Page 15 of Temptress in Disguise
He found himself smiling again. He would pin her hands above her head and ride her hard. “I shall merely bend you over the desk so there need be no mistakes.”
Innocent eyes peered up at him, eyes like sparkling blue pools in the height of summer. “From what I’ve seen, lovemaking is a vigorous activity. Surely you’ll make allowances for my inexperience.”
He’d not given the matter much thought.
In his mind’s eye, he saw himself pounding fast enough to drive her out from under his skin.
“Let’s consider the matter once we’re wed.” There was little point discussing something that might never come to pass. “You’ve still not explained why marriage is necessary or why we’re visiting this iniquitous den.”
He set about tying his cravat, but she insisted on coming to his aid. She folded and knotted the silk with ease, a hairsbreadth between her dainty fingers and his jaw—the closest he would ever come to a caress.
“I helped the actors at the Belldrake with their costumes.” She spoke as if needing to justify her skill at dressing a man. “As my husband, everything I own becomes yours. I need you to fight for my share of Hartford Hall. One look at you, and my uncle will be shaking in his boots.”
Battles were not always that simple.
“But you said you trust no one. Why trust me? I could prosecute your uncle and keep every penny.”
She glanced at his cravat and gave a nod of approval. “That’s a question I’ve asked myself many times. What if you betray me and side with Melissa?”
Aramis growled at the suggestion. “I’d rather burn in hell. I’m relying on you to ensure I don’t bury her in a shallow grave. I speak figuratively, of course.”
“Of course.” Like an obedient wife, she handed him his waistcoat. Though a wise man would do well to remember she carried a loaded pistol in the deep pocket of her travelling cloak. “I may be timid when it comes to lovemaking, but I intend to fight for what’s mine. I have no choice but to trust you. I have no choice but to leave London. Failure is not an option.”
As he had no intention of leaving town, this marriage of convenience would work perfectly. “You must return to the Belldrake while we continue our enquiries and the banns are read.”
The lady paled. “That’s impossible and quite unnecessary.” She scanned the yard before making a confession. “I hit Mr Budworth with a stool when he tried to lock me in his office.”
Aramis inwardly cursed. Doubtless Budworth admired more than Miss Grant’s acting abilities. “Did he throw you out?”
She worried her bottom lip. “No, I left him groaning on the floor. I locked the door and threw the key into the orchestra pit.”
An unfamiliar swell of admiration formed in his chest. “That explains your need to take me hostage.” However, if anyone asked, he would say he was a willing participant.
“Once we’re married, Mr Budworth will think twice before exacting revenge. I don’t know what I’d have done had you not come to the Belldrake tonight.”
Being a logical man, he dismissed the idea that their meeting was anything more than bad timing on his part. That said, the lady had offered the perfect solution for getting rid of Mrs Wendon.
A sudden cacophony of cries and jeers erupted as two more men stripped off their shirts, ready to do battle.
“We should head inside.” Aramis shrugged into his coat. “I understand your need to marry, but perhaps you might explain what’s so important about visiting the Copper Crown?”
“St Augustine’s is a quaint church with a unique congregation.” She pointed to the sprawling field behind the inn. “The Reverend Smollett drinks in the Copper Crown. For a fee, he will marry us in church. He will provide a Certificate of Banns, listing me as living in the parish. I told him St Mary’s is your parish church.”
“A godly man with a blackguard’s heart. How original.” The reverend wouldn’t be the first clergyman to bend the law. When Aramis returned to town, he would make enquires into Smollett’s background, be assured of his credentials. “Has he given you a date for our nuptials? We’ll need a solicitor to draw up the legal documents pertaining to our agreement.”
He wondered if Miss Grant had thought the matter through. Indeed, his need to punish Melissa had made him a tad hasty. There was no proof this woman spoke the truth.
Miss Grant looked at him like he’d sprouted horns. “Forgive me. I thought you understood. The Reverend Smollett is to marry us tonight.”
ChapterFour
“The reverend cannot marry us tonight,” Mr Chance argued as they strode towards the carriage. “The law is clear on the matter. What next? I suppose you’ll tell me it’s a handfasting ceremony.”
“The parish records will say the wedding took place at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.” Naomi bit her bottom lip. It was perhaps one lie too many for Mr Chance, but the enquiry agent she’d hired to find Lydia assured her the plan would work.
“Your head is so full with thoughts of vengeance, you’re not thinking clearly. This whole thing is absurd.”
“If you’ve had second thoughts, please say so now.” Naomi dragged her carpet bag out of the carriage and quickly returned the pistol to the box. In truth, she had her own doubts about the match.
