Dealing With Discipline Page 3

  He was looking at her that way again. That way that made her feel hot and strange, that way that made it hard for her to breathe. She much preferred the way Alex looked at her, warm and comforting. Never setting her nerves on edge or disorienting her. Alex made her feel safe and secure. Hugh, for all his gentleness with her, always scared her a little even though he wasn’t very scary in and of himself; but sometimes the way he looked at her made her feel almost itchy inside of her own skin. Of course she hadn’t known him as long as she’d known Alex. She’d also known almost from the moment she’d met Hugh that he was going to be her husband and she’d unfairly resented him a bit for that, so it wasn’t truly his fault, but she couldn’t help it if she preferred Alex’s settled company to Hugh’s unnerving presence.

  “What did Lady March have to say to him?” Although Eleanor wasn’t looking at Irene and her attention seemed to be entirely on the men across the room, Irene couldn’t help but remember that Eleanor was friends with Lady Grace. Good friends. Was she asking to make conversation, because she was truly curious or because she wanted information to tell Grace?

  Unfortunately Irene wasn’t sure what Alex would want her to say so she just spoke the truth. He’d seemed quite intent on cutting Lady March, and if anyone else had been watching they’d know that much at least.

  “She was flirting. He wasn’t interested. He reminded her that he’d given her, her conge.” Suddenly her breath caught in her throat and her eyes jerked away from Hugh’s laughing face (why had she been watching him anyway?) and sought out Alex’s familiar head of auburn hair as the significance of that remark finally dawned on her.

  Of course she’d known that Alex had mistresses. How could he not, what with the way things were with his wife? It had always made Irene’s heart ache with jealousy, to know that other women were having a part of him, a piece of him. But if he’d given Lady March her conge, it must have been recently; he was too angry about being approached and she was too eager to speak to him for there to have been any real time. How long would it take him to find another mistress?

  Would she return from her honeymoon, finally knowing what passed between a man and a woman, only to have to watch him indulge in that with yet another woman?

  Or would it take him longer to replace Lady March?

  Perhaps she could use her honeymoon to learn… to learn everything that a man might want. Everything that pleased a man. Surely her husband would enjoy having a wife who knew what he desired, and when he tired of her and she’d given him his heir they could go their separate ways and she could show Alex how well she could please him. Of course, she wasn’t entirely sure what being a mistress to a man entailed, but she knew it had something to do with the activities of the marriage bed. Whatever it was she was sure she could learn to do it for Alex. Learn to do it better than any woman he’d ever done it with before.

  “My dear?”

  Her heart seemed to leap into her throat as she looked up into Hugh’s glowing blue eyes. Guilt swamped her as she realized that she was yet again thinking adulterous thoughts on her wedding day. The way he was looking at her was almost tender, although there was still a hint of that strange hunger as well. Barely married for three hours and already she was thinking about the day when she would betray those vows. She was truly an awful person.

  “Yes my lord?”

  “I think you can call me Hugh now, sweetheart,” he said, laughing a little as he reached out for her hand. Instinctively Irene placed her fingers in his, allowing him to help her to her feet as she blushed, feeling rather silly.

  “Of course. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” he murmured, stepping close enough to her that she could feel his body heat, his hand searing her as he placed it against the small of her back. His other hand still gripped her fingers and she found herself staring up at him, feeling like a trapped bird, her heart pounding inside of her chest. The smile that spread across his face was rather wicked and her face heated as his eyes traveled back down to sweep across her bosom. Beneath her dress her breasts seemed to tighten in the strangest manner. “You can call me whatever you wish, sweetheart, but I prefer Hugh.”

  “Hugh.” She repeated, and then nearly gasped as his eyes actually seemed to darken, like the sky when it was going to storm. The strangest expression ran across his face and suddenly it was almost as if they were the only two people in the world. Her breath caught in her throat and she found that she couldn’t speak another word, not that she could think of one to say.

