Folly Page 14
He shook his head. “That was rather naughty of you, dearest.”
“What? What did I do?”
“Other than paint a grim picture?”
She snorted. Crossed her arms as well and glared at him. “I was merely giving a certain stubborn man a nudge.”
“More like a push. Over a cliff.”
“Honestly, Darlington. They have to face the facts. Both of them.”
“Yes. I know. But it was naughty of you.”
She grinned and sauntered toward him, swishing her hips in a saucy manner. “Yes. It was naughty, I suppose. But necessary. Are you going to punish me?”
He blinked. She came closer, sidled her body against his. Reached for something. Stroked.
He stirred.
“Helena…” It was a warning tone.
She ignored it.
“Come on, James. I was naughty. Don’t you think I deserve a spanking?”
A red tide rose on his cheeks. Something else rose as well. He glanced down, toward her midsection, and blanched. “Helena, we can’t. You’re with child.”
She put out a lip. “The doctor said we could resume normal relations.”
Gently, he set her to his side. Her pout deepened. “He was not referring to spankings, I’m certain.”
She gaped at him. “Do you mean to say you don’t intend to paddle my bottom for nine full months?” The thought was incomprehensible.
“No.”
She collapsed in relief…until he completed his thought.
“It’s only seven months now.”
“James!”
“Come now, Helena. We’ll be parents soon. We have to make adjustments.”
“Not that. Anything but that.” She frowned. Played with the twill on her sleeve. Put out a lip again. “If those are the rules, don’t plan on having any more.”
“What?”
She threw up her hands. “No spankings. No babies. No making babies. Come to think of it, since I’m with child and so utterly fragile, perhaps we should sleep in separate rooms. We wouldn’t want anything long and hard to accidently slip in anywhere warm and fragile in the middle of the night and harm the baby, now would we?”
“Helena, darling. You can’t mean that.” She propped her fists on her hips and leveled a look on him, one that made him flinch. “Darling!”
“Come now, James. We’ll be parents soon. We have to make adjustments.”
The poor man was visibly conflicted. His gaze flicked from her bosom to her waist to her tapping toe. She was certain her stance illustrated her intransigence. And he knew her. He knew her well. He knew how stubborn she could be.
She sensed his wavering and decided to help him along. She was, after all, quite good at that. “Just a gentle spanking. Not very hard. Though you must talk to me. You know how I love it when you talk to me. Tell me how naughty I’ve been.” He shuddered. Closed his eyes. His lips parted. She slipped closer. “Oh, James. I love the way your hand feels on my bottom. So hard and hot. It makes me wet for you.” He ran a finger under his ascot. But he didn’t step away. She advanced. “It makes me so weak and wet and hungry for your cock. I’m hungry now.” She raked her nails across his chest. They snagged on his nipples through the fabric of his shirt.
He sucked in a breath. “Maybe just a gentle spanking.”
Helena grinned and danced toward the bed, covering her bottom with her hands. “Oh. No. Please, sir. Please don’t spank me.” She shot a glance over her shoulder and quivered at his expression.
Her James. Her dashing, dominant male.
He wanted to spank her. He wanted to drape her over his lap and paddle her bare bottom until she came.
And, heaven help her, he would.
* * * * *
Eleanor waited in the hall outside Ethan’s room. They were on their way to the masquerade ball when he’d remembered he’d left something important behind, and gone back in. She fingered the string to her mask, spinning the silk confection around in circles and watching it twirl.
Oh dear. She was in trouble.
The doctor had finally come this morning and confirmed that she was, indeed, with child. She’d sworn him to secrecy, and Helena too, as she had been in the room. But now the question was, how did she tell Ethan? Did she tell Ethan?
Would the news ruin what they had?
Would it end it?
It was a pity she didn’t have more experience with such things.
One thing was for certain, this child would not be an Ulster.
She glanced up and froze as she saw Berwick storming toward her—as though she had conjured him with her thoughts.
“There you are you, you slut!” he screeched. But that was all he managed before Ethan, exiting his room into Berwick’s path, smashed him in the face with a bunched fist.
The little man promptly crumpled to the ground.
“Oh my,” Eleanor said, peering at the moaning mess on the carpet.
Ethan grunted, rubbing his reddened knuckles.
Eleanor tipped her head to the side. “At some point in time, darling, you really need to stop doing that.”
Ethan considered the lump of Ulster. “I don’t know. I doubt I shall ever tire of it.” He grinned and offered his arm. “Shall we?”
She took his outstretched arm and stepped lightly over the body. “Yes. Let’s.”
The ball was in full swing when Eleanor and Ethan came down the curving staircase, arm in arm, their masks in place. Ethan had insisted upon it. He had plans for the evening and their anonymity was central to his pleasure.
The ballroom was crowded. Helena’s party was a complete crush. Every soul from miles around was here. Ethan tried, and failed, to bite back his grin. The more people here, the less chance they would be noticed.
