The Inheritance (12 page)

Tension filled the air as they stepped inside the house and headed for the library. Charles sent a servant to find his wife and the duchess and ask them to come to the library. When the two men were behind closed doors once again, the earl turned to Nicholas and said, “I feel sorry for you, Nick. For you and Daisy both.”

“Don’t waste your time,” Nicholas said. “Daisy and I will be just fine.”

“You and Daisy will be just fine doing what?” Priss asked as she entered the library.

Daisy entered the library right behind Priss, but she stayed near the door in case she needed to make a quick escape.

Priss walked to Charles and lifted her cheek for his kiss.

“This is my wife, Priscilla, Countess of Rotherham,” Charles said, making the introduction to Nicholas.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Nicholas said.

“And you,” Priss said with a smile. “I hope you’ll call me Priss, because I just know we’re going to be great friends.”

Nicholas raised a skeptical brow but didn’t contradict her.

Priss turned to the earl, looped her arm through his, and said, “What have you two been doing that kept you away so long?”

“The duke and I were enjoying a short ride together.” He turned to Daisy and said, “By the way, I’ve changed my mind about Mr. Calloway. He’s welcome to visit Rockland Park any time.”

Daisy’s glance shot to Nicholas. So that was why he had wanted to come here today. To help his son. It seemed strange for her barbarian to do such a kindness. It gave her pause and forced her to look at the duke with new eyes. “Have you told Nicholas the good news?” Priss asked her husband.

“I have.”

“I’ve asked Daisy to be godmother, and she’s agreed,” Priss said excitedly. “Did you ask His Grace?”

There was a long silence as Nicholas and Charles exchanged glances. “No, I haven’t,” Charles said evenly.

“Well, for heaven’s sake. What did you two talk about?” Priss turned to Nicholas and said, “Charles and I want you to be godfather to our child.”

“I see.” Nicholas did see. At some point the earl had decided Nicholas wasn’t going to be such a good godfather after all. And in that case, he had to forgo the pleasure—and the responsibility—despite Priss’s offer. “I wish I could say yes, Priss, but I’ve been telling Charles that I’m not going to be in England long enough to stand in that role.”

“You’re not?” Priss exclaimed.

“I’ll be returning to America in the spring.”

Priss turned to Daisy, who was still standing by the door. “Oh, Daisy. I didn’t know you’d be going to America!”

“I’m not,” Daisy managed to say.

Priss looked from Daisy to Nicholas in confusion. “But … aren’t you two getting married?”

“We are,” Daisy said. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet that it’s a marriage of convenience.”

“Of
convenience
? That’s terrible! You can’t do it, Daisy. I won’t let you,” Priss said, bustling over to her friend and linking their arms. “You are a barbarian, Your Grace, if you can treat Daisy like that.”

Nicholas raised a brow. “I never claimed otherwise, ma’am.”

“Charles, do something,” Priss urged. “Speak to His Grace. Make him change his mind.”

“I’ve already had a talk with Nick,” Charles said. “It seemed to me that his mind’s pretty well made up.”

“There has to be something we can do,” Priss said.

“You can mind your own business,” Nicholas said.

“Watch how you speak to my wife.” The earl’s voice was sharp, his body tensed for action.

Nicholas smiled ruefully. “It was only a suggestion.”

Charles grimaced. “And not a bad one, I must say. Priss, I think we have to let the duke and duchess make up their own minds what’s best for them.”

“Charles, how can you defect to Nicholas’s side like that?” Priss wailed. “Can’t you see Daisy needs our help?”

“Do you need help, Daisy?” Charles asked.

Daisy freed herself from Priss’s grasp. “I appreciate what both of you are trying to do, but His Grace and I have discussed the matter thoroughly. We’ve arrived at a decision that suits us both. I’m sorry if
I’ve disappointed you, Priss,” she said as she faced her friend.

