The Passionate Love of a Rake (30 page)

Shock imprisoned the breath in her lungs, and an ice-cold chill solidified her blood. “Joshua.” She said his name aloud, without even realising it.

Robert looked.

Joshua was sitting in his curricle a little further up the street, a groom holding the horses steady. Joshua had clearly flicked the whip to draw her attention.

“Ignore him,” Robert said, turning back. Jane looked up at the front door as her heart thumped in her chest and her hand slipped from his arm.

She measured her pace, but she could think of nothing but getting inside. Jenkins, Robert’s butler, already held the door open, which surely meant Joshua had been there long enough for him to cause the household some concern.

He’d been awaiting their return.

They had been in town for three hours, and he’d found them.

Robert was close behind her when she crossed the threshold, and the door shut immediately once they were through. Her fingers pressed to her throat, and she felt as though she could not breathe. Her hands shook. She let them fall and struggled to remove her gloves. Robert caught her hands and held them still until she looked up and met his gaze.

“I’ll not go out,” he stated bluntly. Then he turned to Jenkins. “Fetch Lady Marlow a glass of brandy.” His fingers worked loose her gloves, and when they were off, he gave them to a footman as Jenkins returned with a bottle and a glass. Robert took both in one hand and gripped her elbow. “Come on, girl, you are made of sterner stuff than that. Let’s go upstairs.”

She gave him a shaky smile and let him lead her. He took her to his bedchamber – their bedchamber. Once there, he kicked the door shut and let her go, then uncorked the bottle with his teeth, poured some brandy into the glass, and held it out to her. When she didn’t immediately take it, he said jokingly, “It’s a good medicine for nerves.”

She couldn’t smile, though she knew that was what he wished her to do, but she took the glass. “I didn’t think he would be this quick. But I was right. He came. He has nothing else to divert him as much as we shall now.”

“Just drink it, Jane. Forget about him for a bit.”

She sipped the burning liquid, more to appease him than because she wanted to. Its heat slid straight into her veins. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth relax her muscles.

A shout rang out in the street below the window. Jane opened her eyes and turned.

It was a distinct, deep, masculine voice, the words indefinable, yet the threat clear. Then a hullabaloo broke out beneath the window. There were numerous voices, shouting and barking orders, arguing. Jane lifted the glass and drank all the brandy as she’d seen Robert do, then coughed, choking as it burned her throat. Robert took the empty glass and set it aside. She crossed to the window and held back the swathe of curtain so she could look from behind it without making her presence obvious. A group of eight rough-looking men were addressing Joshua in loud voices, ordering him to move on.

Jane sensed Robert at her shoulder and glanced back as he also leaned over and looked down. He smiled.

“My new footmen,” he stated, as though they watched nothing more than someone taking a picnic in the park. “Jenkins has a good eye. I wonder where he got them. I’d make a guess at the docks. Handy that they are not in uniform yet. Sutton cannot blame me. They’ll look even more impressive when they are though. They are to be our own private army, Jane. What do you think?”

“You will just rile him further.”

Robert straightened and looked at her. His brown gaze was deep with satisfaction, clearly congratulating himself on winning this round.

“Upsetting him suits me.” His fingers gripped her waist as he spoke. He bowed his head, and her arms came up about his neck. They kissed. It was tender and full of thirst, and when he broke it, he whispered across her lips. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes, I remember. You were begging me to stay and make love to you. I have decided to concede, sweetheart. Come along.” He took her hand and began walking backward towards the bed.

She smiled at the devilish glint in his eyes – of avarice.

~

Robert loved her with a hard, intense determination. He wished to make her forget. He hurried into the main event to that end, bringing her on top of him, so she could feel some control over her life and know she could have that with him.

They were hidden from the world within the shroud of her long, dark hair, but once she’d broken, she was too languid, and her limbs too weak to move, so he took charge and concentrated on dominating her thoughts, dropping her weight hard and thrusting up, burying himself deep within her, over and over.

This was bliss, this, now, when she was utterly in love with him and thought of nothing else. She was so beautiful when she was like this, completely free of burdens.

He tipped her back on to the bed so he could move more freely, one hand gripping her breast as he continued besieging her senses, deliberately driving her mad for him while he gritted his teeth, refusing to race towards his own end.

He desperately wanted her mind free of Sutton and full of
him
. He wanted her to trust him and cease thinking and speaking of Sutton.

“Jane,” Robert whispered as he drew nearer the end.

She loved him, he knew that. Her body gave him its faith, her heart, too. He just had to convince her head.

