Eighteen

My Dearest Grandson Alexander,

Here are more strong words from Lord Chesterfield: “In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is too great a majority of fools and knaves, who, singly from their number, must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means respectable.”

Your loving Grandmother,

Lady Elder

Susannah’s eyes popped wide open, and for a moment she was too stunned to move, but slowly, as his words sank in, she smiled and then softly chuckled.

Race’s eyebrows rose in concern. “What’s wrong?” he said, propping on his elbow.

“You, again.”

“Me again?” His eyes turned guarded. “I have to admit that laughing, no matter how nice it is to hear, is not the reaction I expected when I bared my soul to you.”

She moistened her lips. “Race, I’m not a young innocent who needs to be coddled with phrases about love that you don’t mean.”

The instant the words finished tumbling from her lips, she saw pain in his eyes, as if he’d been sucker-punched in the stomach, and she instantly regretted her flippant attitude. But how should she react to such a bold statement after the way he had treated her when the pearls were stolen?

A deep frown wrinkled his brow. “You think that’s what I’m doing? Just trying to make you feel good about having shared your bed with me?”

Her expression softened, and she cupped his cheek with her hand. “Aren’t you? Aren’t you confusing me with some of your younger conquests?”

He grabbed her hand and kissed the inside of her palm, never letting his gaze leave hers. “No, Duchess, I am not trying to flatter you, and I am not trying to deceive you. I do understand your feelings. I’m perfectly willing to wait for you to fall in love with me. But hear me well, Your Grace, I have never told another woman that I loved her, because I have never been in love before. I know I haven’t given you any reason to believe anything I’ve said. That was an error on my part, but know this, I will give you time to see how determined I am to make amends for my past and then make you mine forever.”

Susannah felt her heart melt, and for some reason she couldn’t understand, tears pricked her eyes. Was he telling the truth? Did he really want her to be his forever?

“I want to believe you, but I’m troubled by all—”

He touched her lips with the tips of his fingers as his eyes searched her face. “Say no more for now. I’ve told you before that I am a patient man. I’m willing to wait for you to accept my love and return your love to me.”

Race softly placed his lips on hers, drawing her closer to his chest with his strong arms. He kissed her reverently for what seemed like hours before his kisses turned impatient and physical. His tongue played over hers inside her mouth as his hands moved over her breasts, down her curves, around her hips, until his finger found the dampness between her legs.

Susannah welcomed his hot, eager touch as she felt his rising desire pulsating on her abdomen. Further words weren’t necessary, because somehow she knew he wanted to prove to her what he thought she didn’t know, that she loved him, and that he was very much in love with her.

“Tell me I don’t have to love you, now, Susannah,” he whispered against her ear. “Tell me you don’t long for this, and I will believe you. Tell me.”

Her pleasure was so intense she wasn’t sure she could speak, but she managed a breathy “I can’t.”

Race chuckled into her mouth. His fingers continued to pleasure her until she thought she would scream from wanting, before he finally pushed inside her, merging their bodies into one. With his thighs wedged between hers, they moved together until all too quickly they were once again engulfed in the exquisite, luxuriant sensation of feeding love to each other.

With gulping breaths, Race relaxed on top of her for a moment before rolling onto his side. He pulled her close to his chest once again, and she snuggled. To her surprise, she felt his body shake and realized that now he was the one laughing.

Having no idea what he was thinking, she tensed. Looking up into his face, she saw that his eyes were closed. “What is so humorous?”

“You, making me prove my love.”

“Making you? I believe you are the one who felt you needed to do that.”

He kissed the tip of her nose and then closed his eyes again. “Give me a few minutes to rest, and I will prove to you once more that I love you, Susannah, or twice more if you are still not convinced.”

She looked down at his face in the soft glow of the lamp, and her heart felt so full she thought it might burst. Maybe he really did love her. And if he did, why wouldn’t he let her answer him back? She felt his body grow still, his breaths evened out, and she knew that he slept.

Susannah snuggled closer to him. She had never felt such contentment. Yes, she believed he loved her, and she loved him, but there was something devilishly exciting about his thinking she wasn’t ready to admit she loved him yet. But she would tell him.

