Chapter 9
Chapter 9
6th of April 1814
Jane’s hands trembled as the duke handed her down from the carriage in front of Hemel Hill. He had come to Richmond House that morning in his own vehicle, then her grandparents rode with her and the duke while Nicholas and Fiona followed in the Richmond equipage. Neither her cousin nor his wife seemed to feel slighted by riding on their own. On the contrary, as he pulled Fiona to the carriage, Nicholas had sported a grin so wide, Gran had shaken her head and Grandpapa had chuckled. Even now, as Nicholas walked with his wife towards them, Fiona’s blushed lips were evident to anyone who looked.
“This is lovely,” said her grandmother, who took in the large house.
Jane nodded. The grand Palladian structure was situated well with the great oaks surrounding it. The spring colour in the formal gardens only rendered it more appealing. Would the duke walk with her in those gardens or take her back down to the lake path?
“I thank you,” said the duke. “The gardens around the house are well-maintained, but if you have the inclination, I recommend the walk around the lake. Many a stunning prospect exists for an observant eye.”
Upon entering the hall, a formidable woman stood with her hands clasped before her. “Good day, Your Grace. Your daughters arrived an hour ago. Lady Juliana is napping, and Lady Emmeline is practicing her letters with Miss Fletcher.”
“Lord and Lady Richmond, Lord and Lady Hatton, Miss Montford, this is Mrs. Deaton, the housekeeper. If you require anything at all, pray do not hesitate to request it of her.”
The woman nodded. “Welcome to Hemel Hill, my lords and ladies. I am at your service. Your servants have arrived with your trunks, which have been placed in your rooms. If you follow me, I shall show you all upstairs so you may refresh yourselves.”
When the duke offered Jane his arm, she took it with a smile. He joined them as the housekeeper showed them to what she called the east wing, pointing out certain portraits and items of interest along the way.
At two doors across the corridor from each other, the housekeeper stopped and opened one set of doors. “Lord Hatton, this is your bedchamber.” She opened the door across from it.
While the woman showed her grandfather his suite of rooms, the duke leaned in near her ear. “I was hoping we could walk around the lake after you have refreshed yourself. Unless you would prefer to rest.”
“No, I should be pleased to join you.” Their gazes met and her insides flipped at the slight curve of his lips and the dimple that rarely made an appearance. That expression never failed to send a current through her. He was truly a handsome man with his chestnut hair and hazel eyes that caught the light in such a way it stole her breath.
“How long do you require with your maid?” The warmth of his whisper upon her ear made her stutter in her inhale. How did he affect her with such little effort?
They began to move as the housekeeper led them to another set of doors and proceeded to show Fiona and her grandmother their rooms. “I require no more than a half hour.”
He nodded. “I shall await you in the hall in a half hour then.” With a kiss to her knuckles, he left her as the housekeeper turned to face her. The woman’s eyebrows were raised. She must have witnessed the duke’s kiss of Jane’s hand. Her cheeks warmed.
“Miss Montford, if you will follow me, your rooms are down the next corridor.”
She glanced around. “My grandmother is settled already?”
“Yes, Miss. Her maid was just inside. I am certain she will show the countess about the bedchamber and dressing room.”
“Oh, good.” What else could she say?
“His Grace specifically requested this bedchamber for you,” she said, opening the door.
Jane stood just inside while she surely gawped at the sizeable and well-appointed room. The walls were covered in pale blue fabrics with rich draperies in a slightly darker colour and boasting of a floral pattern in silver threads. The bedcurtains were in an identical fabric to the draperies as was the coverlet.
The housekeeper bustled past her and began tying back the draperies. “The windows have a fine prospect of the rose garden if you enjoy flowers. Your dressing room is through there and you have a small sitting room through the door there.” She pointed to each as she spoke.
“Thank you, Mrs. Deaton. I am certain I shall be exceedingly comfortable.”
“Tea will be served at four in the drawing room, and dinner will be at five. If you need anything at all, pray do have your maid request it of me. I shall be happy to be of help.”
As soon as the housekeeper departed, Jane turned in a circle. Her rooms at Richmond House were by no means shabby, but as she reached out to touch a fine chinoiserie vase, she withdrew her hand at the last moment. She would not chance breaking an expensive heirloom. After all, the former duke must have spent a great deal when he renovated the house.
