Rogues Gallery (54 page)

"But why?" Simon was genuinely puzzled. "She is your bride. You were not forced to wed her, were you?"

"No. But she is not what I envisioned for my bride, or more importantly, for Lucinda's mother."

Simon blew out an exasperated breath. "Then you should have chosen another woman. One who could meet your impossibly lofty standards."

"I did! And my unexpected feelings for Felicia caused the woman to end our engagement, creating a scandal I had been trying to avoid in the first place."

Simon sat back in his chair, nonplussed. "Well."

"So you can see my concern. I vowed to ignore the temptation of Felicia, yet now she is my bride."

Simon took a sip of brandy, eying Hugh while he spoke. "I am confident Felicia will be an excellent mother. Perhaps not always the pattern card for exemplary behavior. But then, neither is Lucinda's father."

"That is precisely the problem. Lucinda needs at least one parent who can be counted on not to court scandal." Hugh sighed. "I have tried to be that parent. But last night, after attempting to stay away from Felicia, I could not withstand her entreaties. I told myself we could surely enjoy ourselves a small amount—"

"And then you fell asleep."

"Please, repeat it several more times, until you can utter it without a hint of humor in your voice."

Simon did not even try to hide his smile this time. "I suppose I should apologize for my unseemly amusement at your expense."

"You have earned the right." Hugh grinned. "I enjoyed your matrimonial distress more than I let on."

"And you let on plenty." Simon paused. "Still, I would suggest you find a way to balance your parental responsibilities with your marital pleasures."

"I cannot imagine it is possible. How could it be? My parents certainly never managed it."

"And you've already proven you are not at all like them," Simon stated. "When you took in Lucinda and banished Lord Wastrel."

Hugh felt hope rising in his chest.

"And," Simon continued, "I have no plans to leave Georgiana's bed once she blesses me with an heir and a spare." His eyes twinkled mischievously. "I daresay she would not permit it either. She is convinced that rakes make the best husbands."

Simon's grin was a self-satisfied one, and Hugh had to admit, he had never seen his friend in such high spirits. Clearly there were more benefits to marriage than he had anticipated.

"I will confess I find myself drawn to Felicia in ways I had not predicted. Not merely the physical ones."

Simon nodded. "Not surprising in the least." He took another measured sip before adding, "Everything is different. When you're in love."

"I have no idea where you got the notion that love plays a part in this," Hugh scoffed. "Clearly I desire my wife, and I enjoy her exuberant personality. I always have. This is a convenient match, for the both of us—"

"Perhaps that is what you tell yourself. But it is quite clear this is not some dalliance. You would not have wed Felicia if that were the case."

Hugh wanted to dispute the statement, but he could not. He felt such a variety of emotions when he was with Felicia, and, surprisingly, when she was not even in the vicinity. It was no wonder confusion reigned, in both his heart and his brain.

His body was the only part of him that experienced no confusion—merely impatience.

"So how is it different?" Hugh finally asked, needing guidance in this uncharted territory.

"You will find out soon enough."

"A cryptic answer?" Hugh nearly groaned. "Next you shall tell me all of this agony is for my own good."

"Not at all. That is merely for my entertainment. Much like hearing of your premature. . . slumber. At least Felicia does not know what she was deprived of last night." Simon tried but could not hold back his amusement. "Although—"

Hugh raised his eyebrows.

"Georgie informed me how much they enjoy discussing these topics. I suspect they are conversing about it in great detail at this very moment."

Hugh grabbed the brandy bottle once more. "I am indeed cursed."

***

"I
cannot believe it!" Georgie squealed with laughter. "He fell asleep?"

Felicia joined in with her. "It is true. I counted myself fortunate when I finally persuaded him to unbolt the connecting door. He has spent the past weeks avoiding me, and then he finally succumbed to exhaustion."

"Yet you are not at all distressed."

"No, I am not. He stirs me, quite a lot in fact. And I am confident I stir him in the same fashion. But he is fighting those feelings."

"But why?"