And in truth, they slipped through the crowd like wraiths. In their dominoes and masks, they looked just like everyone else. He kept a firm hold on Eleanor’s hand. He didn’t want to lose her and have to hunt through this multitude to find her.
He had plans for tonight.
Big plans.
When they reached the floor, he offered a hand. “Would you care to dance?”
She tipped her head to the side and smiled. “It is so warm in here.” She fanned herself. “Perhaps a turn in the garden?”
He allowed a slow smile to crawl across his face. Yes. That was exactly what he wanted. Without hesitation, he offered his arm and they strolled for the French doors. The journey took far too long, at least in Ethan’s estimation. He attempted to set a casual pace but what he wanted was to bolt for the terrace, whisk her into the garden and to the folly tucked in the center of the labyrinth.
But he did not do so. Rather, he restrained himself and set his pace to match hers. They walked through the crowd, arm in arm, nodding now and then to their fellow partygoers. Finally, they neared the doors. Ethan’s excitement surged as they emerged from the stuffy ballroom into the fragrant spring evening. There were a few couples here and there on the terrace, talking, laughing.
It reminded him of another night, another garden.
He hoped she was also thinking of that night.
But if she wasn’t, he would remind her.
Ethan guided his Mignon into the shadows of the garden. “Do you come to these events often, my lady?” he asked, biting back his smile.
Her eyes were wide, luminous in the moonlight.
She cleared her throat. “No. Not often.”
“But this is not your first time?”
Her laugh was a melody. It trilled through the dusky darkness and curled up into him like a warm caress. “Not hardly.”
He increased his pace, heading for the labyrinth. “This way.”
She hesitated, coming to a full stop. “Where are we going?”
“To the labyrinth. Haven’t you ever explored it?”
She shook her head. Her delicate little teeth worried her lower lip.
He tugged her closer and whispered, “There’s a folly at the cen
ter.” The look on her face made him hard. For he knew what she was thinking. Remembering. Ruthlessly, he led her to the maw of the labyrinth and in, closer and closer to his goal.
The heart of it all.
They came to the clearing at the center of the maze. James’ folly, romantic and charming, stood in the middle, draped in ivy and starlight.
She sighed. “Have you ever made love in a folly?”
“Once.” He shifted his position so he could see her better. “Have you?”
She looked away.
“Have you?” He tipped up her chin. “You have to tell me, Eleanor. Remember our bargain?”
“Yes.”
He grinned. “Yes, you remember our bargain, or yes, you’ve made love in a folly?”
Her lashes flickered. “Both.”
“Really?” He drew her to the confection and up the steps. Inside. “Who was it?”
She tried to turn away again but he wouldn’t allow it. “A man.”
“Did you love him?” He sat on the bench, pulled her down beside him. His fingers trailed up her arm and she shivered. “Did you?”
“I barely knew him.”
“Who was he?”
“Just a man.”
“What was his name?” He watched as a pink tide swept up her cheeks. “Eleanor. Tell me.”
“I cannot.” She stood and paced to the far side of the folly, grasping the column and staring out at the night.
“Why not?”
“I never asked.”
Ethan grinned but didn’t allow her to see his smile. He was teasing her, which he probably shouldn’t do, but he couldn’t help himself. He tsked. “Naughty girl. Did you at least enjoy it?”
She hid her face but he saw her reaction. It sent a thrill to his soul. “Yes.”
“What did he look like?”
“Ethan, why are you asking me this? It was a private interlude. With another man. I don’t want to talk about it with you.”
He chuckled. “You have to tell me. Remember?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I rather think you overplay that card.”
“As well I should. Never doubt, my lady, I shall play that card often and well. So, what did he look like?”
“He was wearing a mask, if you must know.”
“Like the one I’m wearing now?”
“Yes. Quite similar. In fact…” She stilled and studied him. She opened her lips, as if to speak, but then flushed and glanced away. He thought about dropping the topic. He thought about revealing his identity to her. But he did neither. There was something else he desperately wanted to know. So he goaded her further.
“Did you ever see him again?”
She sucked in a breath, to cover what sounded suspiciously like a sob. “No.”
“Come here.”
She frowned but complied. When she was close enough, he put his hands on her hips and tugged her closer, sat her next to him. “Why did you never see him again?”
“Oh, I couldn’t.”
“Couldn’t bear to see him again?”
“Oh, no. I would have loved to see him again. But I couldn’t dare reveal my identity to him.” She nibbled her lip. “To anyone.”
“How long do you suppose he waited for you?”
She sighed and shrugged. Then froze. “What makes you think he waited for me?”
“No man, after having you, would neglect to arrange another meeting. I’m guessing it was the very next day.”
She laughed but there was a bewildered sheen to her eyes. “How could you know such a thing?”
“It’s what I would do. If I had you.”
“Would you?”
“Yes.” He bent his head and kissed her gently. Her mouth was oh so sweet. “So how long do you think he waited? There at the arch? Holding a silly red rose?” Ethan reached into his cloak and pulled out the rose, no longer red but a token all the same, and offered it to her. “How long, Mignon?”