When she broke one more time, he followed her into that sea of serenity, his shoulders shivering as she gripped them, and his forehead fell to rest on hers as he braced himself against the torrent of feeling that swept into every vein, muscle, and nerve.

He was damp with sweat, and his muscles trembled when he lifted his head. She smiled. He smiled, too, feeling a warm pain about his heart.

Rap, rap. Two sharp strikes hit the wood of the bedchamber door. The pair of them jumped. Robert rolled off her and on to his back, his breathing not yet steady.

“My lord?”

Jenkins.

Surely they’d got rid of Sutton.

“What is it?” Robert called.

“Lord Edward is at the door, sir. Shall I let him in?”

“Yes, I’ll come down.” Robert rose and reached hurriedly for his clothes as he saw Jane do the same. Her face was crimson.

Gripping his garments in one hand, Robert went to the window. There was no sign of the Duke of Sutton’s phaeton, but there was a black hansom carriage pulled up before the door. Robert couldn’t see Edward. He must already be in the hall. Which meant Jenkins must have responded with something like
I’ll see if his lordship is at home
, which meant Edward must know Robert was here and was probably already upstairs waiting.

He looked back to see Jane hurriedly dressing and did the same.

“I’ll greet him,” Robert said quietly once he was fully clothed. “There’s no need for you to rush; call for a maid and take as long as you like. I’ll tell him you are resting or something.”

“Don’t say that,” she hissed back at him, her eyes bright from their lovemaking and her hair all mussed.

He smiled.

She frowned. “You look a state, Robert. Pray, do not say I am lying down, because he will know who has been lying down with me.”

Laughing, Robert turned away and pulled the cord to ring for the maid. Then he left.

When he stopped at a mirror in the hall, to run his fingers through his hair, and straightened his pathetic attempt at tying his cravat, Edward appeared from the drawing room. “There you are, Robert. I am offended. News of your wedding is published in the papers before I hear a word. Where was our invite? Ellen is positively peeved. I believe she has taken it as a personal affront. How could you not even tell us?”

“We told no one,” Robert answered as Edward came towards him. “There was a need for haste. No insult was meant, I can assure you. I’m sorry. I know Jane would have preferred it if you could have attended, but it was not possible, otherwise, I promise, I would not have had you miss my shackling for the world. I am sure it would’ve amused you.”

“Hardly.” Edward held out his hand. Robert shook it. “My brother marrying my surrogate sister suits me fine. She is truly my sister now. You’re happy, both of you?”

Robert nodded. Edward let go his hand. “Fine, Ed, things are just not straightforward, that is all.”

“Problems then?” Robert fell into pace beside his brother, and they walked back towards the drawing room.

“Just a few.” Robert shrugged, not wishing to drag his brother into it. “What news is there about town?”

“I don’t know myself. We’ve just arrived for the Rochester ball.”

Robert looked sideways. “You are not staying here?”

“We saw the knocker in place and progressed to the Pulteney Hotel. Ellen refused to invade during your honeymoon. But I insisted we at least call. I couldn’t not congratulate you, could I? And my sensibilities are not so great.” Edward smiled. Robert scowled as they entered the drawing room.

Ellen rose from a sofa.

Her mouth came open then closed. She smiled. “I told Edward we should send a note first, but he insisted on just dropping in. I’m sorry. We have arrived inconveniently.” She walked across the room as she spoke then her fingers were at his neck. “You or Jane shall have to learn how to tie your cravat, brother. You have given yourselves away.” She undid it then retied it, finishing just as Jane came in.

“
Jane
.” Ellen took Jane’s hands. Jane blushed. But Ellen did not press the point of their indiscretion. “I was so excited when we saw the news. Edward wrote to Farnborough, but they sent a letter back to advise you were not there. I am very glad to find you both in town, so we may at least offer our felicitations. You are obviously happy.”

Ellen turned to Robert and kissed his cheek.

Jane received a similar greeting from Edward.

“I’m pleased for
both of you
,” Ellen whispered as she drew away from Robert.

She had always disliked his nomadic ways. But she’d been the only one who’d seen through him to realise how much he’d longed to be settled.

He smiled awkwardly then took Jane’s hand, threading his fingers through hers.

Edward grinned again, his hand resting on Jane’s shoulder. “Jane Coates, now a Marlow, just as it should be, I suppose.”

Jane smiled, her blush diminishing, and her fingers gripped Robert’s tightly.

