Virtue and Vice (41 page)

Ram fought to hide a grin. “Care to tell me what changed since I last saw you? Usually when a betrothal happens this fast it’s because two young lovers have been caught doing something they shouldn’t have done. Is there anything you’d like to share?” A grin escaped despite his best attempts. “Miss Spencer is now my relative by marriage. That means I have the right to beat the hell out of you if you ever behave dishonorably toward her.”

“You can try.” Lucien grinned and then sighed. “And aye, you have the right of it. Izzy’s parents found us in somewhat awkward circumstances.”

Ram couldn’t choke back a laugh of disbelief. . How fascinating. “You were caught with
Miss Spencer
?” Perhaps Izzy’s shy cousin had a side to her only one special man would ever know.

“I’d appreciate if you didn’t refer to my betrothed in that tone.”

Ram poured himself another drink, relishing the burn of the liquor as it slid down his throat. “Why don’t you explain exactly what happened, rather than have me drag it out of you, bit by bit.”

“It’s your bloody fault, you know. It was your suggestion I escort her here in my carriage.”

“If you decided to debauch her in a carriage, certainly you were smart enough to have drawn the curtains tightly, were you not?”

“Nay, it wasn’t anything like that. Inclement weather forced us to stop at a very crowded inn. And of course there was only one room to let and barely enough room in the stable for my driver. Belinda was to take the bed and I was to sleep on the floor. In the most unfortunate of coincidences, Izzy’s parents stopped at the inn before us for the same reason and were in the eating room when we arrived. They saw us go upstairs together.” He took a sip of his drink. “When they came to the room, I was wearing naught but my breeches and Belinda, though wrapped in a blanket, wore nothing but her chemise.” Before Ram could even ask, Lucien continued. “We got soaked on the dash inside. We had to get out of our garments to let them dry. But the damage was done and needless to say, your father-in-law was none too pleased at the circumstance. The betrothal was decided upon in a matter of minutes.”

This, then, was not a good thing. If passion hadn’t caused the betrothal it was better for Lucien to back out now. If honor forced Lucien into a marriage he didn’t want he’d be miserable, and likely he’d make Belinda miserable too. “Then she wasn’t truly compromised, was she? Lucien, Beaumont is an honorable enough man. Offer to fund Belinda’s dowry, for I know her parents didn’t leave her anything, and as long as no one else was privy to the events at the inn…” He lost his train of thought when Lucien flushed. Bloody hell. When was the last time
that
happened? “You said nothing occurred at the inn?”

“Nay, nothing happened. At the inn.”

Ram stared in thought until understanding at Lucien’s discomfort dawned. “You couldn’t keep your hands off the girl in the carriage?”

Lucien’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. Ram was flabbergasted. “She’s not even the sort of woman you usually even fancy! Bloody hell, Lucien, what were you thinking? Might she be with child?”

Lucien’s gaze slammed to his, eyes wide with indignation. “Nay!” He blew out a breath. “If I’d gone that far in the carriage why would I deny myself at the inn?”

A valid point. Ram sighed in relief. “At least you still have
some
honor left.” He sloshed the remaining contents of his drink around in the tumbler. “I assume Beaumont knows nothing of what occurred in the carriage. You could still find a way out.”

“Hell, Ram. I’m nine and twenty years of age. It’s about time I think about a wife and a family anyway, don’t you agree?”

Ram sat back, dumbfounded. “You
want
to marry her? Are we referring to the same woman? Belinda Spencer? The timid one, with, and I quote directly from a libertine at court who has quite the reputation with the ladies, “no fire?”

“Would you stop saying her name like that?” Lucien snapped through gritted teeth. “There’s nothing in the least objectionable about the woman.” Ram stared at him as Lucien muttered something that sounded like, “she has more fire than any woman ought ever have.”

