Undisciplined Read online

  Turning to Gabrielle, fists clenched at his side, Felix opened his mouth, but he couldn't even think of what words he wanted to say, he was so incensed. Before he managed to come up with any, Philip was grasping Gabrielle by her arm.

  "We're leaving. Now."

  Felix gritted his teeth, but there was nothing to be done. The titters and whispers of the ton, who had received a bird's eye view of the dramatics from the balcony above, followed them. Gabrielle had left her guardian with very few options now. Of course Philip and Cordelia would back her, as would their families, but the damage to her reputation was done.

  Unless, of course, some willing gentleman stepped in to save her. This wasn't exactly how Felix had seen his marriage beginning, but it wasn't just Gabrielle's fault. She was a young lady, new to London and its dangers; her guardians were necessarily involved with each other as they were new to their marriage and he… he had let his focus on her lapse. He felt he carried part of the blame. If he hadn't stepped back from Gabrielle following the incident with Mr. Pressen, he would have been much more in tune with her mind. Plus, Lady Winchester would never have had the opportunity to get her hooks in him. Felix had allowed himself to be distracted even though he knew that Gabrielle needed careful handling, not to mention attention, and she wasn't backwards about going looking for it. If he'd played his cards right, perhaps she would have gone looking for attention from him, not a cad like Fenworth.

  He could have charmed her if he'd truly wanted to. Seduced her. Turned her head and made her starry-eyed. Instead he'd prodded and poked her, delighting in her stormy responses, and then abandoned her at a time when she could have used a stalwart companion. Given her the opportunity to turn to someone else, practically pushed her into it in fact by making it clear that she wasn’t going to receive the attentions she wanted from him. His own uncharacteristic hesitation and indecision about whether or not to actively court Gabrielle had left her vulnerable to the worst of the fortune hunters.

  Gabrielle was ultimately responsible for her own actions, of course, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel that he'd failed her.

  ******

  "I'm going to marry her."

  Philip didn't even raise an eyebrow at Felix's declaration, but he didn't respond either. It was like Felix hadn't even spoken, as Philip went straight to his liquor supplies. Not that Felix was going to argue with that response; after the scene in the gardens with Fenworth and the silent carriage ride back to Dunbury House, he could certainly use a drink. Strangely, the thought of marriage didn't at all factor into that need.

  Accepting the glass from Philip's hand, Felix cleared his throat. "I'm going to marry her. It's the only way."

  "The only way, what?" Philip asked, his expression deceptively bland, as he settled into one of his armchairs. His fingers stroked over the wide armrest for a moment, while he lifted his glass to his lips with the other hand and took a long swallow.

  "The only way to save her reputation."

  "And is that the only reason you want to marry her?" Philip asked, never losing the blandness to his features, although his hazel eyes pinned Felix with his gaze.

  "No." He would have left it at that, but Philip raised his eyebrow, obviously waiting for a more thorough response. Felix sighed. "I've had it on my mind for a while."

  "So you said, but you never acted on it."

  "I was still thinking it over."

  "And now that she's ruined, and you can play hero, you're ready to swoop in and save the day."

  Now Philip was being deliberately antagonistic and Felix scowled at him, his temper rising as he tightened his fingers around the glass he was holding. "No, I'd have preferred she wasn't ruined, but I don't care that she is. I should have been more forward about courting her before but... Look, I want the kind of marriage you and Cordelia have, that Edward and Eleanor, and Hugh and Irene have. I wasn't sure I could have that with Gabrielle, but... I think we could."

  "Think isn't good enough."

  "Fine," Felix snapped out. He didn't mean to let his temper get the best of him, but it had been a trying night; still, he knew that Philip was just looking out for Gabrielle's best interests, and despite stating several times that he was interested, Felix truly hadn't acted upon that interest. "I'm determined to have that kind of marriage and I want it with Gabrielle."

  Philip smiled at him, completely calm and unruffled. "That's all I wanted to hear."

  "You're bloody impossible sometimes," Felix grumbled, tipping back his glass and drinking the alcohol in one burning slide of liquid. Philip just smiled wider.