“I suppose I should call for tea,” she said. “Do you wish to stay for dinner?”

An odd sensation raced through Robert. It was a novelty to have a woman take on these domestic tasks. In the past, Ellen would have hosted herself.

Ellen’s hand lifted in refusal. “You need not entertain us. I told Edward you would not want to be disturbed, but he insisted on wishing you well. We shall go directly.”

Jane shook her head. “Do not be silly. Of course, you are welcome. Tea. I shall ring for it. Sit down, do.” She let go of Robert’s hand and looked at Edward at the last.

Ellen smiled. “Thank you, but we shall not stay for dinner. We are expected at the Rochester ball this evening.”

Robert glanced at Jane as she walked to the bell pull. He had an invitation, too. A ball would be a good place to introduce them to the
ton
as a couple. Sutton could cause no trouble there.

“Perhaps we ought to go, Jane? I have an invitation. I am sure the Rochesters would understand our reason for not submitting a reply.”

Her hand fell from the bell pull and she turned back. Although she smiled, he saw the wariness and hidden concern in her eyes.

He was learning to read her. She wanted to go, to dress up and dance, but she was afraid of Sutton. He could see it.

Well, they would go then. He would simply deny Sutton’s hold and chase the shadow of that damned man from her mind.

“We’ll go.” He held his hand out to her.

She came to him, accepting it.

He pulled her into a hug and whispered to her ear, “I know you want to.”

Jane clutched Robert’s arm overly tight as she stepped into the Rochesters’ ballroom. She wore bronze silk, and he fashionable black, which set off the colour of her dress beautifully.

Robert’s eyes had darkened by degrees when he’d seen her dressed. Then he’d fetched a gold and emerald necklace which had been his mother’s.

As he’d fixed the heavy jewellery about her neck, she’d felt its weight settle into the valley between her breasts, like a caress. Even now, she could feel it there, reminding her how much he cared.

His fingers covered hers on his arm.

He bowed to Lady Rochester. Jane curtsied.

Even with the threat of Joshua’s retribution hanging over her, Jane felt lightness in her heart. She was not alone any more.

Robert took Lady Rochester’s hand and pressed a kiss upon the back of her fingers. She cast him an odd, tense smile then looked at Jane and blushed.

A chill ran up Jane’s spine.

Jane gave Lady Rochester another shallow curtsy, feeling the woman’s discomfort, then turned to Lord Rochester. Was Lady Rochester one of Robert’s past conquests?

Jane’s heart thumped.

Robert shook Lord Rochester’s hand, but he scowled at Robert then glowered at Jane as she dropped a swift curtsy.

Once they passed, Robert’s hand lay over hers on his arm again, and he whispered through the side of his mouth. “Perhaps they
are
miffed we attended without accepting.”

Both her hands gripped his arm. It was not what she’d thought then, if he could jest like that, but her heart still thumped, and her gaze reached to the room. There must be women he’d lain with here. She shut out the thought, her gaze moving into the crowd, seeking Edward and Ellen.

Someone beside Jane moved quite suddenly, turning away. The movement captured Jane’s attention, and she realised others were doing the same. Robert kept walking, and the action followed them like a wave.

Oh Lord, we are being cut.

“What have we done?” she whispered. More people turned. “Robert?” But as she said it she saw Joshua across the room, in the far corner, surrounded by people.

The conversation in the room had dropped to hushed tones.

“Heaven knows,” Robert answered, looking about them. “But it must be something to do with Sutton.”

Jane lifted her chin defiantly. She’d lived through worse than this, but not in such a situation. Lady Marshall scowled directly at Jane, tutted, then turned away.

Ignoring the urge to stop and yell,
what am I meant to have done?
Jane carried on serenely, pretending nothing was wrong.

The Ripleys stood together in a large family group. She’d spoken to two of the wives on numerous occasions when she’d been with Violet, but even they refused to meet Jane’s eye.

The quadrille came to a halt and the dancers bowed or curtsied then parted. There was laughter and chatter in the room again as couples separated and found new partners. The musicians struck up the more evocative notes of a waltz. Robert turned to Jane. He smiled, but it was the mask he’d used in town before. It was a hard, cold smile. “We’ll dance then, shall we?” He gave her no chance to refuse, already capturing her waist.

Her right hand settled on his shoulder as her gaze darted all about the large room. He immediately spun her into the heart of the dancing, amongst numerous others.

Her heart was thumping, her feet following his movement with no great art.

One couple looked at her and Robert, stopped dancing, then left the floor. They were followed by a second couple and a third. The floor began to clear. Couples stopped and turned away everywhere.