Nay, there wasn’t anything objectionable about Belinda at all. She was quite lovely, in fact, and Ram was very fond of her. But he couldn’t help but compare her to Izzy. Belinda lacked the vivaciousness and stubborn streak that charmed him so in her cousin. But perhaps a wife like Belinda would be best for Lucien. He needed a wife that wouldn’t lead him a merry chase the way Izzy did with him. The man was already spooked enough by the idea of marriage, a gentle woman would be better.

He stood and went to Lucien’s side, clapping his shoulder in a tight grip. “Congratulations, Lucien. I do believe there’s no woman better suited for you than Belinda Spencer. And with your marriage, we’ll be family. Cousins by marriage.”

Lucien smiled and raised his glass in a mock salute. “If you repeat this to anyone, I’ll deny it. But seeing what you share with Izzy, though trying at times, has made me realize that what I lack in life might be exactly what I need the most. I hope I find that sort of affection with Belinda. I’m already quite fond of her and marriages have begun on far less.”

If Lucien was willing to marry the woman, he must already have strong feelings for her, beyond mere fondness. Ram smiled, conjuring an image of the innocent vixen waiting for him upstairs. “I pray you find it too, my friend, for what I have with Izzy is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

***

Izzy picked at a string coming loose from her coverlet. Papa had left her alone over an hour ago and neither Ram nor Belinda had returned since. She was going mad with the need to question Belinda and find out how she’d gone from barely knowing Lucien only a few days ago, to becoming his betrothed today.

She was moments away from climbing out of bed to look for Belinda herself, even at the risk of a scolding from Ram, when the door opened and Belinda peeked her head in.

“Izzy! Don’t you dare get out of bed! What do you need? I’ll be happy to get it for you.” Her cousin bustled over to the bedside. Izzy’s hand snaked out and grasped Belinda’s arm, pulling her down into the chair beside the bed.

“I need to talk to you! I was going downstairs to find you. What on Earth happened, Bel? How did you come to be betrothed to Lucien? And so quickly? Were you keeping your courtship secret from me?”

“Oh! ‘Twas nothing like that, Izzy.” Belinda winced. “The circumstances are quite mortifying, actually. Your parents found us sharing a room together in an inn.”

Izzy’s mouth dropped open. “You?”

“Aye, me. There’s no need to look so surprised. It certainly wasn’t as sordid as it sounds.” She settled back against the chair Ram had used to keep his vigil. “Lucien was escorting me here in his carriage because Ram decided to come by mount. And lucky for you he did, too. Did the two of you finally put everything to right?”

Izzy ducked her head and nodded. “Aye, everything is perfect.”

“I’m happy for you.” Belinda said softly.

“I’m happy too. But you’re not distracting me so easily as that! What happened at that inn? Why were you even there?”

“We had to stop because the rain made the roads impassable. We suffered a drenching on the dash from the carriage to the inn. On top of that, we were forced to share the last room for let. Every traveler found their way to that inn that night it seemed. Of course Lucien was a perfect gentleman and had every intention of sleeping on the floor, giving me the bed. Nothing inappropriate occurred.”

Izzy caught her cousin’s wistful sigh. “But you wanted it to!” She was shocked. This was so unlike the usually staid and levelheaded Belinda she knew.

When her cousin blushed, Izzy knew her guess was correct. “My parents saw you at the inn? In your room?” She didn’t wait for a response, having already pieced together what happened after Papa discovered them alone together.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had feelings for Lucien? I thought you hardly knew one another.”

“We didn’t! But at court he saved me from an advance from an unwelcome suitor. And then as payment he demanded a kiss. I thought him loathsome. Well, not really, but I let him believe I did. And then the next day he apologized, and he was so gallant and helpful…” her voice trailed off and Izzy stared in amazement. Belinda was
babbling
!

“You kissed him at court! What was that like?” Izzy had been so involved with her own misery she’d missed an important event in her best friend’s life.              Belinda averted her gaze. “It was a short kiss.”

“He kissed you again, didn’t he?” Izzy leaned over the edge of the bed, grabbing Belinda’s hand and pulling it toward her until her cousin had no choice but to look at her. “If you know the difference between a long and short kiss…”

“In the carriage,” she whispered.

