His Scandal Read online

  “They’re your households,” she answered, a sick suspicion permeating her mind. Perhaps he had deliberately kept her with him so he wouldn’t have to take care of Blythe. Did she run his households so well that he only used her as a glorified steward? Had he deliberately given only Blythe’s suitors encouragement?

  “How could you do this, Emmeline?” he asked, his voice still cajoling. “I have given you a man’s education; I have given you every freedom you could want.”

  “Except the freedom to marry, to choose my own husband,” she said coldly.

  “But how will we manage without you? You are the very image of your mother, and it does me such good to look upon you.”

  The image of her mother?

  All her guilt vanished as if it had never existed, replaced by pity for her father and her own stupidity. In a sad way, she was grateful he had stopped her from marrying Clifford Roswald, but he wouldn’t succeed this time. She saw now that her father’s manipulations, his subtle implications that she would never make a desirable wife, were all a selfish means to keep her with him as a servant. And she had responded by living through her sister—but no more…it was time to make her own dreams come true.

  “Father, if you refuse to give me your blessing to marry—and I don’t need your permission—I will bring a scandal down upon this family such as you’ve never seen.”

  “You would do that to your sister?” he asked in a cold voice.

  “My sister wants me to be happy, and she approves of Alex.”

  “Then you give me no choice. Has he asked you to marry him?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Then he will be made to. I will demand an audience at Thornton Manor first thing in the morning. Thornton will marry you immediately.”

  Emmeline saw all her plans coming to fruition, even as her relationship with her father died of disillusionment. His disappointment was obviously so great he could hardly look at her.

  But it was only Alex that concerned her. She was forcing him into something he had not said he wanted—and she could only pray she was doing the right thing.

  By dawn, Emmeline’s doubts had escalated into full-blown fears. What if Alex refused to marry her?

  She just wished that Blythe were home to discuss it. Emmeline had returned from her “adventure” with the Langstons yesterday, only to find a note from her sister that she’d gone to their country home to visit a friend who needed her.

  So Emmeline rode in the coach beside her father to Thornton Manor, while the sun was still low in the sky. He didn’t speak to her, and she had nothing to say to him.

  Once at the manor, her father pounded on the door until a wide-eyed maidservant opened it.

  “I am the Marquess of Kent, and I demand an audience with the viscount!”

  Emmeline wanted to groan. As the maidservant scurried away, she whispered, “Father, can’t we just quietly talk to Alex? There is no need for his whole family to know like this!”

  “Are you protecting that scoundrel even now?” he demanded.

  Another voice said, “That scoundrel is my brother.”

  Spencer Thornton descended the wide marble staircase with his mother at his side. Lady Thornton smiled encouragingly at Emmeline, who could only hope the lady would forgive her.

  Her father nodded in Spencer’s direction. “Lord Thornton, we have much to discuss about the disgraceful conduct of your brother.”

  “Then perhaps he should be here to answer your charges. Mother?” he asked, turning aside.

  Lady Thornton nodded. “I have already sent for him.”

  “Still abed, I see,” said the marquess with a sneer in his voice.

  Can this get any worse? Emmeline thought as they all left the hall.

  Alex came down the stairs, shrugging into his doublet, wondering what the hell was going on. Emmeline and her father were both here? He picked up his pace, glad that seeing her face would be the start of his day. He followed the group as they all entered the withdrawing room, and heard his mother call for wine and cakes.

  “Someone wanted me?” he said, watching in surprise as everyone turned to face him.

  On seeing Emmeline, he felt a peacefulness settle over him. What would it be like to see her every morning?

  But his mother and brother looked serious, Emmeline’s eyes were pleading, and her father looked like a thundercloud.

  “Alexander Thornton,” the marquess said, giving him a cold, dismissive stare. “You have abused the trust shown to you by my family.”

  “I have?” he asked, lifting a brow as he turned to stare at Emmeline.

  “Alex—” she began, but her father motioned her to silence.

  “I wish I could have you horsewhipped, instead of giving you the privilege of marrying Emmeline.”

  Stunned, Alex repeated, “Marrying Emmeline?”

  “Do not dare to try to squirm your way out of it!”

  “May I ask what brought this about?” he said mildly.

  “As if you didn’t know!” the marquess said with disgust in his voice. “You have seduced my daughter, and even now she could be with child.”

  Alex heard his mother gasp, but he himself could only stare at Emmeline in amazement. She gave him a wide-eyed shake of her head, then covered her face with her hands for a moment.

  “Father,” she said in a tremulous voice, “I asked you to allow me to deal with this.”

  “No, it’s all right,” Alex said. Emmeline must have initiated this scene; how else would anyone know what had happened between them? He had wanted her to have her own life, but he’d never thought she would choose him. Yet she had. A few months ago he would have been horrified, but now he felt strangely…relieved.

  “I will obtain a special license,” the marquess continued. “And you will marry her.”

  “Of course I will.” Alex smiled reassuringly at his mother and brother, both of whom stared at him in shock.