“Oh, Daisy, no!” Priss cried. “I’ll accept whatever you decide, truly I will. Only I don’t approve. I don’t think I can. But I promise not to say another word.” She glanced significantly at Nicholas. “To either of you. And now,” Priss said, “I think we should all sit down and have a nice hot cup of tea.”

“I can’t stay,” Nicholas said. “I’ve got work that needs to be done on the estate. Daisy?”

“I’ll ride back with you,” she said. “There are some other matters we need to discuss.”

Priss crossed to Charles, and he slipped an arm around her waist. “You will come back soon, won’t you? Both of you?” she said.

“We’ll be back,” Daisy assured her friend. She eyed Nicholas, but he neither confirmed nor denied her statement.

“I’ll take care of that little matter we discussed,” Charles said to Nicholas.

“Thanks. Let me know what you find out.”

“I’ll send word when I know anything.”

A moment later Daisy and Nicholas were gone.

Priss turned to her husband and said, “What is it you’re doing for His Grace?”

“It’s nothing,” Charles said. “Some business that’s long overdue.”

“It’s nice of you to help him,” Priss said.

“I hope he can handle whatever he uncovers,” Charles murmured.

“What’s that, dear?”

“Nothing. Have I told you today how beautiful you are, my love?”

Priss smiled. “Why no, Charles. I don’t believe you have.”

The earl slowly tugged his wife into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. “Then it’s time I did.”

Daisy held her mount to a slow trot, and the duke kept pace with her. It was easier—and safer—discussing matters with Nicholas on horseback, Daisy mused, because that way there was no chance he could corner her. She had no intention of allowing herself to be compromised before her wedding day, and she wasn’t certain she could trust Nicholas not to seduce her. The situation was especially dangerous because she knew herself to be vulnerable to his seduction.

Not that she didn’t chide herself endlessly for her attraction to the duke. She simply couldn’t help it. When she looked at Nicholas, she felt not only the irritation and aggravation natural under the circumstances, but also the first stirrings of arousal. She was in an untenable predicament, but one from which there was no escape. At least not one that she could see.

“I thought we could visit a few of the tenants,” Daisy said. “You could meet them and judge for yourself their reaction to your suggestions for change.”

“It doesn’t matter whether they like the changes or not,” Nicholas said. “They’re going to be made.”

Daisy forced herself to remain outwardly calm, but her horse curveted, sensing her agitation. She brought the Thoroughbred under control and turned to Nicholas. “It is precisely that overbearing, callous attitude they will expect, Your Grace,” Daisy said. “Which is why they will be disinclined to cooperate with you.”

“I don’t intend to indulge them, ma’am,” Nicholas said, returning her icy formality with his own. “It’s my understanding that the duke’s word is law.”

“People have been known to break harsh laws,” Daisy retorted.

Nicholas’s gray eyes turned cold and dangerous. “If they try, they’ll have me to answer to.”

“What are you going to do? Shoot them?” Daisy said with a sneer of derision. “I understand you’ve done a great deal of killing in America. You’ll find that sort of behavior won’t be tolerated here!”

Nicholas yanked Daisy off her horse and into his lap so fast she didn’t have time to protest. No Englishman would have dared accost a lady in such a manner. But, of course, Nicholas didn’t play by civilized rules. He had his own code of conduct, which meant that he did as he pleased.

“Put me down!” Daisy said as she struggled in his arms.

“Be still, or I’ll drop you.”

“Let me go!” Daisy insisted.

She should have known better. The scoundrel let her go.

Daisy landed in a flurry of skirts on the grassy ground. She lay stunned for a moment, uncertain
whether she was seriously hurt, or whether she had simply had the wind knocked out of her. A moment later two booted feet appeared in front of her.

“Are you hurt?”

“It would serve you right if I were. I’d see you spent time in gaol for assault! That is, if they put dukes in gaol. They probably wouldn’t dare, because you’d give them some story that turned everything around so this was all my fault. Only I haven’t done anything!”

“You’re fine,” Nicholas said with a chuckle, “if you’ve got enough wind for a tirade like that.”

“I hate you!” Daisy said. “I truly despise you!”

