Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Benedict listened as Sophie told him about her day, and about the extensive order, and subsequent bill he would be receiving from Madam LaCroix. She seemed very at ease tonight and her smile was contagious. They conversed easily throughout the meal. When Benedict noticed how far the candles had burned down, he was astonished that he was able to be in the same room with a woman for that long without having her in his bed.
“I’m sorry I have kept you so long. It is getting late and I’m sure you would like to retire to your rooms,” he said abruptly as he stood from his seat.
Sophie was taken by surprise at his sudden movement. She took one more sip of her wine embarrassed that she had talked so much. Mr. Kingston was a businessman and he surely had more important things to do than listen to her. “I do apologize. I didn’t realize it had gotten so late. You probably should have returned to the Devil’s Lair a long time ago.” She gracefully rose from her seat. “There is no need to escort me. I know the way and I am much too nervous to sleep. It isn’t every day a girl agrees to an arrangement such as ours.” She gave him a cheeky grin before leaving the room.
Benedict watched as she walked away, noting the gentle sway of her hips and the graceful way she moved. He needed to get back to The Lair. This felt much too domesticated for his liking. This was not home, the Lair was home, this was just his uncle’s residence. Yes, it would belong to him, but not now. He moved from the dining room and walked down the hall to the library. The minute he stepped inside the room, he was assuaged by the faint smell of cigar smoke. There was a large oppressive looking desk on the opposite end of the room and hanging on the wall above it was a portrait of his uncle when he was younger. He took some time to look around the room at the portraits of his ancestors along the walls until he came to one of his mother. It must have been painted a year or two before she married his father. She was beautiful and it seemed as if she was smiling down at him.
He shook his head and moved to sit behind the desk. There was a bottle of brandy on the edge, and he poured himself a glass. Sitting there alone in the dimly lit room sipping subpar brandy, he had to ask himself if Avanley was right. Had he lost his senses? He drank another glass enjoying the solitude when he heard laughter. He decided to ignore it. But when he heard the sound once again drifting to his ears, he decided to investigate. He followed the laughter down the hallway to the back of the house into the kitchen where he found Sophie sitting casually with his uncle’s butler, Nathaniel, and two of the maids. When he entered the kitchen, the maids curtsied and scurried away, Nathaniel stood his ground.
“Is there something you need, Mr. Kingston?”
Benedict came further into the room. “No, I just heard voices and felt like I should find out what was so amusing.” His eyes drifted to where Sophie sat with a cup of what he was certain was warm milk in her hands. Nathaniel bowed and left the room leaving him alone once again with the woman who seemed to be occupying way too much of his mind.
She gave him a sweet smile. “I must apologize for disturbing you. Nathaniel was kind enough to fix me some warm milk and then we started talking. He was telling me stories of some of the scandals of last season. Since the death of my father, I have missed out on the gossip surrounding the ton. Well, besides the scandal created by my brother.” Her smile slipped and she put down her mug. “I will go to my room now. I do apologize once again for disturbing your solitude.”
“Stop apologizing, Sophie, and there is no need to leave on my account.” He moved closer to her. “I know you have concerns over our arrangement and if there is anything I can do to ease your mind or any questions you have for me, please ask.”
Sophie tapped her fingers on the table as she stood before him. “It is nothing more than nerves. I will go to my room now.”
When she moved to pass him, Benedict stepped into her path. She was close, so close that he could smell her perfume. “Stay with me. Tell me some of the stories Nathaniel shared with you.”
Sophie sat back down. “I’m sure they are nothing like what you are familiar with, Mr. Kingston. These stories will more than likely bore you considering the things you see at The Devil’s Lair, but if you wish, I will tell you something I found most humorous.”
Benedict sat across from her as she sipped her warm milk and told him the story of how Lady Upchurch had fallen into one of the plants at the Leicester ball, her legs completely over her head and her skirts tossed up giving everyone who saw the debacle a generous view of the lady’s backside. His smile widened as Sophie’s cheeks pinkened, and her laughter became contagious as she recanted how Lord Upchurch struggled to help his wife right herself even as she kicked her legs furiously, kicking him once in the eye causing it to blacken almost instantly. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as her laughter bubbled out and Benedict found himself enjoying the time he was spending with her more than anything he could remember in a long time.
“When her husband was unsuccessful in saving her, Lady Upchurch said she couldn’t trust him anymore and vowed not to attend another event with him.” She took another sip of the milk. “I’m sure Lord Upchurch was not overly upset at his wife’s lack of mistrust. It is said that he was pleased to attend events without her.”
