His Jilted Bride (Historical Regency Romance) (26 page)

“
You don't need to do this, I can take care of it.”

He shook his head. “It's my honor to
do so.”

A shaky laugh passed her lips. “Are
you cracked? An honor?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. Many
bridegrooms think it's an honor to do this.”

All right, so
many
bridegrooms were
cracked. “Why?”

“
Some feel it's their duty and a way of paying penance for the
pain they've caused. Others like to do it as a means of showing
respect for the wonderful gift their wife has given
them.”

She swallowed past the emotion in her
throat. “And you?”

“
For both.”

“
How unfortunate there isn't something similar for a wife to
do to a husband.” She forced an uncomfortable laugh. “Not that it'd
matter, I suppose.”

He dropped the handkerchief into the
water. “Why not?”

She shot him a doubtful look and moved
over so he could crawl into the bed next to her. “Gentlemen are
never virgins on their wedding night.”

“
You think so, do you?” He lay back against the pillows and
gathered her into his arms. “And if he were, would you take his
word for it?”

Amelia stilled. Did he mean to
imply... “Were you?” she blurted; too nervous to look at his face,
she studied his chest hair instead.

“
Yes, my dear Amelia, it was
you
who divested me of my
virginity.”

She would have laughed at his tone and
ridiculous statement if not for the excitement she'd felt that what
they'd done together was new for both of them. But it didn't make
sense. He'd traveled the world over. Surely, he'd felt the need for
some female companionship as her mother once explained her father's
frequent visits to London. “Why?”

He kissed the top of her head. “You're
the only one I wanted.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“
Do you have any plans today?” Elijah murmured.

Amelia's eyes fluttered open. “Don't
we need to go to— Oh dear, we missed Caroline's dinner, didn't
we?”

“
I'm afraid so,” Elijah said, running his hand up and down her
arm. He loved the way her skin was so soft and smooth compared to
his. “I'm sure we could make her breakfast or her luncheon today if
you're so keen on dining with my family.”

She traced the muscles in his chest.
“It's not that. I just feel awful that I've missed almost every day
of her party.”

“
Don't. We weren't even originally invited guests,
remember?”

She grinned at his logic.
“Actually,
you
were.”

“
Only because I live here. And once you came to live here, you
were invited, too.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “Tonight
is the costume ball. We'll attend that. Today, however, you are all
mine.”

Amelia grinned up at him, sending a
jolt of desire straight to his groin. She came up on her knees,
causing the sheet to fall from her body and expose her delicious
body to his very hungry gaze.

He shifted. He couldn't take her
again. He'd felt so guilty after what he'd done last night, he
couldn't do it again. He hadn't come into the cabin yesterday bent
on seduction. Just the opposite. He'd heard she'd retired and had
come to check on her. But then...and then afterwards, a crushing
weight of guilt had come over him. He'd had no right to take things
so far without offering her the truth. She'd deserved the truth,
and yet, he hadn't given it to her. He nearly snorted. It wasn't
until after he'd decided not to bed her until he could explain
everything that she was finally willing. And now there was a giant
lie between them.

The way she'd stood before him
yesterday like a siren, leading him home was too much for his
resistance to bear. He'd wanted her and in a moment of clouded
judgement, he'd acted without thinking.

She moved to straddle him, bringing
her supple breasts within mere inches of his lips, the temptress;
and then looped her arms around his neck for stability.

“
Actually,” he started, skating his hands up and down her
back. “I wanted to take you on a picnic today.”

“
You did?” she murmured before kissing him.

He closed his eyes he deserved to be
tempted and left wanting, that's exactly what he deserved, but she
didn't deserve the same. “Amelia.” He opened his eyes and tucked a
lock of her silky hair behind her ear. “We need to start walking
soon if we're to make it to Bath for our picnic.”

“
And if I don't want to go on a picnic,” she asked between
kisses.

“
There'll be plenty of time for this later,” he promised,
praying he was right and she wouldn't hate him when she learned the
truth. “But for now—” he rolled her onto her back and came to lie
on top of her, her firm breasts pressing against his chest— “we're
going to go on a picnic together and you're going to enjoy
it.”

She nipped his lower lip.
“Oh?”

He repeated the gesture. “Yes.”
Mustering every ounce of strength he had, he crawled out of the bed
and away from her warm body. “Is something the matter?”

“
No,” she said quickly, too quickly.

Elijah followed her line of vision. “A
curious sort, are you?”

She flushed. “Well, you looked your
fill at me yesterday,” she reminded him.

Placing his hands on his hips, he
said, “Feel free to do the same.”

“
No, thank you.” She sat up. “I've seen enough.”

He looked down at his erect phallus
and frowned. “Is there something not to your liking?”

“
Your cockiness,” she said smartly.

“
Well, as long as it's my cockiness that's put you off and not
my—” He shut his mouth with an audible snap, embarrassment and a
small dose of shame creeping up his face. She might be his wife,
but she was still a lady. “Sorry. As you know, I am my father's
son.”

“
It's of no account, Elijah. I'm not always the proper young
lady gentlemen desire. I have heard a few scandalous whispers
behind some fans.”

“
Oh?” He lifted his eyebrows. “Do tell.”

She laughed. “No. You wouldn't believe
what I've heard even if I did tell you.”

