Two Notorious Dukes Read online

  ‘It was such a shock that the Prince would do such a thing!’ she said obviously still annoyed about it. ‘But it was a very memorable kiss.’ She said and glanced coyly over her shoulder. She adjusted the reins over the horse’s head, checked the headgear and then led the horse from the stable.

  ‘Your horse is ready, Your Grace.’ The stable boy said and waited.

  ‘Thank you.’ Argyll said politely. ‘May I assist you into the saddle?’ he asked and smiled devilishly at her.

  ‘That’s very kind of you.’ she said and lifted her left foot backwards, with her knee bent. Argyll bent down and cupped her knee with his left hand and her ankle with his right and easily lifted her up, she swung her body around until she was almost sat sideways on the saddle, hooked her right knee over the pommel and adjusted her full skirts as Argyll slipped the stirrup over her left foot. He deliberately stroked her ankle as he removed his hand, but the leather of her boots went half way up her calf. So instead he thought about her knee encased in white silk and it made him groan again as he walked to his own horse, threw himself up onto the saddle and started the beast into motion.

  They had been trotting for about five minutes, when Argyll pushed up the pace to a canter. He tried to push the pace to a gallop and that’s when Sarah started to get left behind. He slowed and walked his horse to wait for her.

  ‘Do you not gallop?’ he enquired softly, trying not to give offence.

  ‘I’m not actually used to riding in a proper habit.’ Sarah said apologetically. ‘On my fathers estate I rode with my brothers and had their cast off britches to wear. I always had a gabardine skirt over them for propriety, but I’ve never ridden side saddle until I came here, so I’m unsure of my balance.’

  ‘My Lady, when you ride with me, you can sit how ever you like.’ He boldly stated and to his delight, Sarah pulled up her mount and slid off its back. She stood for a few minutes adjusting the stirrups and twisting the knee pommel out of the way. When she was ready, she simply put her foot in the stirrup and launched herself into the saddle, swinging her leg over the horse’s back and adjusting her skirts. ‘That’s more comfortable.’ She said and sighed. She smiled brightly at the Duke. ‘Last one to the end of the road is a coward!’ she shouted and kicked her mounts flanks vigorously. The horse took off into a gallop and Lady Sarah’s hat blew back off her head, hanging by the chin strap and bouncing on her back, allowing her golden tresses to fly free.

  The sportsman in Argyll couldn’t possibly let a woman win, but the man was enchanted to be following such a nymph and avidly watched her seat.

  At the end of the road was the marsh. She stopped her horse, abruptly making it rear and jumped off it’s back. She soothed it and stroked its muzzle as she adjusted the reins. ‘Shall we walk, Your Grace?’ she asked and Argyll threw himself out of the saddle, taking up the place beside her.

  ‘Where exactly were your family estates?’ he enquired.

  ‘Dorset.’ She said softly. ‘We would ride to the white cliffs every day and play down on the beach and my favourite place was definitely Portland Bill!’ she said with a laugh. ‘My brothers and I would play hide and seek among the boulders there.’ And he watched the smile fall from her face.

  ‘Where are your brothers now?’ he asked softly as he saw the first tear tremble on her lashes.

  ‘In the army. My father and my three brothers have all been sent to Portugal, where they will become cannon fodder for Napoleons army.’ She said hollowly. He stopped her, by putting his hand on her arm and as she turned to look at him, he put his palm on her cheek, brushing the tears away with his thumb.

  ‘Not everyone dies in war. There are always survivors.’ He said softly and pulled her against his chest as the reality of her changed existence erupted in barely controlled sobs. ‘What is going to happen to me now?’ she begged through the sobs racking her body.

  Argyll took the reins from her hand, hobbled both horses and turned her around. With an arm about her shoulders, he walked her to a style, where he sat and pulled her onto his knee.

  ‘What would you like to happen now?’ he asked softly and she laid her head on his shoulder.