“Look at me.” Robert’s tone was a sharp order.

She did, her gaze striking his and absorbing the reassurance he sought to offer.

“It is Sutton. He’s in the corner, holding court.”

Glancing across the room, Jane saw Joshua glaring at them in sharp accusation and whispering something to a man beside him.

Her eyes turned back to Robert. A closed-lip smile was fixed on his face. He spun her. “Do you want to go?”

She shook her head.

“Neither do I,” he whispered, drawing her closer.

She smiled genuinely, her hands and her eyes clinging to him. It did feel wonderful to have someone to help her fight.

“It appears we have the floor to ourselves,” he stated, spinning her with flourish.

“It is at times like this, I wish I came from a large family,” she answered, seeking to be as light-hearted and dismissive as he was.

He gave her a genuine smile, not the guarded one. “Well, that is one wish you now have answered, Jane.” His head tilted to where Edward led Ellen to the floor.

“Edward, yes, but … ” she began, about to say one brother did not a large family make, yet then she saw other couples taking to the floor. It was an explicit resistance. They glanced about the room, glaring at their audience. “Ellen’s sisters and their husbands?”

Jane met Robert’s gaze again.

“See,” he whispered with pride, his tone challenging her earlier disbelief. “You are a part of my family now.”

Her heart filled with a soft pain, and tears blurred her vision as Robert continued to lead her across the floor. More couples slipped from the crowd.

“Ellen’s extended family,” Robert whispered.

Jane saw the Marquess of Wiltshire across Robert’s shoulder. He was Ellen’s brother-in-law and heir to the Duke of Arundel, and his judgement clearly held great weight within the
ton,
more weight than Joshua’s
.
His glare brought more couples to the floor. Numbers continued to swell as others started to realise, if they continued to ostracise the Earl of Barrington, they were likely to be the ones set apart, and by the time the waltz ended, there were as many couples on the floor as there had been when it began.

Jane lifted to her toes and briefly kissed Robert’s cheek. She believed him for the first time. She believed they could succeed against Joshua. They could fight and win.

She took Robert’s arm, and he led her to the edge of the dance floor while Joshua watched them with an intensity which promised another assault.

Jane lifted her chin and looked right back, telling him he had no hold over her any more, yet then, he began walking towards her. Jane froze, her fingers digging into Robert’s arm. Robert turned.

“You will regret this, Barrington,” Joshua growled. Then he was gone, leaving them both standing amidst the crowd.

Edward, Ellen, and Ellen’s sisters surrounded them in a moment, and Jane allowed the women to lead her away to the refreshment hall. The men followed.

“What rumour did he start?” Jane asked Ellen.

It was Ellen’s sister, Penny, who answered, “He told everyone you were having an affair with Robert during your marriage to the old Duke.”

Jane turned. “But that is plainly nonsense. Robert was abroad, and half of them are having affairs anyway. Why should they even care?”

Ellen’s gaze met hers. “Robert was not abroad for the last few years. There are those who believe Sutton, and as to people’s judgement, you are clearly unused to the holier-than-thou aspect of the
ton
. They will turn a blind eye until scandal is shared in plain sight. Then they all act disgusted, as though they have not done the same.”

“But
I
was never in town.”

Ellen smiled. “Unfortunately, it only gives them more opportunity to believe Sutton, if they have seen no evidence to dispute it. Robert has stayed with us frequently. He was not always in town. They could imagine him anywhere.”

Jane glanced back at Robert, who was talking with the men. She saw he had just received the same news. There was nothing they could do but ignore it.
Ton
marriages were riddled with affairs, and the gossip would die down. If this was the worst Joshua could do, then he would hardly break them. She still felt triumphant.

~

The following afternoon, still abuzz with the success of the night before, Jane ran to greet her husband. She leaned on the banister and looked down as she heard the front door bang shut.

Robert was there in the hall. She’d not expected him back for at least another hour or two. He’d gone to his club, White’s, to find out what he could about Joshua’s intentions.

She would have gone to see Violet, but, when Jane had asked after her friend the night before, she’d discovered that Violet, and Geoff, had left town.

She hadn’t minded Robert leaving her here though. She’d gladly spent some time with the housekeeper and got to know the staff. She felt happy today, like there was a future to plan for after their victory last night. For the first time, she truly believed she could win against the Suttons. Robert had said so, and she was learning to trust him.