He shrugged. “You'd be surprised what
I'd believe. I've heard plenty of gossip while in London myself.”
He reached forward and helped her to her feet. “Shall we dress and
go on our picnic?”

“
Only if you'll play the part of my lady's maid
again.”

“
It'll be my pleasure.”

And it was. It was a great pleasure to
roll on her stockings, and a great disappointment to see her shift
go back on. He tied her corset and helped her into her
gown.

“
Are you sure you've never kept a mistress? Your lady's maid
skills are quite good,” she said, admiring herself in the
mirror.

“
I'm positive.” He dragged on his trousers, then his shirt.
“Every country has a different way they find fashionable. I've
dressed in many types of garments.” That was true enough. As a spy,
he always needed to blend into the crowd around him, no matter what
they wore. He couldn't count how many times he and Henry needed to
help each other dress in some of the most bizarre costumes—even in
corsets once or twice. He finished dressing and helped her gather
her reticule and bonnet. “Do you mind waiting here for a minute? It
looks like Mr. Henry Hirsute is in need of another grasshopper.
It'll just take a minute.”

She glanced over to the wooden box
with the glass lid that Mr. Henry Hirsute lived in and
shuddered.

Elijah laughed. “I would invite you to
come with me, but I thought you'd prefer to wait with the critter
behind the glass.”

“
Indeed.”

“
I'll be right back.” Elijah stepped outside and walked about
ten feet away. He bent his knees, his eyes scanning the grass. Aha.
He cupped his hands together and caught him. Closing his hands to
keep him from escaping, he walked back inside and dropped him in
the top of the box. “Are you ready now?”

“
More than you'll ever know.”

He chuckled and reached for her hand.
They walked to the main house where Amelia joined the ladies in the
drawing room while Elijah ordered a picnic hamper.

“
Have you learned anything more?” Henry asked, stepping out of
the library and into the hall.

“
No. Have you?”

Henry shook his head. “Are you still
angry with me?”

“
No. Really you haven't done less than your share. It's not as
if you knew to be there in Brighton. We never had a clue that
directed us there.” He exhaled. “I just hate that Amelia's
involved.”

“
And why is that?”

Elijah looked at his
brother as if he were addled. Then he realized it wasn't that his
brother didn't understand why Amelia's involvement bothered Elijah
but why
she
was
involved in the first place. Unease settled over him. “I have no
idea. If I ask her, then I have to admit I was there and saw her
that night.” He shrugged. “I found her in the library looking
through papers. Perhaps she found a way into her cousin's party and
when she realized how dangerous it was, she wanted to leave and was
looking for something to write with to send a message.” At least
that's what he'd assumed she was doing that night when he found her
and he still hoped that's all she was there for.

“
Something about that doesn't add up,” Henry commented. “I
promised Caroline I'd play lawn games for an hour today and I
overheard that you're taking Amelia on a picnic, so I won't keep
you, but I'll keep thinking about it.”

“
If you make a grand discovery and you're not too terribly
injured by the whole ordeal, please let me know.”

Henry twisted and puckered his lips
and partially closed his eyes. Elijah had come to think of this as
his “you think you're being humorous, but you're not”
look.

Elijah clapped him on the back as he
passed and continued to wait for the hamper to be brought to
him.

Once he had the hamper and the
carriage was readied, he collected Amelia and helped her into the
carriage.

“
How were the ladies this morning?” he asked, climbing up into
the carriage.

She moved over so he could sit next to
her. “Like they always are. Chattier than magpies, as your Aunt
Carolina would say.”

Elijah wrapped his arm around her and
pulled her close. “Do they not include you?”

“
They do. Or they would,” she amended. “I just don't like to
talk.”

“
I know.” He'd always found that a little strange about her.
When he'd glimpsed her from across the London ballrooms, he'd
always noticed she was always listening. Very few times had he
actually seen her chat. Perhaps that's why he was drawn to her when
he'd seen her during her first Season. Not that he was one to
dominate a conversation, but he was sure she had
something
to say, and
even if nobody else did, he wanted to hear it.

Of course, she'd blushed
and been reluctant to talk to him at first as back then rumors
wildly circulated that she held a
tendre
for him and refused to
consider anyone else, waiting for only his proposal. He'd tell her
that it was just a young girl's fantasy, to marry her girlhood
playmate, and would encourage her to let other gentlemen pay court
to her. At the time, his actions had been innocent and what he
believed to be in her best interest. He never dreamed that one day
it would be him who was in love, only to have waited too
long.

But that's what happened. With each
ball or assembly he saw her at, he became more attracted to her
smiles and craved more conversation with her. He'd jokingly suggest
she allow a completely unsuitable fellow to court her only to see
her nose scrunch up and hear her list his faults, to which Elijah
would always try to parry back with how a negative attribute such
as having foul breath from his tobacco was a good thing because it
meant he'd spend the majority of each ball outside with his cheroot
instead of collecting his obligatory dance with her.

He'd half-heartedly suggested himself
as a candidate two Seasons ago. She'd laughed and said, “I couldn't
marry you. You're my friend. If we were to marry, I'd never get to
be a mother.”

He'd wanted to refute that. To tell
her then and there how much he desired her. But he couldn't. He was
in the middle of a mission and the last thing he needed was to get
her tangled up in the mess.