The Duchess’ Replacement (Unrelenting Lords #2)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

C harles’s jaw clenched at the sound of giggles coming from the hallway. He left the spot in front of his window where he spent the last forty-five minutes pacing and charged out into the hallway.

“Where have you been?” His booming voice echoed throughout the hallway causing the girls to jump.

“Charles! You scar-”

Charles walked straight past Sarah and took a hold of Nora by the shoulders.

“Are you all right? Where were you? It’s late and you know better than to walk around by yourself.” Charles hated how frantic he sounded.

Just then a pointed finger poked, rather harshly, into this shoulder.

“Excuse me. She was not alone, I was with her.” Sarah’s voice was stern and unmoving.

He glanced over his shoulder to see his wife standing there perplexed and most likely offended. He shrugged her off. She wasn’t his concern right now.

Charles held Nora at arms length while he looked over her to make sure she was unhurt.

“Answer me, Honora. Where were you?”

A not-so-ladylike scoff emanated from behind him. “Oh, please, Charles, do stop this line of questioning. You are acting as if we stole away in the night and fled to the town for a night of debauchery and mischief.”

The buzzing sound that only seemed to frequent his mind when his wife was around started.

He looked down at Nora and instead of finding the intimidated and shy girl he was used to seeing, he saw something else entirely. Something he quickly discovered he was not fond of.

She looked as if she was about to burst open from laughing… at him.

Or was she laughing at Sarah?

Charles shook his head. No. It didn’t matter. Sarah was making fun at his expense, so if Nora was laughing because of Sarah’s remark, she was laughing at him.

He couldn’t have that. He must be in control.

“Not now, Sarah. I’ll get to you later, darling.” He threw a look off his shoulder just in time to see his lovely wife’s normally alabaster complexion turn pink. A thrill ran through him from her amenable disposition.

His wayward mind wanted to take the next several moments to come up with all the delectable ways he would punish her for her part in this situation, but his sister’s eyes were focused on him.

“Charles, please don’t be upset.” Nora began. Charles was taken aback by her voice. Usually meek and mild, Nora was standing tall with her chin jutting out in defiance.

“Sarah and I were talking in the parlor and we both needed some fresh air. We had a lovely walk, we just lost track of time.” She shrugged.

Charles released Nora's shoulders after he gave her one more once over to make sure she was all right.

He turned to Sarah.

“My God, woman, what happened to you?” Dirt smeared her cheeks, her dress was covered in grass stains and dirt, and was that a stick in her belt?

Sarah raised an eyebrow. “Oh, are we addressing me now? I figured you forgot I was here.” Sarah picked off, what Charles could only assume was, a piece of grass from her skirt.

“Truly, Sarah, are you all right? Should we fetch a doctor? Samuels!” Charles’s bellowed down the hall.

Sarah’s eyes widened as she raised her hands. “No, no, don’t. I’m fine, really.”

Samuels appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. “You called, Your Grace.”

Sarah waved him off. “It was just a misunderstanding, Samuels. We’re fine.”

Charles’s heart thudded low in his chest. “Sarah, are you sure? You look like you were run over by a carriage.”

“It was a rabbit.” Nora snorted.

“What?” Charles looked back to Nora. “A rabbit did this?”

Sarah huffed out a sigh and took his arm, pulling his focus back to her. “It wasn’t a rabbit.” She glanced around him and shook her head in jest towards Nora.

“We were walking and we happened upon the pond. Nora said it was one of her favorite spots on the estate so we walked towards it. Neither one of us realized there was a decline and I tripped and fell on the way down.”

“On the way up, too.” Nora chimed in from behind him.

Charles looked towards his sister in confusion. Who was this sassy chit? He had never heard Nora speak so openly and candidly with such mirth and spirit. His eyes darted back to Sarah who was trying not to laugh.

“Yes, thank you, Nora, for reminding me.” She widened her eyes and lifted a shoulder. “I also fell walking back up the hill. What can I say? I am a woman of many talents.” Her self-deprecating laugh danced along his skin.

“And the rabbit?” Charles questioned, rubbing his temples. These women were going to be the death of him.

