“I must have taken leave of my senses.” Simon sat up abruptly, running his fingers through his hair. “We should be upstairs in your bed. Or my bed.”
“Do not fret, Simon. It does not particularly matter to me where we spent our wedding night.” Emily smiled sleepily. “I can leave the details out of my journal, if you like.”
“Good God. By all means leave the details out of your damn journal.” He got to his feet and hastily donned his dressing gown. Then he reached down, tugged Emily to her feet, and dropped the muslin nightdress over her head. He saw that it was stained with the results of their lovemaking and the evidence of her virginity and he realized she must have been lying on the garment when he had taken her. He quickly tucked her into her chintz wrapper. A vague flicker of guilt washed over him.
“Emily, are you all right?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I feel sticky. And a bit sore. But otherwise I am fine. What about you? Are you feeling all right, Simon?”
“Yes, I am quite all right,” he told her gruffly. He swung her up into his arms and started toward the door.
But he was not all right. He was feeling very strange and he did not like the sensation. He had completely lost his self-control with this woman.
That had never happened to him before. He should have been in command of the situation from start to finish. He ought to have handled the whole business with far more finesse. Instead he had been swept up into the vortex of a passion that had swamped his control.
Simon acknowledged grimly that his redheaded elf of a wife had been the one in command tonight, whether she knew it or not. She had led him a pretty dance from the moment he had found the note on her pillow. Simon wondered if she had any inkling of just how much power she had wielded this evening. Women were never slow to comprehend their own power and a Faringdon female would be quicker than most to take advantage.
But she was no longer a Faringdon, Simon reminded himself. She was his now.
“Simon”—Emily peered uncertainly up at him as he carried her toward the staircase—“are you angry?”
“No, Emily,” he told her as he started up the red-carpeted steps. “I am not angry.”
“You have a rather odd expression on your face.” She smiled serenely. “I expect it is the aftereffects of our efforts to communicate on both the physical and the metaphysical plane simultaneously. Very fatiguing, is it not?”
“Bloody damn fatiguing,” Simon said.
Emily hurried expectantly downstairs to breakfast the next morning only to realize immediately that her lovely new morning dress of blossom pink had been wasted. Simon was not waiting to compliment her on the pleated neck frill or the embroidery on the skirt which the village seamstress had worked on so industriously. She was informed he had gone out riding quite early.
Deflated, Emily sat down and morosely watched a footman pour her coffee. Last night when Simon had carried her upstairs to bed and then gone to his own room she had been deeply disappointed. But she had told herself that was the way things were done in the fashionable world. Everyone knew couples rarely slept together for the entire night. Marriages of convenience led to relationships in which people demanded a great deal of privacy.
But even though she knew she was guilty of coercing Simon into a marriage of convenience, at least on his part, Emily had been certain that her relationship with him would be vastly different. Especially after what had happened last night.
Emily felt a small, transcendent thrill course through her again as the memories returned. She blushed now just thinking about how she had felt lying naked in Simon’s arms in front of the fire. Her nerves tingled as she remembered the strange, mesmerizing glitter in her husband’s golden eyes as he had crushed her into the carpet. It had been shocking yet oddly exciting to realize he had actually entered her, had become a part of her.
The experience was totally unlike anything she had ever imagined. Her senses had literally reeled beneath the onslaught. True, she had not experienced the thrilling sense of release that Simon had given her the first time he had caressed her intimately, but what had happened last night was far more profound. They had been joined into a single being for a time.
Simon had been quite right, Emily reflected as she sipped her coffee. Such a physical union was bound to enhance their union on the transcendental plane. It was inconceivable that anything so stunning, so powerful and overwhelming, could fail to affect events in the metaphysical world. There had to be a connection between the two realms.
Trust Simon to understand that and to nobly insist upon carrying out his husbandly duties in the name of metaphysical experimentation. He was obviously determined to make this marriage work. And Emily just knew that sooner or later he would come to love her as deeply as she loved him.
It was inevitable, especially now that their communication was being enhanced on the physical as well as the metaphysical level.
Still, accustomed as she was to eating breakfast alone, today the silence in the morning room seemed unexpectedly gloomy. She had no desire to linger. She was thinking wistfully that it would have been nice if Simon had invited her to ride with him when Duckett entered the room. His dour face was set in grave, disapproving lines.
“Your pardon, madam,” Duckett said austerely, “but your father has sent a lad around to the kitchens with a message. It seems your presence is requested in the south garden.”
Emily looked up, astonished. “My father? But he left for London with Devlin and Charles directly after the wedding.”
Duckett looked more bleak than ever, if such a thing was possible. “Apparently not, madam. I fear he is presently in the south garden.”
“How odd. Why does he not come to the house?”
Duckett cleared his throat and said with a hint of satisfaction, “I believe his lordship, the earl, has forbidden your father to enter the house without his lordship’s express permission, madam. I understand the arrangement was made yesterday after the services.”
Emily’s eyes widened in astonishment. She knew there was no love lost between her father and her husband. But a bargain had been struck that day when she had eavesdropped on the two men as they negotiated her future in the library. Simon had implied that if her father met his demands, Broderick Faringdon could continue to communicate with Emily. She was certain that was what had been agreed upon.