She yawned softly and stood from her seat. “It is getting late.”
She moved toward the door and Benedict quickly moved to intercept her.
“I hope you feel as if you can trust me, Sophie.” Even as he said the words, he wasn’t quite sure if he could trust himself. He wanted to step closer, her pink lips were begging to be kissed. He reached up and ran his thumb along her plump bottom lip, her eyes locked with his. She was so incredibly beautiful and tomorrow she would belong to him, at least in name. He leaned in closer, his lips so near hers.
“Good night, Mr. Kingston.”
Her words caught him off guard. He pulled back, rather shocked that she was denying him. Well, that was a first for him. “Good night, Sophie.”
He didn’t turn to watch her walk away this time. The lady was too tempting, Damn Pettigrew for causing this mess. He wished he had never allowed the young fool inside The Lair, and he wished he had never set eyes on his much too enticing sister. Unfortunately, he would now have an unbreakable bond to the tempting minx. He was beginning to see that this business arrangement was a mistake, but it was too late to back out now.
Carlton House
Sophie sat in one of the many drawing rooms at the Prince Regent’s London residence with the Duchess of Avanley. Bella had arrived at Kenworth House shortly after dawn to help her get ready for her wedding. She dressed in a lovely gown of ivory silk with pearl-like beading edging the bodice. Bella’s lady maid had arrived with her and styled her hair, weaving some pearls through the coiffure. She examined her reflection in the mirror and was pleased with the results. This was exactly how she had always imagined looking on her wedding day. The circumstances surrounding her hasty marriage to a man she barely knew were unique and certainly, something she had never imagined as a young girl dreaming of love and marriage, but this was what life had given her, and it was up to her to make the best of it.
After getting ready, she traveled with the duchess to Carlton House in Avanley’s carriage. She had not seen Mr. Kingston since he nearly kissed her in the kitchen the night before. Yes, he was sinfully handsome, and she almost allowed herself to give in to her desires, but their marriage was not to be a true one, so she couldn’t risk it.
“Sophie, are you alright?” Bella asked as she watched Sophie pace the floor.
“I was just wondering what was taking so long.”
Bella’s eyes twinkled with merriment. “You seem very anxious.”
Bella watched her new friend’s cheeks pinken as she looked away quickly. “If you have questions about the wedding night, I can help you. It might put your mind at ease to talk about it.”
Sophie shook her head emphatically. “There will be no wedding night, Bella. This is not to be a true marriage.”
The duchess sat up a bit straighter. “Yes, that’s what you have said, but Charles and I were not to have a true marriage either. It was inevitable that we ended up in bed together. Trust me, my dear, the marriage bed is the best part of being married, especially if you desire each other.”
“But that’s just it. We do not desire each other. It’s a business arrangement.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, a business arrangement. You have mentioned that a time or two, or closer to a dozen. But I simply can’t imagine a girl as beautiful as you and a man as handsome, charming, and well put together as Benedict Kingston to not have even the slightest spark between the two of you.”
Sophie was about to dispel her new friend’s romantic notions when there was a sharp knock at the door causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.
Bella gave her a sweet smile as she moved to open the door where her husband Charles, Duke of Avanley stood.
“Everything is ready.” He took his wife’s hand and raised it to his lips and Sophie felt a pang of regret that she would never have the kind of love that was so obvious between Bella and her husband.
Avanley glanced over at Sophie. “Prinny insisted on escorting you down the aisle, so to speak. I will take you to him now.”
Sophie nodded and moved forward. She had yet to meet the prince and while she should be nervous about meeting the regent for the first time, she had to admit that seeing Benedict again was even more disconcerting.
She followed Bella and Avanley down the corridor until they came to a long narrow room lined with famous paintings on all sides. The prince was standing there waiting for her. He was a portly man with a wide smile. His cheeks were rosy and as she reached his side she sank into a deep curtsey.
“Ah, the beautiful bride,” he exclaimed louder than was necessary as he reached for her hand, helping her to stand. “I had not even known that Kingston was looking to marry, but as my eyes set upon you, I can understand the reason for his urgency.”
Sophie blushed and cast her eyes downward. “Thank you, your highness.”
The prince placed her hand on his arm before covering it with his own. “I wish Kingston had given me more time to arrange a proper celebration, but he was most anxious to wed you as soon as possible.”
Avanley stepped forward. “I am certain that everything will be splendid, sire, as everything you do is always perfection.”
Sophie watched as the prince puffed up with pride at his friend’s words before saying, “I suppose we should continue.”