  "Well, if you couldn't admit it to me, how would you ever admit it to her? I think you're just what Gabrielle needs, but only if you're willing to step up and put forth the effort."

  "I am."

  "Good, then it's decided. Special license?"

  "Yes." Feeling decidedly calmer now that his decision had been made and events were in motion, Felix tapped his finger against his empty glass. "Manchester should be willing to help, he felt a measure of responsibility for tonight's ah, events. I can go straight there from here and have everything arranged for tomorrow."

  "Tomorrow?" Philip raised one eyebrow, looking almost surprised.

  "Tomorrow," Felix said firmly. The longer they waited, the more time the ton would have to gossip about Gabrielle; this way the gossip would be refocused on their sudden marriage. Which, actually, meant that punching Fenworth had done him a favor, even though Fenworth was a Viscount and Felix was only brother to one. It could be spun as passionate jealousy, which would make his and Gabrielle's sudden marriage romantic to many of the gossips, which would help thwart any damage that more vicious tongues might try to do. But only if they married quickly and then showed a united front to the ton.

  ******

  "What are they talking about in there?" Gabrielle asked, agitated, even though she knew Cordelia wouldn’t know the answer. Her stepmother couldn't - the Marquess hadn't said a word to her or Gabrielle in the carriage. But she couldn't help but wonder aloud, too anxious to keep her thoughts quiet.

  Tonight had been an unmitigated disaster, but in some ways, waiting like this was far worse. Would the Marquess order her from the house? Send her away to the country in disgrace? That might not be so bad, since it was close to her original goal even if she'd be alone and bereft of children, but it would also depend on where he sent her and whether or not he supplied any funds to maintain her. She wished that a spanking, or even a more severe punishment to her poor bottom would suffice... how strange that she actually wanted that now, but there was something comforting about being punished when it was deserved and then being forgiven once the discipline was over.

  She just couldn't imagine what the Marquess would want to discuss with Fel- Mr. Hood. Maybe they needed to discuss the ramifications of Mr. Hood actually punching a Viscount. Gabrielle squeezed her eyes shut. She'd never forgive herself if her actions resulted in Mr. Hood somehow being hurt, and she couldn't imagine that Fenworth would take very well to being assaulted, even if he had run off tonight. Surprisingly, part of her actually felt relieved that she wasn’t going to have to marry him. He’d been her hope of escape, and yet her future with him had still seemed rather bleak. However, she didn’t know whether or not her current situation had anything to recommend it over marriage to Fenworth.

  Whatever was happening, whatever was going to happen to her, she just wanted to know.

  "They've been in there forever," she muttered, twisting her hands in front of her uselessly.

  Cordelia glanced at the clock on the mantle. "It's only been fifteen minutes.... Perhaps I should ring for some tea."

  How very like Cordelia, Gabrielle thought despairingly. Whenever something went amiss, no matter what time of day it was, Cordelia rang for tea. It was the English thing to do, she supposed.

  "I don't want tea," she said, her tone brusque. As if tea would help anything... She supposed it made Cordelia feel better to have something to do, but
it didn't help soothe Gabrielle at all. "I want to know what they're talking about in there." She paced some more, clenching and unclenching her fists as she shook her head, her emotions bubbling upside of her like shaken champagne. "What was that nitwit thinking anyway? Attacking a Viscount!"

  "I believe he was thinking that the Viscount in question was attacking your reputation."

  Gabrielle couldn't believe how calm Cordelia was about the entire thing. While Mr. Hood's brother was a Viscount, he himself had no title... he could be charged and punished for the attack. "My reputation was already ruined. Fenworth just wanted to ensure I would marry him."

  "Why do you want to?" Cordelia asked, peering at Gabrielle from her place on the couch. "You were so happy to leave the country, why would you want to go back?" Her hazel eyes were somber and confused. Gabrielle didn't blame her for her confusion... how could Cordelia possibly understand? When she'd wanted a husband, she'd just gone to a house party and gotten one. She could have had one before the Marquess if Gabrielle hadn't run interference. More than that, she'd managed to catch a husband who doted on her, adored her, and was obviously in love with her.

