How to Wed a Baron Part 4

Tatiana had said that wine helped when one was nervous, and if taken in enough quant.i.ty could even make the unthinkable, thinkable.

But nothing happened. Clearly it would take considerably more wine for that! Alina sat down with a thump, crossed her arms once more over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were neither more than a handful nor pimples.

She looked up at Lord Wilde; so tall, so very handsome, she supposed. But the unthinkable remained unthinkable. Mostly. Those parts of her body that had heretofore slumbered happily seemed to be coming even more awake, aware in some strange, unsettling way. She clamped her knees together tightly, even as she forced herself to lower her arms, clasp her fingers in her lap.

Do not think about his strong, callused hands, she warned herself. Do not think of where he will touch you, how he will touch you with his hands...and with his...with that other thing.

She couldn't help herself. Her eyes strayed to the slight bulge at the juncture of his thighs.

She s.h.i.+vered and quickly looked away.

"Comfortable?" he asked, both his smile and his tone telling her he knew she was not.

"I am not accustomed to having gentlemen see me in my...when I am not dressed."

"I should most certainly hope not," he said affably. "But you are all that is modest. Almost aggressively so, one might say. Alina-may I please have the pleasure of addressing you so informally? I find it a delightful affectation."

What did he mean, aggressively so? Was he making fun of her? Oh, he was such a man of the world, wasn't he? The insufferable snot. "Alina is my mother's name for me. There is nothing pretentious about it. My cloak is pretentious."

His smile was different this time than it had been earlier. She could see this one in his eyes as well as on his lips. "Yes, it certainly is. You're going to bankrupt me, aren't you, minx? At least I've been forewarned. Please feel free to augment your wardrobe in any way you wish. I suggest you begin with your nightwear."

She drew the dressing gown more closely about her. He had already made his point. She did need new nightwear. Preferably fas.h.i.+oned out of chain mail.

"Ah, now I've insulted you." He pulled a straight-back chair away from the wall and turned it about, straddling it as he sat down. "I apologize, and can only put it down to something I learned earlier this evening."

At least he wasn't so big, now that he'd sat down. "The something you believe we must speak of tonight? Does it have anything to do with that nonsense you were spouting this afternoon? Because you very nearly frightened me. I thought I'd been betrothed to a lunatic."

"Yes, I suppose you did. I'd like to apologize for that, Alina. I was under the mistaken impression that your king had informed you of-well, how do I put this?"

Her bare feet were beginning to feel chilled against the cold floor. "I would suggest, my lord, that you put it quickly. I would like to return to my bed."

He stood up, replacing the chair against the wall, and held out his hand to her. "Much to my shock and even, yes, my consternation, I believe the devil is in it for me no matter where you deposit yourself, so why don't you do that? Tuck the covers up under your chin, and perhaps I'll be able to twist my mind around what I have to say."

Now, what did he mean by that curious statement? Really, if it weren't for the yellowed teeth, Count Eberharter was beginning to seem like the lesser of two evils. At least he was supposedly sane.

Alina scurried across the room and climbed onto the high bed, not unaware that she was, even if just for a moment, all but aiming her backside at her betrothed. Thinking about uncontrollable l.u.s.t and dropping hats, she slid herself beneath the covers with alacrity. Then she quickly pulled the covers up and under her chin. "Back where I began," she said, looking at him. "But you're still here."

Not only was he still there, but he had managed to pour himself a gla.s.s of wine, using the same gla.s.s she and Tatiana had used, as it was the only one on the tray. The thought pa.s.sed through her mind that she and the companion had employed the wine for courage. Had he felt a similar need?

"I had a long and rather interesting chat with your secretary, Alina. He tells me that you believe this marriage of ours has been concocted solely to display friends.h.i.+p between your king and my Prince Regent, and to be an outward show of a new era of trade cooperation between our two countries now that Europe is once more at peace. Is that true?"

"No," she said quietly, because she was, at heart, an honest person, and because her toes were curling beneath the covers at the way he kept looking at her and she would probably trip over her tongue if she dared a lie. "Not solely, my lord."

"Justin," he said, c.o.c.king his head very slightly. "Go on."

