A Discordant Death (Mary and Bright #4)

Chapter One

April 20, 1820

No. 10 Orchard Street

Portman Square

Marylebone, London

Three days before the wedding

Mrs. Mary Bright frowned at the row of trunks that sat open and half-filled on the floor of the dressing room.

The family was in the final stages of packing for removal to the Borough of Waverley, near Cranley, Surrey, where they would attend a house party surrounding the wedding of Henry, Gabriel’s oldest son, and the only child from his previous marriage. Henry had courted and asked for the hand of a lovely young lady—a Miss Priscilla Davenport. She was a pianist who had quite the talent, and she had done more than her fair share of public recitals as well as performed on the stage for ambassadors, dignitaries, the ton . Apparently, the two had wished to keep their courtship private, so not even her husband had known the depth of Henry’s regard, but Mary suspected that was where the wind blew when he’d been home in London last Christmas.

However, during the Christmastide holidays, they had the chance to meet Miss Davenport, and that was when she and Bright had discovered that she was the youngest child of the Viscount of Titterford. According to Henry, the man kept to himself, didn’t like to bother with most people, for he was a scholar at heart. The young couple had already asked the viscount’s permission to wed, which he’d been all too happy to give, especially when it was revealed that Henry was the grandson of the Viscount of Stanwick.

Then they’d told Mary and Gabriel, and there was much celebrating during that winter.

A screech from the corridor beyond cut through Mary’s rumination and put her back into the present. With a huff, she went to the door and peered out, but the children had descended downstairs.

“Children, with all due respect, please keep your noise to a minimum,” she hollered down the stairs in their direction. Well, that was lacking in decorum, wasn’t it?

Not that it would do any good, but at least they tolerated each other now. Since Charlie came to live with them in December, Cassandra and he had behaved like cats in the interim. And the two of them were the fly in the current ointment as it was, for as she peered down the staircase, they had decided to slide down the lower-level banister as if they had all the leisure in the world and no chores to finish before the family departed for the country. Their gleeful screeches and happy laughter rang through the corridors, though it was dimmed by the time it reached her on the third floor.

“I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do with the pair of them,” Mary said as she returned to the dressing room she shared with Gabriel, and to her surprise, her husband regarded her with a mysterious grin curving his sensuous lips. She frowned. “They won’t be ready to go when we need to.”

“Let them be children, love. At least they’re getting along. It’s been a long time coming.”

“I had that same thought.” She regarded the man who was her husband, and as always, he brought her a sense of peace.

Gabriel Bright was the second son of a viscount, which gave him a bit more leisure and freedom, as well as authority, than the ordinary man, especially since his older brother had the title these days. Besides being a satisfying lover, the inspector was a brilliant conversationalist, a collector of books, and a man who enjoyed reading them, both privately and aloud to her. He fought for what was right, and he generally cared about others. Yes, he sometimes had a black and white outlook on things, but he listened to other opinions and was ultimately fair in every decision he made. And that had softened a bit since they’d been together, which made him even more faceted. Beyond that, he had a latent sense of humor that came out every once in a while, and never failed to lift her spirits.

Still, she worried. “The noise sometimes sets my teeth on edge.”

Indeed, their household had been a bit topsy turvy since Christmastide when young Charlie had come to live with them. Bright and Henry had rescued him from the streets and the life of a climbing boy, or chimney sweep. This had directly upset Cassandra, who they’d also rescued from the street a year ago, for she’d thought she’d be their only child; Henry notwithstanding because she adored him

“I can understand that.” Her husband nodded. “However, all that pent-up energy will be run off in the country. Hopefully. And Mrs. Pearson will take them in hand shortly, as she usually does.”

“Yes, and that is only one reason why I adore our housekeeper.”

In fact, before Mary had married Gabriel, she’d been his mistress for perhaps five months following their tumultuous meeting during the holiday season prior. He’d rented her this townhouse, and he would spend the night with her here a few nights a week, but after they’d married last autumn, he’d moved in permanently and let go his rooms at The Albany.

“I adore her as well, but there is only one woman beneath this roof that holds my heart and allegiance,” he said, regardless of the fact that Maggie, her maid, and his valet, Jameson, bustled in and out of the room.

Heat went through her cheeks. “Do stop, Bright. We are not alone.”

“When has that ever mattered to me?” he said with a wink.

Jameson snorted as he put a pile of folded clothing into a trunk. “That is the point, Bright. It never has. You’re still quite scandalous even as a married man.”

Her husband sent his valet—and friend—and quelling look. “I don’t believe I asked your opinion, Jameson.”

A laugh was shared between the men.

As always, there was something about her husband that made her feel more alive than she had in years, even after knowing him for a year and four months, after marrying him six months prior. And dear heavens, he smelled as wonderful now as he had the first night she’d met him at the start of that long-ago Christmastide house party. Sandalwood, orange, with a hint of spice, and it would forever remind her of him .