Sutton bustled in. “I heard Mrs. Deaton go. I have only been here a few hours, but believe me, she keeps all in order below stairs. She runs a tightly-knit household.” Her maid spoke of what she had learnt since her arrival while she poured warm water in a basin for Jane to wash, then helped her remove her travelling gown. Once Jane was suitably dressed in a sprigged muslin morning gown with rose embroidery as well as her rose pelisse and had donned her boots, she made her way back to the hall, only taking one wrong turn before finding the staircase.
The gentleman she could not cease thinking of stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a pose he seemed to adopt more often than not while he awaited her. When he looked up and noticed her presence, his countenance lit. “I hope your rooms are to your liking?”
“They are exquisite. Thank you.”
He took her down the familiar path to the lake. This time, she had no curfew of sorts, so she dawdled where the views were incomparable and stopped to admire some violets that had bloomed near their walk. The narcissus and violets had been showing themselves of late. Narcissus seemed such a happy flower. Some might consider snowdrops a spring flower, but they bloomed mostly in February and March, and crocuses, while pretty, bloomed so close to the ground they were not as obvious as the narcissus whose blooms peaked in April. In her opinion, the showy yellow flowers were one of the true heralds of spring.
“Would you like to take the path to the folly? The climb is not as arduous as the one you forged through the forest last time.”
She nodded, and he held out his arm for her to join him. As they progressed, he provided his hand when required and once pressed his palm to her back when he aided her with a large step. Upon reaching the top of the hill, she took in the stunning view of the lake and its surroundings before stepping up to the portico and meandering along the porch that encircled the structure, running her hand along the Corinthian columns as she went.
The duke stood near the entrance when she had made the circuit. “What do you think?”
“I am glad this was built before you stopped whatever improvements were remaining.” She looked up to the carved tops of the columns.
“The temple pleases you then?”
“I believe the view from the lake as well as the view from here would not be complete without it.” Her eyes had met his while she spoke, but she broke the intense connexion between them as she could not maintain it. “What is inside?”
He opened the door, and she stepped across the threshold. She took in the white marble statue of Apollo with his arm outstretched and holding a bow and a quiver of arrows over his shoulder.
A warmth enveloped her hand, and she was turned around to face the duke. “Your Grace?”
“I would prefer you to call me Henry when we are not in company.” He began tugging on the fingers of her glove.
“You would?”
“Yes; would you object if I called you Jane?”
She stared as he pulled the one glove from her hand and began working on the next. His hands were bare. When had he removed his own?
His palm met hers, and he entwined their fingers before pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Well?”
“You want me to call you Henry?” Her voice had become so odd and soft.
“I do.”
She attempted to clear her throat as gently as possible. “It seems so strange.” Why was her voice still off?
He smiled and tugged her closer. “Why is it odd?”
“I have rarely used anyone’s Christian name unless they are family.” Her heart began to beat louder in her ears at his proximity.
“Since I am courting you, I am likely to become your family.” His fingers touched at her temple and grazed down her cheek. Her ragged breathing stopped, and this time, despite the heat in his gaze, she could not tear her eyes from his.
“Yes, I suppose.” The words were almost a whisper.
That maddening finger traced close to her ear and under the lobe. She was going to melt into a puddle at his feet if he continued. Those caresses lingered and tingled before fading ever so slowly. Her eyes fluttered closed as she sucked in a much-needed breath.
“Jane?”
“Hmm?”
“May I kiss you?”
She opened her eyes to find him ever so close. She forced a nod that was likely jerky and ridiculous.
He drew their joined hands to his chest and leaned towards her. Her eyes again drifted closed as he became far too close. When his lips touched hers, her entire body bloomed with heat. He brushed another gentle kiss upon her lips, and she attempted to return the gesture even though she had no idea what she was doing. What would he want her to do?
Before she could open her eyes, his lips were on hers with more force, cupping and brushing hers over and over until she was dizzy. She grabbed his shoulder with her free hand to steady herself as his tongue touched the seam of her lips. With a shove to his chest, she wrenched herself back from him.
“What are you doing?”
“Kissing you.” His voice was breathless, as though he had been running.
“With your tongue?”
He grinned as he drew her back into his arms. “Yes, with my tongue. I want to taste you.”
Her chin hitched back a little. “That sounds indecent.”
A chuckle made her insides take flight. “No, not at all. You may find you wish to taste me as well.”
“You would like that?” Her eyes were, no doubt, huge at this moment.