The prince led her down the corridor and into another lavishly decorated room where Mr. Kingston was waiting along with a bishop. Sophie felt her heart beat faster and her breathing increase. The prince must have felt the tension in her body and patted her hand reassuringly.
The prince took her hand and placed a kiss on her wrist before handing her over to the man who would soon be her husband. Sophie felt a shiver move through her body at his touch and when she looked up at him, he was smiling that crooked smile she had found so beguiling. She turned away quickly as an unsettling feeling swept over her as he continued to gaze at her.
When the bishop asked her to repeat the words that would bind her to this man for the remainder of her life, she did so in a soft but firm voice. When the ring was placed on her finger, she continued to keep her eyes focused straight ahead. The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur until she faintly heard the words, kiss the bride. She hadn’t thought about this moment but since their marriage was not to be real, perhaps he would simply kiss her cheek or forehead, but that was not to be. Sophie sucked in a breath when suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his chest before dipping her backward.
His lips hovered over hers for just a moment before saying, “Don’t look so shocked, darling. We have to make it believable, and we both know you have been thinking about this since you first walked into the room.” His lips turned up in a grin at her stunned expression. “I know I have.”
Her lips parted in surprise but before she could deny his words his lips crashed down on hers. The kiss was brief, but it was enough to send shivers through her body. Just as she felt her body begin to react to him, almost as soon as his lips claimed hers, did he release her and stepped away. The prince applauded loudly and slapped Kingston on the back before leaning over and kissing her cheek.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Kingston! And when the time comes, I think you will make a lovely Duchess of Kenworth,” the prince said before summoning a waiting servant to bring champagne forward.
Bella embraced her. “Congratulations, Sophie.” She then whispered in her ear. “That was some kiss for a business arrangement.”
Sophie blushed but was too stunned to reply. Benedict handed her a glass of champagne and clinked his glass against hers before raising it to his lips, his eyes still holding her gaze. She took a sip of the champagne embarrassed to see her hands shaking a little, something he did not miss. He took the glass from her hand and pulled her close to his side.
He leaned down and spoke softly to her. “Shall we make a hasty retreat?”
Sophie glanced up at his smiling face. “Will the prince be upset with us?”
“No, I have spent the morning filling Prinny’s head with stories of your loveliness and my eagerness to make you mine.”
Sophie knew exactly what he was implying, and her cheeks flamed with the realization. “But we…”
He put a finger to her lips and gave her a wink. “We are married, in the eyes of the ton. There is no reason to put suspicion in anyone’s mind as to our relationship.” He raised her hand to his lips and placed a lingering kiss on her palm. “Now, shall we thank the prince and return to Kenworth House?”
Sophie nodded in agreement and allowed him to take her hand. They moved toward where the prince was standing alongside the Duke and Duchess of Avanley.
“Your Highness, we would like to thank you for your hospitality and your gracious offering for us to be wed here at Carlton House. We will forever be grateful for your kindness and generosity.” Kingston wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. “But as you can imagine, I am most anxious to get my new bride home.”
The prince chuckled loudly and shook hands with Kingston. “I certainly understand. She is such a beautiful creature. I wish you both well and will look forward to seeing more of both of you in Brighton. I leave tomorrow but will certainly understand if the two of you wish to have a few days of privacy before you join me at the Pavilion.”
Sophie tried her best to avoid the prince’s eyes. She was afraid he would see the truth if he studied her much. She continued to look down and the embarrassment she was trying to feign was not entirely pretend. The suggestive way Kingston was looking at her made her cheeks feel warm.
Bella came over and embraced her. “I hope you and Benedict are as happy as Charles and I.” She gave Sophie a wink. “And I hope the two of you enjoy the evening.”
Sophie didn’t know what she could do to convince Bella that no matter how much she wished it, the relationship she had with her husband would be nothing like the arrangement she had with Kingston.
Kingston escorted her outside to where his carriage was waiting for them. Once inside, Sophie could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“It wasn’t that bad, was it?”
She leaned her head back against the cushion. “I’m so glad it is over. Although, I do think the kiss was uncalled for. It was very wicked. I have attended several weddings in the past and none of the grooms kissed their brides like that.”
Kingston watched her from across the carriage. “Perhaps they should. Besides, I have always tried to give everything I do my best effort.”
Sophie raised her eyebrows at his comment. “So, now that everything is official, what do we do now?”
Benedict shrugged his shoulders. “We will resume life. Tonight, I will stay at Kenworth House with you for appearances, but after that, I will return to The Lair. You may feel free to go about town, shop, visit Bella, or anything that pleases you. We will leave for Brighton soon, by the end of the week I would say, and while there, we will continue the farce of a loving couple. We will attend balls and parties as the future Duke and Duchess of Kenworth. You can introduce me to people you know or with whom you have connections, and I will continue my pursuit of opening a new gaming establishment in Brighton as well as beginning to oversee the dukedom.”