  ‘I..I..don’t know.’ She stuttered. ‘I’ve always had my father to tell me what was going to happen, not letting me choose.’

  ‘Would you like me to point out some options for you?’ he asked as he rubbed his cheek over her hair. She nodded her head.

  ‘Well, you can stay with us and my mother will try to find you a suitable husband, or you can try it out in the world on your own. You could accept Prinny’s offer of lady in waiting to Princess Caroline or you can marry me and I’ll make you a Duchess.’

  She looked up sharply. ‘Is that why you bought me?’ she demanded and sat up straighter, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  ‘No.’ He said evenly as he shook his head. ‘But it’s just another possibility.’ He stood her up and went to retrieve the horses. He handed her the reins and they continued to walk around the marsh.

  ‘What would I do out in the world on my own?’ she asked confused.

  ‘Not a lot, but you would probably end up a lady of the night.’

  She inhaled sharply, embarrassed at the thought of becoming a prostitute. He smiled at her discomposure.

  ‘It’s an ancient and honourable profession.’ He said laughing at the look of horror on her face. They walked in silence for a bit longer.

  ‘I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked about that. If I accept the Prince’s offer I would become exactly the same thing for him.’

  ‘You would indeed and he wouldn’t have anybody to look after you, whereas a brothel has a madam, to protect the girls and keep them healthy.’

  ‘What kind of husband would your mother be able to find for me?’ she asked curiously.

  ‘Conceivably any.’ He said shrugging his shoulders. ‘She would introduce you for the new season when we get back to London in September.’

  ‘But who would pay for all this?’ she asked in exasperation.

  ‘That would be me.’ He said and smiled gently. ‘It would all come from my estate, but then as I own you, who else would be expected to pay.’

  She stopped abruptly and he didn’t notice, but kept walking. ‘And just what would happen if I decided to become a Duchess?’

  He stopped, turned around and smiled beatifically. ‘Why that would be the easy one. I would court you and you would become my wife, have my name and truly you would belong to me, just as my heart already belongs to you.’

  She frowned as she ran to catch up with him. ‘But how do you know your heart already belongs to me?’ she demanded.

  He stopped again and turned to her. ‘Because of our first kiss! Didn’t you feel it too?’ he asked and smiled softly again.

  She looked up into his face. He could only interpret her expression as assessing. ‘No, I don’t think I did. Maybe if you kiss me again, I’ll recognise it.’ She said winsomely.

  ‘May I kiss you the same way?’ he asked and she nodded vigorously. He turned and spied a fallen log, took her by the upper arm and dragged her over to it. He sat down and still with the reins in his hand; he pulled her into his lap and kissed her exactly as he had in Almack’s a few weeks before. Again her lips parted for him as she gasped and again her body became putty in his arms and his erection almost burst out the front of his britches as he laid her across his knee. This time his tongue was a little more demanding as he investigated every silky millimetre of her mouth. It madden him as he delved deeply and crushed her body against his chest. Suddenly he became aware of her fists thumping his back and her body wriggling in panic. He jerked his mouth away from hers and looked her in the eyes, to see anger flashing there. He was somewhat shocked to find his hand up her skirts and stroking the silky skin of her bare thighs. He jerked his hand down and straightened her skirts. He pulled her upright and said ‘I’m so sorry. I got carried away.’

  She leaped off his lap and went to her horse, sorting the reins quickl
y, she sprang onto its back and from the elevated height she could look down on him. Damn! You idiot!He berated himself.

  She smiled sweetly. ‘I think it’s obvious you have no experience with virgins!’ she said and smiled as she kicked her horse into a canter.

  Chapter 6 Dreams and Nightmares

  Elizabeth was dozing in the shade of the oak tree near the lake. Because of the excessive heat, she had reduced her clothing to just her chemise and dress. In the winter she wore the short stays and petticoats, but it was too hot for all those garments in a very sultry August heat.

