Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Sophie rolled over and squinched up her nose as the soreness between her legs made her groan softly.
“Good morning, love.”
Sophie sat up against the pillows holding the sheet tightly over her naked body. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep this long.”
Benedict leaned over her and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “After last night, I’m surprised you are up this early.” He smiled when her cheeks blushed crimson.
Sophie pulled the sheet a little higher. “I should go back to my room. I am to meet Isobel this afternoon, and I know you are anxious to have me out of your way.”
He sat on the bed beside her, putting his arms on either side of her, effectively caging her in. “Darling, I am in no hurry for you to leave my room, nor am I anxious for you to leave my bed.” He placed his palm on the side of her cheek, his thumb slowly caressing her soft skin. “But as you said, you have Bella waiting for you. I have had a warm bath prepared for you next door. It should still be quite steamy and will help with the soreness.” He stood from the bed, reached for the sheet, and jerked it away, taking a brief moment to admire her exquisite figure.
Sophie gasped and wrapped her arms over her breasts. It was one thing to make love at night with only a few candles illuminating the room but to be so exposed in the bright light of day was mortifying.
Benedict chuckled at her attempt to cover herself. He bent lower placed an arm under her knees and lifted her into his arms to carry her next door. “I think the time for modesty is no more, Sophie, especially after last night.”
Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her next door to her room. Once inside, she saw a tray with strawberries and pastries sitting on a small table beside the tub.
“You did all this for me?”
Benedict gave her a small smile. “I felt bad for losing control last night. It was your first time, and I should have been more considerate of your needs and certainly not taken you as roughly nor as many times as I did.”
Sophie grinned at him. “I am not all that fragile, but I do appreciate the sentiment.”
Benedict set her on her feet beside the tub and watched as she gingerly stepped into the warm water and eased herself down further. His smile widened as she closed her eyes, and a soft sigh of satisfaction escaped her lips.
Sophie’s eyes remained closed for several minutes as she relaxed letting the water ease some of her soreness, but after sensing she was still not alone, she popped one eye open.
“Did you not have anywhere else to be this morning?”
Benedict took one of the strawberries from the bowl beside her and held it up to her lips. “While I do have things to do this morning, I am finding it most difficult to leave. You are proving to be a most alluring distraction.” He removed his coat and tossed it on the bed. “Back at my personal apartments at The Devil’s Lair in London, I have a huge tub big enough for both of us. When we return, I will take you there, and make love to you there.”
Sophie tried to concentrate on his words, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his movements. He had unbuttoned his shirt and had pulled it over his head to toss it aside. Sophie pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as he moved to kneel beside the tub.
“What are you doing?” She pulled her knees up closer to her chest.
Benedict let his hand slip beneath the surface of the water and found her ankle. “At the present moment, I am giving in to temptation.” His hand moved slowly up her legs to the juncture between her thighs.
Sophie’s hands gripped the edge of the tub as she felt his fingers move over her, one finger slipping inside. She was tender from last night but every touch excited her. His other hand moved to her neck, his fingers lightly moving over the curve of her shoulder. Sophie’s head fell back as his fingers continued to caress and move inside of her. She was teetering on the edge, sensations building inside her threatening to burst forth. The fact that he was watching her, as she slipped over the edge, only made her more aroused.
As her body shuddered, she opened her eyes to see Benedict staring at her, his eyes dark and predatory.
Watching her, seeing her facial expressions, and hearing the sweet sounds she made when he touched her, when her body tightened around his fingers inside her, was the most stimulating thing he had ever witnessed. She was very expressive, his beautiful wife, and he wanted nothing more than to lift her from the tub, carry her back to his bed and bury his cock inside her. He wanted to stay in bed with her all day, take her whenever and however he wanted. She was more than a distraction; she was his weakness. The thought was sobering.
He pulled his hand from the water and dried it on the linens beside the tub, then stood. “I have some business to attend to this morning, but I will return in time to escort you to dinner with Hawk and Persephone.” He walked over and retrieved his shirt and coat before moving back to the tub. “You have plans today?”
“I do. I am to go have tea with Bella and then go to some of the shops around town.”
Benedict leaned over and kissed her. “It sounds very much something a duchess would enjoy. Remember, you have access to my funds, so spend at will.” He leaned over and kissed her again, a slow soft kiss, then pulled himself away.