Sophie thought everything sounded reasonable. “So, we are to live separate lives only coming together for appearances?”
He narrowed his eyes just a fraction. “Yes, is that not what we agreed upon when we first embarked on this adventure?”
Sophie’s smile seemed to light up her face. “Yes, I just wanted to make certain you understood.”
Benedict returned her grin as he nodded in agreement. “I think we will make excellent partners, Sophie.”
Sophie leaned forward to look out the carriage window. A weight seemed to have been lifted from her shoulders. “As do I, Benedict.”
Benedict continued to watch her, noting her perfect profile. It really was a sin that he had stolen her away from a man who could have loved her, taken her from a life as a wife and mother. She truly was exquisite. He wondered how long it would be before the rakes and rogues of the ton came sniffing about her skirts, looking for a dalliance with a beauty such as her. The idea rankled him. He knew it was common. He, as well as his friends, had always kept their love affairs to unhappily married women or widows. It was easier, less dangerous. No chance of being caught and forced into a hasty marriage by an angry deb’s irate family. A dalliance with a married lady was only dangerous if the husband cared, and most didn’t. But as the carriage continued to roll down the street toward Kenworth House, he wondered if he would be so willing to watch his wife courted and bedded by other men, the thought suddenly angered him.
When the carriage came to a stop, he jumped down quickly needing to put some distance between himself and his lovely new bride. He offered his hand to her in assistance with every intention of releasing her and disappearing inside Kenworth House alone.
When she alighted from the carriage, she stumbled slightly and, in an effort, to steady her, she ended up wrapped in his arms. For a minute he just held her as he stared down into her deep sea-blue eyes. She laughed softly and he felt instantly drawn to her.
“Thank you. It would have been humiliating to fall face first at your feet when we are about to enter the house as husband and wife.”
Benedict frowned not because he was upset with her, but because he was finding himself increasingly attracted to her. He offered her his arm and then turned sharply toward someone shouting her name.
“Take your hands off my sister!”
Sophie turned toward the angry voice knowing full well who was calling her. “Edward?”
Benedict knew he would have to confront her brother eventually; it was unfortunate that it would be today. He put an arm around Sophie’s waist and anchored her to his side. He watched as the young bold lord stomped forward, the rigidness of his body confirming his anger. While Benedict was not concerned or afraid of what the young fool would say or do, he didn’t want Sophie to suffer any more abuse at the hands of her brother.
“Pettigrew, did you come to congratulate us?”
The man stopped a few feet away, his fists clenched at his sides. “Is there no end to your greed, Kingston? First, you take my fortune, my estate, and all our belongings in your shady gaming house and now you try to take my sister!”
Kingston felt Sophie’s body tremble against his. “I did not take what you were not giving away with both hands, Pettigrew, and we have already had the conversation about you slandering my good name and that of The Lair as not being an honest establishment.” He took Sophie’s hand in his and raised it to his lips in a show of possession, knowing full well it would provoke her brother. “And I’m not trying, I have taken your sister. She is now my wife, and you will show her the respect she deserves as such.”
At his words, he watched as the young man’s face turned red with rage. “She is not yours!”
Sophie tried to take a step forward, but Benedict pulled her back afraid of what her brother would do. “Edward, you should be pleased that I am no longer a burden to you.”
Her brother’s eyes narrowed as he took a step toward her. “A burden? You were my way back, Sophie. You are so beautiful, and I have had several offers for you already. If you had just trusted me, I could have made us both wealthy.”
Sophie felt her own anger rising to the surface. “You wanted to turn me into a whore, Edward. You were willing to sell your maiden sister for coin so you could gamble it away just like everything else.”
There was a sudden light in his eyes that made Sophie shirk away. “Yes, my sweet innocent sister. I heard that you were married this morning. If that is the truth, then you are still intact. He has yet to bed you.”
Benedict had heard all that he was going to hear. “Your sister is my wife, Pettigrew, and I suggest you keep your tongue in check before I have to rip it out!”
Sophie shrieked as her brother pulled out a pistol and leveled it at Benedict. “I do not take orders from the likes of you. I am a lord, and you are filth. I will be taking what belongs to me. You had no right to marry her! She is under the age of her majority, which means I am her legal guardian, and you can’t do a damn thing about it. Come here, Sophie!”