"Justin," she repeated, trying out his name, wis.h.i.+ng her heart would kindly stop racing as if she'd just run up the long, curving flight of stairs at home. "Those were the king's reasons, and your king's, as well, I suppose. But I could have refused, you know."

"How fortunate for you."

She heard something in his voice, something that pulled all of her attention to him. "You had no choice?"

"Well, we all have choices, I suppose. Mine, however, were not acceptable to me."

"Neither were mine," Alina said, pus.h.i.+ng up the pillows behind her so that she could sit back against them. She felt ridiculous, just lying there, while he stood over her like some...some...stallion. "Aunt Mimi made it very clear that if I refused this grand honor the king was gifting me with, I would be married off to someone of her choosing. She seemed entirely too delighted to have that power, so here I am."

"I've been many things in my life, Alina, but I believe this may be the first time I am being seen as the lesser of two evils. I'm flattered."

"You probably shouldn't be, you know. I really never considered you. I've always wanted to travel to England. I want to meet the rest of my family, now that my parents are gone. It isn't pleasant, you understand, to think that your single remaining relative is Aunt Mimi."

Justin chuckled softly. "We must be thankful, then, that she didn't decide to escort you here herself."

Alina nodded, actually beginning to relax. Which was ridiculous. She was in bed, and he was standing there, and these newly awakened parts of her body were becoming more and more interested in having him continue to stand there. "She's convinced Englishmen are all barbarians, so she refused to accompany me. She may even now be rubbing her hands together in glee, believing some great bear has already eaten me, or something."

"There are no bears in England, Alina. At least not of the four-legged variety. I was told your mother was English, but I hadn't given that fact very much thought. What's your family name?"

"You'll allow me to go see them?"

Justin shrugged. "I see no reason not to, do you?"

"No, I don't. But Luka told me that English husbands are very strict, and that I will not be allowed to walk out alone, most especially in London, and that, as a wife, I will no longer have a mind of my own, but only my husband's will and permission."

He sat down on the edge of the bed, which for some unknown reason suddenly seemed quite a natural thing for him to do. "G.o.d's teeth! No wonder you don't like me. He told you all of that? Did he tell you that we lock wives in the cellars if they dare to disobey, and keep them there on a diet of stale bread and ditch water for a month?"

Alina's eyes widened at this, but then she noticed the tiniest bit of crinkling around the outside of Justin's eyes. "You said that you and he had a long talk this evening. Did he tell you that I'm a very good shot and that I have a very bad temper?"

"He said you are p.r.o.ne to do whatever people tell you not to do. He didn't mention any proficiency with firearms."

"Oh. Then perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it, either. And not just with firearms. I am also extremely proficient at archery, and I know how to throw a knife so that it actually sticks in whatever it hits. That isn't easy, you know, getting the handle not to hit first."

"Now I'm intrigued," Justin said, and she believed him, because he was looking at her with some interest. "Many Englishwomen are proficient at archery. Some enjoy shooting, although not many. But I don't believe I've ever met a female who knows how to throw a knife without the handle hitting the target first. Why would you want to learn such a thing?"

Alina lowered her eyes for a moment, and then looked at him again. "Your English ladies were safe here, on your island, while Bonaparte seemed to go where he willed all across Europe. My father said that when the fox threatens the chicken house, even the hens must know how to defend themselves."

"Luka told me your father died at Waterloo. I'm sorry."

"So am I," Alina said, sighing. "But he didn't mean to die. If he did, he wouldn't have left me with Aunt Mimi. He would have been certain to leave instructions that I be sent to England, I'm sure of it. But Luka isn't so sure, as Papa never said anything to him."

"Ah, yes, your mother's family."

"My family," she clarified. She hadn't really thought seriously about her mother's family, not until her father was gone, but she'd daydreamed about how they would be. How they'd love her. "They live in Kent. I looked at a map, and it isn't all that far away from London. It's all down here the way Portsmouth is, at the fat end of the island, and not up near Scotland."

"Yes, I am familiar with Kent. My own estate is located in Hamps.h.i.+re, also in the...fat part of the island. What's your mother's family name?"

