Wicked And Wild: Spencers in Love Book Two (4 page)

Chapter 9

Mirabelle was at her wits end a
week later. She'd thought Lucien's inexplicable and mildly humiliating behavior
in the carriage was the pinnacle of what had been the most trying period of her
life. But she'd been wrong. So very, very wrong.

            Lucien seemed determined to drown Mirabelle in
flowers. He'd had her room filled with them one morning; four maids spent
almost an hour carrying arrangement after arrangement up the stairs and into
her room. He may as well have let a stampede of elephants loose in her room
while she was trying to sleep. Mirabelle had come down to breakfast grumpy and
out of sorts.  

            When Lucien announced that he was taking her to
Vauxhall Gardens to dine in a supper box and enjoy the entertainments, she had
imagined a romantic boat ride, flirting over dinner and him leading her down
the dark walks so that they might finally kiss again. Mirabelle was desperate
for Lucien to kiss her. Instead, The Mothers and Alastair accompanied them and
Lucien ignored her hints in regards to the walks.  

            With her maid, Mary, in tow, Lucien dragged
Mirabelle all over London. To Floris, where he spent an absurd amount on
perfume, soaps and sachets. He was not exaggerating when he said he loved the
way she smelled, Mirabelle realized. In Hatchard's, Lucien purchased almost
every book she touched, despite her protests. He'd nearly made her sick in
Gunter's, filling the table with every flavor of ice and sorbet. Mary had
declared it one of her favorite days as she was able to eat whatever Mirabelle
didn't.

            Lucien had practically ruined chocolate and
sweets for her as well. In the beginning he'd show up with a small box. After
The Carriage Debacle (as Mirabelle now called it), the boxes got bigger and
bigger and Lucien insisted on her indulging while he read to her. And the
reading! While Mirabelle could listen to Lucien read an almanac,
The Sonnets
were her least favorite of Shakespeare's works. Give her a violent tragedy any
day! She could listen to stories of kings and battles for days. But all this
nonsense about summer days and flowers... On the bright side, it saved her from
having to play the harp or piano and smile for an hour. After, her cheeks and
fingertips positively ached.

            Mirabelle knew that she was possibly the most
ungrateful woman that ever existed. Lucien was the perfect fiancé and if she
had been a girl of eighteen or nineteen, she would be delirious with joy.
Instead, she was exhausted. Mirabelle's evenings were busier than her days. In
the last week, Lucien took her to the opera, two balls and two musicales in
addition to the evening at Vauxhall Gardens. One evening, deploring a lack of a
suitable event, Lucien hired a string quartet and a soprano for an impromptu
musicale at Clerendon House. Mirabelle hadn't minded that as much because Elise
had been able to join them and had been in rapture the whole evening. She
missed having time with the family. Unless they accompanied her and Lucien to
events, Mirabelle only saw them at breakfast and in passing. They all assumed
she was overjoyed at being courted by Lucien so she did her best to act
pleased. Truthfully, she missed the more relaxed pace of their lives before he
proposed. Most of all, Mirabelle wanted to Lucien to kiss her. What was the
point of him finally coming up to scratch if she couldn't enjoy his famous
talents? Instead, she could count on one hand the number of times they'd kissed
and she was beginning to feel rather unwanted in the face of his avoidance.

            To make matters worse, Mirabelle was certain the
frustration was causing her to have rather graphic dreams. In the most recent,
Lucien kissed her passionately in The Parlor and ripped her dress frantically,
overcome with need for her. He branded the skin of her neck and chest with his lips;
he stroked and licked her breasts, suckled at her nipples and teased the
sensitive skin on the inside of her thighs. In Mirabelle's dreams, Lucien was
wicked and playful. He was confidant and demanding. He was the exact opposite
of the man she'd spent her days with since their engagement.

            "He is the most beautiful man I have ever
seen, Miss Spencer." Olivia Harken whispered, snatching Mirabelle from her
reverie.

            "I beg your pardon?" Mirabelle asked
as she looked across the crowd at Lucien. He was watching her, a relaxed smile
hung about his lips. It was almost too hot for a garden party, Mirabelle
decided as she fanned herself.

            "I mean no offense! I was just
complimenting you on your intended." Miss Harken said anxiously. Mirabelle
liked Olivia and she certainly couldn't argue with her assessment.

            Lucien had the face of a fallen angel. While
Mirabelle's brothers were handsome in a rugged, chiseled sort of way, Lucien
was beautiful. His blonde hair was a bit long but not long enough to be tied
back. He had the lightest blue eyes and the longest lashes. With perfect, full
lips, a square jaw and a perpetually sensual expression, it was easy to
understand why women swooned and sighed.