When they’d made love last night, she’d felt entirely free, and she’d slept soundly in his arms. So soundly, he’d left her to take breakfast in bed when he’d gone to his club.

Her fingers trailed on the banister as she raced along the landing and downstairs.

He glanced up, but then instantly looked away, focusing on his gloves as he tugged them off.

As she reached the bottom step, Robert virtually flung his gloves at Jenkins then lifted off his hat and thrust that at his butler, too.

Something was wrong. “What is it?” she asked, pausing with her hand on the newel post.

He looked her way with a deep sigh and gave her his insincere, rakish smile. “Nothing for you to worry about.” There was a lethal edge to his words.

Her hope drained, and Jane felt as though a stone had dropped to the bottom of her stomach.

Joshua had done something else.

She walked to Robert. “Tell me what he’s done?”

He shrugged her fingers off as she laid them on his upper arm and turned towards his study. “Later, Jane. Jenkins, is there brandy in my study?”

“Yes, my Lord,” the butler answered as Jane followed Robert’s long strides.

“Robert!” she called, unable to catch up. “Robert! For heaven’s sake, tell me what Joshua has done!”

Robert thrust aside the office door, and it banged back against the wooden panelling as he disappeared.

When she followed him in, he’d stopped at the secretaire with one hand on a decanter and the other on a glass. His back was to her. “Leave me alone, Jane, please. I don’t trust my temper.”

She stood staring at him, not knowing what to say, all the wind knocked from her sails. She’d felt so happy.

Instantly, Robert felt guilty. He silently cursed, but didn’t turn back, focusing instead on pouring a drink.

He’d been swearing all the way back from White’s. He’d even traitorously blamed her in his thoughts, as much as Sutton. He was not in the mood to talk to her.

When he turned around after sipping the brandy, he saw she looked crestfallen. She’d been beaming this morning after their success last night. Now she appeared vulnerable again. Her beauty struck him hard in the chest though, as it always did. But sadly, the sight did not diminish his anger.

He was in a rage.

He downed the remainder of the amber liquor in one swift draught then turned to pour more.

He drank that straight down, too, but it did nothing to ease his anger. Spinning round suddenly, he threw the glass at the stone hearth. Satisfaction rushed through him as it shattered, but Jane leapt back to avoid the splintering glass.

“Robert! Tell me what he’s done!”

Mixed emotions writhed in Robert. “They have blackballed me at White’s.”

Her brow furrowed. “They what?”

Of course, a woman would not understand. He had a seat in the House of Lords. He needed the respect of his peers.

Robert turned back and snatched up another glass then stalked towards her, his voice rising with each step. “They have voted me out of my club, Jane.” He flung the second glass at the marble hearth and liked the satisfying reward as it shattered and knocked a chunk off the marble.

“I’m sorry.”

He’d felt her smallness last night as they’d danced that damned waltz, her fragility. He was reminded of it again when her hand touched his arm.

It is not her fault
. She’d been forced into her marriage, into her connection with that bloody family. But even so, he wanted to spout poison and lay the blame on her. He felt devoid of gentlemanly etiquette today, primal.

Jane had been right. Sutton was bloody playing with them. They’d won a single battle last night, not the war, and Sutton had probably already known he had the next foray in hand.

Robert’s hands curled to fists. “It’s not your fault.”

He turned away and sought another glass. This time, he filled it and drank, then waited while the strong liquor diffused the anger in his veins, his hand still gripping the glass as it stood on the side.

“What will you do?” She was beside him. Her fingers wrapped about his as they held the glass, her other hand resting on his shoulder and her cheek against his back.

Kill him.
As the thought crystallised in his mind, the silent words formed in his head.

A duel sounded very appealing. It would end this.

Robert imagined running a blade through Sutton.

Jane must have sensed his thoughts. “No!” She moved away, letting him go again. “You are not a murderer. You are not to do anything stupid. I shall not let you do it.”

“You’ll not let me?” He spoke to the decanter, not turning, anger soaring in his blood again. A repugnant sneer touched his lips, and he turned around. He may love her, but it was about time he held his own reins again. He would be lord and master in his home. She’d been stringing him along all summer. She was not going to dictate to him any more.

He needed to get out. He needed to get away from her before he said something he did not mean.

“Robert, do not be foolish!” she said as he started moving. He did not stop to listen. “I know Joshua,” she urged behind him, following as he left the room. “He does not fight fair. I doubt he would even risk his own life!” Her words followed him across the hall as he heard her rushing to keep up. “He would have someone else dispose of you before you even have a chance!”