“There has been some misunderstanding,” Emily told the butler.
Duckett chose to ignore that indisputable fact. “As to that, I could not say, madam. Shall I send someone to tell Mr. Faringdon that you are not available?”
“Good heavens, no, Duckett.” Emily jumped to her feet. “I am quite available, as you can plainly see. Actually, I am glad to hear my father is still in the vicinity. I did not have an opportunity to bid him or my brothers a proper farewell yesterday. I was so very busy. I did not even realize my family had left for London until Blade mentioned it. And by then it was too late.”
“Yes, madam.” Duckett inclined his head. “I’ll send Lizzie upstairs to fetch you a wrap. It is rather chilly outside today.”
“Never mind, Duckett.” Emily looked out at the bright April sunshine that was pouring through the morning room window. “I won’t be needing anything. ’Tis going to be a pleasant day.”
“As you wish, madam.” Duckett cleared his throat. “I realize it is not my place to say anything further on the subject, madam, but …”
“Yes, Duckett? What is it?”
“I was just wondering if madam has considered the, er, wisdom of meeting Mr. Faringdon in the south garden.”
Emily laughed. “Good lord, Duckett, I am going to meet my father, not a paramour or a murderer.”
“Of course, madam.” Duckett’s expression implied he questioned the assumption. “It simply occurred to me that perhaps his lordship might have certain notions concerning the propriety of the situation.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake, Duckett. You are not making any sense at all. We are talking
about my father.” Emily went around the table. She smiled reassuringly at Duckett as she went past him through the door. “Do not concern yourself with whatever Blade might have to say on the subject. He and I share a unique form of communication, you know. We understand each other very well.”
“I see.” Duckett looked unconvinced.
Emily paid no further attention to the butler’s obvious qualms. Duckett had no way of knowing what had transpired between herself and Simon last night. Therefore he could not begin to comprehend the nature of the greatly enhanced metaphysical relationship Emily now shared with her husband.
Emily determined to clear up the misunderstanding at once. Simon would certainly never have barred her father from seeing her after the wedding. There was no need. The threat had been merely a negotiating tool that Simon had employed in an effort to exact justice.
The day was, indeed, turning out to be sunny, but there was a decided nip in the air. Emily had lived all her life in the country and she knew the signs. A storm was moving in. There would be rain tonight.
She glanced around the south garden with satisfaction as she made her way to the far end. Daffodils and early roses were starting to bloom in showy profusion and the air was filled with the heady perfume of flowers. A small, ornate fountain topped by a cherub with a watering pot formed the focal point of the garden. There was a tall hedge behind the fountain.
Broderick Faringdon was waiting behind the hedge. He emerged with a furtive expression, glancing quickly to the left and right.
“Papa.” Emily smiled at her handsome father and hastened forward. “I am so glad you came back to say goodbye. I was very sorry to have missed making my farewells to you and the twins yesterday. There was so much going on and so many people around. It was a lovely wedding, was it not? Everyone in the vicinity was there and they all seemed so happy for me.”
“Aye, Blade kept you busy enough, didn’t he?” Broderick agreed darkly. “Ran you right off your feet, he did. Kept you dancing and drinking and visiting so that you wouldn’t even notice when he sent your family away from you. Here I am, forced to creep around like a thief in the night just to say farewell to my one and only daughter.”
Emily tilted her head to one side. “He sent you away? What on earth are you talking about, Papa?”
Broderick shook his head with an air of bitter sadness. “My poor, innocent girl. You still have no notion of what you’ve got yourself into, do you?”
“Pray, do not worry about me, Papa. I know what I am doing and I am quite content with my marriage.”
Broderick gave her a sharp glance. “Are you? I wonder how long you will be content. I expect the damage is done, in any event, eh? Blade ain’t likely to miss a trick.”
“What damage? Papa, I wish you would explain yourself.”
Broderick eyed her speculatively, a spark of hope in his gaze. “I don’t suppose there’s any hope that Blade left you alone last night, is there? Any chance of an annulment?”
Emily’s face flamed. “Good grief, Papa. What a thing to say.”
“Here, now. This is no time for maidenly blushes. This is business.” Broderick looked even more hopeful. “Just tell me the truth, girl. Are you still untouched? Because if you are, it’s not too late. We can see about having the whole thing overturned.”
“Really, Papa.” Emily’s embarrassment turned to irritation. She drew herself up proudly. “I am not about to seek an annulment. I am a very happily married woman.”
“Damn. Then there’s no hope.”
“No hope for what? What are you trying to say?”
Broderick sighed dramatically. “This is the end, my dearest child. Say farewell to your loving papa, for you will never see him again.”
“Do not be ridiculous. Of course we shall see each other again. Simon and I will be going to London after our honeymoon. I shall have ample opportunity to visit with you and the twins. I shall very likely see more of you there than I did here at St. Clair Hall. After all, the three of you only came to visit when you were having a streak of bad luck at the tables.”
