl of Fallon.

It was hard to say how this morning would play out, hence the reason Hayden had demanded his own physician attend the duel. Dr. Leonard stood next to the folding table that held the pistols to be used in the duel. He was tall and slight and easily in his mid-fifties. But he was the most capable and trustworthy physician Hayden knew.

The only difficulty Hayden had in the proceedings was facing Warren without physically striking out at him for the undue cruelness he had levied on Jessica. Lashing out as Hayden wished would serve no greater purpose for Tristan, so he stood his ground, considering his friend had a greater dislike of Warren, and for good reason.

While the fog had yet to dissipate and Hayden couldn’t see well beyond thirty paces, Warren seemed in a hurry to finish with the proceedings.

“The rules, gentlemen, are simple.” Warren’s voice cut through the still morning like thunder as he turned in Tristan’s direction. “The field of honor was given to you, Castleigh. Ponsley will choose his pistol first.”

“Let’s be sure there is no funny business.” Hayden stepped forward, determined to have his say in this. “The pistols came with you, so Castleigh has every right to choose his firearm first.”

“Do you have a preference?” Warren asked of Ponsley, as though seeking permission to change this one rule.

“Let him have his pick.” Ponsley crossed his arms over his midsection, puffing out his chest like a cock strutting around as if he owned the world. “Castleigh, you’ve been a thorn in my side since your father died. It’s about time I plucked that nuisance free.”