“Yeah, it sure as hell looks that way.” Nicholas grabbed Daisy by one arm and hauled her to her feet. Her hat had fallen off and pulled a few of the pins from her hair, so the copper mass tumbled magnificently around her shoulders. Her face was flushed, and her green eyes flashed with fury. She had never looked more delectable.

She opened her mouth to scold him again, and Nicholas covered it with his own. Daisy struggled for a moment, but he wasn’t about to let her go. He would show her who would be master in his house. He wasn’t going to let a fiery redhead dictate to him. Not even if she was a duchess.

His mouth was hard on hers, but it wasn’t until he tasted blood that he realized how ruthlessly he was kissing her. He raised his head and stared into her wounded eyes, stunned at the feral behavior she had provoked in him. He hadn’t cared enough about a woman to become enraged by one. Yet Daisy had provoked him to act like a savage.

For a moment he felt remorse. He almost let her
go. Until he realized there was something else besides brutality in his kiss. There was need, a desperate need that she fulfilled, a craving that only she could satisfy.

He lowered his head once more, watching her eyes drift closed as he sought out her mouth with his own. His lips met hers in the softest of caresses, and his tongue slid out to soothe the hurt he had done. Her lips were pliant, surrendering to his plunder. But his need was too great for gentle kisses. His hands slid down, and he pulled her close as his tongue urgently stroked her mouth.

Nicholas found it impossible to catch his breath. He had never wanted a woman like he wanted Daisy. Never needed a woman like he needed her. He would surely die if he couldn’t have her.

Nicholas tore his mouth from Daisy’s and stared down at her with heavy-lidded eyes. She was a witch. She had ensorceled him. That was the only explanation for the way his heart pounded, for the way his body ached. For the inexplicable need he felt.

He had learned never to want anything too much. It was too hard to live with his wishes unfulfilled. He was determined not to fall under Daisy’s spell. He could and would resist her siren’s call. He forced himself to step back from her. It took an amazing effort to let her go. He was glad when they finally stood a foot apart. He was safe now. She had no more power over him.

“Don’t cross me, Daisy,” he said in a harsh voice. “You won’t like the consequences.”

Slowly, and with great contempt, Daisy wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, removing all
traces of the duke and his kisses. “I may have to endure your animal urges when we’re husband and wife, but until then, I’ll thank you to leave me alone, Your Grace.”

Nicholas’s lip curled in a mocking smile. “Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it, Daisy. I won’t believe you.”

She flushed, conceding the truth of his allegation. “That’s not the point.”

“What is the point?”

“If you can’t see it for yourself, it won’t do me any good to point it out to you,” she said in a weary voice.

“Try me.”

She searched his face to see whether he was serious. She clasped her hands together in front of her to hide the fact they were trembling and said, “Just now, when you kissed me, you weren’t thinking of how I felt, you were thinking only of yourself. And it wasn’t pleasure you sought. You were punishing me for daring to contradict you.”

This time Nicholas flushed. But he didn’t apologize or explain. “You shouldn’t have provoked me.”

Daisy sighed in exasperation. “Is that how you treat every woman who provokes you?”

Nicholas grinned. “No. Only the pretty ones.”

“You deserve every horrible thing that’s ever happened to you!” Daisy hissed, enraged by his levity.

The grin faded from Nicholas’s face. His features tightened, his lips flattened into a thin line, and a muscle jerked in his cheek.

Daisy was too angry herself to realize she had crossed a line and lit the fuse on a keg of gunpowder. One minute she was opening her mouth to castigate
the duke, the next he had her by the arms and was shaking her within an inch of her life. She was so dizzy she would have fallen if he hadn’t had a bruising grip on her arms. Her heart pounded with fear when she glimpsed the coldblooded violence in his eyes.

“You know nothing about my life,” he raged through gritted teeth. “You know nothing about me. How dare you say I
deserved
to see my mother take up whoring so we could live! How dare you say I
deserved
to watch her die on the floor of a wooden shack when I was only thirteen years old!”