  Someone cleared their throat, loudly and closely, and she and Hugh both jumped and then turned their heads to stare at Edwin. Who was staring back at them, grinning. He shook his head and turned to his wife.

  “Nell, can you help Miss – uh, Lady Petersham to her room.”

  “Right, yes.” Hugh suddenly came to life again, as debonair and smooth as always as he looked down at her. The intensity of his gaze had lessened again; the moment, whatever it was, had passed. “My dear, as soon as you’re ready to travel we may leave.”

  “Oh...” Irene said in sudden understanding as she looked down at her dress. Of course. She’d had her maid set aside a dress this morning for her to wear when it was time to go. The dress she’d been married in was far too fine to travel a long distance in a carriage, not to mention not as comfortable as the dress that she’d set aside. A feeling of almost panic sparked inside of her. It was time to go so soon?

  But there was nothing to be done. At least Eleanor would be with her and hopefully her mother would stay downstairs to entertain the guests. She was currently across the room and not even looking Irene’s way so perhaps it was time to make good an escape. Turning to her sister-in-law she smiled tremulously.

  “You don’t mind going with me?”

  “No, I’d be happy to go upstairs with you and spend some time with some worthwhile company,” Eleanor said with a sniff and a pointed look at her husband. Irene bit her lip as Edwin raised his brow at his wife. She had always found Edwin a little frightening, with his dark good looks he managed to look rather dangerous, the way she’d always pictured a fallen angel to look (and she’d heard she wasn’t the only lady of the ton to make that comparison). Although Hugh looked just like a true angel and yet she still found his presence disturbing, but she didn’t truly find him frightening. Just her reaction to him.

  ******

  Sighing, Hugh watched his new bride and his sister walk away. Irene seemed quite skittish at the moment, although he chalked that up to wedding nerves. Especially now that they were going to be alone in a carriage for hours, and it would be the first time that they would be alone and completely unchaperoned together, but as long as they made good time then they should be to the first of his family’s estates by sundown. Understandably she also might be a bit nervous about the wedding night.

  He could only imagine what her icicle of a mother had told her to expect.

  “What is the matter with Nell?” he asked, wondering why she’d been so sharp with Edwin.

  “I have no idea,” Edwin replied, staring daggers after his wife as she left the room with her arm linked through Irene’s. They made an attractive pair with their contrasting hair of gold and red copper. “But I certainly intend to find out.”

  With a wry smile, Hugh gave his friend a sidelong look, thankful that he’d ended up with a sweet bride like Irene and not a termagant like his sister. Not that he wanted to hear any details about why Edwin enjoyed disciplining his sister so much, but he had to admit he found himself curious as to what discipline might have to do with bedroom activities. It was certainly not something he’d ever thought to combine, despite the fact that he’d been raised to wield the cane when necessary, whereas Edwin certainly had not. But it was only a mild curiosity and he was quite content to have it go unsatisfied. With a docile, sweet wife like Irene he was quite sure he would never need to use any kind of strict discipline.

  “Excuse me, Viscount Petersham?”

  Now that
was a sentence he’d heard more than enough of this morning, and the masculine voice was completely unfamiliar, as quite a few of them had been. Stifling a groan he put on his best social smile and turned to find himself facing Lord Brooke.

  “Ah, Lord Brooke, thank you for coming today,” he said with a smile, holding out his hand for the other man to grip. He felt rather relieved that he didn’t need to search the other man out to speak with him, it also boded well that Brooke had approached him first.

  “Brooke,” said Edwin, offering his hand in turn.

  “Hyde.”

  “Standish tells me you and Irene grew up together,” Hugh said once they’d gotten past the pleasantries. “I confess I’m glad she had a long-time friend to attend the wedding today, although she’s made some acquaintances in London, I could tell that she feels much more comfortable with you.” Hugh did his best to sound nonchalant, although truly he was waiting to see the other man’s reaction to his words. Wondering whether Standish’s depiction of Irene and Brooke’s relationship was correct.