He stood there with his tall, lean form set off to perfection by the jacket of sapphire blue superfine and the buff-colored breeches. Shiny boots called attention to his calves while a sky-blue waistcoat drew her attention to his abdomen that was still flat for a man his age. A sprinkling of gray lay scattered through his rich brown hair with a heavier concentration at his temples. Not so much as to make him old, but enough that gave him a distinguished, arresting air, and it had been more enhanced since their engagement, for life always had its worries, and some of the cases he worked—and they worked together—were quite trying.

If nothing else, he was every bit the distraction he’d always been, and he certainly knew how to please a woman in the carnal realm.

Just thinking about being with him in that way sent a shiver of acute need down her spine, for with the addition of the children, being alone with him was quite challenging. “I apologize for him, Jameson. He gets anxious before traveling.” She glanced around the room, at the two trunks that were nearly finished and the other two that were not. “There is still much to do.” Another squeal from downstairs stabbed through her brain, and her chest felt far too tight from everything combined. “And what of Henry?”

“What of him?” Bright shrugged. “He is due to arrive at Titterford Hall today with a few of his friends who will also be part of the house party. He shall be just fine.”

“I hope he’s packed all the essentials, and the suit he’ll wear for the ceremony.” Ever since she’d met Gabriel and they’d become serious, she considered Henry like a son, and she didn’t stop fretting over him.

“Don’t worry, love. His valet will have made certain he has all he needs, and if he doesn’t, Surrey isn’t all that far away from London. We can have a runner go for whatever he’s missing.”

“This is all so stressful.” She sent him a glance and frowned. Why wasn’t he more frazzled than he was? How pleasant it must be to live life as a man who doesn’t think about any of this. It was an uncharitable thought, of course, but she couldn’t help it.

“Only because we’re taking the children.” Bright came close and scooped up one of her hands, squeezing the fingers. “When we traveled last autumn with Cassandra, you weren’t nearly so fretful.”

“Because she was absolutely no trouble, but now with Charlie?” Mary shook her head. “That boy is full of mischief, and he takes her right along with him.”

“But they are both growing and changing. They are finding friendships within each other, and for the first time in either of theirs lives, they are happy. That is nothing to sneeze at.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back while holding her gaze with his. “And they are excited to be going on an adventure. Give them latitude. Miss Wright will be with us to make certain they don’t go too far when we can’t be with them.”

Miss Wright was the new governess they’d hired at the beginning of February. She was such a lovely young woman, and both children seemed to adore her, which was more than she could say about her predecessor.

“You’re right. I need to remember how far we have all come.” Conscious of Jameson and Maggie in the room with them, Mary gave him a smile. “And I’m discovering that being a mother brings with it another host of worries I never dreamed of before.”

“You are doing a lovely job of it, though.”

“What, the worrying or being a mother?” she couldn’t help but tease him.

His grin held wicked promise. “Both?” When she snorted with laughter, he tugged her toward the door. “Come with me.”

“Where?” They still had loads to do.

“Just come.” A huff of apparent frustration escaped him. “Besides, Maggie and Jameson want us out of their hair so they can finish packing.” He nodded at both of the servants. “You’re in charge, Maggie. Don’t let my valet sneak in any unnecessary things,” he said with a wink.

A flush suffused her face. “I won’t, Inspector.”

Mary chuckled as she exited the room with him. “You take advantage of her crush on you,” she whispered as they strolled along the corridor.

“I know.”

Their suite was situated at the front of the house and overlooked the street with their square. There were two smaller rooms at the back on that floor, and the larger of those two was currently where Cassandra and Charlie slept, for it was decided that since they’d both been alone before they landed with Mary and Gabriel, they could benefit from having a sibling nearby. Once they grew older, they could have separate rooms.

Her husband led her into the smaller room that was used for nothing more than extra furniture that would eventually be resituated about the house, all shrouded with unbleached muslin dust covers. There were also paintings still in their frames that leaned against the walls. When Henry had gone away to school, they’d given him this room so he would have a place to stay, since Bright had moved out of The Albany last autumn. Then Henry had finished schooling as the Michaelmas term ended and he’d secured an apprenticeship with a prominent barrister in London. That was when he’d asked for Miss Davenport’s hand.

Now, with Henry ready to wed, he’d rented a small townhouse of his own in the Marylebone neighborhood for him and his bride, so he’d been fixing up his nest, made possible with a monetary gift from his uncle, Viscount Stanwick, as well as the dowry gained from Miss Davenport’s father. The young man still had a bit of an inheritance left to him by his grandfather, so that would tide the newly married pair over until Henry could make his own living.

Mary frowned. “Why are we in this room?”

