Chapter 18
P rudence shuddered as William’s fingers caressed the bare skin of her thigh.
The insistence from earlier seemed to have watered down slightly, and he appeared to be taking his time unraveling her as one would a present. Vaguely, Prudence wondered if it was because he had promised it would be their last time doing this together.
She did not have time to dwell on it too much because he was pulling the strings of her corset, and moments later, her breasts were freed.
“I do not need to have my sight to know that you are incredibly beautiful,” he murmured against her neck as one of his hands came up to cup a breast, pinching the nipple between two fingers.
“Is that so? Or are you just trying to charm me into letting you have your way with me?” she gasped, arching into his touch.
“I do not need to charm you for any reason,” William stated in a humorous tone. “I am having my way with you because you want me to. Ever since the first day, there is nothing I have done that you did not allow me to do. It is not just about me, Prudence. It is about us both.”
As he spoke, he was pressing closer, touching her as though her body held the secrets of life he desperately needed. Prudence eyed his white shirt and then she spoke up,
“If this is about us both, then can I ask for something?”
“If you asked for a star, I would break my legs jumping in an attempt to catch one for you,” he whispered in her ear before he bit her neck.
“No need to go that far, thank goodness,” she said, as though his words had not caused her heart to stutter dangerously. She then tugged his shirt and added, “I want to be able to see you and touch you. It is only fair, no?”
William paused, and then he captured her lips in a fiery kiss, their tongues melding together in a wet dance that stole her breath. After what felt like an eternity, he pulled back and as she sat there, panting for air, he took off his shirt in one fluid motion.
Then he took one of her hands and rested in on his bare chest, from his pecs down to the well-defined muscles on his torso.
“Satisfied?” he asked, voice low.
Prudence nodded, enraptured by the manly feel of him. His muscles rippled beneath her touch, and his skin was littered with small scars and faded burns, telling the story of a man whose life had been anything but easy.
“While I am glad you seem to appreciate my body, I would prefer it if we can move things along. Do not worry, I am more than happy to take off my garments whenever you wish to see me,” he told her with a grin, caressing her thigh and pretending that he did not know that with every stroke, his fingertips brushed the spot between her legs.
“How gracious of you,” Prudence mumbled, gasping when he finally stopped teasing and sank a finger into her.
Her hands found purchase on his shoulders and she clung to him, exhaling as he thrust his finger in and out of her. His shoulders were incredibly strong, the muscles taut as she held on for dear life.
“Relax, my sweet,” he mumbled against the shell of her ear and pressed a kiss below it.
“I am trying – oh!” she whimpered as he slipped another finger into her, pulling both of them out just slightly before he pressed them back inside with full force.
“Y-Your Grace, please,” she begged, half whining.
“As much as I love it when you call me that, I think it is high time you called me by my name,” William said to her.
Prudence shook her head, holding onto him.
“Why not? I think we are long overdue, in fact. Call me by my name, and tell me what you want, darling.”
He crooked his fingers slightly, smirking when she let out a whimper, ignoring the bite of her nails digging into his skin.
“Say my name, Prudence. Or I will stop.”
“No!” she gasped, burying her face in his neck. “I – please. Please, William… I want more.”
His hand delicately cupped her chin and he raised her face to his, kissing her deeply.
“All right, vixen. Whatever you want.”
He latched his lips to hers as he began to thrust his fingers into her more insistently. His movements were almost rough as he went in and out of the folds, stroking the bright embers of desire within her. William swallowed every sound she made, and she felt him grin against her cheek when her body wound up tightly and then the next moment, ripples of shock seemed to be going through her.
“There, there,” he muttered softly, petting her through it. “I love it when you come for me like a good girl.”
He kissed her again, this time slowly and lingering, almost as though he did not want her to leave.
“What about you?” Prudence mumbled against his lips.
He leaned back with a look of confusion etched onto his handsome features. Blushing, Prudence continued, reaching for the button of his breeches as she said,
“You are not satisfied, right? I can help if you–”
He quickly grabbed onto her hand, his voice sounding gruff as he told her,
“Do not. We should not.”
Prudence wanted to argue, but then he pulled away and helped her adjust her dress as best as he could before she could even think of what to say.
Then he escorted her to the door, saying nothing until they arrived at the entrance of the study.
“I will be going on a trip in a few days. While I am gone, the estate will be in your care. Look after things in my stead, will you?”
Prudence frowned at how easily he forgot what had just transpired between them, but she felt too tired to do much other than nod.
“Thank you,” he said, a little too earnest to be talking about her role as the primary guardian of the estate. “I shall return as quickly as I can.”
“Of course, Your… William. I shall ensure everything is in order upon your return.”
He smiled at her, like a predator amused by its prey.
“I am sure you will.”
William was regretful that he had not seen Melanie before his departure.
Most of the staff members, along with Prudence and even Lady Clementina had come outside to see the duke off but when he noticed his daughter was nowhere around, he called for Prudence.
“Where is Melanie?”
The duchess was silent for a moment, then she admitted, “In her room. She is still upset about what happened.”
William understood her reasons for being upset. It was only fair of her to hold such a grudge after his attitude, but still, he wished she would have absolved him of his sins by now.