  Brooke’s smile seemed to almost split open his face, like a crack in a rock. Not that his face was particularly craggy, just that the man always seemed morosely somber when Hugh saw him. In fact he couldn’t remember having ever seen Brooke smile before. Then again, considering the state of his marriage and his lack of heir, he didn’t have much to smile about.

  “She was the little sister I never had,” Brooke said, shaking his head at the mental vision he had of a little girl with red pigtails done up in clashing pink ribbon. It was had been a shock for him to see Irene all grown up, every time he’d returned to visit after leaving for school. Seeing her on her wedding day had been double that. “Still is. I hope you don’t mind, but I felt it was my brotherly duty to speak with you.”

  Hugh raised an eyebrow, a little surprised but not offended. In fact he was feeling quite relaxed now that he’d heard Brooke’s own declaration. “You waited until now?”

  “Ah, I just came back to town recently,” Brooke said, his face hardening again. “I’ve had some business to attend to at my estates.” Apparently not very pleasant business. Or perhaps it was just the necessary business of making enough money to cover his wife’s outrageous expenses. The woman did seem to enjoy spending his money even if she avoided his company. A small smile broke through again as he refocused on why he was speaking with Hugh. "I wouldn't have missed Irene's wedding for the world."

  "That's good of you," said Hugh, smiling back. There was still that small twinge of jealousy that this man had known his wife for so much longer, but it was obvious from the way Brooke spoke of her, not to mention Standish' attitude, that there was nothing romantic between the two of them. While Hugh had to admit to himself that he would prefer his new wife’s friends be female, if she was going to have a close male friend at least it was one like Lord Brooke who obviously saw her in a familial light. "She seems to be quite shy, although I’ve quite enjoyed the time that we’ve spent together."

  “She and Eleanor seem to get along well,” Edwin offered. “Nell likes her quite a bit, so I’m sure she’ll make certain that Viscountess Petersham is never left out at social events. My wife can be quite the champion for her friends.” It felt strange to call a woman by his friend’s title, but the obvious masculine smugness that settled onto Hugh’s expression had Edwin and Brooke exchange an amused look. From his relaxed demeanor, every moment with Hugh was helping to ease Brooke’s potential qualms about how well Irene would be cared for.

  "I'm sure she'd be a wallflower if her mother would let her," Brooke said dryly, with a little twitch at the corner of his mouth. He shook his head. "Every time I see her in a ballroom it's a bit of a shock, she's much more at home out in the country."

  "So she and her father have told me. I'll admit, I was relieved to hear that she prefers the countryside although we’ll have to come to London for at least part of the Season of course. My parents would have pushed for the match anyway, for the land she brings with her, but I couldn't imagine myself with a wife who wanted to spend all her time in London."

  "Yes... I'd heard it was an arranged match." Brooke hesitated, unsure of his right to say his next words and yet determined to do his duty by Irene anyway. "Do you… care for her at all?"

  "Quite a bit," said Hugh honestly, unaware of the smile that spread across his face as he thought of Irene's sweet smile and beautiful face. "Otherwise I wouldn't have offered for her, land or no land. The more I've come to know her, the more I appreciate her company."

  "You'll probably enjoy her company even more in the country," said Alex, looking rather relieved. More so at the change in Hugh's expression than his reassuring words, anyone paying attention could tell that he was sincere in his affection for his new wife. "She blossoms out there." His voice lowered to a mutter. "Especially once she's away from her mother."

  Edwin murmured his agreement and Hugh made a small expression of distaste. Obviously none of the men were enamored of the Baroness. It hadn’t taken Hugh or Edwin long to realize that Irene quickly clammed up in the presence of her mother and barely dared to breathe when the woman was watching.

  "We'll be touring my estates for our honeymoon, I'm hoping she'll enjoy that. She didn't seem interested in going further afield, although Edwin and my sister just returned from their honeymoon in Paris." He nodded at his friend, acknowledging the trip.

