To Catch a Lady (21 page)

He grinned at her in mock innocence. “I'm only fulfilling my husbandly duties, I assure you.”

Expression softening, he took her in his arms and kissed her deeply.

The warmth of Ash's touch spread throughout her, and when he finished their embrace, he gently laid her on the bed. Then, sighing, he took only a moment to remove his clothes and put out the candle. Caro slipped out of her shift and relaxed back, waiting for her husband. When he climbed onto the bed beside her, they both lay naked, bathed in the glow of the half-moon light.

Caro leaned forward and kissed him, delighting in the feel of his firm, warm mouth against hers and the taste of the wine still on his lips. Gazing into his eyes, she could almost see into his soul. Warmth and kindness lived deep within him, and Caro realized she'd known the man beneath the duke's stern face from their very first moment together. Like her, he had scars, but his were merely clouds that crossed his expression at times.

Caro relaxed back onto the bed, her body aching for his touch. She saw by his expression that he wanted her, as well. Without hesitating, he took her hands and gently kissed each of her palms. For a brief moment, she was sure he would draw her into his embrace.

At the last moment, however, Ash moved to lie beside her.

“Get some rest, Caroline.”

“But we need to conceive a child,” she said softly.

A small smile tilted up the corner of his mouth and he leaned toward her. “There is time for that. We don't have to rush into anything.”

Caro sighed. “You won't mind if we wait?”

“I will be by your side always, Caroline. Until you tell me to go, that is.”

Smiling, she relaxed back onto the pillow and held her arms out to him. Grinning like a schoolboy, he settled in beside her.

“Sleep, sweet Caroline. I will keep your dreams safe.”

“Promise?” she asked, curling into his embrace.

“I promise.”

Ash had long thought that he'd had a strong will. He'd survived the loss of his parents, grown up in the shadow of London society, and had even managed to return alive from the battlefield.

But all of that was nothing compared to lying beside his wife and not making love to her. Not that he didn't enjoy being with her, because he did. She'd bathed with lavender, and though the scent was pleasant, it wasn't enough to cover her own female musky scent entirely.

He sighed. Being so close to her was a pure delight. Breathing, touching, and sharing warmth with his bride was Heaven itself.

At the same time, it was also the most exquisite torture. She was warm and soft, and by her very presence invited him to touch her more, to taste her, to run his hands across the wonderful hills and valleys of her body.

God, he wanted to make love to her. To feel her warmth enveloping him all over again.

As a male of a relatively young age, he'd known lust. What man didn't? And yet, this wasn't simply a matter of a body's demands. It was a need, a desire, and an ache so profound that it took all of his strength to keep from ravishing her on the spot.

“Are you all right, husband?” she asked, her voice a timid sound in the darkness.

He snuggled against her once again. “I'll do. But don't take too long getting to sleep, or I might not be able to control myself.”

“I have no fear of that, Ash. I promise, you will be rewarded for your troubles.” She laughed, wiggling her bottom against him.

Ash moaned. “Do that again, Caroline, and I won't be responsible for my actions.”

“Mmmm,” she said, sighing.

Wrapping his arms around her, he felt her warm breath on his arm, and it was a glorious thing. He did his best to slow his breathing to match hers, to stay as still as possible and be careful not disturb her.

It was going to be a long, painful night.

Although she hadn't thought it possible, Caroline awoke with the first light. She felt much better than she had the night before. Thankfully, most of the soreness from their afternoon together had eased.

While it was pleasant lying in her husband's embrace, Caro's thoughts went immediately to how she could escape his embrace. As carefully as she could, she managed at last to wriggle out of his grasp and scoot to the end of the bed.

A lady had her needs, after all.

She glanced back at Ash, and though he stirred with her movements, he soon returned to peaceful slumber.

Letting out a slow breath, she padded softly to the chamber pot, then to the table that held a pitcher and washbasin. Ten minutes later she'd washed her face and hands, slipped into her shift, and combed her hair. She'd leave it to Meggie to fix it for the day, but for now, she would just tie it back with a ribbon.

“Don't,” Ash said behind her. Surprised, she spun around to face him, the ribbon dangling from her hand.

He hadn't moved, except for opening his eyes. The sight of him set her heart to a rapid pace. With his hair tousled, and wearing only a blanket draped across his middle, he looked extremely handsome. It was all she could do to keep from running back and throwing herself on him.

What a shameless lightskirt she'd become.

But something about the smug grin he wore kept her standing still.

