The Duke's Seduction of Lady M Page 23

  Brody nodded and clapped the young man on the shoulder. ‘If you see your father or anyone else from Long Hill in the next few days, then please tell them I intend to see what needs doing and who needs a job elsewhere, once I’m back from London. I have to go and cast my vote in parliament, but then I’ll be back for several months and intend to meet and talk to everyone on the estate. So you can be one of the first, and think what needs doing and what works.’

  Young Foster swallowed and shifted from one foot to the other. Jason’s bridle jangled and Foster soothed the horse with a few words. Then he looked up at Brody.

  ‘We’re all pleased you’re back, Your Grace, and I know some people have worries. Me though, I’m like a pig in muck now.’ He tilted his head in thought. ‘Almost. I just need to get set up well enough to ask Hannah Bright to walk out with me. Ah well, me dad says plenty of time. Right I best get this horse settled … I mean if that’s all right with you, Your Grace?’ he added hastily.

  Brody nodded absently. ‘Wh… oh yes sorry, Foster, I was wool gathering. I’ll be at least an hour or so I imagine, so untack him please.’ He smiled and turned towards the house.

  It seemed he might need to rearrange some staff. The estate had a duty to its workers to ensure they were employed and treated well. The three families at Long Hill had been there for as long as Brody remembered, and he suspected with all the children it was overloaded with workers. However, he had an idea one of the other farms needed more workers and one smaller one a new tenant. He’d need to discuss it with Henning.’ Later.

  First things first. Brody reached the formal gardens that encircled the house and hesitated. Should he go around to the front and use that door? Or as usual enter via the garden door, even if this time he would knock and wait to be admitted.

  The choice was taken from him.

  The garden door opened and Mary stepped out. Dressed in a green and rosy-cream striped morning gown, she looked like a hint of spring on a cold dark day. The sort of day his Scottish cousins called ‘dreich’, and he called bloody miserable.

  ‘My dear,’ He took the five or six steps towards her and bowed over her hand before he kissed her palm and gave her a wicked grin. All thought of the proper way he had intended to behave went out of his head. ‘You look ravishing. A jewel above any price.’

  To his relief she didn’t box his ears or ring a peal over his head for his forwardness. Of course they’d progressed well beyond such behaviour in the past, but he truly hadn’t been sure of his reception. He certainly hadn’t expected her to giggle and shake her head in mock reproof.

  ‘Thank you, but you are doing it a bit too brown, Your Grace. I know what I saw when I looked in my mirror this morning. Perfectly acceptable and no antidote but no more than that.’

  ‘Rubbish. If you don’t agree then you need a new mirror,’ Brody said, and then sobered. ‘In all seriousness, you look perfect. That colour suits you and on a day like this is perfect to brighten everything up. I need all the help I can get.’

  ‘I…’ she hesitated and ran her tongue around her lips in an unconscious – or so he thought – erotic gesture that made his breeches suddenly much too tight. Brody prayed Mary wouldn’t look down and spy the evidence of how she aroused him, which was now hard to the point of pain. He gritted his teeth and waited for her to finish her sentence.

  She took a deep breath. Her breasts swelled under the neckline of her gown and his pego reacted even more. It was a siren call, a message to his body that she was whom he wanted. That he yearned to suckle her breasts, to caress and worship her body and find his release deep inside her.

  Oh lord, calm down for pity’s sake. He really had to get a grip. This could potentially be one of the most important days of his life, and he must not mess it up with idiocy or impulsiveness. Remember cool, calm and to the point. No hesitations or deviations.

  ‘I… well, will you come in?’ she finished in a rush and took a step back to leave space for him to walk through the doorway into the bright, airy room she called her garden room.

  He bowed, and didn’t reply with ‘I thought you’d never ask’. Instead he smiled and let his pleasure show in his expression. ‘With pleasure, my dear.’

  ‘I thought we could talk in here, if you’re agreeable,’ she said as she shut the door behind them. There’s some of Mrs Niven’s shortbread and homemade lemon and ginger drink, or of course wine. I thought it best to say I wished to discuss business with you. That way no one will disturb us.’ She moved to a side table and began to fiddle with the ornaments on it without looking at him.