  Then he turned to Emmeline. He took her hands in his and kissed both of them. Looking deeply into her eyes, he felt bathed in a warmth that made him feel newly reborn. It was good that they’d be together, that she’d be waiting for him each night. She would become used to his schedule; things wouldn’t be so different. And he didn’t have to find the words he’d never had to say before.

  He almost wanted to laugh. He never would have thought that his biggest scandal would be being manipulated by an innocent virgin.

  But Emmeline was studying him worriedly.

  Her father stepped between them. “There is nothing more to be said. She is coming home with me to prepare for the wedding, but I will send a messenger with the details.”

  Alex looked at the marquess, knowing the man wasn’t capable of true fatherly concern. “I’ll abide by your wishes—for now.”

  Emmeline left at her father’s side without looking back at him. He heard the echo of the front door slamming, then the suffocating silence of his family. He turned and smiled at them.

  “Well. It seems I’m to be married.”

  “I’m not sure what to say,” Spencer said. “I don’t know Lady Emmeline.”

  “I do,” said their mother, frowning at Alex. “She is a good girl, and it is a shame to see her humiliated in such a way.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt her, Madre,” Alex said. “And I certainly wouldn’t have humiliated her as her father did.”

  “Well, I am pleased you are taking responsibility for your actions, Alexander. And I approve of your choice of young ladies.”

  “Did it look like I did the choosing?” Alex asked, forcing a laugh.

  “I think you chose months ago, though you may not have known it.”

  “That is absurd!”

  She shrugged and spread her hands. “There is no more need to talk. I have a wedding to prepare for. Just tell me—is she with child?”

  “No,” Alex said shortly.

  Spencer gave him an incredulous stare. “So certain, are you?”

  “Positive.” />
  Spencer nodded. “All right. I’ll send a message to Roselyn, but it’s too soon for the baby to travel. Such a shame. She’d want to see you married. Surely hell is freezing over as we speak.”

  Alex rolled his eyes and started to walk out of the room.

  “Wait!” Spencer called. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “Of course you did.”

  “Very well, I did. But before this whole marriage…erupted, I wanted to tell you about some important news I received this morning. And I wanted Madre to hear it, too.”

  “Go ahead,” Alex said warily.

  “I’ve been looking into the improvements you made to our Cumberland estates while I was in Spain, and wanted to tell you how impressed I was—”

  “Didn’t think I could make a success of things, did you?”

  “I’ve always known you’re more than capable, Alex. And now it seems other people know, too.”

  “What do you mean?” Alex asked, wishing his mother didn’t look so intrigued and hopeful. He was getting tired of always disappointing her.

  “The Cumberland town councils elected you to represent them in the House of Commons.”

  Stunned, Alex accepted his mother’s hug, and let Spencer pump his hand. “But why? I wasn’t acting like me—I was acting like you.”

  “Apparently you were knowledgeable enough to impress everyone. I’ve heard from various people how diligent you were in the House of Lords—even when your eyes were bloodshot.”

  Alex nodded slowly, amazed at how good it felt to have a purpose in his life. And then he realized that the first person he wanted to tell was Emmeline.

  After their mother left to spread the good news, Spencer’s grin faded. “Can I just say one more thing? ’Tis about Lady Emmeline.”

  “Spence, I know what I’m doing.”

  “I’m sure you do, but you’ll want to hear this. Years ago, I danced a time or two with your betrothed.”

  Alex laughed. “My ‘betrothed.’ I never thought I’d hear that. Don’t worry—I am not a jealous man.”

  Spencer only raised an eyebrow. “After we danced, her father drew me aside and told me that Emmeline was ill and not expected to live long.”

  Alex gaped at his brother. “She’s as healthy as any woman I know!”

  “I see that. I just thought you might find it interesting.”

  “When exactly did this happen?”

  “About seven years ago.”

  Alex ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “This is too much of a coincidence.”

  “What do you mean?” Spencer asked.

  “That was the exact time she thought she was in love with a tutor. Her father forbade her to marry.”

  “Could it have been because she was ill?”

  “No, she told me her father didn’t approve of Roswald, that he wasn’t good enough for her. Of course I’m sure he’s said the same thing about me.”

  Spencer grinned. “Well, you certainly aren’t good enough for her.”

  “I know,” Alex said as he shrugged. “I think her father was trying to hold on to her. She keeps his books like a steward, and she’s practically Blythe’s mother. Kent never had to worry about a thing with Emmeline in charge.”

  “If that’s true, it’s quite sad.”

  “Oh, it’s true,” he said grimly. “Why else would not a single man court her? But I don’t think I can tell Emmeline. She’d be devastated.”

  Spencer nodded. “No need to start a marriage with a devastated bride.”

  “After the wedding,” Alex continued, “I’ll have a talk with my father by marriage. I’ll make it clear that if he doesn’t leave Emmeline and me alone to begin our new life, I’ll reveal his lies to the world.”

  Spencer clapped him on the shoulder and left the room. Alex stood still, remembering Emmeline’s passion in the coach, her plea that he make love to her. And then he thought of her alone in bed later tonight, waiting for him.

  Chapter 28

  That night, Emmeline stared wide-eyed up at the shadows cast by firelight on her bedchamber ceiling. The scene at Thornton Manor kept playing over and over in her mind.