Eleanor’s heart pounded crazily in her chest as she stared at the rose. Her gaze lifted slowly to his face, those so-familiar lines obstructed by the mask. So familiar. So dear. “It was you!”
“It was. I never really recovered, you know. When you didn’t come.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t…I mean, I couldn’t…I just couldn’t.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. I do.”
“How long have you known?”
“Known?”
“That I was that woman.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I knew the moment I entered your body. How could I not know? You are unlike any other woman I’ve ever known.”
A shudder racked her at his words. Heavens. She loved him so. It was an ache in her heart. If only…
If only.
Even as she watched, dreamed, hoped, he dropped to one knee. A red tide crept up his cheeks. “Marry me, Eleanor.”
Her heart lifted, sang. “Marry you?”
“Yes. Marry me, my Mignon. I couldn’t bear it if you said no. I couldn’t bear watching you walk away with my child in your arms. I couldn’t bear having him live as an Ulster.”
“Or her?”
“Or her.” His eyes glinted. “Marry me.”
“What if…what if there is no child?”
He laughed. “There will be. Eventually.”
She leaned forward, kissed him. His lips were warm, soft. “How can I say no?” She smiled. “We have a bargain after all.”
He stilled. “You will not say yes because of the bargain.”
“I won’t?”
“I want you to come to me because you want to. Because you love me. It must be your choice.”
“Love?” They’d never talked of love.
“Yes, damn it. Love. I want you to love me as I love you. Mindlessly. Madly.”
“You love me? Mindlessly and madly?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
“Oh, Ethan.” She set her palm to his cheek, stroked the edge of his mask and then, because she wanted to see him, removed it. “Does that mean you release me from the bargain? Does this mean I no longer have to do as you say?”
He removed her mask as well. “Eleanor…”
“Do you? Release me?”
“Yes. I release you—”
The words barely escaped his lips, for even as he spoke, she kissed him.
It was not the kiss of a woman constrained by a bargain. It was not the kiss of a woman constrained at all.
It was the kiss of a woman in love.
“Then yes. I will marry you. Of my own free will. Because I want to. Because, Ethan Pennington, I love you more than life itself.”
He kissed her, long and hard. When they surfaced, they were breathless. He grinned. “That doesn’t mean, however, there won’t be other bargains in the future.”
“Of course not.” She had some bargains of her own in mind.
“And don’t forget you owe me a song.”
“Any time.”
“I was rather thinking you could sing to me while we…” He tipped his head to the side. “You know.”
“While we you know?”
“Oh yes.” He kissed her again, until thoughts of singing, in any circumstance, had utterly fled.
In the dark shadows of the Darlington labyrinth, two figures stilled as they noticed the forms twining in the folly.
“Blast,” the first one muttered. “Someone beat us to it.”
“Darling.” The second, smaller shadow patted a muscular arm. “Don’t curse.”
“But it’s my birthday.”
“Don’t fret.” The small shadow took his hand and tugged him back the way they’d come. “I know another place.”
“What place?”
“Hush. Come along.”
“How do you know another place?”
“A certain naughty earl seduced me there once.”
“A certain determined earl has seduced you any number of places.”
A regal brow quirked. “How so?”
“I’d run away from home and was hiding there, all wet and bedraggled—”
“You were adorable.”
“He came upon me. Pretended to be a gardener—the beast—and he seduced me right then and there.”
“Ah. Yes. I remember. I’ve always loved that potting shed.”
“Me too.”
It was, after all, the reason for her passionate love of flowers.
Hand in hand, they went to find it again.
Epilogue
The carriage had barely stopped before the charming manor house perched on a cliff on the Cornish sea when the door flung open and Helena, Countess of Darlington, flew out, leaving her husband behind to wrangle Edward and his copious trappings. She dashed across the porch and into the foyer without so much as a by your leave. “Eleanor! Eleanor!” she bellowed. “We’re here.”
She heard a chuckle to her left and veered in that direction, bursting through the double doors of the Pennington sitting room, just in time to see her dearest friend hand off a swaddled bundle to a rather domesticated-looking colonel.
“Helena!” Eleanor, trim once again, swept toward her and they shared a long embrace. “How wonderful to see you.”
“I know. It’s been forever, hasn’t it?”
“Months, at least.”
“Darlington was a beast. Even after Edward arrived, he still wouldn’t let me travel until the lying in was over.”
“The beast.” Eleanor glanced around meaningfully. “Where is he?”
Helena waved her hand in the general direction of the sea. “He’s coming. I got your note and have been champing at the bit. Practically champing at the bit to come. I just couldn’t wait. Where is he? Let me see him.” She rushed to Pennington and stopped still. “Is that him?” She took a step forward. Eleanor followed. “Is that little James?”
“Yes.”
Though she’d seen her own baby before, stared at him for hours on end in fact, Eleanor was still filled with awe each time she saw him. She followed Helena, peeping over her shoulder as she approached Ethan, cradling their beautiful son in his arms.