  Maybe Gabrielle could make her understand.

  Coming to a halt, she turned to face Cordelia. "You love Dunbury."

  "Yes." The answer was so swift, so assured, that a stab of jealousy lanced through Gabrielle's heart. No, it wasn't fair that Cordelia received everything while Gabrielle had nothing, but she'd finally come to realize that it wasn't Cordelia's fault her life was blessed.

  "If he loved another, would you want to stay where you had to witness it?"

  Her stepmother blinked and then shook her head. "Felix doesn't love Lady Winchester, Gabby, I can promise you that."

  Gabrielle just looked at her stepmother. She felt tired and decades older than the other woman at that moment. "Sometimes, Cordelia, you are so very blind."

  The door to the room opened, making both of them jump. Gabrielle's heart fluttered, anxiety squeezing her tightly and making it impossible for any other emotion to work its way in. The Marquess came in, as imposing as ever, although looking a bit disheveled with his hair mussed and his cravat undone. He was alone, which was a relief.

  She darted towards the Marquess, needing to get her apology in immediately. Not to forestall her punishment, which was richly deserved, but because she needed him to know that she truly regretted that her actions might cause him and Cordelia some trouble with Society. "Philip, I'm sorry. I really am, I didn't want to dishonor you or Cordelia, I swear-"

  To her shock, the Marquess reached out and took her hands, making a kind of soothing, shushing noise to quiet her. She looked up at her, blinking in shock.

  "Don't worry, you didn't dishonor us."

  Something in her chest - not anxiety or pain for once - squeezed tightly and then released. She made an involuntary noise of surprise as he pulled her in for a quick, reassuring embrace.

  He patted her back. "Everything's taken care of."

  How could he be so calm? So reassuring? The guilt welled up inside of her. Whatever discipline he deemed necessary, she was ready and willing to receive it. Obviously he thought he could fix what she'd done, but even if he was correct, she still deserved to be punished.

  “Are you going to punish me?” Strangely, her voice sounded almost eager, although it was also full of fear and anxiety. She wasn’t eager for it, was she?

  "We'll talk in the morning. Go on up to bed, I need to speak with your stepmother," he said. Feeling confused and a bit lost, Gabrielle nodded and allowed him to lead her to the door. Holding it open for her, the Marquess gave her a warning look. "There will be a maid outside your door and there's a footman watching your window. Do not attempt to leave the house.”

  Nodding again, Gabrielle hurried away. She hated the guilty feeling hanging over her, almost wishing that the Marquess had punished her. Perhaps he was waiting till tomorrow… and she couldn’t help but wonder what he’d meant when he’d said that he’d taken care of everything. She still didn’t know what that meant. Had he secured her a place in the country to retreat to away from the scandal? Sent Mr. Hood to bribe the Viscount? – that sounded like a disaster in the making, but not completely out of the realm of possibility. After all, money was the reason the Viscount wanted her anyway and the Marquess might have enough to spare. Perhaps he would lessen the amount in her dowry after this.

  Numbly, she headed up to bed, desperately needed the comfort and surcease of thought that sleep would provide. Answers and possibly punishment would come soon enough tomorrow.

  Epilogue

  The Archbishop was not thrilled to be roused from his slumber, Duke at his door or no, but he signed the special license all the same. Both Manchester and Felix were effusive in their thanks to the man, and Felix offered up a hefty donation in gratitude. By the time they’d left, the Archbishop had been more amused and interested than irate at having his night of sleep interrupted.

  “I’m sorry it’s come to this,” Manchester said, once they’d returned to the carriage. His brow was furrowed, his lips tilted downward. “Believe me, Arabella is more than sorry for her part in tonight’s escapades.” He sighed, his lips quirking. “Although, I can’t honestly say she would be quite so sorry if it had succeeded. I believe half her disappointment is from knowing they failed. She’s very young, in some ways I think this is still all a game to her. Still, it seems a valuable learning experience.”