“Until this evening, Sophie.”
Sophie let out a slow breath when Benedict closed the door behind him. The man vexed her. He made her feel things she had never felt before, and she wasn’t sure she knew how to deal with them. She took another strawberry from the bowl and bit into it before closing her eyes and allowing her body to relax. There was still time before she had to meet Bella, and the water was just too refreshing and felt too good to leave a minute before necessary.
Sophie arrived a few minutes earlier for tea and was shown into the drawing room to wait for Bella to come downstairs. She twisted the ring on her finger as she pondered how last night would change her relationship with Benedict.
“What has you staring so pensively this morning, Sophie?”
Sophie stood when her friend entered and walked toward her. “I was just thinking, nothing very important.”
“Well, it looks as if something is taxing your mind, and I would not be surprised if it were your exasperating husband.”
Sophie laughed as Bella made a funny face. “He has been very attentive lately.”
“Hmm, perhaps he has come to his senses, but enough of that. I have news to share.”
Sophie arched her eyebrows. “News?”
“Yes, Prinny has decided to host a small ball tomorrow night at the assembly rooms in town. It will not be anything like what we are accustomed to in London, but it is the prince so we must make plans to attend. That means, we must find the perfect gowns to wear.” Bella leaned a little closer. “I have also heard that Lord Warrick has decided to extend his time here in Brighton, and I have a feeling a certain lady is the reason for his decision.”
Sophie narrowed her eyes. “Lord Warrick? Why are you looking at me like that, Bella? Lord Warrick may certainly do as he likes.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Sophie, the man seems to be completely in love with you. It is obvious to anyone who has seen the way he looks at you. He gazes at you as if the sun doesn’t rise unless you are near.
Sophie laughed. “My goodness, how very poetic you are this morning. Thank you, Bella, but I think you are exaggerating Lord Warrick’s attentions toward me.”
Bella shrugged her shoulders. “You may be right; shall we have some tea and a small bite to eat before we head to the shops?”
“Will any of the others be joining us?”
Bella smiled at her. “Persephone isn’t feeling well this morning, she will be at dinner tonight. She is expecting another baby in about six months or so and hasn’t told Hawk yet.”
“That is wonderful! Why has she not told him? Would he not be pleased with the news?”
Bella grinned. “Our husbands may be very formidable, and at times, to others may seem to be quite intimidating, but when it comes to our giving birth, it scares the hell out of them. Charles almost drove me to bedlam when I was expecting the twins. Tried to make me stay in bed and constantly hovered about me as if I would collapse at any moment. It was very annoying. Hawk is very much the same way, and Persephone is trying to keep it a secret as long as possible so she can have some peace. Once he finds out, he will insist that they travel to Hawk’s Hill in the country and remain there until after the birth.”
“Oh, I think that is sweet.”
Bella once again rolled her eyes. “Just wait till it happens to you, it will not seem as sweet then.”
Sophie watched Bella leave the room and hesitated before following her. Lord Warrick was in love with her, it was a ridiculous suggestion. Besides she was a married lady. The thought of Benedict and what they had shared the night before popped into her head and her smile widened. Could he grow to love her? She certainly hoped so because she was rapidly losing her heart to the man.
After spending most of the day looking over the account books and the reports Sam had sent from the Lair’s profits while he had been away, he felt he should pay Charles a visit and tell him about his unexpected visitor last night. Perhaps his friend would have some insight into how to proceed with finding the culprit behind Silsbee’s claims, if there was truth to them.
He was about to ascend the steps to Avanley’s residence when Charles stepped out the front door.
“Kingston? Were you coming to seek advice on how to seduce your lovely wife or was there some other reason for you being here?” Charles said in his normal jovial tone.
Benedict couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “As much as you would like to believe that your skills are unmatched in that arena, I assure you that I have no need of your instruction, but if you would like to finally satisfy your wife in bed, I would be more than willing to share some tips.”
Charles laughed heartily at that comment. “Why are you here?”
Benedict looked back to where a carriage was waiting for him. “If you were leaving, we can talk another time.”
“Nonsense, I was on my way to look at some property outside of town that Hawk seems to think would make an excellent investment. If you don’t have any other pressing matters, come join me.”