Sarah wrinkled her nose. “Oh, that. That was just the monster in the bush. We took care of him, didn’t we, Nora?”

He could see Nora shaking her head vigorously out of the corner of his eye.

Charles heaved out a sigh and looked up to the ceiling. He was losing control of the situation very quickly. Although, after recalling their entire encounter in his mind, he wasn’t sure he ever had it.

Time to rectify that.

“Honora, please go to your room. We’ll talk about this more tomorrow.” He pointed to the steps.

Nora opened her mouth to argue but Charles raised his hand to stop her.

“I’ll have Samuels bring up your dinner. You will eat in your room tonight. Now, go.”

Nora’s shoulders dropped and Charles had to admit he rather missed her little rebellious streak from earlier. It was nice to see some life within her eyes, even if it was at his expense.

Nonetheless, she knew the rule about being out after dark and she broke it. “Honora.” He warned.

She dipped her head and walked past Charles. She walked up to Sarah and wrapped her arms around her. He could tell she whispered something in Sarah’s ear that had Sarah’s eyes shining.

Charles dropped his eyes to allow them their moment.

He couldn’t help but wonder what secret his sister shared with his wife. A part of him acknowledged he wished he could be her confidant, but that was not his role. His role was one of protector and sometimes that meant being the bad guy.

Nora left Sarah’s embrace and made her way up the steps. He turned his focus on his wife.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” The words came out more gruff than he wanted. The truth was seeing her in such disarray alarmed him more than he cared to admit. He didn’t see any rips or tears, which was miraculous considering the dirt and stains that covered her.

Sarah looked down at her disheveled state. “I promise, it looks worse than it is. I’m made of sturdier things than most women.”

Her eyes flashed as the words left her mouth, leaving Charles with a tightening in his gut.

He took a step towards her. Standing this close to her, Sarah had to lift her head to keep eye contact.

Their breaths mingled as they looked at each other. “Follow me.”

Sarah’s pupils dilated at the command.

Charles turned on his heel and began walking towards the steps. He was pleased to hear her quick footsteps behind him.

It seems she was just as eager as he was to get to her punishment.

“Follow me,” was all he had to say and Sarah could feel the warmth spread throughout her body.

What was happening to her? She was developing a physical reaction to his commands and she really didn’t mind. Thoughts of punishments ran through her mind. However, it was a short list since she was new to this whole concept of punishment as a form of pleasure.

Her body began to hum in excitement. As long as it wasn’t that delayed gratification nuisance again she was up for it.

Charles had obviously done this before and was well-versed in dominance, heaven knew what tricks he had up his sleeves.

Sarah was so lost to her thoughts that she didn’t realize she was standing in Charles’s bedroom until he closed the door behind her and locked it.

He walked past her and stood at his dresser. He unbuttoned his cuffs one at a time. Sarah’s eyes watched as the muscles moved under the shirt with every movement. Unknowingly, she licked her lips.

Charles rolled up each sleeve, showcasing strong forearms with veins that pulled at his skin down to his large hands..

Sarah’s heart began to race. She knew exactly what it felt like to be held in those strong arms and her body itched to be in that position.

She shifted on her feet and pulled at the collar of her dress. Oh, why couldn’t her dress have ripped in one of her falls? Her clothes felt way too restrictive now.

Charles caught her staring at his arms and he cleared his throat.

Sarah shook her head to clear away the salacious thoughts.

“I know you are new to this household, and I’m sure finding out about Honora was most intriguing to you, but you must be careful with her.” Charles unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dress shirt.

Sarah’s breath caught in her throat as she saw taught skin with dark curls peeking out of the shirt.

“Sarah.” Charles’s voice was coaxing but still had an edge to it.

Sarah blinked a few times to regain conscious thought. “Um, why must I be careful with Nora? She seems like a healthy and capable thirteen-year-old girl, just like any other girl her age.”

Charles shook his head as he sat down on a chair. He crossed one leg over the other to take off his boot.

Sarah looked down at her fidgeting hands. Suddenly the realization that she was standing in Charles’s bedroom while he undressed became too much for her. Which was absurd, he had been her husband for several days now yet, for some reason, this felt too intimate for her.

“Sarah. Look at me,” his voice commanded.

