The Viscount's Sweet Temptation Read online

  Harriet apparently felt no such restraints, allowing her tongue to dance most erotically—and utterly surprisingly—with his. She stood on her toes, tugging to bring him closer. Her panting breaths were a siren’s call stirring his desire.

  Morley knew he would be sorely tested to not make love to her before they spoke their vows. How long did it take to acquire a special license? Better still, they were much closer to Gretna Green than London. They could slip away just as soon as his horses were rested.

  A hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder and tore him from Harriet’s arms.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Morley, how dare you!” Nick swung his fist at Archie, landing a hard blow to his face.

  Harriet shrieked, practically feeling the pain herself. She reached out for Archie.

  He staggered and cupped his jaw. “Blast it, Nick, that hurt!”

  “It was intended to hurt. What the blazes were you thinking, man? She’s my cousin, not one of your merry widows.” Nick blew on the knuckles of his right hand while continuing to glare at her betrothed.

  Rushing to Archie’s side, Harriet clutched his sleeve. Her chest hurt with the pain of holding her breath. “Are you all right?”

  He nodded, never taking his eyes off her cousin. “Why did you hit me? Because I was kissing Lady Harriet? It’s all right–”

  “No. It’s not all right. What were you thinking, traveling alone with her? And where were you taking her? You’ve never mentioned an affection for her in the past.”

  Archie smiled wryly, glancing at her before looking back at Nick. “It’s actually a complicated story. I’m rather surprised you’ve heard any of it. I believed Lady Harriet was going to keep still about it.”

  “I didn’t say anything,” she interjected.

  “She didn’t need to,” Nick explained. “I heard the shouting from upstairs and came down to find out who had crossed the old man. I imagined it to be one of my cousins, so I was quite surprised to hear your voice in the mix. I caught enough of the tale to know you attempted to run away with her.”

  “Yes, well, I’m rather surprised at the turn of events, myself. I had intended to spend the holiday with my aunt in Bath.”

  Some of her cousins peered at them from the dining room doorway down the hall, so Harriet made a suggestion. “Shall we step into the parlor to finish this discussion? There is no need to continue to entertain the rest of the family with the sordid details.”

  “Sordid are they?” Nick’s fist clenched and unclenched and his lips thinned.

  Archie slapped his friend genially on the back and guided him toward the parlor. “I fear they’ll be exceedingly dull in comparison to our past adventures.”

  Harriet followed them into the lavishly decorated room and sat in a chair between them near the roaring fire. She hadn’t realized how close an acquaintance Archie had with Nick. They were of an age and similar consequence, so it was likely they had become good friends in school.

  Once they were settled, Archie began. “By some odd bit of fate, I stopped at the same inn where Lord Alderford and his family were resting for the night. Lady Harriet feared the duke had chosen a husband for her. When she saw my carriage, she assumed my sisters were aboard, so she snuck out of the inn to await their departure. By the time I discovered her, we’d traveled some miles alone before her father found us broken down on the road. After some consideration I came here to speak to Alderford. It took some convincing, but I was finally able to make Lord Alderford see that marriage is the best solution to protecting Lady Harriet’s reputation.”

  His eyes narrowed on Archie as Nick asked, “And what of Lady Susan?”

  “Lady Susan?” Gasping, Harriet brought a hand to her lips.

  Archie shook his head, giving Nick a furious glance before turning to Harriet. “Lady Susan is of no concern to you. To any of us. She is a scheming, conniving wench who tried to entrap me when I visited her father’s estate.” His cheeks darkened. “Forgive me, Harriet, I shouldn’t speak of this in front of you, but you deserve to know the truth. Lady Susan slept in my bed on my last night there.”