“Ah.” Gabriel closed the door with a soft snick. Then he turned to face her, stalking her over the floor, grinning when she retreated. “You need a break to clear your head, and we haven’t been alone for far too long. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, I do but…” She shook her head, for with that look in his eyes and the way he prowled over the floor sent tingles of need through her lower belly. “Bright, do you wish to do that here? Now?”

“Yes. Why not?”

“It’s far too scandalous with the children about…”

“Who are occupied and happy at the moment. And Mrs. Pearson will come ‘round to get them, to say nothing of Miss Wright. No one will miss us if we’ve disappeared for a quarter hour, but we must be quiet.” The dear man waggled his eyebrows. “Are you game?”

Throughout their history together, Gabriel had made no secret of his carnal interest in her, and they’d come together, sometimes in scandalous scenarios, but his affection and protection had never wavered.

As always, the opportunity to be with him in such a capacity dissolved her protests and faded any reluctance she might have had. With a sigh, Mary nodded as he stepped close to her, easily trapping her between his large body and the wall. “When have I ever bid you nay when carnal play is in the offing?”

“Perhaps only a couple of times in our association?” He gently tugged her into his arms, and seconds later claimed her lips with his.

Despite her worries about being interrupted, Mary slid a hand up his broad chest to rest at his shoulder, and slowly, she gave herself into his care, for this was the man she loved to the ends of the earth and back. This was the man who gave her back trust in men and people, the man who would do anything to make her happy, as evidenced by the life he shared with her, both personally and professionally.

It took very little convincing to part her lips and let him tangle his tongue with hers. Bright had always had a commanding presence about him; there had always been something about him she couldn’t ignore, and it was no different now that they’d been wed for six months. In fact, it only made her want him more.

Every nerve of her body felt alive and on edge. The fires in her blood became molten rivers of need, and she gasped at the intensity of desire sparking between them, but then, they hadn’t done much in the way of sharing physical affection for at least a few weeks due to schedules and domestic duties. With a sound that was a mash of a moan and a cry, she looped her arms about his shoulders and clung to him without a shred of decency or decorum as she returned that embrace.

Oh, how I have missed this!

“You are quite the siren,” he whispered while taking her more comfortably in his arms and teasing her with intense kisses that hinted at exactly what he wished to do next.

“Such gammon you speak, Bright.”

“Hardly.” He moved his hands up her back. “I want you so much, but I alternately wish to make this interlude last.”

She snorted. “We don’t have the luxury of time, so either continue or let us deny ourselves the pleasure until later.”

“We aren’t promised later.”

“True.” Always logical, was the inspector. Her propriety fled, for she dragged her lips beneath the sharp line of his jaw, licked a path down the strong column of his throat merely to drive him wild.

“Mary…” A groan issued from him as he drew his palms up her sides to cup her breasts. “I’ ve missed you.”

“I know the feeling. Life has been far too busy and full recently, but I don’t begrudge us for enjoying that either.”

“No, I wouldn’t trade it either.” Gabriel held her breasts, squeezed them, teased the nipples through the fabric of her traveling dress until she whimpered with anticipation. “Rather desperate, aren’t you?” he whispered when she arched her back.

“Yes, of course I am,” she said on the heels of a gasp while he yanked the bodice of her traveling dress, as well as the clothing beneath, down to bare her breasts. “I love you still.” When the inspector stimulated her nipples, intense sensations streaked from her breasts to her core. “Please touch me, Bright.” If that made her a wanton, and a married one at that, then so be it.

“Mmm, begging. I could get used to that,” he murmured and gave her nipples a quick pinch. When a sound that was a mix of a gasp and a moan escaped her, he chuckled. “I would love to hear you do more of that for many other things we have no time right now.”

“Something to look forward to, hmm?” she asked as she stared up into his face.

Humor twinkled in his dark eyes. “Absolutely.”

Mary’s head lolled onto her shoulder, for her husband was quite potent. “Gabriel…” A shiver racked her being while he continued to manipulate those aching buds .

“I know.” Quickly, he urged her arms above her head then caught her wrists in one hand and cupped a breast with the other. “Would there was time to see you naked.” He nibbled a path along the column of her throat, licked and nipped her breasts, teased her with his hot breath on her skin. “There is so much I wish to do merely to see your reaction, hear the sounds you’ll make as I send you to the brink.”

“Always a tease.” She expelled a soft moan when he bedeviled her nipple with his tongue and teeth. “I need you inside me.”

“Not just yet, I think, unless you can convince me.” With a wink, he released her wrists and then spread his arms wide. “Can you?”

“Don’t be an arse, Bright.” But she caught his head between her hands, pushed up onto her toes, and then kissed him as if she didn’t have any shame. Already she would melt into a puddle at his feet if he didn’t hurry. When it didn’t appear he was on the same level of desperation as her, Mary slipped a hand between them to cup his equipage through his breeches, gave him a good squeeze. “I want you.”

