Married by Morning (6 page)

   “I am so pleased that your brother decided to invite me for supper so I could meet such a beautiful lady.  You are so demure and have such a kind face.  I think I would love to call on you next week for a buggy ride if you are available?”

     “I am pleased to meet you Viscount Rally.  I will have to ask my brother’s permission but I would think he would have no objections.”

    “Sister, please we are in mourning but a little buggy ride around our property would be most pleasant for you.  You need to get some fresh air.  It will do you good and I know Viscount Rally is a gentleman.”

    “Thank you brother, it would be most pleasant. I await your pleasure sir.”

Rachael blushed and forked her potatoes in astonishment.  What was her brother doing?  This was very odd. There seemed to be a man for every lady.  She had never dreamed that she would get a man’s attention much less a buggy ride?  It was so exciting.  She blushed and hid her face in her napkin.

     “Sister Stella, the gentleman to your left is the Duke of Avery.  I am sorry if I did not get to introduce you earlier. You all dawdled so long in your dressing rooms that he had already sat in my study.  He has wanted an introduction to you.  He has exclaimed over your beauty on several occasions.” He nodded to the austere gentleman with impeccable clothes of deepest purple.  Stella made a face at her brother and turned to the Duke.  “I am pleased to make your acquaintance your Grace.  I had no idea we had someone of your rank here.”

She smiled broadly up at him.  He was a rather tall individual and very pleasant to look upon too.  Stella felt an immediate attraction with the man.  He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.  She pushed her hands back under the table.  She was not used to any attentions from a man. She thought there were none capable enough for her many sexual appetites.  Maybe, there was hope after all.  The Duke of Avery smiled back at her. This woman was not shy at all and he had never seen such delicious red hair in ages. The Duke whispered for her ears only, “You are a spicy little dish.  I bet we can find some new spices for your entertainments.”  She giggled under her breath.

     “Lord Rathbone is your fish to you liking?  I have had better but our cook said it was fresh.  I hope you have made the acquaintance of my other sister, Lady Diane Stewart.  She is so petite and sweet that she is occasionally overlooked but a diamond in the ruff, I assure you.  She can sit a horse on any course of the hunt. As you love a good fox hunt, I thought you two might enjoy some conversation.”

     “I am enchanted, I am sure.”  He took Diane’s hand and smothered it with kisses.  “I should love to go riding in the morning with such an accomplished horse woman.  I have a ride at dawn every day.  I brought my stallion with me. Would you do me the honor Lady Diane?” She turned to her brother and looked up shyly into his face with new hope. 

     “I. . . I would be honored, I am sure.  Is that acceptable to you brother dear? I mean, Lord Darby?” She let a small giggle escape as her hand cupped her mouth.

    “Call me brother sweetness.  I am sure Lord Rathbone will take good care of you.  I will tell the stable boy to have your horses ready in the morning.  You must promise, however, to be back by nine in the morning for the wedding.  I would hate to have you miss it.” Diane nodded vigorously her assent.

     “I am sure we will be back in plenty of time, brother.  Oh, thank you.” She hugged him, actually hugged him for the first time he could remember.

     Sebastian beamed at his youngest sister and felt ten feet tall.  Oh, yes, this was working out splendidly.  He could have them all off his hands, maybe by the end of the week.  Then he would not have to eject them bodily himself.  He was so pleased with himself he forgot to glance at his mother who was scowling at him.

Lady Darby had realized his plans and was furious. He would not get by with this.  She would not let this wedding take place.  If she had to take the girl out herself, it would be done.  He would not get to have any peace, not while she was alive.  Just what did he think, she was a foolish schoolgirl?

    Lord Thornton tried to engage Lady Darby in another conversation but she just ignored him.  He slipped his hand under the table and found her knee.  He gently massaged it and moved back and forth over her gown.  She turned to him and harrumphed as she grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard and flung it away.  He laughed.  This would be fun.  The old lady had some spirit in her after all.  He had not had a good woman in a long time and he would not be put off from this one.  Lord Darby was paying twice as much for this one to get married because he said she was so mean but Lord Thornton loved a good battle with the opposite sex.  He loved it rough and he would tame this old biddy and have fun too.  He grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers hard with a glint of wickedness in his eyes, he whispered,” I will have to hold your hand my dear to make you mind me.”  “Maybe, it will be me making you mind, Lord Thornton.”