  The drawing room took a spin and Harriet flung her arms out to support herself, knocking a porcelain figurine off the side table. By some miracle it bounced on the thick carpet and landed without breaking. She drew in a deep, slow breath and forced herself to remain calm. Gentlemen were allowed to have their tête-à-têtes, especially before they married or became betrothed. They shouldn’t dally with a single young lady of Quality, however. Harriet suddenly grew warm as a wave of nausea hit her. This could ruin her chance of marrying Archie. “Her father is a marquess. Won’t he insist you marry her?”

  “He’s trying to, and might have a leg to stand on if I had shared my bed with her. I was up all night playing cards with her brothers. I am honestly rather surprised this hasn’t already been resolved. Her brothers can vouch for my whereabouts. Dawn had already broken when I went to my bedchamber and discovered her there. I was still fully dressed when her maid walked in pretending to be shocked to find us together. With her reputation, I am astounded Boxworth hasn’t married her off to some ancient baron who’d put up with her assignations.”

  He closed the distance between himself and Harriet and lifted her hand. “I assure you, Lady Susan will not stop us from marrying.”

  Harriet noticed Nick continued to flex his hand, so she offered some assistance to change the subject to something she could bear more easily. “Shall I ring for some ice, Nicky? You appear to have hurt your hand.”

  Archie chuckled. “Don’t tell me my jaw has broken your knuckles.”

  Ducking his head and looking towards the fire, Nick admitted, “This wasn’t the first punch I threw this morning.”

  “What?” Archie’s surprise echoed Harriet’s.

  “I don’t understand what is taking place among my cousins,” Nick said, glaring at Archie. “And my friends. Sharing bedrooms and carriages with ladies of Quality with no concern for the repercussions. The damage they caused to the young ladies’ reputations. I found Trent in Lady Elizabeth’s chamber this morning.”

  Harriet gasped, then fought to hide her giggle. All worries over Lady Susan fled. Elizabeth’s behavior was much more shocking than Harriet’s. Perhaps she and Archie would not be the main on dit at the ball that evening, after all.

  She must try to speak to Elizabeth as soon as possible. She had so many questions about relations between a man and a woman.

  “Bennett?” Archie shook his head. “So he will be leg-shackled also.”

  “To hear some of my other cousins tell it, the duke has arranged for special licenses for at least half the family,” Nick added. “And I believe the vicar will be attending the ball tonight.”

  Archie winked at Harriet. “I doubt there is one with my name on it, although there might be one with Lady Harriet’s.”

  She laughed, her eyes widening. She turned to her cousin. “Do you know if he had chosen a husband for me and the others? It must have come as quite a shock when Archie marched into the library. The poor man will be sent away without his bride.”

  “Archie is it, now?” Nick glanced from Harriet to his friend.

  “Lord Morley, I mean. Forgive me, but he has been Archie to me for so many years, even though we just met. Lady Eleanor and her sisters call him thus. I must remember to address him properly, mustn’t I?”

  “Is there a license with your name on it, Nick?” Archie’s grin hinted that he hoped his friend shared his fate. “Some fine young lady waiting in the wings?”

  “I should say not.” Nick laughed, then glanced towards the closed doors and tugged at his cravat. “There had better not be. You don’t suppose Grandfather bribed some poor girl to come all this way with promises of a title? A baron has little consequence, but to some mothers in the marriage mart, any title is a good one.”

  Archie nodded. “Perhaps you should ask the servants. They know everything.”

  Nick rose and bowed briefly before Harriet. “You both will excuse me? I do believe I feel a chill coming on. A fever. Some sort of complaint. I’m sure you both will make excuses for me if I am too ill to attend the function tonight?”

  Harriet smiled, knowing if her grandfather had decided it was time for Nick to wed, the young man would be helpless to prevent it.

  Chapter Twelve

  The ballroom of Danby Castle glowed brighter than any could Morley recall, but he wondered if the light beaming from so many faces of the newly betrothed and married young ladies had something to do with that.

  He raked his hand through his hair. Now he was waxing poetic about beaming young brides. What had happened to him? Had he hit his head when the carriage lurched into the mud?

