The Earl's Stolen Bride (Marriage by Deceit Book 4) (6 page)

Chapter Seven

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Chloe said, her face turning a lovely shade of pink as she stepped into the water.

Orlando smiled from where he stood, waist-deep in the lake. She had been reluctant to get into the water until he removed his clothes and got in to show her it was all right.  But truth be told, he hadn’t minded watching her undress in front of him, each layer falling off her slowly, an action which only served to remind him of how much he’d be enjoying her that evening.

There wasn’t anything more beautiful than her naked form.  Yes, he’d seen her without clothes on in the candlelight of his bedchamber, but seeing her in the sunlight accentuated everything about her.  And he had no qualms about watching her breasts which gently bounced or the dark patch of curls nestled between her legs.

Most of all, he loved her curves, particularly at her waist and hips.  It was a shame he couldn’t paint her without clothes on.  She looked so much better without them.  But such a painting wasn’t the thing he could put on the wall for his progeny to look at.  No.  He would have to sear this lovely sight into his memory.

Soon, she was standing in front of him.

He brought her into his arms and kissed her, not at all shy about pressing his arousal against her soft abdomen.  And more than that particular thrill was the way her breasts pressed against his chest.  Though he ended the kiss, he kept her in his arms and smiled.  “You have to admit, the water feels good on a day like this.”

“It does,” she whispered.  “Though it’s a bit chilly.”

“I don’t know.  I feel warm with you in my arms.”

She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck then pulled him in for another kiss, and this time, the kiss was longer.  With a soft moan, he ran his tongue along her lower lip, and she allowed him into her mouth.

It hadn’t been his intention to immediately get into the whole thing of kissing her.  He’d planned to swim with her first.  But she had a strange effect on him.  She was so wonderfully passionate, responding to him so naturally, as if they’d always belonged together, that it was easy to get distracted.

When their kiss ended, he caressed her cheek.  “How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

His smile widened, and he took her by the hand to lead her into the deeper part of the lake.  “Do you know how to swim?”

“This is my first time in anything larger than a tub.”

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“It was a no, silly.”

Amused at her response, he chuckled.  “I knew you had a delightful sense of humor.  And,” he added before she could reply, “I also knew you’d enjoy coming down to this lake on hot summer days for a swim.  Few things make you feel as alive as swimming without anything on.”

“Well, I admit it feels strange to not be wearing anything in so much water.”

“You’ll get used to it.” He stopped when the water reached his chest.  “You won’t be swimming today.  Today, I want you to get comfortable with the water.”

She shot him a wicked smile.  “I think you just wanted to get me out here so I’d have to take off my clothes in front of you.”

“That is certainly a benefit.  But you will learn to swim.  Here’s what I mean by swimming.” He let go of her hand and swam a short ways down the lake then returned to her.  “Soon, you’ll be able to do that.”

“It looks like a pleasurable activity.”

“It is.  Growing up, the only thing that kept me away from here was when it was cold.  In the summer, I used to come down here every day, even when it was raining.”

“You came here when it rained?”

“Yes.  Every day I had some free time to spare.  Besides you, swimming’s my favorite pastime.”

“Isn’t there something else that’s also your favorite pastime?” she teased as she closed the distance between them.

When she touched his shaft, he sharply inhaled.  She’d only touched him there once before, and that was the other night in bed when she guided him into her.  It felt just as good now as it had then.

“I admit I enjoy lovemaking immensely.” He cupped her breasts in his hands and brushed her nipples with his thumbs, pleased when they hardened.  “I might even have to admit I enjoy it more than swimming.”

With a giggle, she outlined his erect penis with her fingers, the action a bit on the timid side but incredibly sensual all the same.  “I enjoy it as well,” she whispered.  “You have a fascinating body.”

“You do, too.”

She looked up at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes.  “Are you curious about what it’d be like to make love in this lake?”

“The lake isn’t a good place for making love,” he said, even though his thickening arousal argued with him.

He wasn’t the only one who noticed the contradiction because she replied, “I think you’d like to.” For emphasis, she slid her hand down his shaft and brought it back up.

A low moan escaped his lips.  She was getting surprisingly bold in her actions, and while part of it excited him, another part made him apprehensive.  She wasn’t a lady of ill repute whose sole purpose was to provide a gentleman pleasure.  She was his wife—his virginal wife—who needed to be treated with great care and tenderness.  The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her like he had on their wedding night.

“As tempting as it is,” he said, taking her hands into his so he wouldn’t get further distracted, “we’re better off waiting until we get to my bedchamber.”

“You want to wait until we’re at your bedchamber?”

Forcing aside the disappointment in her voice, he brought her into his arms and kissed her.  “Or your bedchamber.  We haven’t been to your bed yet.”

“Who says we have to do it in bed?  I’m sure there are other places we can enjoy each other.”

He let out an uneasy chuckle.  “What’s wrong with the bed?”

“Well, nothing’s wrong with it.  I was just thinking it might be fun to try something different sometime.”

“We will.  But right now, let’s focus on getting you used to the water.” He led her to a deeper part of the lake.  “We should take advantage of the day.”

“You’re right.  Unlike you, I don’t want to come out here when it’s raining.”

Glad she hadn’t pressed the issue of lovemaking, he turned his attention to teaching her how to float in the water.

***

Two hours later, Chloe and Orlando were on their way back to the manor, laughing and having a wonderful time, when her gaze went to the familiar carriage in front of the manor.  Her steps slowed on the grassy path.  Oh dear.  Of all the things her parents could do, she hadn’t once thought they’d come all the way out here.