“And?” Izzy prompted.

“It’s not at all seemly for me to discuss this with you, Izzy.”

“Of course it is. I’m a married woman for heaven’s sake.” Rolling her eyes, she squeezed Belinda’s hand.

“Oh Izzy, it was so wonderful. I felt the most amazing sensations!”

“Like you were burning hot and tingly all over?”

“Aye! Precisely that! How did you know?”

Izzy laughed. “Oh, Belinda. ‘Tis the way I feel whenever Ram kisses me.”

“Truly?”

“Truly. You’re so lucky to marry a man who makes you feel that way. Are you happy, Belinda?”

“I was unhappy when he stopped kissing me. I thought he didn’t want me.”

“You silly goose, he was trying to be honorable. Would you want to lose your virginity in a carriage?”

Belinda’s cheeks grew pinker. “Nay. You’re right, of course. I accused him of not wanting me, but now that I think on it, I believe he was trying to be honorable.” A smile spread across her face.

“I’m so happy for you. You’ve so many wonderful things yet to discover.”

“Will you tell me what it will be like?”

Izzy regarded her cousin for a moment, wondering what to say. Her own initiation into the love act had been both eye-opening and shocking, but there would be no misunderstandings between Belinda and Lucien when their time came. “I think not. I believe it will please Lucien greatly to teach you these things himself.” She couldn’t help but laugh at Belinda’s crestfallen expression. “But Belinda? I look forward to each and every night I go to bed with Ram, and I have a feeling it shall be the same for you with Lucien!”

***

Two weeks later…

Izzy stifled a scream. She was tired of being stuck in bed like an invalid. Though she appreciated the love of her family and accepted their pampering and catering, if she didn’t look at something other than the four walls of the bedchamber soon, she’d go insane. Her strength returned a little more each day, and it looked likely she’d not be stricken with smallpox. She was weary of planning her renewal vows and Belinda’s wedding from the confines of bed. She longed to be outdoors, to feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair.

Grumbling, she slipped from the bed to steal to the wardrobe and put on a gown to join the company of the living downstairs. Just as she was rummaging about for something to wear, a pair of hands wrapped around her waist and hoisted her into the air. She squealed in surprise, which turned to pleasure when she found herself held firmly in Ram’s arms, cradled against his broad chest. She slipped her arms around his neck.

“What are you doing out of that bed?” he demanded, his eyebrows drawn together in a mock scowl.

“Oh, Ram. To continue insisting I remain cooped up in here is silly. I’m healthy as a horse. And I’m sick and tired of being abed.” She tightened her arms and raked her fingers through the hair at his nape. “Couldn’t we negotiate my return to the real world?”

His eyes kindled when she circled his ear lightly with her fingertips, then toyed with the soft skin of his lobe. “What did you have in mind, wife?”

“I thought perhaps a demonstration of my stamina might persuade you I’m well on the road to full recovery.” They hadn’t been intimate since their return to Cornwall, and Izzy yearned for him.

“Stop looking at me like that!”

“Like what?” she pouted.

“Like I’m some edible sweet you can’t wait to put into your mouth.”

His words sent a heavy surge of desire ricocheting through her body; a hollow, exquisite ache settled low in her belly. “Maybe I can’t wait to have you in my mouth.” she breathed.

He groaned. “You’re not playing fair.”

“Mmm. You knew when you married me I don’t play fair.”

His lips quirked in a rueful grin. “True enough.”

“Ram?”

“Aye, love?”

“Make love to me?”

He paused for the span of a heartbeat. “But you’ve been so ill…”

“I’m not ill any longer.” Twining her arms tighter about his neck, she raised her mouth to his. “Let me prove it.”

When she kissed him, his response was hesitant at first, but within moments a fire of need consumed them, and Ram’s insistent mouth became hard and demanding, urging a response from her with his lips and tongue.

Still holding her in his arms, he strode to the bed, laying her upon it, following her down. She reveled in the feel of his hard body pressing her into the soft down of the mattress and arched her body up against his. He growled in response.