  Alex hadn’t seemed angry—or had he merely hidden it well? She’d known not to expect declarations of love, yet she couldn’t help feeling vaguely disappointed.

  But she had chosen this plan, and it had worked: Alex was going to marry her. She didn’t care about where they would live or any other detail—she was going to be married to the man she loved, and she would make him so happy, he would have to love her.

  Emmeline had sent a missive telling Blythe about the wedding, and hoped her sister would return in time. She prayed her brothers would be there as well, but she couldn’t know if her letters would reach them.

  She must have finally dozed off, because suddenly she awoke and knew she wasn’t alone. She felt the press of a male body along her side. The fire had gone out and she could see nothing, but she didn’t need to see to know that it was Alex, even as he drew the blankets away from her. Her heart swelled to bursting.

  She whispered his name and turned into him, wrapping her arms about him. He was naked, his skin warm everywhere it touched hers—which were only her feet and her hands. Yet her smock began a slow slide up her legs as he pulled it.

  It felt so right to lie in bed at his side. Surely every night would be like this. He must love her, he must. But she waited for the words in vain.

  Instead, he spoke to her with his body, overwhelming her with a passion she had never imagined could exist between two people. He pulled the smock over her head, and she lay naked and embarrassed, praying he would touch her.

  Instead he whispered, “I want to see you. Is there a candle on the table?”

  “Yes, but Alex—”

  “Just wait.”

  He left the bed, and after a moment a candle flared to life as he lit it in the last embers of the fire. She stared at his body as he walked toward her, in awe at the elegant way his muscles moved. He was broad through the shoulders and lean through his hips; his penis was erect and full. The thought of it inside her made her shudder wickedly. Would he let her kiss it?

  She realized he was staring down at her, and she lay back on the pillow and let him look. He grinned at her, then found even more candles, until the bed was surrounded in a romantic glow.

  On his hands and knees, he crawled onto the bed and over her body, dropping kisses as he passed. His lips praised her feet and the backs of her knees, the inside of her thighs, and her hipbones. He dipped his tongue into her naval, then licked a long path up and around her breasts, even as she prayed he would kiss their peaks again. But he teased her, coming ever nearer with his teeth and tongue, until she wanted to put her breast into his mouth.

  Finally his tongue swirled about her nipple and she cried out. She quickly clapped her hand over her mouth as Alex laughed softly against her breast. That felt almost as erotic as his tongue. Then he was kissing her and licking her and touching her everywhere, whispering impassioned words of her beauty. He came up to her mouth and kissed her, lowering his body on top of hers. Every inch of his skin burned her with a heat she gladly welcomed. She wanted him a part of her always, and she wrapped her arms about him. Feeling hesitant, she bent her knee and slid her foot along his leg. His hips settled deeper between her thighs, where the hard length of his erection teased her.

  He groaned into her mouth and stroked her tongue with his. She slid her hands down his face and neck, then over the strong muscles of his shoulders. His back was warm and hard, so smooth. She brushed her fingers over his nipples. Between her legs, his erection pulsed against her.

  “Em, I can’t wait,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “Don’t wait. Just tell me what to do.”

  “Bend your other knee, and I promise I’ll be as gentle as I can.”

  He braced himself above her, and she felt him probe between her thighs. With a shudder, he slid a small ways into her, then out.

&nb
sp; “Is something wrong?” she asked, desperate to experience again what he’d made her feel in the coach.

  “The first time will hurt you.”

  “I know. But please—”

  She tilted her hips up toward him, and was rewarded as he slid in deeper. With a groan he thrust all the way inside her, and a small pain stung her, then faded away.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, bending to kiss her mouth. “Because you feel wondrous.”

  “I am more than all right. Make me come alive again, Alex.”

  He began a slow slide in and out of her, and every brush of his hips against hers made her long for completion. Rounding his back, he bent and licked her nipples until the ache between her thighs ravaged her mind and her will. There was only Alex and her, his body joined to hers, his soul a part of hers. The spasm of pleasure she’d longed for jolted through her, and with a groan, he buried himself deep inside her and shuddered as the same pleasure took him.

  Afterward, Alex braced himself above her, not wanting to move for fear he’d never again find the perfection that he’d discovered in her embrace. The candlelight glowed across her skin as she lay looking up at him, wide-eyed and sated. But there was more, because she smiled tremulously, and in her eyes warmth and trust shone through like he’d never seen before.

  And it was all for him. He was overwhelmed, amazed, and grateful.

  She had orchestrated their betrothal—but did she love him?

  He came down by her side, pulling her into his arms. As he stroked her back, he smiled and whispered, “So who is the father of your child?”

  She groaned and pressed her face into his neck. “I’m not with child.”

  “I know. But now that I’ve given you a demonstration of how babies are made, you won’t make that mistake again, will you?”

  She laughed and lay back against her pillow to look up at him. Slowly her smile died, and she reached up to brush his hair back from his forehead.

  “Alex, we should talk.”

  “No.”

  “Don’t you want to know why I—”

  “You chose me, and that’s all I need to know, Em.”

  “Then you aren’t angry?”