“Call me Thorny or Horny but don’t call me Lord Thornton, my Rose.”  “I assure you I am no rose.”  “Oh, I agree there, probably the thorn, I need in my side.  You must give me the pleasure I crave.  I believe I can give you pleasure too.”  Lady Darby twisted his fingers into a pulp and grinned into his pain filled eyes. She then turned her attention elsewhere.  Lord Thornton recovered and grinned wider than he had in a decade.  This was going to be such fun, he thought. She ignored him the rest of the meal but the night was still young.

   Lady Darby rose after the last course and excused the ladies while the men had their port and cigars.  She was in a huff and a hurry to get started on her plans.  This night would be long.

* * * *

Chapter Five

   In the salon Lady Darby had her daughters and sister, and Lady Penton convened in a corner.  She was determined to rid herself of the woman that wanted to marry Sebastian in the morning and thereby become the new Lady Darby.  That was unthinkable.  She could not allow it.  “We must have a plan for this girl to be gone by morning.”  “I could not get over all the men at dinner.  We have not had such an array in a long time, Mother.  I was most impressed by our brother understanding our needs.  Surely mother you see that we all have dreams of having our own husbands.”  “Of course, Stella, but I will see that we have the proper gentlemen entertained at our balls.  I will see all of you happily married.”  “Excuse me mother but I have not had my needs seen to these past years.  I want a man of rank and of my appetites.  The Duke of Avery is just the sort of rascal I have always wanted.”  “You must be joking, he is a degenerate.  I would not have my daughter around such a nasty fellow.”  “See, there is where we differ.  My brother knows me more than you.  I could not ask for more in a man, rank and sexual appetites of all kinds.”  “That is my point!  You will all listen to me this instant.  I will have none of this behavior to dampen our reputations.  I mean this, young ladies.  You are to listen to me.  I know what is best for my daughters. “   “We know mother.  It is our wish to make you the happiest of mothers.”  They all hung their heads and looked away from their mother’s eyes.  This was not going to be easy.  Her son had thought this battle out thoroughly.  He was no fool, after all.  She grinned to herself and watched as her nemesis, Constance approached them.  “Lady Constance Templeton, I believe you know my daughters and my sister.  You met my son’s betrothed, Lady Tracy Lee Penton, earlier?”  “Yes, I did meet your Lady Penton, but I am Lord Darby’s betrothed and we will be wed in the morning, as you know.  I know my future mother in law you planned otherwise but it is not happening so you need to tottle off to your bed and behave yourself tonight.” 

“Well, I never!”  Lady Darby rolled her eyes and sat down in the rose chair.

“Precisely my thinking.” Connie rolled her eyes and sat on the sofa.

“Lady Constance, won’t we get to see the men.  I do not want to leave until I see Mister Fenster again. He is all that is kind to me.” Aunt Mable blushed and looked away.  Her eyes were bright.  She wasn’t the only lady looking at the drawing room door hungrily and after they had already eaten.  Connie smiled to herself and turned to Stella.  “You and the Duke appeared to have a lot in common.  He was most attentive to you.”  “He seemed to value my conversation.”  Stella picked at her green silk sleeve. Her gown was the perfect color for a woman with bright red hair and green eyes.  “I do hope that he did not think I was too forward in my conversation.”  “I am sure he did not.  I think he was very taken with you.”  “Do you really think so sister?”  “Do not be calling her sister, you brazen huzzy.  That man is nothing but a reprobate.” Her mother screamed.  “A reprobate Duke, with plenty of properties and fine carriages is a fine fellow to have conversation with.”  “I think Lord Thornton liked you mother,” Rachael interjected.  “Oh, do be quiet, silly girl.”  “He did seem taken with you.”  Stella smiled at her mother wickedly when she saw her hide a blush.