“Don't what?”

“Don't tie your hair. I like it better loose.”

“I thought men liked women properly groomed,” she said. Smiling, she turned around and continued combing her hair.

“I do, most of the time. But in the bedroom I like you with your hair down, your shift soft and flowing. Or, better yet, without a shift at all.”

“Ash!” She giggled, turning back to the dressing table to replace the comb and ribbons in the top drawer. She briefly considered taking his suggestion and removing her gown. Had it been evening she very well would have. But the sun was rising and already she could hear the stirring of others in the castle. She had a brief memory of her first morning when she'd awakened to find three hunters and a deer in her bedchamber.

Caro didn't realize Ash had gotten out of bed until she turned to find him standing behind her.

“I didn't hear you approach.”

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled against him.

“I didn't mean for you to. It's a skill I learned when I was a boy, when I went hunting with my uncle and cousin. Later, on the battlefield, I found stealth to be an asset as well.” He leaned down and kissed her gently.

When he'd finished, Caroline pulled back, breathless. “Well, then, I suppose that's a good thing.”

He smiled. “A very good thing. Come back to bed, Caroline.”

She wanted to. Badly. But she paused. “The servants will be up soon. What will you tell them?”

“To come back later.”

“Won't they be insulted?”

“They are servants, Caroline. We give the orders. They do what we ask of them.”

“Of course. You would do that.”

He nodded. “Yes, I would. Come back to bed with me, Caroline. Just for a little while. Then I'll have Cook put together the most scrumptious meal imaginable. We'll spare no expense and enjoy our entire day in bed.”

Caro couldn't help but smile. “I expect nothing less, Your Grace.”

Ash laughed out loud and unfastened her shift, letting it fall to the floor. Then he swooped her off her feet and carried her to the bed. Laying her gently on the mattress, he climbed in beside her.

She laughed. “Hmm, what shall we do now?”

“I'm sure we can think of something.”

Once he had settled in beside her, he pulled her into his arms again and began kissing her in earnest. It was breathtaking, all-consuming, and the most exciting thing she'd ever known.

Caroline delighted in his every touch, his every nibble, his every kiss. She was surprised to find that it was so easy to let him have his way, to give in to his passion.

All this time, Caro had thought she'd known herself well. She was a woman of logic and of action, and such things as emotion had no place in her life. And yet here she was, enjoying the attentions of a man as any other woman would. Any other “normal” woman.

Try as she might to understand this side of herself, Caro couldn't fathom it. She wanted to consider it more, but her husband was getting quite insistent with his attentions. Seconds later, he hovered over her, his hands caressing her breasts, his mouth nibbling at her neck, and his body positioned between her legs. She knew his eagerness was still restrained, but not for long.

“Oh,” she moaned, her treacherous body opening wider and practically inviting him in. His hands slid down the length of her side and under her bottom, lifting her up and sending all sorts of riotous sensations through her. Caro gasped and all thought disappeared from her mind. There was only the two of them together, making love.

Ash couldn't believe his good fortune. To be in his favorite place, nothing to do all day but make love to his wife. It was every man's dream, to be sure.

“Mmmm,” Caro moaned. They'd just finished another bout of lovemaking and his wife looked as satisfied as a cat full of cream.

For the moment, he was glad they weren't talking. It was good to just lie there, skin against skin, hearts beating in unison. If he died at that moment, he would do so a happy man.

“That was wonderful,” she said, stretching against him.

He lightly kissed her chin. She had the most interesting chin. “It was for me, as well.”

“Will it always be like this? This, um, wonderful?”

“I can't really say, having never been married before.”

She caressed his face, running the back of her hand gently down his cheek to follow the line of his jaw. “I hope so.”

“As do I.”

He watched her smile, and swore he could see the thoughts rumbling in her mind just by the way she played her tongue across her bottom lip.

“Do you mind my asking another question?”

Ash laughed. “Would there be any stopping you?”

He could tell that she was somewhat embarrassed at asking, because a lovely pink blush rose on her skin. “You've done so much, to, ah, make me feel so good. Is there something I can do for you?”

Stunned, Ash barely breathed. His mouth went dry and his devilish body ached as all sorts of ideas sprang into his mind.

“Um, well, there are a number of things, but—ah…” He paused. What could he say? “I've never been married before. I know there are things a woman can do—” He gasped. Damn, but he'd forgotten to take a breath. “But I'm not sure what a lady would do.”