            "It's fine, Olivia. I can't fault you for
not being blind." Mirabelle stiffened as Lady Wembley stepped into their
circle.

            "I've heard that His Grace is even more
beautiful without his clothes." She looked at Mirabelle expectantly.

            "I'd be happy to give you a detailed report
a few months from now, Lady Wembley. Not that it would do you much good."
Mirabelle replied.

            Lady Wembley shrugged and stared openly at
Lucien. All three women stared.

            "I wonder how he stays so fit. That's
clearly all him, he doesn't need padding." Lady Wembley mused. Mirabelle
nodded. Lucien had a figure sculptors would be inspired by. His shoulders were
broad and his hips were narrow. He was well muscled and very lean.

            "His skin is quite tanned too." Olivia
sighed.

            "He works at Winthorpe." Mirabelle was
lost in her memories. "He works with his horses and helps on the estate.
He chops wood when he's frustrated. I saw him doing it with his shirt off
once..." She bit her lip as she recalled the image. The sweat and the
rippling muscles as he swung the ax, it was so at odds with the elegant,
relaxed gentleman the ton saw.

            "How primitive." Remarked Lady Wembley
as she clutched at the trim of her bodice.

           
God, but that woman gives me a headache
! Mirabelle
thought.

            "If you'll excuse me, I need to check on
Lady Gasden." Mirabelle mumbled.

            She could feel Lucien's eyes on her as she bent
over the older woman. He was always watching. So attentive but out of reach.
Their eyes touched across the lawn, he smiled and winked. She felt a blush
creep up her neck. Why did he wink suggestively, as if it was some sort of
promise? Mirabelle rolled her eyes and turned. Suddenly wanting to be anywhere
but in the middle of Lady Gasden's garden party, she surveyed her surroundings.
Having been a guest to the house many times, she was familiar with the grounds.
Scanning the crowd, Mirabelle was confident most were focused on a game of Pall
Mall that had just begun further down the lawn. Knowing Lucien wasn't, that his
eyes were on her, she slipped away and snuck into the maze behind the party.

            It took Mirabelle a matter of minutes to find
the center and rush into the path leading to the opposite entrance. As she ran,
she heard a swift stride behind her. She knew it was Lucien. Once out of the
maze she rounded a fountain and slipped into the small Grecian temple.
Mirabelle pressed her back against a pillar and tried to breathe slowly. She
wasn't sure if she wanted to be found.

            "If only I had an apple, fair
Aphrodite." Lucien whispered close to her ear. She felt the heat of him,
smelled sandalwood, citrus, soap and leather. Mirabelle shivered and turned,
pressing herself to the pillar. His face was so close, she reached for him and
he stepped away. Disappointment swelled.

            "Why are you here, Lucien?" Mirabelle
complained. If he was only going to add to her frustration, he might as well
leave.

            "I couldn't watch you slip away and not
follow." He leaned his back against the pillar, using it as a barrier
between them. "I'm almost out of sonnets. Perhaps we could go to
Hatchard's and find something new for me to read tomorrow."

            Mirabelle squeezed her eyes shut, forcing down
the scream that threatened. Was this all an elaborate joke? Why was he always
flirting and then stepping out of her reach? Why did he insist on smothering
her with inane and boring diversions?

            "I've heard of a new exhibit you might
enjoy. I think mother would be glad to chaperone us..."

            Like a crack splitting a dam, Mirabelle cursed
and stormed around the pillar.

            "I can't do this anymore, Lucien!" She
gasped, her eyes wide and her body trembling. She felt like she was losing her
mind. Lucien's face fell and his brows pulled together as he stepped towards
her.

            "Are you calling off our engagement, are
you jilting me? Tell me what you want, Mirabelle. I'll do anything." He
looked so scared; his tone caused Mirabelle to calm. Slightly.

            "No! I'm not calling it off but I can't do
it anymore, Lucien." She turned away and began pacing. "I'm not a
debutant, I'm six and twenty. I know you mean well but after twelve, now
thirteen suitors, I've been courted to death!" Mirabelle turned to him and
grabbed his lapels. "I haven't waited this long so that you could push me
into store after store, Lucien!"

            He pushed his hair back and groaned.

            "I just wanted everything to be perfect,
Mirabelle."

            "I know and I've tried to be patient but if
I eat any more chocolate, I'm going to need a new wardrobe and then you
definitely won't want me."

            "Sweetheart, you could swallow a horse and
I'd still desire you. Tell me what you want." Lucien begged as he lifted
his hands to her face. Mirabelle could feel how tense and unsure he was.