Sarah’s eyes rose to meet his. His green eyes looked almost black in the low light in his room. He seemed sinister and dangerous now standing barefoot with his sleeves rolled up and his shirt open to reveal his muscular chest. However, in the same breath, he was enticing, alluring, and all too consuming for Sarah.

He was magnificently beautiful and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him.

“The reasoning doesn’t matter. What would you have done if something truly terrible happened? You don’t know your way around the grounds that well, and I’m not sure Honora is that great of a guide. You two could have been seriously hurt. Look at the state of your dress!”

His normal lecturing tone had another layer to it. Sarah lowered her gaze and turned her head ever so slightly to focus on his words.

“There would be no way for me to find you, I didn’t know where you were. I can’t let that happen again.”

Worry.

Sarah looked back up to Charles. He was standing there with his hands hanging freely at his sides. Not behind him or crossed in front of him. He was standing there, plainly and openly. He was pleading for her safety.

He was worried about her.

Whatever game these two were playing with each other before Sarah put it to the side. “Charles,” she said as she walked to him. “I am sorry, I did not know you didn’t like her out past dark. I knew it would be dark and I was hoping to get a quick walk in. I was hoping a change of scenery would help her open up to me a little more.”

Charles sighed. “Did it work?” His voice cracked ever so slightly with his question.

Sarah shook her head. “It did. That’s part of the reason why we were late coming back. We just walked and talked, it was delightful. It was actually Nora who pointed out that it was dark and we needed to get back.”

Sarah took a risk and took his hand in hers. “I didn’t rush after she said that. Perhaps I should have. I’m sorry.”

Charles was focused on their entwined hands while she spoke. He watched as her thumb rubbed the top of his hand in little circles. The corner of his lip tipped up in a small smile.

He brought his eyes up to meet hers.

“Please be careful next time. You… she means the world to me. I wouldn’t want to see anything bad happen to her. Or you.”

Goosebumps erupted across Sarah’s skin causing his sly smile to grow wide.

With his free hand, Charles cradled Sarah’s head and tipped it back, allowing him to claim her mouth.

It was a gentle kiss, but it made her weak in the knees all the same. He took his hand from hers and wrapped it around her waist, bringing her body flush against his.

The heat from him covered her and she whimpered.

Charles pulled away, looking at her. His eyes searched her face. “You really are something else entirely.”

Sarah’s brows furrowed. “Is that the sweet talk I’ve heard so many of my friends talk about?”

Charles laughed. He actually laughed and it calmed her nerves.

“I’m not much of a sweet talker, I’m more direct than all of that.”

Sarah blushed at his inference.

Charles’s smile turned wicked before it softened. “I just mean, I was not expecting you.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Sarah licked her lips.

Charles’s eyes had followed her tongue as it swiped across her lips. He leaned in to capture it. Sarah sighed into his mouth as his tongue caressed hers.

He finished the kiss with a small, chaste kiss on the side of her mouth. “I have yet to determine that.”

Sarah smiled. “You know, while you are ruminating over if my presence is a blessing or a curse there is another pressing matter I feel you should address.”

“Oh, is there?” He said as his mouth came down and kissed her favorite spot on her neck.

She shivered in delight within his arms.

“Mmhmm.” Her eyes fluttered shut as her body melted in his arms.

“And what is this pressing matter that needs my immediate attention?” He asked between his hot open-mouthed kisses along her neck.

“My punishment.”

Charles’s kisses stopped. He straightened as he looked at her. “Your punishment?”

Sarah looked at him from underneath her lashes. “Yes, sir. I broke a rule, therefore I need to be punished. I feel the lesson would be better learned if I had something to think about.”

Charles’s eyes flashed before he scooped her up.

“You’re absolutely right. And not only did you put yourself in danger but my sister as well. For that, your punishment will be one that you will be thinking about for days to come.”

A thrill of excitement raced down Sarah’s spine and straight to her center where her pleasure was already starting to build.

“Are you ready for your punishment, darling?” He purred.

Sarah couldn’t speak, she could only shake her head quickly.

Charles chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think you are,” he said as he tossed her onto the bed to the squeals of her laughter.