Soon.

Susannah kissed his forehead, smiled, and closed her eyes.

Sometime later, something caused Susannah’s lashes to flutter up. She knew immediately Race was still beside her. She turned her head and saw he was lying on his back, looking out the window as the first fingers of dawn showed in the sky.

He looked thoughtful and as if his mind was a thousand miles away. Was he already regretting telling her he loved her? Was he wondering why she never told him she loved him?

She rolled onto her side, propped her chin in her hand, and stared down at him. She caressed his chest with the pads of her fingers.

“Race, why do you look so somber? Have I made you unhappy?”

He smiled, picked up her hand, and kissed every finger as he caressed her face with his gaze. “No, of course not. I was just doing some deep thinking.”

“Deep thinking? That sounds ominous. Should I ask why, or assume that what I don’t know can’t hurt me?”

He smiled and brushed her long hair over her shoulder to her back. “I was thinking about you and Gibby.”

“Oh?” she questioned.

“You are both strong-willed, capable people, yet you are both putting yourselves in danger, and I’ve not been very good at helping either of you.”

She gave him a playful smile. “It seems to me that I remember letting you help me with quite a few things tonight.”

He reached over and caressed the full swell of her breast. “I’m not talking about what we shared in this bed. I’m talking about things like your going to see Smith at his antiques shop, talking with Winston at parties, and trying to sneak into Spyglass’s bedchamber.”

“I have never tried to hide from you that I wanted the pearls and that I don’t intend to stop looking for them.”

His hand drew a line from the base of her throat, down between her breasts, to the hollow of her stomach. “I’m thinking that it is time we stopped working alone and started working together. We should pool our meager resources of evidence about who might have the pearls and see if we can find out who has them and how to get them back.”

Her eyebrows lifted in mock horror. “Now I know why you wanted to get back in my bed. You want information from me. You want to know what I’ve discovered from the suspects so you can find the necklace first.”

His hand slid to the back of her neck as he rose and kissed her soundly on the lips. “That is not the reason I came to your bed, and I’m fully prepared to prove that to you once again.”

She smiled, letting her fingertips trip across his collarbone. “I would take you up on that if not for the fact that it is dawn and it’s time for you to go.”

“I am serious about this, Susannah. You will be safer working with me, and we’ll be more successful working together than alone.”

She sank her teeth into her bottom lip and studied his proposition for a moment, and then said, “Now that you no longer believe I have the pearls, I would very much like your help in finding them.”

“Good.”

“We can plan a time to get together later and share our information, but for now, you need to leave. Everyone in the house will be awake soon.”

He nodded while his hand caressed her shoulder and upper arm. “But first, do you mind if I ask you something about what happened twelve years ago?”

She gave him an understanding smile. “No. I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear about that time in my life.”

“If you could have changed what happened after you were caught in the garden with Lord Martin, how would you have changed it?”

Her eyebrows drew together. “If you are asking me if I wish I’d married Lord Martin, I don’t. In fact, after I saw him again, I’m very happy I didn’t marry him.”

“No, that’s not exactly what I’m asking. You told me you begged your father not to make you marry the duke. But what did you want to do?”

Susannah shrugged. “Race, I was eighteen. I’m not sure what I wanted.”

“But if instead of making you marry him, if your parents had gone to you and said, ‘Lord Martin will not marry you. What is the best thing we can do for you?’ What do you think you would have said to them?”

Susannah turned serious and thought for a few moments. No one had ever asked her what she would have liked to have happened. Every decision had been made for her without her consultation or argument.

“I probably would have asked them if we could live in another place where no one knew me, so I could start over with a whole new life without the feeling of condemning eyes watching me. Why do you ask this of me?”

“I was thinking about Prattle’s sister and wondering what she must be feeling about what her brother announced to everyone in the park, about the fight, and about her reputation among her friends now.”

“She is probably wishing her brother had handled the matter privately.”

“That’s what I was thinking. I’m certain Gibby is innocent of her charges. He is too much of a gentleman and always has been. All his life, his honor has meant more to him than his life. This whole thing could have been handled quietly if only Prattle hadn’t made his accusations public that day.”