“God, yes.”
Before she could speak, he claimed her mouth, his tongue quickly dipping in and touching hers. She whimpered and pressed closer to him so she could remain standing. Within several steps, he had her back against the wall, and his free hand was at the nape of her neck, his thumb tracing against the side, creating more of that fiery current through her that built with each graze of his bare fingers. Her breasts were heavy and ached, and her thighs rubbed together in an effort to alleviate a gradually increasing throbbing between them. She moaned, and all of a sudden was bereft.
She opened her eyes while she leaned against the hard stone behind her, her palms pressed flat against the wall to hold herself up. “Have I done something wrong?”
“No, but you must forgive me. I had not meant to let matters go so far.” His chest heaved up and down with each breath. “I only meant to take a small taste, but you are far too tempting. You should not allow me to do so again.”
“But I trust you, Your Grace.”
“Henry.”
He tucked her gloves into the pocket of his great coat and held out his hand. “We should continue our walk before you drive me mad.”
“What of my gloves?”
After peering down to where their palms were pressed together, he rubbed his thumb along hers. “I prefer you without them. We are not in Hyde Park. No one will know, and I promise I shall return them before we take the path back to the house.”
She had not the ability to argue. That thumb caressing along hers combined with his low voice had rendered her mute—for now anyway.
Henry’s body had finally calmed by the time they reached the grotto, but what was he to do alone with her inside? He could not let his mind return to the temple or he would be hard pressed not to kiss her again, not to hold her flush to him and show her how much he desired her. How had an innocent made him forget himself—render him as inept as if he had never known a woman before? She did not understand her power over him either, that much was clear. Who knew her innocence would be as enticing as her actual touch?
“You walk through, and I shall follow.”
“You will not join me?” she asked. Her eyebrows drew down a little over her bluest of blue eyes.
“I cannot be trusted alone with you.”
Her gaze searched his. “I meant it when I said I trust you.”
He forced himself to release her hand. “Go. I shall not be far behind.”
She turned to look back at him before she stepped inside. He counted to ten, then entered behind her. The circular room was empty. Good. She had not tarried. As he stepped into the small antechamber with the statue of Poseidon that preceded the exit, the room went dark.
He startled and his fingers touched the smaller ones covering his eyes. Jane’s body was flush to his back so she could reach around to blind him, and her breasts crushed to his shoulder blades were more than enough to arouse him after their earlier interlude.
“Jane, what are you about?”
“I know you would never harm me—never do more than I would wish.”
His careful fingers removed her palms from his face as he turned in her arms. “We should not tempt ourselves so.”
She reached up and with a gentle tug, drew his face down until she could touch her lips to his. “I find I like it when you kiss me,” she said, then she claimed his mouth.
He struggled to maintain control while he allowed her to explore, and clenched his hands to his side so they would not wander. This was exquisite torture—to have her body flush to his and with no one nearby. He longed to touch her in any number of places, to make her gasp and moan as she had before. The sound had been the sweetest he had ever heard. That part of him he needed to ignore wanted to bring her to completion and hear her cries. He stifled a groan. That part of him needed to be bound to endure this.
A Herculean effort was required to wrench himself away from her softness. “I require a moment.” As he backed against the wall, he took in her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. How was he supposed to resist?
His eyes squeezed closed as he willed his traitorous body to stand down. They needed to stop. If they returned to the house with her thus, her grandparents would not be best pleased with him.
He exited and stepped between a couple of trees which would shield him while he adjusted himself in his breeches. Lord, but they were tight at this moment!
“Are you well?”
“Yes, but unless you wish your grandparents to know what we have been doing, we should stop. We shall be expected at the house soon, and your lips will need time to lose their blush.”
“Oh!” Her fingers touched her mouth. “I should have realised.” Yes, particularly after having seen the evidence of her cousin’s and his wife’s activities when they had arrived.
He trailed his thumb along the line of her jaw. “You are beautiful. If I could keep you like this, I would.”
“That would be mortifying.”
So would his present state if he had not shifted his great coat to hide his arousal. She was not yet ready for a proposal from him, but if she continued to tempt him so, they would need to be wed before she was in love with him. He had been coveted for as long as he could remember for his title and fortune. Marina had wed him for those considerations. However, this time, he desperately needed Jane to love him. He could do nothing else. He had no other choice. He was falling in love with her and needed her to feel just as strongly for him.