Kingston very calmly took her hand and gave it a small reassuring squeeze before turning her to face him. “Go inside, darling. I will be in soon.”
Sophie’s eyes darted to her brother whose hand was shaking. “But…”
Benedict kissed her forehead. “Go inside and have Nathaniel fix you some tea.”
Sophie nodded and headed for the stairs.
“Don’t you move, Sophie or I swear…”
When his eyes were diverted, Benedict swiftly grabbed the hand holding the pistol and thrust it into the air before slamming young Pettigrew’s body against the carriage. He repeatedly smashed his hand against the conveyance until the pistol dropped to the ground, then hit him with as much force as he could muster. The fool had pointed a pistol at him and had every intention of killing him and taking Sophie. He hit him again and again until he had to hold his body upright to keep him from slumping to the ground. Benedict wrapped his hand around his throat and leaned in closer.
“You are no better than the shite shoveled out of my stables, Pettigrew, and if you ever come within ten feet of my wife again, I will kill you.”
The young man spit blood out of his mouth, his response gurgled. “You…can’t have…. her.”
Benedict slammed him back against the carriage. “I already have her! She belongs to me now just like everything else you have possessed and lost. Now get the hell out of my sight before I do the world a favor and end your miserable life now.”
Pettigrew slid to the ground when Benedict released him. One of his footmen had already retrieved the pistol and handed it to him as he walked past.
“See that this man is thrown off of this property and is never allowed near here again.”
Without another word or even giving Pettigrew another look, he marched up the stone steps to where Nathaniel stood waiting for him.
“Where is my wife?”
“She went upstairs to the duchess’s rooms.”
Kingston nodded stiffly. “Open a bottle of champagne and share it with the staff to celebrate our marriage.”
“Yes, thank you and congratulations. Before you go, a letter arrived from your uncle.”
Nathaniel pulled the envelope from his coat pocket and handed it to him. Benedict tucked it inside his vest and took the stairs two at a time. The letter could wait, right now he wanted to check to see if Sophie was alright after the altercation with her brother.
When he reached her rooms, he knocked lightly before opening the door and stepping inside. Sophie was pacing back and forth in front of the bed. Her color had faded a bit and she looked petrified. That alone made Benedict regret not killing her brother while he had the chance.
Sophie turned toward the sound of footsteps. “Am I to go back with him?”
Benedict crossed the room quickly and put his hands on her shoulders to stop her pacing. “No, he was here to try, but you are my wife, Sophie. I will never allow him to hurt you again.”
Sophie shook her head. “Our marriage isn’t real.”
“It is real.”
She pulled away from him and moved away. “No, that’s not what I mean. Our marriage is not, nor will it ever be consummated. And as long as it is not a true marriage, Edward can still take me. He is my guardian.”
“I am your husband, Sophie. He isn’t going to take you.”
“But…”
He moved again and wrapped his arms around her so she could not move away. “Enough! I can handle your brother and if you are so worried about the consummation, I will happily agree to solve that problem as well.”
He arched an eyebrow as her eyes widened.
“You can’t be serious.”
Benedict had to admit bedding her would not be that much of an imposition. “I will do whatever it takes to ease your mind, and if that means consummating our marriage so you feel safer and protected from your brother, I am willing to make that sacrifice.” He took his hands and placed a stray curl behind her ear.
“Please be serious.”
Benedict placed a quick kiss on her forehead. “I am serious.”
Sophie pushed away from him. “What happened? Where is Edward?”
Benedict crossed his arms over his chest, his face taking on a stony countenance. “Your brother has been informed that I will kill him if he comes within ten feet of you again. That, … I am very serious about. You are mine to protect, and I will keep you safe, regardless of the status of the consummation of our marriage.”
“How will this ever work?”
“Sophie, no one knows that you have not shared my bed. Everyone will assume that I have taken care of that matter. This is not medieval times when a stained bedsheet is required as proof of the act.”
Sophie sank down on the bed. “So, you think Edward will just go away?”
“I do. He is not going to want to face me again, not after the thrashing he received downstairs. If it makes you feel better, we can leave for Brighton sooner. We can leave London behind and convince the ton we are on a wedding trip.”
Sophie wasn’t convinced. “And the staff here?”
“We will keep to our rooms tonight. I will have our dinner served here and tell the maid you will not be in need of assistance tonight. When the maids come to clean the room, I will make certain there is no doubt as to what occurred.”
Sophie bit her bottom lip. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Benedict grinned. “Oh darling, of course, there is. Especially if you want to have a little fun while doing it.” He waggled his eyebrows causing her lips to turn up into a tentative smile.