"I do not know. I suspect it is because he takes his role as a parent very seriously. You would scarce recognize the Lord Wastrel he once was—"

Georgiana's teacup stopped in mid-air. "Parent? How could that be? Even had you consummated—last evening—which you did not—"

Felicia giggled at Georgiana's obvious bewilderment. "He has a delightful daughter. Lucinda. From a long-ago liaison with an opera dancer."

Georgiana's cup clattered in the saucer as she set it aside. "And I thought having ladybirds at my wedding was the ultimate in shocking. You have outdone me." She hugged Felicia tightly. "How do you feel about all of this?"

"I have never been happier. No, truly. I adore Lucinda. She is so much like Hugh, but with an impish side that I would lay claim to if I could. We get on famously. In truth, I think that is what makes Hugh nervous. He was originally betrothed to someone a great deal more sedate than me."

Georgiana's eyebrows flew upwards. "Heavens, I have missed so much while on my honeymoon sojourn. You must tell me everything."

Felicia grinned. "As you must. I have need of much information with regard to wedding nights."

"Well, I was surprised to learn that wedding nights do not always involve the nighttime hours." She blushed. "Nor is a bed even required."

"I cannot wait to hear more! Perhaps I shall surprise Hugh this afternoon with my newfound knowledge."

"I daresay he shall be surprised." Georgiana paused. "Especially if he is not the wastrel he once was, and is now quite the staid, respectable sort—"

"I prefer stuffy," Felicia said with a giggle. "Or toplofty. Though I know it is for his daughter's sake. He worries so about her being born on the wrong side of the blanket."

"Perhaps he must be convinced that you are the right sort of mother for his daughter. Once you relieve his mind of that worry, everything else will fall into place as it should."

"It makes perfect sense. Although," she confessed, "I also want his heart. I fell madly in love, instantly, but this family curse does not appear to have affected Hugh in the same fashion."

"He may need more time. As I did, with Simon."

Georgiana's unabashed happiness made hope swell anew in Felicia's heart. She had consoled her best friend when it seemed all was lost, yet Georgiana and Simon had found their way around the obstacles keeping them apart. Surely Felicia and Hugh could do the same.

"I can only hope it will not take as much time as it has with Great-Aunt Uproar."

And she proceeded to fill Georgiana in on the gossip about her favorite relative and the family curse.

"Lucinda, I believe it would be more prudent if we waited for your Papa."

Felicia was fairly certain the groom was taking longer than usual to saddle the horse. She wanted to thank him for his assistance in delaying the headstrong little girl's plans, and assure him he had nothing to fear regarding his future employment. She would also ensure a generous bonus was soon on its way to him.

Lucinda bounced on her toes, her excitement nearly toppling her over. "Papa will not be upset," she said with the confidence of a young girl who had her Papa in the palm of her hand.

"Are you so sure, poppet?"

Hugh lounged against the stable door, his arms crossed, doing his best to appear stern. He might have stood a better chance if Lucinda hadn't run to him with her arms held high, the very picture of genuine excitement.

"Papa! I am going to ride the pony." She thrust her arm out towards the groom. "See?"

"Lucinda," Hugh began.

The minx kept her head turned away, as if fascinated by the process involved in checking the fastenings on the saddle.

Hugh cleared his throat. At the same time he cast a look at Felicia that made her knees buckle. She had done her best to stay away from him the entire morning, so that she would not be tempted to recommence their interrupted wedding night. However, the heat in his gaze was melting her resolve.

Fortunately, Lucinda had provided Felicia a very good reason to keep away from Hugh, along with an opportunity to demonstrate what a good mother she could be.

Unfortunately, Lucinda had proved more of a handful than Felicia had anticipated.

"Lucinda," Hugh said once more. This time he grasped her stubborn chin and tilted it his direction. Felicia smothered a giggle at how hard the child struggled to resist. At the same time, she sympathized, for she had been possessed of a similar strong will at her age.

Some would say she had never outgrown her stubbornness.

"Yes, Papa?" Lucinda answered with a bright voice. She even added a smile, as if hoping to distract her father from his lecture.

Hugh's lips twitched, but only Felicia was able to appreciate the gesture.

"You are not permitted to come to the stables, or to ride, without me present."

