Once Upon an Accident 01 - The Accidental Countess (10 page)

His best friend since their salad days, Daniel was treated as a member of Sebastian’s family. His life at home had not been good, and he had spent most holidays at school until Sebastian’s mother had discovered what was going on. After that, he had been a regular at every holiday event.

He rose and accepted Daniel’s hand. After they were seated, Daniel came right to the point. “Did your ninny of a sister and your mother find you?”

“Yes, they did. I was in York when they finally found me.”

“Ah. They lost the men I had following them just outside of London. I guess they told you about the whole mess?” He sighed. “Shame really. Liked your uncle and your cousin.”

Sebastian nodded. “Both damn fine men and best of friends. Hard to believe they are gone.”

As if knowing Sebastian’s mood was quickly turning sour, Daniel changed the subject. “So how does it feel to be an earl now? The matchmaking mamas are all atwitter over rumors of your return. They assume you are going to marry to beget an heir.”

Sebastian smiled. “That won’t be necessary.”

“It won’t? Can’t see that you would want the title to go to that skinflint of an uncle and his wife.” Daniel shuddered theatrically, and Sebastian laughed. “I almost feel sorry for that dowdy little cousin of yours… What is her name?”

“Cicely.” He thought about the quiet girl he’d met a handful of times and her overbearing mother and absent father. “James and Prudence must be nightmare parents.”

Daniel took a healthy swig of his brandy when Sebastian made his next statement.

“That won’t happen. You see, I’ve found myself a wife.”

Daniel choked on his drink. “A wife? You’re getting married?”

“I
am
married.”

Daniel’s gaze sharpened as he studied him, but Sebastian just smiled smugly.

“I think we should retire to my house, and I expect the entire story, Sebastian.”

A half hour later, he followed Daniel into his library. “Now, tell me about this woman you have married. Is there a way out of it?”

He watched Daniel pour two glasses of brandy. After witnessing what Sebastian’s marriage did to him, Daniel had sworn never to repeat the mistake. Sebastian had made the same pledge, but here he was, married to a woman he barely knew.

“I’m not sure I want a way out of it,” Sebastian said as he settled in a chair. “The woman saved my life and I ruined her reputation.”

“She trapped you?” Suspicion colored his voice.

Sebastian chuckled. “She’s not that thrilled about being married to me. It all started at Crammer’s house party.”

As Daniel listened to the story, his eyes grew wider and more concerned. “Is the marriage legal?”

“Do you mean is there a possible way to relieve myself of my wife?”

Daniel nodded.

“I am sure there would be if I protested it. But it was all done legally, under the vicar, with a special license. And besides, I could not leave the woman after her reputation had been ruined, thanks to saving my life.”

After a few minutes of silence, Daniel sighed. “You’re telling me someone knocked you on the head, doused you with whiskey and left you to die?”

“Yes, and if she hadn’t found me, I would surely be dead.”

In a quiet voice, Daniel said, “Given what’s happened recently, I would have to say that was someone’s plan.”

Sebastian didn’t say a word for several seconds and allowed Daniel’s suspicions to sink in. The first thing he felt was relief. He’d been so sure he was losing his mind with all the ideas of assassins and conspiracies floating around.

“Do you think this new wife of yours could be part of the plan?” Daniel asked.

Sebastian chuckled, thinking of the verbal lashing Colleen would give Daniel for that accusation. “No, I told you she saved my life. On top of that, she doesn’t have a dishonest bone in her body.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Really?”

“Yes, really. I’m not losing my mind here, and truthfully, being married to a woman with no connections, no dowry and no personality, doesn’t appeal. But I owed the woman. Why would she save my life if she were part of the plan?”

Daniel settled back in his chair, a frown creasing his forehead. “Well, then, if the runner you told me about believes that your cousin and uncle were murdered, and now the killer is after you, it has to be someone in line for the earldom.”

“James.”

“Uncle James. That man always made me uncomfortable. He has those beady little eyes.”

Sebastian laughed. “I know what you mean. He was always an outsider. But I can’t see that he would be after the earldom. Silly in my opinion.”

It was Daniel’s turn to chuckle. “No, you wouldn’t, but men have been killed over lesser titles. The title, money and land; that would be more than enough to tempt some. Of course, you will have another worry. Once whoever is after your title finds out you’ve married, you will not be the only target.”