  Danby’s Christmas Eve ball was a crush by any society matron’s standards. Beyond family, it appeared most anyone of Quality in Yorkshire had joined the locals in dancing in the holiday. Word of his engagement to Lady Harriet must have spread quickly, because the matrons barely paused when their gazes landed on him in their perusal of the room.

  Perhaps there were benefits to marriage that extended beyond what he once thought. The ability to enjoy an entertainment without constantly looking over one’s shoulder was a boon, to be sure. And once he and Harriet were married, they could retire to his country house and spend time away from the city.

  The butler had been announcing arrivals, and finally Morley heard the one he awaited. “Lord and Lady Alderford, and Lady Harriet Thornhill.”

  Morley turned to watch her descend the grand staircase. Her pale pink gown set off her rosy cheeks and golden blonde curls. Her smile gleamed as she nodded a greeting to those she passed. Then her gaze found him.

  She nearly stumbled, but caught herself in time. Her eyes lowered as i
f suddenly shy, and he had to laugh. Lady Harriet, shy? He couldn’t believe it. Not the young lady who burst out laughing upon realizing she was alone in a carriage with a strange man.

  But she wasn’t coy, either. The prospect of getting to know her many facets grew more intriguing by the hour.

  Bowing when he reached the family, Morley greeted them. “Lord Alderford. Lady Alderford. Lady Harriet, might I have the next dance?”

  She curtsied quite gracefully and took his proffered hand. “Of course, Lord Morley.”

  Harriet fell in step beside him. She waved a gloved hand at a pair of young ladies nearby. “I do think this must be the largest ball Grandpapa has given. At least since I’ve been old enough to attend. I don’t recall seeing so many of my cousins in attendance at one time.”

  “Are your brother and sister here?”

  “Miriam is in Bath with Papa’s sister. I heard Lee has arrived at the castle—and with a wife! Mama is beside herself with that news. I am so excited to meet her, my new sister. I had not heard he’d formed an attachment.”

  Morley leaned close to her ear. “Perhaps he also discovered a stowaway?”

  She gasped and threw him a brief glance. “We mustn’t speak of that. What would people think?”

  “The same thing your father and cousin did, as you are all too well aware.”

  Harriet pulled on his sleeve and led him behind a column. “Will you ever forgive me, Archie? It was ill-conceived of me to—”

  He pressed his fingers to her lips. “Speak no more of it. As improper and unconventional as our meeting might have been, I don’t regret having met you. Nor anything else that has happened since.”

  Rubbing a hand along his jaw, he grinned. “Although I might have preferred informing Nicholas in a more congenial manner.”

  Her fingers traced the tender area, making him turn to press a kiss into her palm. Her sharp breath tightened his groin. Without thinking, he leaned down and captured her mouth, letting his tongue trace the seam of her lips. She leaned closer, her palms flat on his chest.

  Heat coursed through him, and he longed to explore her curves, but realization of where they were broke through the passionate fog. He took a step back. “We mustn’t do that here.”

  “Then where?”

  His laugh was rough with his need. “Your parents would notice if we were missing for too long. I wonder if your grandfather could be convinced to alter the names on one of those licenses he is said to have obtained.”

  “Oh, but Mama is looking forward to a large wedding celebration. I am the first of her children to marry. Or the first child whose wedding she might attend, since Lee ran off to Gretna Green. Perhaps in London at the beginning of the Season?”

  “Too long.”

  Her gaze locked on his, her smile softening. Her voice was a small margin deeper. “A winter wedding, then?”

  “As soon as the banns can be read. And my family told, of course.” What was he thinking? He was planning his wedding and his parents had yet to hear of his engagement.

  “I can’t wait to speak to Ellie. We’ll be sisters!”

  He groaned, closing his eyes. “I hadn’t thought of that. Another female giggling through the halls of Wrenthorpe.”

  “But I shall be a married woman. I’ll be much more composed.”

  “Marriage hasn’t helped my elder sisters in that manner. I won’t hold out much hope.”