“No, Emily. You still do not realize what a monster you have married. Blade is determined that you never have anything to do with your family again.”
“You misunderstand him, Papa,” Emily said quickly. “It was true he insisted on having St. Clair Hall turned over to him and used the threat of keeping me from you to enforce his demand. But he has achieved his goal. Justice has been done.”
Broderick sank down wearily on the edge of the fountain. “You do not know him, Emily. Regaining the house was only the beginning. He will not rest until he has destroyed every last Faringdon.”
“Papa, if you are worried about finances,” Emily began slowly, “you need not be. I am quite certain that Blade will be content with his revenge now. He may not approve of me covering excessive extravagances on your part, but he will certainly have no objection to me continuing to manage your business affairs.”
“Ah, my innocent lamb. You simply do not yet comprehend the nature of the beast you have been tricked into marrying. I, too, had hopes he would allow us to continue as before. T’was the only reason I agreed to his offer. But yesterday after he had you safely leg-shackled, he told me he did not intend to let you attend to any more Faringdon business matters.”
Emily frowned. “I heard nothing about such a decision. I do not believe you understood him correctly, Papa. As I said, he will no doubt be somewhat restrictive regarding your financial excesses, but he would not cut you off completely.”
“What a silly, naive little goose you are, my dear child.” Broderick shook his head and then rose to his feet and held open his arms. “This may be the last time I shall ever see your sweet face again. Come and kiss your papa farewell. Remember me and your brothers with kindness, Emily. We truly cared for you.”
Emily began to grow alarmed. “Papa, I do wish you would stop talking such nonsense.”
“Goodbye, my dear. I wish you a happy life but I fear you are as doomed as the rest of your clan.”
“You have it all wrong, Papa.” Emily stepped uneasily back into her father’s embrace. “I would never agree to be parted forever from my family. You know that. And Simon would never insist upon such a thing.”
Broderick hugged her tightly as if he truly did not expect to see her again. Then he released her to look down at her with narrowed eyes. “Emily, if you truly mean not to abandon us—”
“Of course, I will not abandon you,” she assured him impulsively. “I love you and the twins, Papa. You know that.”
“If you mean that, if you intend to do your duty by us, then we must make some practical arrangements,” Broderick said swiftly. “We must devise a way for you to continue to manage affairs and send instructions to Davenport. Now, I’ve been giving this some thought and I believe the easiest way to handle the problem is to arrange for regular, secret meetings.”
“Secret meetings?”
“Precisely. Listen closely. Either I or one of the twins will find a way to contact you twice a month. You can relay instructions to Davenport on those occasions. We shall have to be extremely discreet, of course, but I think that can be managed, especially when you’re in town. Much more opportunity there, what with the parks and the theaters and the pleasure gardens.”
“But, Papa—”
“Don’t fret, Emily. It will all work out,” Broderick said cheerfully. “Blade’s bound to lose interest in you quite soon. He’s done the necessary and you ain’t exactly his type, after all, are you? He just sees you as a means to an end.”
“What end?” she demanded.
“Why, totally destroying us Faringdons, of course. But we’ll deal with him. You’ll soon find yourself on your own a great deal of the time and that will suit our plans perfectly, eh? Things will be just like they were before he showed up.”
Emily opened her mouth to tell her father that her relationship with Simon was far more profound, far more blissfully transcendent than wh
at he apparently imagined. But before she could explain, she was interrupted by Blade himself.
She stared in astonishment as Simon sauntered casually out from behind the tall hedge. Then she brightened. “Excellent, you are returned, my lord. Now, perhaps we can clear up this misunderstanding.”
Simon ignored her, his eyes glittering coldly as he studied her father. “I had a hunch you’d show up sooner or later, Faringdon. Come to bid your daughter a fond farewell, have you?”
The earl looked very large and intimidating in his riding clothes. His shoulders were broad and powerful under his close-fitting jacket and his breeches emphasized the sleek muscularity of his body. He slapped his riding crop idly against the top of his gleaming black boots as he eyed Emily’s father with disdain.
Broderick Faringdon swung around in alarm, his expression first startled and then angry. “Now, see here, Blade. A man’s got a right to say goodbye to his one and only daughter. You certainly did not give me a chance to do so yesterday.”
Simon smiled thinly. “I did not want you hanging around any longer than absolutely necessary. But today my sources inform me you spent the night at a nearby inn rather than on the road to town. I was not particularly surprised a few minutes ago when my new butler told me Emily had received a message to go to the south garden. But I am afraid I really cannot allow this sort of clandestine meeting, Faringdon.”
Emily laughed with relief. “That is just what I was telling him, Simon. I knew you did not mean to bar him from the house. There is no need to arrange this sort of meeting when we can have a nice visit in the drawing room. But Papa seems to be under the impression you do not want him to ever see me again.”
Both men looked at her with as much amazement as if the cherub on the fountain had just spoken.
Simon gazed at her coldly. “It will probably not be possible to avoid your father altogether, especially when we are in town. But you are never, under any circumstances, to meet with him or the twins alone. On those rare occasions when we do find ourselves obliged to see your family, I shall always accompany you. Do you understand that, Emily?”