“Oh.” She took a breath. Ash watched, mesmerized as she considered what to say next.

“It's fine,” he said when he saw her frown. “You don't have to worry about it right now. Just being together like this is enough.”

“No, it isn't. I want to give you the same pleasure.”

“Oh.”

“So,” she said, a mischievous grin crossing her face, “perhaps I could just do to you what you've done for me?”

Ash swallowed. He meant to say something. To tell her she didn't have to pleasure him. But his wicked body wouldn't let him speak.

He was barely able to utter, “All right.”

Before Ash could say anything else, Caro pushed him onto his back and kissed him. Deep. Aggressive. Her vigor was that of a lioness hunting on the plains. And he was the prey.

Unable to stop her, and truly not wanting to, he followed her lead. To his surprise, she was most insistent about where she was taking him. To the edge of reason, diving deep into a river of passion.

Ash was more than happy to go.

When she broke their kiss, she went immediately to work covering him with dozens of tiny kisses. His cheek, his ear, his neck, his chest…

“Dear God,” he rasped, realizing just where she was going with her attentions. This time, he was the one whose breath grew short. He had a fleeting thought that she was going to be his undoing.

And that he was going to enjoy every minute of it.

In all her life, Caro had never considered the needs of the flesh. She'd known that her mother and father had held special affection for each other, and though she'd never sensed that they were passionate, she'd often heard them speak of their fondness for each other.

But this was something else entirely. Making love to Ash was both an incredible joy and an insatiable hunger. There was no denying her body's ache for him. His lovemaking had been so exquisite that she wanted nothing more than to repay him for his every teasing and torturous touch, sweet and desirable as they had been.

And, when her kisses had made it to his groin, she heard him gasp and utter an agonized sound.

“Caroline, please! I beg you,” he growled, his teeth clenched, “don't make me wait any longer. I shan't be able to control myself.”

“Of course, my love,” she murmured, and then she mounted him and matched him move for move, their bodies rocking in perfect unison.

Together they climbed to the heights of passion, soaring through the clouds of desire, to the edge very edge of existence. When the climax took them, they were two souls joined as one, husband and wife bound together in that single moment in time. It was fleeting, and it was eternity.

And Caro suspected it was love.

“Why must we get up so early in the morning, again?”

Ash and Caroline were crouched low, hiding behind a bush, watching a deer gingerly step into the clearing.

“Shhh!” Ash cursed under his breath. He would have again stressed the need for extreme quiet, but he was at the point where whispering would likely scare away the buck. Just as he raised his bow, the animal's head shot up and it looked directly at him. In the next instant it was gone.

“Ahhh,” he sighed, sitting back on his heels. Caroline had done the same, though she sat with her arms crossed and a disgruntled expression on her face.

“I don't know how you find this at all enjoyable.”

“It would be enjoyable if we could be quiet enough to keep from scaring off the prey.”

“Prey? But it's a deer. You're not going to kill it, are you?”

Ash bit his lip. He didn't want to upset her, and he knew her knowledge of anything outside of city life was lacking.

“It's what hunters do, but if you don't wish me to, then we can just return to the lodge.”

“I'm sorry, Ash, but I would think the only reason for killing an animal would be if your pantry was empty and you were very hungry. I've been in the lodge's kitchen and it is quite full.”

Ash groaned. “Yes, so it is. No matter. We can go out to the dock. Perhaps you'll enjoy fishing better than hunting.”

She looked away briefly, and Ash had the impression that she might not be so thrilled with that sport, either.

“You don't have a problem with killing fish, do you?”

“Not particularly. I was just thinking about our altercation the other day. At the lake. With the dogs…”

Ash held up his hand. “I've already made sure the hounds will be contained for the afternoon. There will be no more falling into the lake.”

She sighed. “Good. Well, then, let's go.”

Ash watched as she rose to her feet, gathered her gown, and started picking her way across the clearing.

She was beauty and grace, to be sure. What was it about her that made her so different from every other woman he'd known? It wasn't just that Caroline was a bit rounder in places, her body soft and giving.

If he wasn't so smitten by her, he'd be embarrassed.

“Wait,” he said, taking her arm. “We don't have to be in such a hurry, do we?”

“You said you wanted to go fishing. Let's go and get it over with.”

“Is that what you want? To ‘get it over with'?”

She looked up at him, and her eyes clouded as she considered his words.

“What I want,” she said slowly, “is to do what makes you happy. I mean, it's clear that you prefer living in the rough, so I want to understand what it is that you find so charming about it.”