  She’s nervous. It gave him hope.

  ‘A good thought.’ After all, it was true, he hoped. His mission was business of a sort. ‘I would never refuse Mrs Niven’s lemon and ginger drink or her shortbread.’

  She nodded with her back to him and clinked a glass against the tall jug of juice. Several drops of liquid spilled on the embroidered cloth and she muttered something under her breath. Brody could stand it no longer. Why was she in such a state? He was no ogre and for goodness’ sake they knew each other well.

  Had known.

  In two steps he was beside her and put his hands on her shoulders.

  ‘Mary, my dear…’ He got no further.

  She yelped, spun around and Brody ducked as liquid flew out of the glass she held and missed him by inches.

  Her eyes widened and he wondered if it would be tears or laugher next. He couldn’t help it. He threw back his head laughed out loud. ‘I thought you such a good shot as well.’ Her mouth dropped open, and before she had time to respond, he changed tactics, bent and kissed her hard.

  She shrieked and then took hold of his shoulders, to, he thought, steady herself. Brody took advantage of the situation and pressed herself against him. He had no idea how she would respond, but in all truth he had not expected this instant erotic response. Her mouth softened, and as her lips parted he slipped his tongue between them. She uttered something he took as encouragement and then her tongue met his. Brody deepened the kiss, any coherent thoughts fled and he lived for the moment. The scent of her, her breath feathering over his skin, her scent, every last little thing about her filled him. There was a roaring in his ears and he swore he shook.

  Her grip on his shoulders tightened and she leaned on him as if he was all that kept her upright. Maybe he was. Brody was damned sure without her as she was he’d be a heap on the floor. Somewhere outside the room a door banged and gradually sanity began to filter into his brain. As much as he desired to take things further, Brody gentled the kiss and slowly brought them both back to earth.

  He watched as Mary realised she was still standing and wasn’t horizontal.

  She blinked and licked her lips. ‘Ah…’

  ‘For the love of god and my sanity do not do that,’ he ground out. ‘Or I’ll take up where we left off and I do not think I’ll have the ability to stop until I’m buried deep inside you.’

  ‘Would it be so bad?’ she asked softly.

  ‘Yes, no, hell I don’t know.’ He ran his hand through his hair and messed up all his hard work from earlier. ‘Lord, Mary, I came here to talk, not jump on you straight away.

  ‘Jump on me later?’ she asked with an upward inflection that showed she probably would not be adverse to that.

  ‘If you have any pity, stop it now, please.’ His voice held more of a plea than a command. ‘Let me talk and ask you what I have rehearsed,’ he paused and winked. ‘Then I’ll jump on you if you still wish.’

  She stared at him for long minutes and then nodded, turned and sat demurely on a chair and folded her hand in her lap. ‘I’m all yours.’

  Oh how he hoped so.

  ‘Will you hear me out before you answer? Please?’ He waited until she dipped her head and let out the breath he hadn’t realised he held. ‘Thank you, my dear. I need to say all I have to say in one go, or I might forget something and it is important to both of us I think.’ And I might lose my courage if I dally. />
  He concentrated his mind on the sentence he had rehearsed ad nauseam and cleared his throat. Good lord that sounded so bloody pompous, and he didn’t want to come across as such.

  ‘I will freely admit the last time we met I got on my high horse and stormed off in high dudgeon. Too much high and mighty going on there.’

  She smiled and his heartbeat slowed to something a little less rapid and more in keeping with its normal pace. His pulse still jumped erratically but, Brody decided philosophically, he couldn’t have everything.

  ‘I didn’t stop to think to ask questions or even look at things from your point of view, it was all me, me, and woe is me. What I thought best. So now, I’m here with my metaphorical cap in hand to ask you something which I think very important.’ He looked at her and saw the green and amber lights in her iris flare and twinkle. Was it a good omen?

  Who knew?

  Brody took a deep breath.