Benedict nodded and followed his friend into the carriage. Once the conveyance began moving, he looked to Charles. “I had a visitor last night, Sir Peter Silsbee, do you know of him?”
Charles narrowed his eyes as he took a minute to see if the name would register in his memory. “No, I can’t say that I have. Is he someone from London, a patron of The Lair?”
Benedict shook his head. “I have never met him before last night. He was waiting for me when Sophie and I returned for the evening. He brought news that he overheard in a tavern while here in Brighton. It appears as if someone has been paid to kill me.”
He recanted the story told to him by Silsbee and waited for Charles’ reaction.
“Do you believe the man?”
Benedict arched an eyebrow. “I have no reason to think he would be lying.”
“Hmm, and there is no one that comes to mind that might be responsible?” When Benedict shook his head Charles narrowed his eyes. “Who is set to inherit should some tragedy befall you?”
“Henry, my uncle’s butler, is looking into the family lineage for me.”
Charles heaved a heavy sigh. “That is a strong possibility that someone is angered over your sudden rise to prominence and would like to see you quickly dethroned, so to speak. What of Pettigrew, Sophie’s brother? Has there been word of him since the altercation you had with the fool in London?”
“I don’t think her brother has the pluck to take me on directly. Silsbee did say that the man in the tavern claimed that if something happened to me, Sophie would be free.” Benedict’s frown intensified as a thought came to his head. “Warrick! What of him?”
Charles’ brow furrowed as he shook his head adamantly denying the suggestion. “Warrick? Why the hell would Warrick wish to harm you? He has been in India for the past two years and only recently returned to his familial responsibilities. The idea is too absurd to consider.”
Benedict leaned forward. “Why? The man seems to have developed an affection for my wife.”
Charles rolled his eyes. “Your wife is exceptionally beautiful. There will be many men who will develop an affection for her once the season begins in earnest. You can’t suspect all of them of wishing to commit murder just to have her for themselves. I think perhaps Silsbee misheard or was trying to use the information to gain favor.”
Benedict leaned back against the carriage cushions as he contemplated his friend’s words, but while he wasn’t sure how much of what Silsbee had said was true, he did feel there was some truth to it.
About an hour outside of Brighton, the carriage came to a stop and Charles and Benedict stepped out to look at the land Charles was considering purchasing. As Charles made his way around the perimeter, Benedict took time to admire the beauty of the countryside. He had spent most of his life in London where the air was thick and the fog would settle over the city, but being out in the wide-open countryside, and seeing the beauty surrounding him, smelling the freshness of the air, and the sounds of the birds in the trees, made him think of Kenworth Park. Perhaps he and Sophie would journey there before returning to London. He bent down to admire the tiny purple flowers that covered the ground around him when he heard a shot.
It was close and he immediately jumped to his feet and moved for cover behind some large oak trees. He frantically searched for Charles and saw him hiding behind the carriage, the pistol he kept inside his coat already drawn as he scanned the area for any sign of where the shot had come from.
“Kingston?! Are you hit?”
Benedict took a moment to examine himself and noticed that the ball had passed through the sleeve of his coat. “No, but the bloody bounder got close enough to rip the sleeve of my new coat.”
Charles bent low and moved to where Benedict had taken shelter from the shooter. “Well, if I didn’t believe that someone was trying to kill you before, I certainly do now. Do you think the bastard is gone?”
Benedict reluctantly moved away from the safety that the stand of oaks provided. He narrowed his eyes as he searched the area for any signs of the assassin or where he had taken up position to ambush them. After a few minutes, he felt confident that whoever had taken the shot had gone. Charles came up to stand beside him before they both moved back to where the carriage was waiting in case cover was needed again.
“I’m certain that whoever was behind this fled once he realized he had missed his target.” Benedict pointed to a stand of trees on a small knoll to his left. “I believe the shot came from there. It is a good place to lie in wait without being seen and offers an easy escape. Shall we investigate? Perhaps the bastard left something behind that might help in his identification.”
“Well, we certainly will not find anything cowering behind the carriage,” Charles replied, keeping his pistol in hand in case it was needed.
“I’m not cowering, damn it! I would just prefer not to be shot.” Benedict said as they walked toward the knoll concealed with a stand of small trees. Once they reached the spot, he kneeled and ran his hand over a spot where the vegetation had been trampled down, but nothing was left behind.