    Lord Darby looked at the gentlemen in his study and thought he had made a good selection.  The fellows liked to converse with the women and each other.   “Gentlemen, shall we join the ladies?” They all stood and strolled into the salon.  Lord Thornton went straight as an arrow to Lady Darby.  Sebastian smirked to himself.  If he could get rid of his step mother he would dance all night at her wedding.  Then he saw the Duke make a beeline for Stella and his heart stood still.  Anyone that would like Stella was out of their minds.  He whistled as he walked to the window.  “What a marvelous night this is,” he whispered into Connie’s ear where she stood looking out at the night.  “I am thinking of tomorrow night, since that is our wedding night and you talk about this night.  What are you so happy about tonight?  I wonder?”  Connie looked up into his magnificent purple eyes and blushed.  I thought I was clever but I see my husband to be is more clever than I.”  “Oh, it is still just a plan but they are getting on, at least some of them.”  He looked at his odd cousins again and shook his head.  “Some of our relatives are a little gruesome.  I wonder where they hide until a funeral?”  “Oh, Sy do not say such things.” He nodded toward his cousins and Connie shuddered at their appearances.

     Sebastian noticed that his stepmother was in a very heated conversation with his Aunt Mable.  He strolled over in that direction.  “I am here to tell you Mable, that I forbid you going for a walk with Mister Fenster.” “Why is that mother dearest?  I see no harm in it.  They have my permission.  Aunt Mable, you and Mister Fenster stroll about the gardens if you like.  I will watch that all propriety is observed.  You go on and have your entertainment.”  “Thank you Darby, you are good to me.”  “Mother, may I have a word with you?  Why do you persist in tormenting your sister?  What did she ever do to you for you to hate her so?”  “I do not hate my sister.  She is just addlepated in the head and I must look to her care.”  “You do not look to her care but to her torment.  This is the first time I have ever seen her try to have a conversation with a man and you try to destroy it?  You should be seeing if anyone of these men would ever dare to be in your company?”  “I beg your pardon, but one of the gentlemen did like my company.”  “I can’t believe it, but if he did you should be very thankful for it will probably never happen again.”  ”Harrumph, I will show you.” Sebastian watched as his stepmother swanned over to Lord Thornton.  The man was more than interested.  It was so wonderful that his plan was working he smacked his thigh and paced back to Connie by the window.  “You are going to catch a cold with the size of those goose bumps on your shoulders.”  He chuckled as he licked her earlobe.  Connie shivered and looked at him from beneath her winged lashes.  “I was wondering where you ran off to. Did you ever look into your cousin’s origins?”  “From the looks of him, I think he might have been hatched from under a rock.  I would not care to find out too much about him, my love.  Did you see my stepmother go over to converse with Lord Thornton?”  “Oh, yes, that looks very hopeful.  I must say I am most impressed at your efforts.”

     “Lord Thornton  did you enjoy your port?”  “It would have tasted better if it had been with you, Lady Darby.”  Lady Darby blushed and smiled a real smile for the first time all night.  “I cannot think how I would have improved the port?”  Lord Thornton turned to the side and whispered into Lady Darby’s ear, “I could have poured it on your sweet cheeks and licked it off.” Chuckling, Lady Darby shivered, “What makes you think I would ever let a gentleman lick port off my face?”  In a more hushed and huskier tone, “Who says it would be your face and who says I would be asking your permission.  I could bind you head and foot and torture your senses until you squeal in delight.”  “Lady Darby backed away and waved her fan over her face vigorously.  Her face a rose color she looked into his eyes in wonder.  “You, my Lord, would have a struggle on your hands. I do not succumb easily.”  “I am counting on it. I love a struggle.  It stirs the blood. Do you have any handcuffs or would you prefer scarves?”  “Sir, you do presume entirely too much.  I have scarves but no one has used them on me.  I could not be subdued. I have a whip I can use quite handily. I welcome the match.” Lady Darby wiped shimmers of sweat off her upper lip with her handkerchief.   “How about you come to me at midnight in my room?” “It will be my room.  I am after all a lady and cannot run around a house at all hours of the night.”  Lord Thornton nodded.  “Then I leave you until then my sweet while I can still walk without embarrassing myself.”  He bowed and paced over to Lord Darby.  “I see you have taken to my stepmother.  Is she not all that is wonderful in a woman of her rank.”  “Um…I believe so my Lord Darby.  I cannot wait to explore her possibilities, I mean her personality.”  “I give you leave to stay a few days and make better acquaintance.  You er…must…need…have my blessings.”  “Thank you Lord Darby, I think that would be agreeable.”  Lord Thornton laughed and shook his hand.