  ****

  Mary shifted in her chair. She daren’t even begin to contemplate what he wanted to ask, although it must be something serious. Her heart thudded. Please not to be his mistress when he marries. Please god not that. With a start she realised he was waiting for her agreement.

  ‘Ask away.’ There was nothing else she could say. She watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed and his chest heave as he took a deep breath, and had no idea if they were good or bad signs. Whichever, she needed to know.

  ‘Why do you never want to remarry?’ he asked in a rush. ‘I assume it’s not just to me?’

  Mary stared at him as if he had two heads. It was the last thing she’d expected, although with hindsight it made perfect sense. She’d not really gone into any great detail as to why she had no desire to be a wife once more. Neither of them had given her the chance to do so.

  His face was white and he seemed worried about her rely. Part was easy, so she’d cover that first. ‘It’s not just you.’ She made haste to reassure him of that fact. ‘It’s complicated.’

  He nodded, as he stood stiffy by the window. Mary waved her hand at the chair set next to the one she was using. ‘Oh sit down and I’ll try and explain. Perhaps you could pour us both some wine.’ She had a feeling they might both need it.

  He grinned, unexpectedly. It lit up his face and made her secret places throb.

  ‘As ever,’ he said in a deep and seductive tone, ‘I desire to do as you wish.’

  She harrumphed and he flicked her nose. ‘If your wishes mesh with mine, of course.’

  ‘Of course,’ she said gravely and he gave her the grin she had privately named all rake and rogue. I’ve missed that. Enough, concentrate on what you need to say, not what he makes you experience. Mary sat and curbed her anxiety as best she could whilst he move a side table to a position they could both access, placed drinks and shortbread on it and then sat down. He crossed his legs and she looked away hastily. To have his pego outlined in such loving detail was not conducive to coherent thought. She realised that once more he was waiting for her to speak and she collected her thoughts.

  ‘So, My reasons for not wanting to remarry.’ She steepled her hands on her chin. ‘Apart from the fact I am now in charge of my finances and destiny. I’ll need to go back to the beginning. When I was a child.’ She considered her statement and was pleased to see Brody looking at her intently but with no intent to interrupt. ‘Not too much of a child. I think to when I first saw Horry. Horace, Lord McCoy, my late husband.’ She smiled at the memory. ‘He was in such a temper, bless him. His horse had cast a shoe and it was raining. We were, oh, around a mile from the village, and as I found out later he was to visit my papa. They were both interested in the West Indies. However, he was in a towering temper as the person he had asked where the nearest blacksmith was had scratched his head and said he didn’t rightly know. Evidently it was a local rogue who, I discovered, thought my lovely Horry looked shifty. Bless him he could never have looked shifty if he tried. Luckily I came across them not more than a minute or so later and was able to help.’ She smiled, reminiscently. ‘I showed him to the blacksmith, he kissed my hand and my sixteen-year-old self fell deeply in love. Horry of course didn’t believe me for one moment but to my everlasting relief, eventually he did. Then to my surprise and indeed worry I found I had married a very warm man. Very warm indeed.’ She sighed, as she remembered her horror when she discovered that contrary to what she thought her husband wasn’t just wealthy but obscenely rich.

  ‘Luckily he understood how daunting that could be and made all the necessary provisos for me. If anyone thinks I will provide them with a large dowry, then they are very wrong. Horry understood how I could be chased, not for myself but for my wealth, and was determined that would not happen. You see, contrary to what most people thought, we loved each other, and he knew that was what made a marriage more than a convenience. Yes I had to persuade him I was serious, as he was concerned about the age difference. However, soon? Soon it could have been four months or forty years. It didn’t matter. The sad fact was, we both knew it wouldn’t be for long. His family were not renowned for their longevity, and my lovely Horry was no different. He began to become short of breath and found it hard to walk far without stopping to rest. As he was the last of the family he made sure that anything not entailed was safe and could not go to the crown.’ She sighed. ‘Our time together was much too short, but what we had I treasure. And it showed me I could never ever settle for less.’ Mary drank some wine and looked steadily at Brody. ‘If I ever marry it will be for one reason only. Love. Whatever you say, be honest, you do not love me.’ How she wished he did. Then life could be so much simpler.