Charles followed a path down the other side of the knoll. “He must have had a horse tied in the forest there out of sight. If he were afoot, we would easily be able to track him down.”
Benedict kicked at the dirt with his boot. He was furious. The anger he felt was nearly consuming, not because he was afraid for his own life, but if Sophie had been with him, she could have been hurt, and that was enough to make him want to kill the person responsible.
Charles rejoined him. “The fact that someone is indeed set on killing you is rather concerning. What do you think we should do now?”
Benedict examined the tear in the sleeve of his coat once again. “I think I need to find the person responsible before my wife is injured. If they hurt Sophie, they will think the devil himself has set after them, and I will show no mercy.”
Benedict was much later than he had intended getting back to his house and rushed to get ready so he could join Sophie for dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Hawksford that evening. He and Charles had decided to keep the incident that happened to themselves and not tell Bella or Sophie, at least not yet. When he approached the door to Sophie’s bedchambers, he knocked lightly before entering, to see her sitting before the mirror, putting the final touches to her coiffure.
When she heard his approach, she turned toward him. “Am I late?”
“No, I was simply eager to see you.” He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. “I have a present for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace with a large sapphire pendant surrounded by small diamonds. “I am told that there are several sets of jewels in the Kenworth collection, but as we do not have access to any of them at the moment, I thought I would buy you something of your own.” He slipped the necklace around her neck letting his fingers caress the sensitive skin at her nape as he did so.
Sophie’s fingers moved over the stone. “It’s beautiful.”
“Well, a duchess should wear jewels. All the duchesses I have come to know seem to love them.”
Sophie admired the necklace in the mirror. “I will cherish it always.” Her eyes dropped suddenly, and Benedict wondered what had caused her mood to change so rapidly.
He pulled her to her feet and placed his hands on her shoulders as he turned her to face him. “What is it, Sophie? If you don’t like the…”
Sophie immediately shook her head. “Oh no, it’s not that, the necklace is lovely, and I will treasure it always.” When she saw that he was about to question her further, she stepped away and twirled around in her dress. “I hope you were serious this morning when you said I could spend at will.”
Benedict laughed. “Is that the reason you looked so melancholy when I gave you the necklace?” He moved forward and tugged her toward him. “Darling, I was an immensely wealthy man before I became Duke of Kenworth, I’m certain a few dresses and fripperies will not hurt my accounts overly much.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips then sighed deeply. “We could send our regrets to Hawksford and stay home tonight, my love. I have a strong desire to have you in my bed again.” He pressed his lips to the side of her neck.
Sophie giggled as he nipped at her earlobe. “And waste the opportunity for people to see me in this dress? I wouldn’t want you to feel that the significant sum of money I spent today was wasted.”
Benedict allowed her to step out of this embrace and gather her gloves. “Sweetheart, right now I would triple the sum you spent today just to watch you strip out of that dress before me.”
She sauntered past him, giving him a suggestive wink. “Perhaps we can negotiate that later tonight.”
Benedict couldn’t help but grin at that promise. He watched her as she walked from the room, admiring the gentle sway of her hips, and thinking that this woman might very well be his undoing. Several wicked thoughts flashed into his mind as he followed her down the stairs to their waiting carriage.
He caught up with her easily and placed her hand on his arm as he escorted her to where a footman was standing beside the open carriage door.
Sophie had wanted to ask him about their marriage. Had last night changed their arrangement? Could she hope that he loved her enough for their marriage to be a true one? But when he entered her bedchamber with the gift, he had bought for her, all bravery fled her, and she decided to wait another night for such a conversation.
She flashed the young footman a sweet smile as he held the door open for her, but just as she was about to ascend into the conveyance, something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head to the side and squinted her eyes to see a dark cloaked figure standing on the sidewalk several houses down staring at them most intently. She turned her head toward Benedict and then back to the lone man, but he was gone.
“Are you alright, Sophie?”
Sophie gripped his hand a bit harder. “I’m not certain, but I think someone was watching us.” She pointed to where the man had been standing just a few seconds earlier.
Benedict protectively moved in front of her. “Hurry and get in the carriage.” He quickly ushered her inside. “Stay here, Sophie, and if anything happens, go to Avanley’s. Do not get out of this carriage!”
Sophie pulled his hand back to her. “Where are you going?! You are frightening me. If there is danger, please stay with me.”