“And why, pray tell, would my wife be a target? That is, assuming you are referring to my new bride.”

“Think, Sebastian. Any heir would keep whoever wants the title from having it. And he would have to wait until at least three or four months after your demise to ensure she wasn’t breeding, to gain the title.”

“Hmmm,” was all Sebastian could say. Mainly because his thoughts had turned to Colleen and begetting heirs. He knew he could tame the woman. When they had kissed, he felt her underlying passion, something shimmering below the surface. She kept it well hidden from the rest of the world, but he knew he could unlock it and reap the rewards.

Just thinking about his wife and her passion had sent all of his blood out of his head rushing straight to his groin. He stifled a groan and shifted in his chair, trying to relieve the pressure.

“Ah, so I guess the killer would have to worry about your heirs?” Daniel asked, one eyebrow raised in question.

“No, not yet. But…” The image of Colleen with her soft curves and warm flesh materialized. The pressure intensified.

Sebastian gulped down the remainder of his brandy and rose to fill the glass again. It was going to be a long few nights until he could unleash Colleen’s inner passion. He needed something to take his mind off his wife, he thought as he drank down more brandy.

*

“Jameson, I can undressh myshelf,” Sebastian slurred loud enough for everyone on Curzon Street to hear.

Colleen opened her eyes, her husband’s voice bringing her out of a sound sleep. She sat up, testing her body. No more dizziness and just a few aches. She grabbed her spectacles off her nightstand and donned them and her wrapper. She rose out of bed and crept to the door she assumed connected her chamber to her husband’s room.

“I’ll tell you when I want some help from you, Jameson. This ish not one of those times.”

Jameson’s “Yes, my lord” was barely audible.

The door opened then closed, telling Colleen that her husband must be alone. She waited, wondering if she should interrupt him to make sure he could make it to bed.

“Bloody hell!” he yelled, which was followed by the sound of a large body falling to the floor. Colleen threw the door open and rushed into the room to find her husband in much the same condition as she had found him that very first time. Laid out flat on the floor. Only this time he was fully awake, a sloppy drunken grin on his face.

Impatience and resentment sped through her. Not twenty-four hours in London, and the idiot was drunk as a sailor.

“Ahhh, wife. I see that you have rushed to my rescue again. I can’t seem to get the other sleeve off.”

It was then that she realized Sebastian was bare-chested, one arm still tangled in the sleeve. She hadn’t seen him like this since she had nursed him back to health, and he had been incoherent at the time. But as he struggled with his sleeve, she couldn’t take her eyes off the great expanse of golden skin before her.

He should look ridiculous, fighting with his linen shirt for freedom. But for some reason, Colleen found herself a bit more entranced by the sight. She didn’t know if it was the boyish frown on his sensuous lips or the tingle of warmth chasing down her spine as she gazed at his chest. Either way, she couldn’t prevent the laugh that bubbled up.

He stopped his struggles and stared at her with such an intensity all the breath tangled in her throat, and her laughter died.

“You should do that more often.” His lips curved and his eyes darkened. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you laugh before, not like that.” Then he shook his head. “No, once. Once I heard you laugh like that.”

She shifted from foot to foot. Uncomfortable with the warmth spreading into her belly at the sound of his deepened voice and frank appraisal, she lashed out, “I don’t have much to laugh about, do I, my lord?”

Instead of pulling back from her as she had intended, his eyes warmed. “You’ve had a hard life, haven’t you?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Her voice was stiff as was her spine. Standing next to the bed, with Sebastian sitting on the floor half-naked, was not good for her composure. She was trying not to stare at him, especially the way his copper nipples had puckered against the chill in the room.

“You’re an orphan, and your sister died last year. You’re alone in the world.”

“I’m not an orphan.” She bit off each word. Mortification that he pitied her caused her tone to sharpen. “I was practically an adult by the time my mother passed on. And I’m married to you, so I am not alone in the world.”

Why she added that last bit of information she did not know, but regretted it the moment his lips curved and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

“Of course, you have me.” He placed his free hand on the bed and hoisted himself off the floor.

Suddenly, he was no longer the drunken rogue but something much more dangerous. He’d moved so close, the very heat of him warmed her. She took a step back.

His shirt still dangled from one arm, his smile turned completely seductive and his eyes darkened to cobalt. He took a step forward. His bay-rum scent, mixed with the scent of brandy, surrounded her, seduced her.

