“Yes, sir.” Kendal took the glass Thalia handed him. “Where shall Thalia and I go after the ceremony?”

A smile broke out on Berwick’s face. “Let your bride show you.”

She stopped with her glass of wine almost at her lips. “I beg your pardon?”

“I am told you spoke to some of my maids earlier.”

A deep flush painted her cheeks a rosy red. “I did not mean to bother them.”

“You didn’t. But you almost ruined the surprise I have planned. I’ll warrant Kendal doesn’t remember where the individual tunnels lead. Take him to the room you visited. ”

That was true. He remembered the ends, but not which crypts led to which destination. “I shall happily follow where you lead, my love.”

“You’ve done it now.” Guy groaned. “None of them forget what one has said in a moment of passion.”

A wicked grin formed on Hawksworth. “The diamonds?”

“Yes.” Guy drained his glass. “There is a mercenary streak in your family.”

Thalia raised one brow, and in a tone worthy of a duchess said, “You must simply not promise things you do not intend to give.”

“They learn quickly as well.” Guy filled his glass again.

Kendal had been counting on that. For more than one reason.




CHAPTER 8




THALIA HAD SEEN and heard enough to know that tomorrow’s bedding would have to be quick. When she and her sisters returned from the tunnels, she had searched for Meg and found her in her parlor playing with Giffard.

“I need to know—”

“Wait a moment. Nurse, please take Giffard for a short walk.”

The older woman picked him up. “Let’s go exploring and find some biscuits.”

When the door closed, Meg said, “What is it that you need to know?”

“What goes on between”—Thalia took a breath. This was much harder than she had thought it would be—“a man and a woman. I have asked my sisters, but even Euphrosyne turns red and sputters.”

“I’ll have to speak to them about that,” Meg mused. “It is clear that Kendal loves you and you love him. Most of what you need to know your husband will show you. Marital congress is meant to be very pleasurable. The part for which you need to be prepared is when he enters you.”

Thalia already knew about some of the pleasurable parts, thanks to that evening under the tree, but entering her? “I do not understand.”

“A man has an appendage. We shall call it a member. It becomes hard when he is aroused. You might have felt it when you were kissing Kendal.”

She had felt a hard ridge pressing against her when they were under the tree. “Is it like a thick stick?”

“Exactly.” Meg smiled. “That is his member. It is that part of him that goes in the place from which you bleed when you have your courses.”

“That is the reason it is painful.”

“If the man is skilled and not selfish, it will hurt only the first time. Your sheath is meant to be able to stretch.” Meg looked at Thalia as if to make sure she comprehended what would occur. “It will take time for him to make you ready.”

“I think I understand. You are saying the first time should not be hurried.”

“Yes. The first time you have marital congress, he should go slowly.”

That would not be the case if they were hurrying to meet the Scottish marriage requirements for consummation. “Thank you. I know what I must do.”

Studying her Meg frowned slightly, and Thalia hoped her sister-in-law had not guessed what she planned. “If you have any other questions, please come to me.”

She summoned a smile. “You have been very helpful, and I shall. Thank you.”

Now, holding Giles’s hand as they made their way back through the passage, she knew that if she wanted her first time to be pleasant, she must take the bull by his horns, as the saying went.

Her brother and Guy went their own ways when they gained the corridor. At the door to her bedchamber, she held Giles close and whispered, “Come to me when you have readied yourself for bed.”

Giles searched her eyes, and she hoped he found her conviction in them. “Are you certain? We will not be married until morning.”

“Yes. I am perfectly sure this is the right course of action.”

He hugged her tightly. “Give me thirty minutes.”

That would be just long enough for her to ready herself and dismiss her maid. “I shall see you soon.”

Thalia walked into her bedchamber, but her maid was not there as she usually was. Something that sounded like a sob came from the dressing room, and she opened the door. Mannering was crying as if someone had died. “What is it? What is wrong?”

“Oh, my lady!” She lifted her head, and Thalia saw a red handprint on her maid’s cheek. “Your father’s man, Sittle, said that if I didn’t spy on you, I’d be dismissed without a reference. I told him I didn’t care, that I owed my loyalty to you, just like your mother said when she hired me. Then he hit me and said I’d be sorry if I didn’t do what he told me to.”