  “Don’t blame yourself,” Felix said. “Gabrielle and Arabella together are a force to be reckoned with. Besides, I can’t help but admire their ingenuity.”

  Manchester snorted. “You wouldn’t say that if you had to live with my sister. I am plagued by her ingenuity. Do you know, the chit says she has no interest in being married? She’s already turned down three offers from perfectly respectable gentlemen.”

  “And you allowed her to?” Felix raised his eyebrows at the other man. Even in the darkness of the carriage, he could see Manchester’s cheeks color in the passing lamplight. He shrugged his broad shoulders.

  “Ah well. I want her to be happy. And an unhappy marriage does not make for a happy life.”

  All too true, and Felix already knew that he had his work cut out for him, but he was sure that – in the end – he could have that happy life too. Eventually.

  ******

  Felix groaned with relief when he finally returned home to his bachelor's quarters, happy to be done with this day.

  Damnation. He grimaced as he realized he was going to have to find new quarters. Immediately. Jermyn Street was no place to bring a respectable woman. Bachelors lived here and only bachelors.

  He had several notes to send out, not the least of which would be to his brothers and parents. Felix could only imagine the dramatics his mother would create if she were deprived of being at her son's wedding. She'd be thrilled one of them was finally getting married, and he doubted she would care even if Gabrielle truly had been ruined by Fenworth. Not as long as Felix wanted to marry her.

  His mother was a true romantic, for which he counted his blessings. There were certainly going to be some who looked at Gabrielle with censure after tonight. A respectable marriage could only do so much. Of course, once the old tabbies realized he was going to be just as faithful to his marriage vows as the much-gossiped about Dunburys, that would calm quite a bit of the talk. The gossips did love a reformed rake, and that Gabrielle would be the one to "tame" him would actually do her quite a bit of good in their eyes.

  In the meantime, a hasty marriage and a quick retreat to the countryside where they could cement their bond seemed in order. Felix didn't fool himself into thinking Gabrielle was going to be pleased by his and Philip's solution to her reputation. She'd been like a cat with her fur rubbed the wrong way ever since he'd met her, and - perversely - that had just made him more intrigued by her. If she'd truly wanted to be rid of his attention, she should have fawned on him.

  His brother Walter had told him he was si
ck in the head when Felix had admitted his fascination with Gabrielle and why, and Felix couldn't bring himself to disagree.

  Perhaps some of it was the challenge. She had thick walls around her, and he doubted anyone truly knew her. Much of what Cordelia thought of her was pure conjecture based on observation. The same as Felix had been forced to do. None of her suitors seemed to truly see her; they were happy to accept the charming veneer she presented, without trying to see deeper.

  Felix wanted to be the one to break through those walls and discover the real Gabrielle. From the small flashes of truth he'd seen, he thought he'd rather like that Gabrielle. The fire inside of her, the brat that never quit – when she wasn’t being cruel he liked that side of her – and the loyal friend that she already was to Arabella and Cynthia. Felix hoped that loyalty would be transferred to him as well; he wanted her loyalty, her passion, and even the brat that she could be. He doubted he’d ever be bored.

  And it didn't hurt that he'd wanted to bed her from the moment he saw her either. Or that he'd seen the shiver of excitement when he'd bent down and whispered in her ear after Philip and Cordelia's wedding that he'd spank her if she didn't behave herself. Even then, knowing he'd had no right, he hadn't been able to control himself from thinking about it. Fantasizing about it.

  Feisty, furious Gabrielle with her flashing green eyes and haughty chin... he'd be all too happy to help with the reformation of her viperish tongue. She'd have been wasted on a man like Pressen or Fenworth. Neither of them could see the true worth of her, the vulnerable waif hiding in her eyes, although he was sure they suspected she was a passionate woman. He doubted either of them would be able to bring those passions to fruition however, because he doubted either of them realized she craved a man to bring her to heel. Philip had told him that the physical discipline he'd instituted had had a very salutary effect on her, and Felix intended to see that didn't go to waste once she was his wife.