“You think he did that for a reason?”

“Yes. Perhaps he was too deep in his wine, or maybe he was hoping Gibby would just pay them off. But what he didn’t know is that Gibby is much too honorable for that.”

“Sir Randolph is certainly enjoying the attention the fight has brought to him.”

“Yes, it’s one of his weaknesses. He adores being the focus of anyone’s attention. I fear the aging Miss Prattle has become a pawn in her brother’s scheme to get money from Gibby. What I don’t know is whether she’s a willing or reluctant participant.”

“Are you thinking that, either way, since her brother smeared her name all over London, she might be wishing she could move to another place and start over?”

Race nodded. His hand slipped under Susannah’s hair to cup her neck and he gently pulled her to him and kissed her softly. “Did I ever tell you that I think you are a wonderful lady?”

“No, and unfortunately, right now you don’t have time to tell me. You need to dress and go to your own house before the day begins.”

He kissed her again. “I don’t want to leave you, but I agree I must.” Suddenly his eyes turned serious again and he said, “Susannah, I am sorry I was such a brute to you about the theft.”

She reached over and kissed his eyes, his nose, and each side of his mouth and then smiled at him. “No more apologies.”

He grinned and crawled off the bed and picked up his trousers. “I’ll come back this afternoon, and we can talk more about what you’ve discovered from your conversations with Winston, Spyglass, and Smith.”

She pulled the sheet up to her waist. “And you can share what you’ve found out as well.”

“Of course.” He grinned at her as he pulled his shirt over his head. “I’ve ruled out Smith.”

“So have I, but you cannot come over this afternoon,” she said.

“What? Why?”

She smiled mischievously. “I already have plans, my lord.”

He stopped tucking his shirt in the waistband of his trousers and frowned. “What kind of plans? No, don’t tell me, just change them.”

She lay back on the pillow and stretched her arms over her head. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

“Susannah, do not tempt me with thoughts of your being with another man, or I will crawl back in that bed with you and once again show you why I am the only man for you,” he said, shrugging into his coat.

Susannah laughed. She absolutely loved the fact that he thought he had to win her love. “All right, if you must know, I’m going to the park with Henrietta and Constance.”

His eyes widened as he stepped into his shoes. “Really?” he said, not bothering to fasten the buckle on his shoes. “I’m glad you two are getting acquainted.”

She lowered her arms. “Yes, but I’m afraid Henrietta’s husband still thinks I’m a troublemaker of the highest order and that somehow my errant ways will rub off on his sweet, innocent wife.”

Race laughed and walked over to the bed. “I think it is positively splendid that Blake thinks you’re a troublemaker. Damnation, but that makes me feel good! You must not ever let him know any different.”

Race bent down and kissed her quickly and then asked, “What party are you attending tonight?”

“Mrs. Princeton arranges my schedule, so I’m not sure. Why?”

“Send me a note when you decide which one and let me know. I will attend the same party,” he said and headed for the door.

She raised her eyebrows. “Wait. Do you not trust me to stay away from Captain Spyglass and Mr. Winston?”

He quietly unlocked the door and turned and threw her another grin. “Not an inch.”

* * *

Later that day, Race waited in the private card room of the Rusty Nail with a bottle of wine and two glasses sitting on the table in front of him. He had chosen this place to meet Prattle, knowing he could trust the proprietor of the club to keep this meeting quiet.

Race wanted to get the matter of the fight and the pearls settled so he could concentrate on Susannah. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, and he could smell her womanly scent. He could taste her on his lips and hear her soft breaths.

Race heard the door open and glanced up to see Prattle standing just inside the room, looking like a rat staring at a roomful of hungry cats.

“Come in and close the door,” Race told him.

Prattle obeyed and shuffled toward the table. The man wasn’t very tall, but he was round as a barrel and looked solid as a rock.

He stopped in front of Race, nervously twisting his hat in his hand. “My lord?” he said, with sweat beading on his upper lip and shining on the top of his balding head.

“There’s no reason to be nervous, Prattle. I only want to talk to you. Sit down.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Race poured him a glass of the dark red wine and slid it toward him. The man looked at the glass as if it might contain poison, so Race picked up his glass and took a sip before saying, “I’m hearing about Town that you don’t really want to fight Sir Randolph. Any truth to that?”