Benedict looked once more to the area Sophie had indicated. “I’m just going to investigate the area. I’m sure it was nothing. Probably just someone wanting to get a glimpse at the new Duke of Kenworth and his beautiful duchess, but I want to be certain.”
He shut the door of the carriage and hurried over to the area Sophie had indicated. There was nothing there and not a person in sight. He made his way back to the carriage where a very pale and frightened Sophie was waiting. He climbed in to sit beside her.
“Everything is alright, love. You don’t have to be afraid. I’m sorry if my urgency scared you into thinking you were in danger.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
Sophie smiled and snuggled against him, but even though he was doing his best to convince her that everything was fine, she couldn’t help but think he was keeping something from her, and the uneasiness that settled in the pit of her stomach did not go away as the carriage took them toward the Duke of Hawksford’s Brighton residence.
Dinner at the Brighton Residence of the Duke of Hawksford
Benedict watched his wife from where he sat in the salon surrounded by the other guests Hawk and Persephone had invited. He was always impressed with the way his young wife conducted herself in the midst of the ton. It was obvious that she was born to this life, and since he had not been born and trained to be a duke, he knew she would be most helpful as the Duchess of Kenworth. And with someone trying to kill him, he surmised he was not the only one who felt he was not fit for the role.
Despite the dark cloud that seemed to be hovering above him, the evening had been more enjoyable than he anticipated. The only problem he had was that Hawk had invited Lord Warrick as well, and the young man simply couldn’t keep his eyes from Sophie. Thankfully, Persephone had assured him that the two were not seated together at dinner and now Sophie was surrounded by the other ladies of the party.
“Bloody hell, Kingston! I have asked you the same question three times and all you can do is stare across the room at your wife. Have you fallen in love? Has the proprietor of The Devil’s Lair finally fallen for the angel’s charms?”
Benedict narrowed his eyes at Leicester. “Is that all you can speak of…love. I have already told you that I don’t have time for such a frivolous emotion.”
“No, I can speak on a great many topics, but you aren’t listening to anything going on around you. You have been fixated on your wife since we entered the salon,” Leicester replied teasingly to his friend.
“That is not true, Leicester. He fixated on her throughout dinner as well,” Charles said as he came to stand beside them.
Both men laughed causing Kingston’s frown to intensify. “Would the two of you rather I cast my attention toward your wives?”
Charles grinned. “No need in saying things like that, Kingston. That’s the kind of talk that can get you killed.”
“It looks like you aren’t the only one with eyes for your wife. Young Warrick has been watching her for most of the evening as well,” Leicester remarked before he walked away leaving Charles and Kingston alone.
Benedict looked across the room to see the young lord sitting with a few of the other gentlemen who had been invited and noticed that his attention was indeed focused on Sophie. “Why is the young pup even here?”
Charles chuckled. “He is an important lord, Kingston. It would have been rude not to ask him, especially after he provided us with a lovely night aboard his yacht. Despite the obvious jealousy you feel toward the man and your suspicions, he seems to be a good sort. I find him intelligent, and I know he has increased his family’s holdings in the short time since he became the earl.”
Benedict continued to watch the man from across the room. “I wonder if you would still feel the same about the man if he was looking longingly at Isobel as he is Sophie.”
“Probably not, but then again, I’m not trying to deny the feelings I have for my wife.”
Kingston turned to glare at his longtime friend not wishing to have this conversation again. “When we were leaving the house tonight, Sophie saw someone watching us. I put her in the carriage, but by the time I reached the area she indicated, whoever it was had vanished.”
Charles took a sip of his brandy. “Did Henry ever find out who would inherit should you meet with an untimely demise?”
Benedict shook his head. “I returned to the house so late that I have not had the opportunity to speak with him. Damn it, Charles. I don’t mind someone coming after me, but to put her in danger, that I can’t abide.”
His friend sighed heavily. “Have you given thought to sending her away? Perhaps you should send her on to Kenworth Park until things have been sorted out.”
Benedict looked across the room to see Sophie laugh at something one of the ladies had said and shook his head. “No, I don’t want to be without her.”
Charles sympathized with his friend. “I understand, but it might become necessary to keep her safe.”
Benedict frowned as he shook his head. “I am going to find the bastard, and when I do, I will end this. I will not have her in danger.”