Page 66 of More or Less a Countess
But he hadn’t touched her in two weeks, and every time he looked at her he was flooded with memories of how her hands had felt tangled in his hair, the exquisite touch of her lips on his, and the way she’d held him as he’d shuddered with pleasure in her arms.
It wasn’t above a five- or six-hour journey from London to Ashdown Park, his country estate in West Sussex, but Nick planned to take his new wife to an inn in Guildford tonight, regardless. He was half wild with wanting her already, and five hours alone in a close carriage with her seemed an interminable amount of time to wait. Despite their odd courtship, he’d won her, and he intended to have and hold her as soon as he possibly could.
That is, if he could find her. He’d been waiting for her in the entryway for the past twenty minutes, and she still hadn’t appeared. “Where the devil is she?” He turned a frustrated frown on his aunt. “How long does it take to dress one small lady?”
Instead of scolding him for the curse, his aunt laughed. “When five sisters are set to the task, far longer than you’d think. I’m sure she’ll be down directly. Will you accompany me back to the dining room? I’d like to offer my congratulations to Lady Chase before we depart.” His aunt was accompanying them to West Sussex to help her new niece settle into her home.
“Yes, I’ll come in a moment.” Nick leaned down to kiss his aunt’s cheek.
She went off toward the dining room, where most of the party was still lingering over the last of the champagne. Nick rounded the grand staircase and strode from room to room, but his search for his wife proved fruitless.
He was just about to return to the dining room himself when a hesitant hand touched his arm, and he turned to find Hyacinth Somerset standing there, an anxious frown on her face.
“Miss Hyacinth?” Nick raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her sudden appearance. Hyacinth was much more subdued than her four elder sisters, and so painfully shy she’d never yet worked up the courage to look Nick in the eyes. He was surprised she’d sought him out now.
“I beg your pardon, Lord Dare.” She sank into an awkward curtsy. “Forgive the intrusion, but I wanted to have a word with you, and this was the only time…”
She trailed off with a swallow, and Nick hurried to reassure her. “Of course. It’s no intrusion at all, Miss Hyacinth. What can I do?”
“It’s, ah, it’s about my sister. I—this won’t take long, my lord, but I thought you should know Violet is…well, she’s very clever, as I’m sure you’ve realized, and brave, as well—much braver than most ladies of her age and experience.”
Nick’s lips twitched. “Yes, I couldn’t help but notice that. I don’t know many young ladies who’d engage in a false courtship so they could dash about London taking sketches of gibbets. Your sister is…quite remarkable.”
Hyacinth Somerset must have been heartened by this comment, because her eyes lit with hope, and she dared to venture a step closer. “She is, yes, but she’s also…softer about the heart than she appears to be. She’s so clever and brave, you see, it’s easy to overlook how vulnerable she is. I thought it quite importantyoushould be made aware of it, my lord, so you know you must take care with her feelings.”
Nick blinked. Hyacinth Somerset, who really was the most timid young lady he’d ever come across, had taken it upon herself to warn him not to hurt her sister. Surprise made Nick fumble over his reply. “I—yes, of course I’ll take care to…”
He trailed off as he tried to think of what to say to reassure her, but Hyacinth grew agitated when he hesitated, and she rushed on, her words tumbling one over the other.
“She’s far more easily hurt than you’d ever suspect, my lord. The gentlemen of the ton haven’t always been kind to her, or the ladies either, come to that. Her intellectual turn has earned her a good deal of mockery, I’m afraid, and—”
“It’s all right, Miss Hyacinth.” Nick took her hand and pressed it between his own. “I appreciate your concern for your sister, but I assure you, the last thing I would ever do is hurt her, and I won’t suffer anyone else to do so, either.”
She searched his eyes as if to gauge the truth of his words, then her lips curved in a shy smile. “I’m vastly relieved to hear you say so, my lord. I couldn’t bear to think Violet’s heart would be broken again.”
Again?Nick frowned. Had someone broken Violet’s heart?
“There’s Violet now, my lord, just there.” Hyacinth pointed toward the stairs. “I’ll go tell my grandmother you’re about to depart.”
She went off toward the dining room, and Nick peered around the side of the staircase. There, tucked under the stairs that led to the kitchens below, was a tiny alcove he hadn’t noticed before.
A gentleman in a dark blue coat was there, bowing over a lady’s hand.
It was Lord Derrick, and the lady, half-hidden by the curved wall of the alcove…
Lady Dare.
Nick’s shoulders tensed. His new bride didn’t look as if she’d been searching forhim. No, she was smiling up at Lord Derrick, a faint blush on her cheeks, and she looked quite content to remain where she was.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling seized him—something hot and sharp that made his hands fist and his stomach clench. Something that made him stride toward them, grasp his wife’s elbow, and draw her away from Lord Derrick.
“Ah, here you are, Dare.” Derrick turned to him with a cheerful smile. “I was just offering your countess my heartfelt congratulations on your marriage. She tells me you leave this afternoon for West Sussex.”
“That’s right.” Nick’s face felt hot, and he was sure he must be glaring at Derrick. “In fact”—he pulled Violet’s arm more firmly through his—“we need to leave at once if we plan to reach Guildford before dusk. Are you ready to go, Lady Dare?”
If Lord Derrick noticed the possessiveness with which Nick uttered those last two words, he didn’t acknowledge it. “Safe travels then, Dare.” He took Violet’s hand in his once again and raised it to his lips. “And Lady Dare. I’m very happy for you both.”
“Thank you, my lord.” Violet was obliged to call these thanks over her shoulder as Nick hurried her down the hallway, away from Lord Derrick. “My lord? Why are you dragging me down the corridor?”