  Brooke raised an eyebrow. "That surprises me, I always thought Irene wanted to travel more than she was able to. But I’m sure she feels that it's more important to see her new home."

  "Hmm, perhaps," said Hugh, slightly perplexed but not wanting to show it. Irene had been rather adamant about not wanting to travel. Then again, perhaps Brooke didn't know her as well as he thought he did. He rather liked that interpretation.

  A flurry of activity at the bottom of the staircase drew the men's attention and they turned to see Eleanor and Irene descending. Irene had changed into a dress more suited for travel, made of muslin which had been dyed forest green; the clever cut showed off her neat figure quite nicely, although the tempting expanse of bosom that her wedding gown had displayed was no longer visible. The vivid color went beautifully with her coloring, much more so than her previous gown which had made her pale cheeks seem even paler even if her hair had flamed by contrast.

  Hugh drew in a little breath at the sight of her, already picturing peeling the dress off of her and revealing all the delightful sights that it was modestly covering. Beside him Brooke stirred and gave him an amused look, content at seeing the expression of near-infatuation on Hugh's face. With a quick word of farewell, Hugh was striding eagerly across the room to claim his wife, leaving Edwin and Brooke to amuse themselves at his expense.

  ******

  The carriage carrying Hugh and Irene away disappeared down the street and most of the guests began calling for their own carriages. As the weather was rather mild, some of the younger set chose to saunter down the street, ostensibly headed for Hyde Park which was only two blocks away. Eleanor watched them all rather enviously; unfortunately she was not able to leave until her husband chose to.

  Her husband who was obviously not entirely happy with her at the moment.

  If asked, she couldn't have explained why she’d spent most of the morning avoiding him. They hadn't been seated near each other at the meal, as it was their duty to help host the brunch, and after that she had found herself playing a game of cat and mouse with him. Part of her wanted to see how long he would follow. Part of her wanted to watch him interact with other women while she wasn't standing by his side. And part of her just wanted to run.

  Eventually her father had caught up with her, sat her down in a chair and told her not to move because she was making him dizzy with her constant rotations round the room. Edwin, seeing the exchange, had grinned triumphantly at her (and that burned as badly as when he’d bested her during their childhood) and then allowed himself to be drawn into conversation with his friends while she sat in her
chair and sulked.

  Considering that she'd finally been given strict orders to stay in one place she had thought that he would finally, definitively, catch up with her, not ignore her! It rankled and made her even more out of temper with him.

  Once she'd returned to the festivities, after helping a rather nervous Irene change into her traveling gown, Edwin had re-appeared at her side and she hadn't been able to get away since. Her hand was tucked into his elbow, his other hand covering hers to keep her securely connected to him. A few experimental tugs had produced nothing more than a scowl in her direction before he'd pulled her even closer to him, pressing her hand between his arm and side.

  “What a lovely wedding,” her mother sighed, as Edwin and Eleanor approached. She was standing next to Eleanor’s father, who was chatting with Wesley. Lady Harrington was practically glowing with happiness despite the almost translucent quality to her skin and the bags and dark circles under her eyes. Edwin wondered if she was quite well, and then remembered that planning this wedding had probably taken a bit of a toll on her. “I can’t believe we managed to get both of you married off, to such wonderful matches, all in one Season.” Beaming at Edwin, Eleanor’s mother looked practically blissful. Inwardly Eleanor sighed, but she didn’t have it in her heart to dampen her mother’s spirits by making any tart remarks about her own marriage. Besides which, she was under the distinct impression that Edwin was at the end of his patience with her for the day.

  “Which means that you’ll be able to return to Bath soon,” Lord Harrington said, joining the conversation and smiling down gently as his wife as he took her hand and looped it around her arm.

  Edwin could feel his own wife stiffen at his side and he looked down at her, wondering at the reaction, but her face was completely void of expression. Very blank in fact, which was rather unusual for her.

  “Will you join me there soon?” Lady Harrington asked rather wistfully.