"Farber," Alina told him proudly. "My mother was Lady Anne Louise Farber, daughter of the Earl of-"

"Birling. Yes, I know the family t.i.tle."

She watched as Justin stood once more, his handsome features suddenly cold, hard. She sat up straighter, sensing that the ease they'd seemed to have found with each other these past minutes was just that, a thing of the past. "What's wrong?"

His expression softened, but only with some effort, she was sure. "Wrong? Why, nothing, my dear, nothing at all is wrong. I just thought of something else I must discuss with the Prince Regent when next I see him. I must tell him how very clever, no, how fiendishly clever he is."

"I don't understand."

"You will, unfortunately. But not right now. It's time you slept. Good night."

"But...but you said we had to talk, that there was something you needed to tell me."

His hand on the door latch, Justin turned, looked at her in the near darkness. She couldn't see his eyes now, and she had the strangest feeling that this was because he didn't want her to see them.

"Yes, it had to do with our destination. I'm afraid we won't be traveling to London tomorrow. Instead, you'll be heading off to West Suss.e.x, and the estate of my friend Rafe, the Duke of Ashurst. And his wife, Charlotte," he added almost immediately, as if he felt he should. "You'll travel quickly, I'm afraid, with only a single night spent on the road and two full days in the coach."

"And then we'll go to London?"

"I will," he said, and opened the door. "I most a.s.suredly will be traveling to London. I'm convinced there is someone there who can barely contain his glee as he awaits my arrival."

She threw back the covers and got out of bed. "But I won't be going with you to see this happy person? Is that what you're saying? You're going to take me to this Ashurst, and this Duke, and leave me there?"

"You'll remain with my friends until I return for you, yes."

"But-why?"

He didn't answer her. Instead, he closed the door and walked to where she was standing barefoot on the chilly wooden floor, and put a hand to her cheek, which made her feel very strange indeed. Not frightened. Not at all frightened. She fought to keep herself from tipping her head, so that she could press her skin more closely against his, feel the strength of his hand, the slight roughness of his skin.

"You've been badly used. I'm sorry, pet," he whispered softly. "I'm so very, very sorry. But I'll fix it, as best I can. I promise."

"You make precious little sense, Justin," she told him, caught between anger and fear...and a hint of something she felt fairly certain, after her instructional talk, Tatiana would have termed interest. Mostly, she knew she didn't want him to leave. "How can you fix something I don't even know is broken? How would I even know when you'd fixed it?"

He smiled, but it was one of those smiles that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Aren't your feet cold?"

"Never mind my feet," she shot back, deciding anger was perhaps the best option at the moment.

"Ah, but I find them adorable. Small and slim. Have you ever heard the expression I kiss your hands and feet?"

Alina curled her toes and clenched her fingers, and those parts of her that had been so happily slumbering shot out warnings that she might soon be in significant trouble if she didn't apply some maidenly common sense and put a halt to this strange conversation, and that those previously slumbering parts weren't all that averse to a little adventure.

"Once again you're not answering my questions," she pointed out, striving to regather her scattered wits. "We were speaking about my family, and suddenly you ran for the door."

"I beg your pardon. I do not run for doors."

"Very well, then, why did you come back?" she asked, believing the answer to that might be more important.

"Perhaps for this?" he offered, moving his hand so that now he was tipping up her chin. "One more look, and perhaps even a small taste."

"Oh. I...that is...you shouldn't have to answer every quest-"

Her eyelids fluttered closed as he brought his lips to hers, and then retreated before she could react at all.

"Innocence," he said softly. "You taste like innocence. And I should be shot."

And then he was gone, and Alina crawled back into bed, holding a hand to her mouth, knowing she wouldn't sleep a single wink for the remainder of what was going to be a very long night.

CHAPTER FOUR.

WIGGLESWORTH DEPOSITED the coddled eggs in front of his master with all the trepidation of the servant charged with delivering the head of John the Baptist to Salome; he thought it might be what the baron wanted, but could not be sure of its reception now that it was a done thing.

The porridge had been looked upon, but not eaten. The kippers-done to a turn!-had been waved away without so much as a "ye G.o.ds, Wigglesworth, not those horrid things." Even the inn's own country ham, purely a desperate move by the servant who put little trust in any cooking save his own, had been met with a fairly blank stare and a short shake of the head.