“In other words, you're humoring me.”

Caroline smiled. “I don't mean to. I just want to get to know you better. I enjoyed making you happy when we made love and I think it's possible that it will be just as much fun sharing other things you like as well.”

“Oh.” For a moment Ash was speechless. Never in his life had another been concerned for his happiness. Of course, his family had loved him, his friends liked him, and others, he supposed, tolerated him. But to care so much about his happiness? Well, he hadn't expected that.

“That's as good a reason as any, I suppose. Very well. To the lake, then.”

After a wonderful dinner of roast duck and bread pudding, Caro sat wrapped in her husband's arms watching the fading embers in the fireplace. A dim red glow was cast about the evening shadows and Caro was sure Heaven couldn't be better.

While she hadn't been thrilled about their outdoor adventure, every moment Caro spent with Ash brought her a contentment she'd never known. And while she cherished their time together, a part of her couldn't wait to get home and tell Beatrice everything about being married.

Well, almost everything. One thing Caro knew for certain was that she had to get her sister married. The sooner the better.

“Mmm…” Ash nuzzled her neck. “What are you thinking?”

“About how things have turned out far differently than I expected. I never thought it would be like this.”

“Nor did I. But here we are. I'll have to give my aunt credit. She always knows what's best for me.”

“My mother was like that. Always so wise when it came to the needs of others.”

“You must miss her terribly.”

“It's very odd, you know. I see her and talk to her. When I hear her voice and remember all the time we shared before the accident, it feels as if she's a ghost and our time together was nothing more than a dream. Most of the time, she's a stranger.”

“Perhaps someday her condition will improve.”

“It's what I hope and pray for. But it's been ten years.” She moved so that her head was lying against his chest. It was a comforting feeling, listening to the beat of his heart, feeling its power thrumming against her ear.

“One thing we can't do is predict the future. Either way, you've taken good care of her. There must be some part in her that knows what you're doing and loves you all the more for it.”

A few moments of silence passed between them. When she spoke again, Caro had to struggle to keep from crying. “I've not properly thanked you for all that you've done.”

“You don't have to thank me, Caroline. It's been my pleasure. And besides, you are helping me as well.”

“We're even, then. But I do have a small favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I don't think I want to go fishing anymore.” She both felt and heard the rumble of his laughter.

“I promise never to make you go fishing again, or to hunt large game, or sleep under the stars. Unless you want to, that is.”

“I doubt there will be much chance of that.”

He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. “As you wish, although you'll forgive me if I still hope one day you'll change your mind.”

“You may hope all you like,” she said as she snuggled against him.

“Ah…” he sighed. “Do that and I'll be hoping for a few other favors, as well.”

“Favors?” She looked up at him. “What sort of favors?”

He smiled and, leaning down, kissed her gently. “I'm sure I'll think of something.”

“I bet you will.” Caro kissed him back. “No need to worry about it, Ash. I have a few ideas of my own.”

The days passed swiftly and Ash was dreading the time when their month at the lodge would end. Surprisingly, he and Caroline had managed to get along quite well lately and he didn't want anything to jeopardize that.

While they'd not gone fishing or hunting again, as he had hoped, he'd learned that his wife was near expert at horseback riding and played a clever hand of whist. Mostly, their days had been full of exploring the grounds and their evenings spent in front of a warm fire burning in the hearth. Other times, they spent long afternoons in bed, making love, and late nights sharing stories of their lives. A comfortable routine developed between them and Ash found that almost as enjoyable as their lovemaking.

The more Caro talked about her family and the events that occurred in her life right up until they'd met, the more he wanted to learn about her. As a result, he found it quite comfortable talking about his own life.

Except for the night his parents had died. He'd never shared those memories with anyone. And as for Caro, she was the last person he'd wanted to know about that fateful night. Not because he wanted to hide it from her so much as that he simply didn't want to bring those dark times into this new life they shared.

No one knew better than Ash how fleeting life was, and he wanted to enjoy every minute of it. Bad times would come back into their lives. He was sure of it. But that didn't mean that they had to hold the door open for them.

Ash was both amazed with and entranced by his wife. He found everything about her to be vastly interesting. It was as though she was a great puzzle and he had to figure her out, no matter what. Each day when he'd awakened, he had a dozen more questions to ask her.

While Ash had always managed to either sate or ignore his need for a woman in his bed, with Caroline he just couldn't get enough of her. Time of day didn't matter; hungry or full, sleepy or wide awake, his body practically cried out for her.