Thalia’s hands clenched into fists as rage flooded her. How dare anyone abuse her servant? “I will not allow him to harm you. However, you must make your choice. Come with me when I marry, or stay in my father’s house.”

Her maid’s eyes were red, but the tears had stopped. “My lady, I want to come with you.”

“Let me ensure you have a safe place to sleep tonight.” She tugged the bell pull twice, and the under-butler soon appeared.

He bowed. “My lady, how may I help you?”

“Miss Mannering has been threatened by one of my father’s servants, by the name of Sittle. The man is a lecher and is violent.” Thalia pointed to her maid’s cheek. “I must ensure she has a safe place to sleep this evening and can come to me freely tomorrow morning.”

The man’s eyes flashed with anger. “Give me a little while, and I will have a solution.”

He almost stomped out, and the door clicked behind him. “Come help me change and get ready for bed. I shall want my robe as well.”

Giles arrived at the same time as the under-butler returned. “What’s going on?”

She took Giles by the hand and pulled him into her room. “My maid was attacked by one of my father’s servants.”

He looked at the under-butler. “Do you have a solution?”

“Your Grace, a chamber is being prepared for Miss Mannering. I shall post a guard outside of it to see that she is not bothered and to escort her to her ladyship in the morning.”

“Very well. Have her here at seven.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I have also locked the person in his chamber until morning. Do you have a suggestion as to when we should release him?”

A slow, wicked smile formed on Giles’s firm, well-molded lips, and a glint appeared in his eyes. “When Somerset is ready to depart, and not an instant before. I want him escorted by at least two footmen out of the house and not allowed to return.”

Thalia had never seen a servant look so—so—satisfied was the only word she could think of. Her father would have to be quiet about Sittle, as well as being duped over the settlement papers and wedding, or look like a fool.

“Do I have your permission to subdue the blackguard if he resists?”

If anything, her betrothed’s smile grew. “By all means. Do whatever is necessary. We cannot allow cravens such as him to prey upon women.”

The under-butler bowed. “Just so, Your Grace. I shall take the liberty of informing the rest of the senior staff.”

“Good man.” Giles looked at Mannering. “Go with Hamish. You’ll be safe.”

“Yes, do.” Thalia squeezed her maid’s shoulder. “You will be protected, and I shall see you in the morning.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Her maid curtseyed before leaving the chamber, but not before giving Thalia a curious look.

Giles closed the door. “Now, my love. Tell me what this is about. I thought we had agreed to wait.”

She did not know how to be a seductress, but she did know how to be herself and that he wanted her. Thalia gazed into his eyes, while she placed her hands on his strong chest and pushed his banyan off his shoulders. “I occurred to me that we will not have much time tomorrow to do more than quickly consummate our marriage.” He stood in a nightshirt that revealed a deep V of dark, curling hair. “I have been told enough to realize that a quick coupling is likely to be unsatisfactory for my first time.” She undid the four buttons that were fastened and spread the fabric apart. “Therefore, after due consideration, I decided that tonight we would have more time to engage in marital congress.”

He pushed her robe off her shoulders, and it fell to the floor. “How very wise of you, my love.” Giles pressed his lips to her neck and lightly sucked the skin beneath her ear. Her breasts grew heavy, and the place between her legs began to ache. “How did I get so lucky?”

“I do not know.” His fingers grazed her nipples, and she wanted to melt into him. “That feels so good.”

“Not as good as the rest of it’s going to feel.” He drew his nightshirt over his head and lifted the hem of her nightgown.

The next moment, they were naked. Bare skin reveled in touching bare skin. His hand skated over her back and derrière, and she caressed him in the same way. “Will it feel as good as under the tree?”

She had never seen a male body. Not even a picture. All the books with drawings of Greek and Roman statues had been removed from the library at home. But if Giles was any sort of representation, the male body was magnificent, all bones, sinew, and hard muscle covered by taut skin and dark hair. He growled as he sucked first one nipple, then the other, into his mouth, and it was all she could do not to scream with pleasure.

“Blast the tree. It will be better. As good as I can make it for you.” Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and gently placed her down before crawling in and covering her with his body.