  He blinked. ‘It’s true, I cannot say that I love you. I like you, respect you, and am fond of you, but in all honesty? I am not sure I have the capacity in me to love again…’ He shook his head and sighed. ‘Or perhaps I’m scared to open myself to that emotion once more? If I could, it would be to you, that I know. But I… I’ve loved and lost once. It almost broke me. I cannot… dare not… unlock my heart again.’ His voice broke and he dashed the palm of his hand over his eyes. ‘Mercedes was murdered because of me. For consorting with someone not from her village. Not even because I was British, for thankfully no one knew that. But because of me, she died.’

  Mary paled and gasped. ‘Oh my love…’

  He smiled sadly. ‘It nigh on finished me off. To love you and lose you may well take more courage than I have to risk.’

  Mary thought that so sad.

  ‘I never thought you devoid of courage, my love.’ She was about to fight for the chance to be happy for the rest of her life. ‘Just the opposite. But overreacting? I do think that. That was then, and abroad I presume?’

  He nodded.

  ‘This is now, in England. A much more civilised place. Would your lady have wanted you to shut yourself off from happiness?’

  ‘No, but…’

  Mary nodded. ‘Exactly, no buts. Life without a challenge is bland and pointless. Everything should make us strive to be better. To overcome difficulties.’ She stroked his cheek and smiled. ‘I can’t force you to love me, I won’t be so arrogant as to say I have love enough for us both, but I will say this. Do you want to go through life wondering, “what if”?’

  His face was blank of any emotion, and she thought his admission of fear one of the most heartbreakingly poignant sentences ever. She searched her mind to think of a suitable response.

  Before she had, Brody shook his head. ‘You hit hard’ he said rapidly. ‘Thank you. Did you intend to make me feel like I had crawled out from under a stone where I’ve hidden lately?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, just to make you think. Did I?’

  ‘Oh, love you did just that. Now? Love? Why, I would not be adverse to finding out.’ He stood up and pulled her to her feet, to circle her loosely with his arms. ‘Can I ask you to show me?’ For a brief second he rested his chin on her head and then kissed the top of her head before he leaned back slightly so he could see her
clearly. ‘Please?’

  ‘Show you?’ she said faintly as her body tightened in hope. ‘As in how?

  He laughed mirthlessly. ‘If I knew the answer to that I wouldn’t need help. I think let’s get back to the friendship we had and see where it leads.’

  It was Mary’s turn to laugh. ‘With us, no let me rephrase that, with you in charge, unless I take charge, more than likely it will lead to bed.’

  ‘Ah well, I’d be happy with that,’ Brody said and winked. ‘However, I concur it’s your choice. I know I went about everything in the wrong manner. If I promise not to mention that word you hate beginning with “M”, can we start again?’

  Put like that, and because it was what she wanted, how could she say no? However… Mary decided if she didn’t state her terms now, nothing would have changed.

  ‘Yes, but no sex.’ She chose not to mention that she didn’t hate the “M” word, she just hated marriage without love.

  Brody rocked on his heels and then used one long, elegant finger to trace a line from her nose, across her lips and down to the soft swell of her breast. He let his palm rest on her skin, just above the neckline of her gown. Damn that makes me quiver. Her breathing quickened and he smiled enigmatically.

  ‘No?’

  She shook her head, willing herself to stay firm. It wasn’t easy. What would be easy was to give in. ‘No, it clouds everything.’

  He muttered under his breath and held her close. ‘Bloody contrary woman. You want to, I want to. What’s the harm?’ He began to stroke her breast in a soft rhythmic manner, each time sliding a finger lower to tease and tantalise.

  Mary bit her lip and wished she hadn’t, when a knowing expression appeared on his face.

  ‘Enough, Brody. I know I do, I’m sure you do, but nevertheless, want must be our master. If we fall on each other like we did before, nothing will change. We’ll be too busy making love to move on.’ Damn, she didn’t mean to say love. ‘Let’s see if we can let the friendship side grow first. Friendship, enjoyment of each other’s company, and a chance to discover if it is what we both want.’