“You know, Colleen, you look rather fetching in that gown.”

Her stomach clenched at the sloppy compliment. A whisper of need crawled into her heart and she pushed it away. She wouldn’t fall for a charmer. In the end, she would be left lonely by a man who found solace with other women. But even as she hardened her heart against him, she couldn’t fight a smile as she watched him try to remove his shirt with the cufflink still fastened.

“Sebastian, you need to sit down and I’ll help you. Why didn’t you let Jameson help you?”

His whole body stilled. Colleen sensed that his every muscle was tensed and ready to pounce.

“Say that again.”

“Why didn’t you let—?”

“No, say my name. Say Sebastian.”

The air between them thickened. She swallowed as she tried to calm her heart. The intensity in his eyes took her breath away. “Sebastian.”

“I like it when you say my name.” His voice had deepened, causing her blood to rush through her. It danced along her nerve endings and the tingling warmth in her belly now slid between her thighs.

“Sebastian,” she said sharply.

He chuckled, and the sound of it vibrated across her senses. “Even when you sound like a prude you make me hard.”

His blunt words should have embarrassed her or enraged her. Instead, a tiny zing of happiness shot through her blood. She tried her best to squelch her rising desire, but it was hard when a man like her husband admitted to his attraction to her.

“I can’t seem to get this off.” He was swinging his arm back and forth, still attempting to get his arm free of his shirt.

“Here. Sit on the bed, and I’ll help.”

Obediently he sat, his lips still curved into a smile so enticing she had to count backwards from ten trying to ignore it. Then count again.

“I never thought I’d hear you say those words, Colleen.” The dip in his voice could only be termed flirtatious.

“Oh, shut up, you drunken sod,” she said, attempting to disregard the flare of desire his words had caused.

She worked the gold cufflink free of its hole and yanked the shirt off him. Even in the dim candlelight, she could see his muscles flex beneath his golden skin each time he moved. She fought the urge to run her fingers over his muscled chest, to glide them over his warm skin.

“I’m going back to my room.” She had to. He was entirely too attractive with his lips quirked in invitation and his chest bare for her hands to explore.

“But I need help with my pants.”

She heard the amusement in his voice and suppressed a smile. She shouldn’t be amused at his clumsy attempts at seduction, should she?

“Call Jameson.” She turned to leave when his next statement stopped her.

“But I want you to help me, Colleen.” His voice was such a mixture of petulant boy and seductive man that her traitorous heart softened.

She turned and found him sitting in the same spot, and although he still seemed amused, she sensed a deeper vibration between them. Something so strong it wiped every thought from her brain as she watched him raise his hand to her.

For a moment, she hesitated. She didn’t know what he expected from her if she accepted that hand. Even as she yearned to lose herself in his warmth, she still had some concept she could convince him they needed to seek an annulment. For so many—too many—reasons she knew it was for the best. But freeing herself from his influence, and this attraction she had for him, would be the most important.

Never in her life had a man’s smile twisted her insides and made her want something…more. The ache in her heart had started the day she found him, and it was growing every day. If she allowed him to ease the pain of loneliness she had fought for so many years, she didn’t know if she would survive when he left.

“I don’t bite unless asked.” His teasing tone was almost her undoing. How long had it been since she’d had someone to share a jest with? She craved that as much as she craved his kisses. “I just need some help and then I’ll leave you be. My fingers just don’t seem to want to work.”

It was a lie, she was sure of it. But the more she tried to keep her composure rigid, the more she found herself softening. He would hurt her in the end. She knew it and he knew it. But in the dark, Colleen allowed the need she’d ignored most of her life to push her forward. She stepped closer and took his hand.

His breath escaped in a sigh, as if he had been worried she’d deny his request. His large, warm fingers wrapped around her hand.

“You’re as cold as ice,” he said, his voice now a whisper that stirred longings and desires she’d never known dwelled within her.

He pulled her closer, his hand still firmly gripping hers. He urged her into the vee of his legs. Her breasts, now level with his eyes, swelled and grew heavy, and her nipples tightened almost painfully.

“You need to stand so I can get your pants off you.”

He chuckled again. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, love. You don’t have to be standing to do that.”

The next instant, he tugged her onto the bed and rolled on top of her. His hardened body covered her from head to toe. His arousal pressed against her most private parts.

“Now, let’s talk about your helping me with my pants.”