“I wonder,” he asked her one morning after a riotous bout of lovemaking, “if this feeling will ever lessen?”

It was the last week before they were to return to London. Ash was hoping to bring the conversation around to convincing her to postpone their trip back to Summerton.

She smiled up at him and lazily rubbed her hand across his abdomen, teasing him with her touch. He drew in a sharp breath. Didn't she know how easy it was for her to call forth his urges by just her touch?

“I don't know,” she said, sighing against him, “but I do hope that it does give us ease at some point. I'm not complaining about it, mind you. Just that we'll never get anything done.”

Ash laughed. “Except conceiving a child, no doubt.”

“And what shall we do after the child is born? By this rate, I suspect we will have a houseful in no time at all.”

Ash laughed. A few weeks ago he hadn't wanted even one child, let alone many. And yet, when it came to being with Caroline, he could fill a dozen houses with children. Although he was sure that she would likely not agree to that.

“Ash,” she said, breaking into his thoughts, “I have something to tell you.”

Stretching out to his full length, he yawned. “Yes? What is it?”

“Um, our first days here…” She paused and drew a breath. “I'm afraid I lied to you.”

Trying not to show his concern, he turned on his side to face her. “Go on.”

Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, she hesitated, clearly upset. “I told you that I couldn't make love to you because of my, um, female concerns.”

“You mean because of your courses? You lied about that.”

“Yes, I did. And I'm sorry. I want there always to be honesty between us.”

Ash smiled. “It's no matter. You were afraid. It was a terrible to thing I did, forcing you into marriage. I'd be sorry if it weren't for the fact that we are together now.”

“Then I'm forgiven?”

“Of course.”

She let out a breath. “I'm so relieved, because, Ash, I have something else to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“I'm pregnant.”

Ash sat up and nearly fell backward off of the bed. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, a smile breaking out on her face. “I think so. My courses should have come within a few days of our wedding. It's been nearly a month, and nothing.”

“Perhaps you've miscalculated…”

She shook her head. “I never vary more than a day or two.”

Ash didn't know whether he should jump for joy or run and hide. This news of having a child, while it was exactly what he'd wanted, was somewhat of a shock. While the idea of fathering a child had been his ultimate goal, the thought of it actually happening had never occurred to him. And he certainly hadn't thought it possible so soon.

Suddenly he felt as if the world had turned on its side. In all this time, he hadn't even considered his wife's health. She'd seemed robust enough. Her appetite had improved and she seemed to be able to keep pace with him—in the bed, and out of it. But now, he risked not only the child's life but hers as well.

So, that was it, he decided. There would be no further lovemaking until after the child was born and Caroline was recovered from it.

Holding her at arm's length, he smiled. “It is good news indeed, Caroline. My aunt will be very happy to hear of it.”

“Your aunt?”

“Of course. She'll be thrilled.”

His wife drew in a deep breath. “And what do you think about my being pregnant?”

“Caroline, how can you ask such a thing? I'm pleased, of course.”

“Pleased?” She blinked several times at him and then took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out. “I'm glad for you, husband.”

She moved away from him, pulling the quilt up around her and wrapping her arms around her middle. He felt as if she had somehow closed a door between them.

“Thank you,” he said, suddenly feeling uneasy with her. “I know this will take some adjustment, but I'm sure we'll manage.”

“Yes, we will,” she said, in a tone that nearly broke him.

Ash inwardly cursed. “You should move back to Amelia's room for the time being. I think that would be for the best.”

“Why?”

“Because we don't know what will happen if you and I…well, I just don't want to risk your life or the baby's. So we shall sleep apart.”

“If that's what you want,” she said.

He turned to look at her. “Of course it's not what I want. But I don't want to take the risk of something happening. Do you?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I suppose not. A baby is what we've been striving for, after all.”

“Yes,” Ash said, suddenly feeling like nine kinds of a bastard. What made it worse was that Caroline wasn't arguing with him about it. It was like the fight had gone completely out of her.

What the devil?

It made his heart ache all the more.

“I'll have Meggie move my things.”

With that he watched her scoot off of the bed. She picked up her robe and, without looking back, left the room.

“She'll come to understand,” he said to the empty room around him. “In time.”

He knew sending her out of his bed had been the correct thing to do.

But damn it all if it didn't hurt like hell. It was as if someone had torn the limbs from him one at a time.

How was he supposed to keep her from his bed for the next eight months?