Prattle placed his hat on the table and picked up the glass and took a long drink, downing more than half of what Race had put in the glass. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and then said, “I’m not a fighting man.”

But he obviously was a drinking man. Race looked at the man’s large shoulders and barrel chest and found it odd that such a stout man didn’t have the stomach for fighting. But maybe that was a good thing. With his build, if Prattle knew how to fight, Race wasn’t sure there’d be a man who could beat him.

Race kept all that to himself and simply said, “Neither is Sir Randolph a fighter. Yet you challenged him to a duel and he accepted.”

“I-I know now that I shouldn’t have done that. I’d had a bit of ale the night before and I was jug-bitten when I talked to Penelope that morning. I didn’t really want to harm anyone.”

“I wish you had thought of that before you made your pronouncement in the park with more than thirty witnesses.”

Prattle’s round eyes twitched, and his heavy cheeks trembled. “I-I don’t know what happened. Some kind of madness overtook me and I wasn’t thinking clearly. We went to see Sir Randolph later and apologized. We asked him not to—”

“Wait a minute,” Race said, leaning over the table. “Are you telling me that you and your sister went to see Sir Randolph?”

“Yes, of course. Penelope apologized and told him she was sorry for what she told me and hadn’t meant to cause so much trouble when she asked him to kiss her. She knew him to be a gentleman and was hoping if she accused him of compromising her, he might simply agree to marry her.”

“Didn’t she realize what she was doing to Sir Randolph’s honor and her own reputation by accusing him of something that wasn’t true?”

“Not at the time. She was dreadfully sorry, my lord. She thought if she accused him of wrongdoing, he might agree to marry her to keep scandal away from his good name. She told him she had always fancied him. She asked him what she could do to make it up to him.”

Race was going to strangle Gibby. That devilish whipster should have told him about this. “What did Sir Randolph say?”

“He said the only thing we could do was go on with the fight. That I’d already ruined my sister by challenging him in the park, and if we didn’t fight our reputations would be ruined too.”

Gibby was probably right about that. The entire city was in a heated fervor over the fight. Race picked up his glass and sipped his wine.

“How is your sister now?”

The man breathed deeply. He had such a sad look on his face. “She won’t come out of the house. She knows this is her fault, and she says she’s never going out in public again.”

“There’s enough blame for both of you to carry, but there might be something I can do.”

“I know I don’t deserve a portion, but if there’s anything you can do to stop the fight, I’d be obliged.”

“I’m talking about helping your sister, Prattle, not you. Unfortunately, at this point, I agree with Gibby. The fight must go on. The men who have put down their wagers deserve their fight. If you didn’t show for the mob that will gather in the park, they would probably come and find you both and make you fight. And quite frankly, you both would deserve it. However, your sister started this by her error in judgment.”

The man cast his eyes downward.

“This is what I’m prepared to do. You and Gibby will fight, and you will make it a good fight. You must hit him because he will hit you. But after a reasonable amount of time, let him knock you to the ground and stay down. And if you do that, I will see to it that your sister gets enough money to move to a new place where she can start her life over, away from this scandal. Whether or not she wants you to go with her, I’ll leave to her.”

Prattle’s eyelids shot up and his eyes bulged. “You would do that for us?”

“For her, Prattle, not you. Also I insist that neither of you speak of this incident again.”

The man picked up his wine glass and took another long drink. He wiped his mouth with the back of his beefy hand.

“I’m glad she confessed to Sir Randolph. That was the right thing for her to do, and that is why I’m willing to do this for her. Now, do we have an agreement?”

The man looked calmer. “Yes, my lord. I know exactly what I must do.”

“Good.” Race slid a card toward Prattle. “This is the name of my solicitor. The day after the fight, you are to take your sister to his office and he will have everything ready for her.”

The man’s heavy cheeks trembled again. “I don’t know what to say except thank you kindly, my lord.”

“Nothing else need be said, Prattle. Feel free to finish your wine before you go, and from now on take better care of your sister.”

Race rose and walked out the door.