“It might be difficult to meet her halfway like this,” he muttered quietly.
“Better difficult than impossible. You cannot expect her forgiveness when you have not apologized, William. These things take time and effort,” Prudence pointed out carefully.
“Right,” William nodded in understanding. “You are quite right. Then, could you–”
No. The apology would not seem genuine if he did not give it to her himself. He did not want Prudence to remain between them as a bridge forever.
The last thought sent a flash of pain through his chest and it took a few deep breaths for him to regain himself.
“Give her my regards. And tell her I will get her something nice on my way back.”
“I will,” Prudence assured and bid him farewell.
William left the estate with a feeling of unrest resonating within him. Things were left off at uncomfortable positions, not just with him and his daughter but with him and Prudence. He had said their tryst a few days ago was to be their last. He had promised. But he did not know how to tell her that every taste of her had him wanting more.
He did not know what he could do to keep her with him, just that he desperately desired to do just that.
About an hour after the carriage had departed from the Pemberly estate, it stopped in front of a house. Moments later, Lord Montclair exited the house and joined him in the carriage.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” the marquess greeted him.
“Lord Montclair, thank you for agreeing to accompany me on this meeting. Many of the previous duke’s business dealings elude me, but I will do my best to preside over the meeting,” William said with a sigh.
“Think nothing of it, Your Grace. I am at your service, whenever you require it. I am also quite invested in the other matter we discussed earlier. You said this person holds a vital piece of information we need?”
William nodded. “I had an investigator do the appropriate search needed for us to properly put together a case. And he said a key witness had moved to these parts to stay with her ailing grandmother after she left Pemberly.”
“I look forward to hearing what she has to say,” Hugo stated, seemingly excited.
William knew what Hugo would be like if he got too focused on his quest for vengeance and kept him distracted with questions about the people they were going to meet shortly.
The meeting went by quickly, with Hugo’s presence covering whatever weaknesses William might have held. The clients were interested in what the duke had to offer and they did not mind renegotiating the price of the goods.
Right afterward, the carriage took them to a building that looked as though it had seen better days. When they knocked at the door, a small, mousey young woman came to see them.
“Sylvia Oakly?” William asked, to ensure they had the right person.
The woman nodded, waiting for the men to state their business and introduce themselves.
William stepped forward to do the honors.
“I am the new Duke of Pemberly at the estate that served as your previous place of employment. And this is Lord Montclair. We have come to ask you a few questions concerning the circumstances surrounding the former duke’s death.”
“It was the duchess, was it not? She was the one who killed him. Did she poison him?” Hugo demanded, shuffling closer.
William managed to grab the man by his arm and pull him back.
“What are you doing?” the duke hissed.
“What you cannot, Your Grace. Asking the difficult questions. I will find proof that this woman–”
“Has done nothing wrong,” Sylvia spoke up suddenly. “Why do people think she has?”
“Well, all evidence points to her. She was the only one close enough to the former duke to have killed him as discreetly as he was. It is obvious she did it so she would inherit his wealth. That is why she asked for their wedding to be quick and–”
“Pardon me, my lord,” the woman interrupted once more. “The duchess was not the reason they were married so quickly. It was the duke. The duchess had come with her mother to discuss their wedding preparations and the duke had been the one to suggest the date on which they would be married. The duchess protested that it was too soon, but he insisted that he could not wait to spend the rest of their lives together. And her mother had eagerly agreed, as she had been worried that the duchess would not have obtained a proposal at all.”
“Anthony had never told me such, he–”
William put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Let’s let her finish. Shall we?”
“Certainly, Your Grace. I do not believe the duchess loved the former duke, but she cared about him enough to have looked forward to their life together. The night of his death, she had been practically inconsolable. She kept mumbling something about her father and that was when a maid said she had heard that the duchess’ father had also been found dead in his bed when she was a child. It was not until the duke had been removed from the premises that she regained herself.” Sylvia shook her head sadly.
William felt his heart drop at the thought of Prudence having to experience a nightmare made reality. He had experienced his fair share of horrors in his lifetime and knew not everyone could survive the difficulties and trials life presented to them. But Prudence had seen her fair share, and yet she was still standing.
He supposed that was what made her the wonderful woman that she was.
And it was unfair that what she got in return was her name being dragged through the mud.
“Do you think the duchess killed the duke?” William asked, point blank.
“That is a ridiculous notion. The duchess could not hurt a fly; she is far too good for it, and I do not believe that she killed the duke. If there was anything about the duke’s death I have always felt was worth noting, it was how he had somehow managed to escape scrutiny for so long.” Sylvia shrugged.
“Wait, what do you mean? Do not slander my good friend’s name if you have nothing more to say!” Hugo snapped.
“I am merely speaking as I know, my lord. The former duke was something of a hound around women. It was known among members of the staff that the duke was famous for handing out invitations to his bed. Made all sorts of promises to them. In fact, last I heard, he had invited a maid to his chambers. We never knew who the maid was, but I suspect she might have resigned shortly after the duke passed,” Sylvia responded. “And if you ask me, I think was this his bad habit that got him killed.”
Hugo’s silence spoke volumes to William, after all, it was obvious that they might have been gravely mistaken.
But all the question remained; what really happened to the former Duke of Pemberly?