"But—"

"Which means you should only be here when you accompany me."

"But—"

"It is for your safety, poppet. I would perish if you were to come to harm." He squeezed her tight, his eyes closed as if to shut out the thought of her in peril. Felicia felt a chill race up her spine. She was so attached to the little girl already, and she loved Hugh so much. She could not bear the thought of him losing what he held most dear in all the world.

Lucinda patted his head. "But I knew you would be here."

"You are the most accomplished liar," Hugh said, laughing.

She giggled too. "May I ride the horse now?"

"Do I have your word you will not come here without me?"

She nodded vigorously, making her curls fly in every direction.

Hugh called out to the groom, who walked the horse over, holding the reins while Hugh sat Lucinda atop the patient animal.

Lucinda's joy was palpable, for even the groom could not hold back a smile as she grinned and patted the horse's neck. She swiveled to find Felicia. "Look! I am riding the horse all by myself."

"I can see that," Felicia croaked out, surprised at how nervous this entire experience was making her. "Hugh, you have a firm grip on her, do you not?"

"Indeed I do," he answered. He turned her direction and winked. In the next moment, his lips lifted in the most beguiling fashion, as if he was imagining her in her nightrail. Her heart galloped madly, for she could not help but remember those delicious moments from last night.

She shook off the wayward thoughts. She must focus on her parental responsibilities rather than the marital pleasures awaiting her in the hopefully-near future.

Though it almost seemed as if Hugh were bound and determined to derail her efforts.

Felicia watched Lucinda do her best to stay atop the pony by herself, pushing at Hugh's tight hold on her. Felicia had to keep her fists clenched at her sides so she could not give in to the urge to grab the little girl and hold her close.

Being a mother was a more nerve-wracking proposition than she had expected. No wonder her brother had always been such a fusspot. Felicia knew she had not been an easy child to raise.

She also felt a swell of sympathy for all that Hugh had taken on with the unexpected role of parent. It was bound to contain a great deal of anxious moments, especially with this adventurous child.

Lucinda's delighted squeals caught Felicia's attention once more.

"Faster, Papa. I want to go faster."

"I know you do, but your Papa is not quite as brave as you are."

He continued to lead the horse at a slow pace. Lucinda did her best to spur the horse on to greater speed, but the animal merely gave her an exasperated look over its shoulder.

They made another circle and when they passed by Felicia, Lucinda cried out, "I want to go faster, Mama. Tell Papa to make the horse go fast."

Hugh nearly stumbled, quickly catching his balance and then looking at Felicia to gauge her reaction. Felicia's heart thudded, harder than it ever had.

Lucinda had called her Mama.

She had not contemplated that Lucinda would consider her as a parent so soon. The child had barely lost her mother. Felicia had hoped that perhaps one day—

She heard an insistent clap of baby hands, intent on pulling her out of the trance she had fallen into. She took a deep breath and did her best not to smile. The little minx would never listen to any guidance if she knew how amusing her antics were.

"Lucinda, I can understand your desire to go faster. But as you can see, your poor Papa is about to swoon at the mere thought of it."

He tossed her another devilish grin that Lucinda could not see. Fortunately Felicia was clasping the rail of the riding corral so she could not faint away at the gesture.

"But—" Lucinda attempted.

Felicia returned a determined stare. "We are just concerned for your safety. We want you to have many opportunities to ride Blossom here."

Lucinda's lips pushed out in her trademark pout, and Felicia could see from the frown on her forehead she was digging for a rebuttal that would convince her parents to change their minds.

To head off any further dissent, Felicia said, "How about we take a trip to Astley's Amphitheatre? You can see many horses there, along with acrobats and trick riders. I have not been in ages, but it has always been an amusing adventure."

One corner of Hugh's lip pulled down, so he was not enamored of the idea for some reason. But Lucinda squealed with delight, and Felicia instantly knew she was in trouble.

How could she ever say no if this was Lucinda's response to yes?

***

L
ucinda's boisterous enthusiasm about Astley's had finally worn her down, and Hugh managed to persuade her a nap was in order, despite her repeated yawning assurances that she was not at all sleepy.