Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
The necklace lay cool and heavy against my throat, every beat of my pulse reminding me it was there. Worse still was the absence under my skirts, the whisper of fabric against bare skin as the carriage rattled down the lane. Every bump in the road sent a wicked shiver through me.
I sat stiffly between them, determined to look composed. Determined to pretend I wasn't half-mad with nerves. Leighton had the audacity to look perfectly at ease, lounging against the leather seat as though this were an ordinary outing. His scarred cheek crinkled as he smiled at me.
"You'll like the dressmaker," he said warmly. "She's discreet. Understands our specific lifestyle needs. And she'll fuss over you until you want to throttle her, which is, I think, part of her charm."
I sniffed, lifting my chin. "If she's anything like you two, then I expect she'll be unbearable."
Magnus gave a low chuckle, dark and approving. He shifted, his shoulder brushing mine deliberately. "Careful, filly. You're already riding without reins. Don't tempt me to put you over my knee before we reach town."
My mouth dropped open. "You wouldn't dare." The words were shaky at best, because even though I was aghast at the suggestion, something inside me resonated with it.
His eyes glittered. "Try me."
Leighton laughed softly, like the byplay between me and Magnus was the most amusing thing in the world. "You forget, love. Magnus doesn't make idle threats." His hand reached across to cover mine, warm and steady. "Best mind your tongue."
I huffed, trying to ignore the heat flooding my cheeks.
And other places besides.
"Perhaps I'll mind it when I feel like it," I snarked back, knowing I was pushing now, but unable to keep control of the words bubbling out.
Magnus leaned close enough that his breath tickled my ear. "Good. I like it when you fight. It makes taming you all the sweeter."
I swallowed hard, clutching at Leighton's hand for steadiness.
"Is something else making you feel nervous, love? Is that why we've earned your delicious ire on this fine day?" Leighton asked.
I swallowed hard, darting a look at him. "I'll be out in town, with two men, no drawers and the unmistakable burn of a man's mark between my thighs. Isn't that enough?"
He winked at me. Winked! "Oh dear, sweet, girl. No one but Magnus and I know about your bare, naked, wet cunt. You have nothing to worry about."
Leighton's words, so naughty, so... forbidden, shocked me to my core. And only made me ache more.
"You two are insufferable," I muttered, straightening my spine and forcing a haughty little sniff. "Anyone would think you've plotted to make me uncomfortable all day."
Magnus's grin widened, sharp as a wolf's. "Now, what gave you that idea?"
Leighton chuckled, the sound warm and low, and I hated how my body melted at it. "Love, you might think this impish behavior is going to scare us off, but it suits you. As long as you remember... brats do tend to find themselves punished."
My cheeks burned at the second threat made in less than five minutes, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of a reply. Instead, I turned to the window, determined to ignore them both.
It would have been easier, though, if every turn of the wheels didn't remind me I was bare, sensitive and apparently belonged to someone.
In fact, two someones.
The carriage slowed, the clatter of hooves muffled as we rolled onto cobblestones. My pulse leapt.
Town.
People.
Surely that would help me regain some semblance of sanity.
"Head high, Lisa," Leighton murmured as he offered his hand to help me down. "You're on the arm of one of the most influential men in the area, the bastard son of a duke, at that."
My shocked face turned to him, and I knew my eyes were large as I took him in.
Bastard son of a duke?
Men sharing a woman. Those same men kissing each other. And now this. Yet another secret. At what point would all this chaos end?
The sun struck my face as I stepped down, nearly blinding me. For a moment, I had a thought to put foot down on the ground and flee away from them.
Magnus followed right behind me, his presence a dark shadow at my back. He adjusted his gloves, his expression unreadable as ever.
"Surely you might have led with that," I hissed under my breath at Leighton as he tucked my hand firmly into the crook of his arm. A deep-rooted part of me wanted to resist. Nearly did.
He looked maddeningly serene. "Sweet girl, my parentage is barely a blip in the big scheme of things, don't you think?"
My mouth snapped shut. My heart, however, hurt.
So many secrets.
When did it end?
And how was I supposed to trust them when at every turn, there was another one uncovered?
Now, however, was not the time or place to go into it.
The street bustled with chatter, market stalls lining the square. I tried to focus on normalcy. The children darting past, the butcher shouting his wares, but the choker pressed snug against my throat, a constant reminder.
"Remind me again, why are we here?" I asked, desperate to find a way to ground myself.
Leighton's hand patted mine on his arm. "We're shopping, love. A wardrobe fit for the wife of a retired war hero and the mistress of Eagle’s Rest."
"Not to mention, you still need your wedding gown," Magnus filled in.
My steps faltered. Wedding gown.
In all that had happened, I'd forgotten about wedding preparations. We hadn't even begun to discuss them.
Leighton's lips twitched, though his eyes were sharp on mine. "You should see your face, love. Relax. We'd figured with everything dropped on your shoulders of late, you'd have forgotten about it. We can get started on our plans for the wedding tomorrow, don't you think?"
We continued to stroll down the cobblestones, as I processed their words.
I hadn't agreed. Not really.
But at this point, was there even a point in denying how much I wanted what they were promising me?
Yes. Yes, there was.
Secrets were more than enough reason.
"Come." Leighton interrupted my tempestuous thoughts, nodding toward a wide-windowed shop with gowns displayed like sugared confections. "Let's see about getting your new wardrobe and wedding gown."
Leighton led me into the shop as Magnus waved, continuing on his way down the cobblestone street.
I looked after him, and the man next to me squeezed my fingers before tugging me through the door. "He's got other errands to run, love. We'll meet up with him for lunch in a local pub."
With my fiancé's warm hand covering mine, I tried to forget about the other man in my life so I could focus on the task at hand.