“What’s wrong?” Orlando asked, his hand resting on the small of her back.

“My parents are here,” she replied, wishing she didn’t have to say the words.  She was a married lady, and yet, she felt like a little girl who’d been caught sneaking off to do something she had no right to be doing.  She gestured to the carriage still a ways off from where they were.  “I-I’m afraid they aren’t going to be happy.”

“Because you married so soon after Lord Hawkins’ death?”

She nodded.  “It was scandalous of me to do so.  No doubt the Ton is talking about it.” And that would only make things more difficult with her parents.

“The Ton talks about the littlest scandal, and what’s more, the Ton is easily scandalized.  If you dare to even look at someone the wrong way, it’s worthy of the
Tittletattle
.”

Despite his joke, she couldn’t bring herself to laugh.  How could she when her stomach was all twisted up in knots?  “My parents don’t share your humor.  They must be greatly displeased if they came to your estate.”

He turned her so she was facing him.  “I’m with you.  You have no need to worry.  As long as we stick together, we can overcome anything.  All right?”

If only saying it would make it that easy, but he didn’t know her parents.

“We could return to the lake or take horses out for a ride,” he offered.  “It’ll give you time to get ready to see them.”

“No.  We should get it over with.” There was no preparing her for their visit.  The sooner she saw them, the sooner they’d leave and she could go back to enjoying her time with Orlando.  “You’ll be with me,” she told him.  “It won’t be like I have to face them alone.”

“You’re right.  You won’t.” He took her hand and squeezed it.  “No matter what they say, I’ll be with you.”

Smiling, she nodded and joined him as he led her to the manor.  She wished she could share his confidence.

They reached the entrance of the manor in time for the footman to open the door.  “My lord and lady, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are in the drawing room.”

Chloe tried to push aside the sense of impending doom welling up within her, but it was impossible.

Orlando squeezed her hand again, but even his silent reassurance did little to ease the tension in her stomach.  He had no idea how demanding her parents could be.  She should have known they wouldn’t be content to wait for her to return to London before talking to them.  Maybe if she’d sent them a missive, they would have delayed coming here.  But the reason she didn’t write the missive was because she didn’t want to deal with the confrontation.  A lot of good that did her.  They came anyway.

“Remember,” Orlando whispered, “I’m with you.”

Reluctant, she allowed him to lead her to the drawing room.  Her mother, the first to see them, bolted up from the settee where she’d been sitting next to her father.  Her father was slower to rise to his feet, but he didn’t look the least bit happy.

“My darling,” her mother began as she approached Chloe, “you have no idea how much you frightened your father and me.  When you didn’t come back from your carriage ride, we assumed the worst.”

“I’m fine,” Chloe forced out then cleared her throat.  “I…um…married Orlando.  Lord Reddington.”

“We went to Gretna Green and came here afterwards,” Orlando explained.  “We thought it best to stay here until next Season.”

Her mother glanced at her father.  Chloe was sure there was a silent message in that look since her father said, “My lord, may I have a word with you while Chloe and her mother talk?”

Chloe opened her mouth to protest when her mother added, “I think that’s a good idea.  I have something I must discuss with you, Chloe, and I’d like to talk to you alone.  It has to do with Alexander.”

Sensing the concern in her mother’s voice, Chloe turned to Orlando.  “It’s all right.  I’ll speak to her alone.”

Orlando’s eyebrows furrowed.  “Is this something you want to do?”

Ignoring the weight of her parents’ stares, she focused on him.  “Yes.”

“All right.” He released her hand, faced her father, and gestured to the doorway.  “We can talk in the den.”

Her fathered offered him a stiff nod and strode out of the room.  Orlando shot her one last concerned look before he followed her father.  She didn’t blame him for being surprised and perhaps even dismayed she’d given in so easily to her parents’ wishes.  But she didn’t wish to go into Alexander’s situation right now, at least not so soon after they married.

Her mother went to the doors and shut them before turning to her.  “My dear, I hope you don’t think we blame you for this scandal.”

Chloe watched as her mother came over to her, studying her expression to make sure she was understanding her right.  She had expected her mother to start scolding her for running off with Orlando.  Instead, her mother seemed genuinely concerned about her, and Chloe wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“If you’re afraid to return to London, you needn’t be,” her mother continued.  She cupped her hand around Chloe’s elbow and guided her to the settee.  “Please sit.”

Chloe hesitated but finally did as her mother wished.  She clasped her hands on her lap and prepared herself for what she must say.  “Orlando loves me, Mother.  I know how foolish that sounds, given how quickly everything happened, but he does. I’m not sorry I married him.”

Her mother smiled.  “I don’t condemn you for eloping with him.”

“You don’t?”

“No.  I know how things were between you and Lord Hawkins.  It was merely a marriage of convenience.  We needed money to get the very best physician in London, and you married him so we could do it.  Thanks to you, Alexander is doing much better.  He’s always been such a sickly child from his birth when he almost died.  Because of your sacrifice, we can give him the best care.”

“I want Alexander to continue doing well.”

“I know you do.”

“Are you worried Orlando won’t help with Alexander if more money is needed?” Chloe asked.

“No, that isn’t what worries me.  Your first husband was generous enough to give us enough money to cover Alexander’s expenses for the rest of his life.”

Chloe felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.  Good.  At least she didn’t have to worry about that.

“I’m glad Alexander will be all right,” Chloe said.

“He will be as long as we’re careful.”

Noting the worried tone in her mother’s voice, Chloe frowned.  “But I thought you had everything arranged with Dr. Harvey.”