            "I want us to start our life! I want to be
your wife and the mother of your children. I'm done playing silly society
games." Mirabelle leaned against him. "And more than anything, I just
want you to kiss me, Lucien." She whispered against his lips.
"Please, kiss me."

            "I'm afraid." He confessed as his lips
traced hers. "I don't know if I'll be able to stop."      

            "Then don't." Mirabelle sighed and his
tongue dipped into her mouth.

            Lucien leaned against the pillar, pulling her
with him, and kissed Mirabelle until the tension left her body.

            Several minutes later, she sighed against his
mouth and raised her head.

            "We should probably get back." She
hated the words as she said them. When they were married, they could disappear
for as long as they liked.

            Lucien nodded as he threaded his fingers with
hers and led Mirabelle back to the maze. They took their time, not wanting to
break contact. Once Lucien was sure it was safe, Mirabelle slipped out of the
maze and they found The Mothers.

            "I'll talk to them tonight. I'll post an
announcement tomorrow and we can wed once the banns have been read. Of course,
The Mothers will have to pull every string they can to arrange a wedding at
such short notice." Lucien’s voice was low as they walked towards his
carriage.

            "Get a special license. I'm not waiting
three more weeks for the banns, let alone however long it will take for a
wedding." Mirabelle was calm but her tone suggested that arguing wouldn't
help.

            "The Mothers won't take it well. They're
expecting us to have a ceremony at St. George's." He countered.

            "I'll set Hanover Square on fire before I
wait that long. Between the two of us, we can bring them around."
Mirabelle patted his arm as they joined The Mothers. "In fact, why not
break the news now?" She winked and climbed in. "Maman, Madeline,
there's something we need to discuss." Lucien cursed as he pulled the door
shut.

Chapter 10

            "But, mignon! You would have the most
beautiful wedding if you would just wait!" Celine wailed. As Lucien had
foreseen, The Mothers were distraught.

            "Oui! Anna and Alice would make such a gown,
ma princesse!" Mother pleaded. Lucien looked at Mirabelle. He could tell
by how she held her head and the way her shoulders were pulled back that she
wasn't going to budge. He rarely saw her and The Mothers at cross purposes.
Lucien knew Mirabelle would prevail but he hoped the fight would be less
traumatic, for himself.

            "I'm afraid that I'm partially to
blame." He took Mirabelle's hand and squeezed it. "If I hadn't taken
so long to come to my senses..." She sighed and leaned towards them.

            "Maman, Madeline, I know you're
disappointed. Seven or eight years ago, I would want all of that. A grand
wedding would have been a dream come true. Now, I just want to
be
married. I'm tired of worrying about my reputation and pleasing people I don't
even like." Mirabelle sat back and turned to Lucien. "And if I hear
once more from the likes of Lady Wembley about how beautiful you are without
your clothes on, I'll scream."

            The Mothers looked at him accusingly.

            "Really, Lucien!" His mother scolded
as she shook her head. He loosened his collar and cleared his throat.

            "I can assure you, Lady Wembley would not
know." He argued, though he was certain it wasn't helping his case. Three
scowling faces were aimed at him. Mirabelle rolled her eyes.

            "She was merely sharing something that was
conveyed to her. But Lady Wembley is hardly the first to tell me how
magnificent my future husband is." She grumbled.

            Lucien flashed his most boyish smile at the
women around him.

            "Then we must blame my parents for being
such attractive people. I can't help that I'm a work of art." He teased.
Mostly. The Mothers groaned and Mirabelle snorted.

            "True. But you didn't have to invite half
the ton to the exhibition." Mirabelle declared as she crossed her arms and
looked out the window. The Mothers made a poor attempt at suppressing their
giggles. Lucien knew his mother was enjoying his discomfort.

            "I'm sorry." He tugged her hand free
and kissed the top of it. "I should have known my past wouldn't be
ignored. I just hoped that more people had better manners."

            "Pfftttt!" Celine waved. "Manners
are something that other people have. One never bothers about their own
behavior."

            "In light of everything, I think it's a lot
to ask of Mirabelle to wait much longer. Not to mention, someone's liable to
say too much and we'll have a disaster on our hands if she injures them."
Both mothers sighed and nodded. "I'll visit the Archbishop after I drop
you off. If he's available, I should have a license by this evening."
Lucien said softly. He knew Mirabelle would be relieved but he couldn't help
but feel a little guilty for causing The Mothers disappointment. He told
himself they'd forgive him soon enough. The sooner they married, the sooner
there would be grandchildren.

            Lucien looked at Mirabelle. The idea of his
child in her arms made his chest tight. The idea of making that child made him
tight in a different area. He was suddenly quite anxious to get that special
license.