"Wigglesworth, I said I wasn't- Oh, d.a.m.n. Here, let me force these down. I wouldn't want to put you into a sulk."

"Thank you, sir," the servant said, sighing. And then he dared more. "Is there...something amiss, my lord?"

"Your solicitude becomes tiresome. A man can't forgo a single breakfast out of thousands without something being wrong?"

Wigglesworth wrung his hands even as Brutus, standing in a corner-hulking in a corner-shook his ma.s.sive head sorrowfully, either for worry over his employer or the fact that he now, after being pa.s.sed the porridge and the kippers for his own consumption, would be denied the coddled eggs.

"Your bed wasn't slept in, my lord," Wigglesworth pointed out quietly. "There was nary a hint of reproach when I nicked you that small-infinitesimal, I a.s.sure you-cut with the razor. And you did not even a single time remonstrate with me when I informed you that your second-best Hessians seemed to have suffered a fatal crack to the heel on the cobblestones yesterday."

"My, what a litany of abuses you've laid before me, Wigglesworth. Very well, consider your sorry self run up and down by the rough side of my tongue. Now may I be left alone? Wait-a fatal crack?"

"Possibly. Perhaps. I may have overstated. I will deliver them personally to Mr. Hoby when we are returned to London."

Justin put down his fork, what little appet.i.te he may have had, either for the eggs or soothing Wigglesworth's feelings, now gone. "An event that is to be somewhat delayed," he said as the major entered the breakfast room. "Ah, Luka, there you are," he went on, no trace of anything but happiness at the appearance of the man in his voice. "Would you like my man here to prepare you something with which to break your fast? He has quite taken over the kitchen, you understand."

"Thank you, no. I've been up for hours, and have already eaten," the major said, a note of recrimination in his tone, as if anyone who remained abed past dawn was a sluggard not worth considering. "Pardon me, but I could not help but overhear. We are not immediately setting out for London? It was my understanding that Lady Alina was to be presented to your Prince Regent, and then you and she were to immediately exchange your vows, sealing the...the, um, bargain."

"Just what I tarried here to speak to you about. Such haste is unseemly, don't you think? Her ladys.h.i.+p is fatigued from her travels. It would be unconscionable to force her to continue her journey without some small respite, which is why I sent off one of my outriders at first light to the estate of my dear friend the Duke of Ashurst, to alert him that Lady Alina will be his guest for a few days. The duke will be dispatching outriders to meet you along the road and escort you the remainder of the journey. They'll be with you by the time you arrive at your first night's lodging, I'm sure. Rooms will be waiting for you."

Luka narrowed his eyes. His moustachios may have twitched as well, but it was a close-run thing to know if this was a natural occurrence or a remarkable aberration caused by the man's consternation at the position he had been forced into by his king. If it was the latter, Luka had Justin's full sympathy. And empathy, if it came to that.

"Lady Alina will be the duke's guest? And you will be...?"

"Elsewhere. I see no need to provide you with a listing of my comings and goings, I'm afraid, as I've been my own master for quite some years now. Until recently, that is, which is a circ.u.mstance that is about to change. You've protected her thus far, and Brutus and my own trusted and quite prodigiously well-armed outriders will be with you. I imagine you're up to getting her safely to Ashurst Hall. Well, Brutus is," Justin qualified, getting to his feet, quitting the room and leaving the major to follow or not, whatever his inclination. Not that he was surprised to have the man hot on his heels as he strode out to the inn yard.

"I beg your pardon? Have you forgotten that you are charged with protecting Lady Alina?"

"She has her prepared-to-die-for-her secretary," Justin said, turning to his left and heading for the stables. "Anyone approaches with a nefarious look in his eye, and you just be a good fellow and attack him with your quill. You-yes, you. Saddle the bay now, my fine young fellow, and there's a guinea in it for you."

The eager ostler hastened to do Justin's bidding, but not quickly enough to save the baron from the major's fury.

"You're leaving? Just like this? I can't allow you to do that." To give credence to his words, he roughly took hold of Justin's arm above the elbow.