  She pouted. For some odd reason, his heart skipped a beat in fear he’d hurt her. “It is my wish that you never change. I pray you shall always be filled with laughter and joy as on the night we first met.”

  That turned the trick and her face brightened. “How can I be anything else, as long as you are at my side? Oh, dear Archie, this is entirely the best dream.”

  As he kissed her once more, he prayed it was a dream from which they’d never wake.

  ~*~

  The next two months passed quickly, with the need to tell his parents of his betrothal and arrange for his father’s solicitor to meet with Alderford’s solicitor. The Marquess of Boxworth had backed off his demands when confronted with statements from six men who agreed Morley hadn’t gone to bed when Lady Susan insisted he had.

  Now, on the second Tuesday in March, he’d donned his finest coat and whitest cravat to stand beside Harriet at the altar of the church near the Alderford estate.

  Morley waited beside his friend Edmund, Lord Snowley, watching for his bride to enter. The small chapel was rather full for a wedding, but his sisters and their husbands accounted for a good number of the filled pews. He and Harriet had agreed that only family members would be present, keeping the moment more intimate.

  All he wanted was for the vows to be spoken, the breakfast consumed, congratulations accepted, and the two of them could depart to the cottage in Surrey his father had offered them the use of.

  Laughter from the back of the church alerted him to Harriet’s arrival. Her older sister, Miriam, scurried up the aisle to stand opposite Morley and Snowley. Lady Alderford strode with all the decorum of the mother of the bride and took her place in the first pew. Finally, Harriet came into view on her father’s arm.

  Her gown was a simple Grecian style, pale primrose cambric with roses embroidered about the hem, and darker evening primrose ribbons woven in her hair. She looked like spring, a cool, refreshing breeze after the stress of recent weeks. Morley’s smile seemed to tell his body the work was done and now he could simply enjoy.

  Enjoy the day. Enjoy the future.

  He barely heard the words of the ceremony, his attention remaining on Harriet. Her fingers trembled as they clutched the small posy he’d given her, making the petals of the hothouse violets shiver. He longed to squeeze her fingers and tell her all was well.

  It was very well. Aside from a moment’s pause when he had wakened and wondered how he’d brought himself to this point, he was quite pleased to be where he was.

  And looking forward to being called husband.

  A nod from the vicar reminded Morley they were finished, and he placed Harriet’s gloved hand on his sleeve. “Come, wife. It is time to feed our well-wishers.”

  He led her down the aisle with more haste than propriety, and handed her into his carriage, where he sat beside her for the first time since that fateful trip to Bath. He tucked a lap robe around them both, as he hadn’t waited to gather their cloaks. He wanted to be alone with his wife.

  Lifting her hand, he tugged the kid leather off her fingers, turned her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. She drew in an audible breath. He met her gaze. “How fitting to find ourselves alone in my carriage, don’t you think?”

  “But now it’s quite proper,” she answered breathlessly. Still, she lowered her eyes.

  “Sitting in the carriage is proper, perhaps, but the thoughts running through my head are not.”

  Harriet’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of rose. “We are married, now. I thought…that is…”

  “You thought our days of shocking your family were behind us?” He kissed the pulse points on her wrist and pushed back her sleeve to kiss even higher.

  “Um, yes, I suppose that’s what I thought.”

  “I shall endeavor to do my best, then, to make certain they don’t hear of this. How far is Alderford Manor?”

  Before she could answer, he captured her lips with his kiss, slipping his tongue inside to the sweet warmth he sought.

  Harriet whimpered, then sighed and clutched his arm as she leaned in closer.

  This sweet, tempting vixen was his. While the decision to marry had come upon him in haste, he looked forward to taking his time getting to know his bride and falling in love along the way.

  Bonus!

  Please enjoy the first two chapters of The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley, the second book in The Bridgethorpe Brides Series, available now in print and ebook!

  Chapter One

  April, 1810

  Newmarket, Sussex, England