“Damn it, woman. I’ll spend if you don’t leave off.” Desperation propelled the words from his throat, but he grinned as he pulled away. “How is it that I’m nearly insane with desire when I’m with you?”

“Because we’re well matched.” With a last caress, she once more put her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t waste this precious time.”

With an intensity that stole her ability to speak, Gabriel pinned her between his hard chest and the wall at her back. The kisses he treated her to were deep and drugging; he dueled with her tongue as they both fought to show that the flames between them hadn’t dimmed.

When he encouraged one of her legs upward, shoving skirting out of his way as he went, she hooked it over his hip and wrapped her arms about his strong, broad shoulders. In this moment, in his embrace, the security, contentment, desire, and love she’d found with him since their relationship had begun were all present. His eyes were dark with need, nearly black, and his hands were at her buttocks holding her against the wall as he set out to apparently devour her whole. Mary forgot everything as she wriggled into a better position, clung to him while she kissed him back. Oh, how she missed the freedom they’d had before the children! She shuddered as he fit his tip to her opening. Her moan of satisfaction sounded overly loud to her ears, but he swallowed the remainder of the noise and at the same time, he flexed his hips, penetrated her swift and deep, to the hilt without stopping.

And it was like coming home .

“Merciful heavens.” Awe threaded through her utterance, for this was every bit as satisfying as it always was, but the worry of being discovered enhanced the act. The inspector was large, thick, and he filled her so completely she wanted to cry from the perfection of that joining, but eyes shuttered closed as she savored the coupling while the most delicious sensations bounced through her insides. “I’ve missed this.”

“As have I.” Then he moved, thrusting with short strokes, forcefully spearing into her which set her blood on fire and each nerve ending tingling.

As best as she could, Mary matched his rhythm.. Gabriel continued to move, so she pulled him closer with her leg around his waist.

Over and over, he drove like a man possessed. She held him to her, kissed whatever portion of his body she encountered. The scrape of her nipples against his superfine jacket and brocade waistcoat added another layer of heightened sensation to their actions, as did the friction put on the button at the center of her pleasure, for her body was opened to him and nothing was covered. His ragged breathing echoed in her ears and his fingers dug into her hips with a savageness that would no doubt leave bruises. It had been a long time since that happened. Sweat dampened his forehead, his upper lip, and as she kissed him, the taste of salt came away on her tongue.

Dear God, it’s maddening how much I want him even after being married.

When he delved a hand between their bodies through layers of skirting and he strummed his fingers over that swollen bud, she sucked in a breath, for she’d been primed for weeks, and release would come quickly. Before the scream could leave her throat, he kissed her again, took the sound into himself to prevent premature discovery. Quite simply, they shared a few breaths as their bodies worked to become one. All too soon, the pressure building and circling in her lower belly broke, for the sensory overload had finally overwhelmed her.

“Oh… ah!” The half-muffled utterance sounded overly loud in the silence of the room. Contractions fluttered through her core as pleasure swamped her in ever-increasing waves. Mary dug her fingers into his shoulders. She whispered his name as if in prayer, buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, and still the bands of release kept coming. There was no relenting, no cessation, but then, that was how it had always been with him.

Another two thrusts sent him into the vortex with her. The inspector claimed her mouth in a hard kiss that separated her from reality. As he ground his pelvis into hers, he lifted her up, and she locked her legs around his waist as his shaft pumped and warmth filled her core. Completely spent, she collapsed against him, and he did the same to her until they were draped against the wall, panting.

“Never wonder if I still love you,” she whispered.

“Oh, I know you do,” he said back as he pressed his lips to her forehead.

Eventually, her heartbeat returned to normal, and her breathing evened. When Mary came back to her senses, she pushed at his chest until he released her. When her feet hit the floor, she continued to shove at him until there was a fair amount of space between them.

“We’ve been away for far too long,” Mary implored in a barely audible voice as she smoothed her skirting back into place. “But this is exactly what I needed. Thank you for the reprieve from domesticity.” She tugged up her bodice and hoped to goodness no one would notice if she appeared slightly disheveled.

“I needed it too.” His voice was just as low as he dropped his hands on her shoulders and peered into her eyes. “No one will have missed us overly much. Stop worrying, and it is our prerogative, after all.”

“You’re right.” After going up on her toes, Mary bussed his cheek. “We are going to have such fun over the next week, and it will be lovely to see how the children interact with others.” She patted his chest as he tucked his flaccid member away and set his clothing to rights. “I’m looking forward also to Henry’s nuptial ceremony. Life has certainly been surprising of late.”

His grin had flutters moving through her belly. “Indeed, it has, but would you want it any other way?”

She couldn’t help but return the gesture. “I would not.” After patting his cheek, she moved across the room toward the door. “Let’s finish this task and be on our way.”