  She started to dream. She could see Robert, laughing and throwing his son into the lake and she was sat on the dock with their daughter, who looked exactly like Amelia. She felt contented. Robert waved at her and she waved back. And then Edward called and she turned her head and Edward was bearing down on her in fury, brandishing his riding crop and shouting at her. Calling her an ungrateful whore as he struck her face with his fist and knocked her off the stool she’d been sat on. She screamed and begged for help, but Robert and the children faded away and her world became pain as Edward rained the blows on her body.

  Robert was sat on the terrace reading the local broad sheet, when he heard her scream. Verity was immediately on her feet. ‘Robert! Go and find her at once!’ she ordered, but it was unnecessary as Robert was already at the edge of the terrace and heading for the lake.

  She was wearing a soft pink muslin dress and he didn’t have any trouble spotting her under the oak tree. He ran up to her and crouched down. Gently he touched her shoulder. ‘Elizabeth?’ he called and shook it more firmly. ‘Elizabeth!’ She screamed again. ‘Elizabeth, I’m here!’ he said comfortingly and manoeuvred her onto his lap. He pulled her head onto his shoulder, wrapped his arms tightly around her petit frame and rocked her like a child, gentling her as he stroked her hair. Eventually she subsided and was quiet. He rested his back against the tree, stretched his legs out and just held her in his arms and waited for her to wake up naturally.

  He was quite content, watching the ducks and geese on the lake with such a beautiful woman in his lap. He looked down to study her face and was surprised to see her watching him. ‘Hello.’ He said simply.

  ‘Hello.’ She whispered hoarsely. ‘I take it I was screaming?’ He smiled gently and nodded. ‘The ducks didn’t arrive until after you’d stopped.’ And he nodded towards the lake. She turned her head and watched the ducks swimming and gambolling about in the water. The geese were stood in the shallows washing themselves by using their wings to cascade water over their backs. ‘I’ve never watched a goose wash before.’ She said softly, putting her hand on his injured shoulder and pulling herself upright. He gasped as the pain shot through his shoulder from the top of his arm to his neck. ‘I’m so sorry. I forgot about that.’ She said and gently stroked the top of his shoulder. He started moaning, leaned his head back against the tree and closed his eyes. She screwed her body sideways, so her knee was resting on his diaphragm, and she started to massage his shoulder properly. She knew roughly where the indentation was, so she rubbed firmly all around it. ‘How did you get it? Copenhagen?’ she asked gently.

  ‘What makes you think it wasn’t duelling?’ he asked and opened his eyes.

  She smiled. ‘It’s too deep to be a pistol shot. That was done with a musket or rifle.’

  ‘It was a musket. We were trying to wrap Copenhagen up for a siege.’ He shook his head and closed his eyes again. ‘Their soldiers had no idea how to fight the troops that we had. Our soldiers had just come back from India and of course, the Danish are a peaceful people. When you walk through the streets of Copenhagen there is no sewage in the gutters, the streets are clean, the people are well dressed and work is the focal point of everyone’s day.’ He said distantly as she continued to massage his chest. She had unbuttoned his jacket, loosened his cravat and opened his shirt. She found it intensely erotic to be rubbing his bare chest and shoulder and she had a deep rooted desire to bury her face in his chest hair and breath deeply of his aroma. ‘They had mortars, rather than field guns or large cannon. My company had to hold the line while the skirmishers dealt with the gunners and while we were waiting the order came to move forward, so we did and then I was hit.’ He opened his eyes and looked at his shoulder. ‘It was as if I’d been kicked by a horse. Burke came back for me as I lay screaming on the grass. He picked me up and took me to the surgeons, who spent the next hour digging around in my shoulder for all the bits!’

  ‘Is that why you scream when you’re dreaming about it?’ she asked suddenly and made him jump. He nodded and looked into her Madonna’s face and wanted to kiss those heart shaped lips. She gently put her fingertip on the dimple on his chin and smiled coyly. ‘I’ve wanted to do that all day.’ She whispered and looked into his azure eyes again.

  ‘Elizabeth.’ He whispered as he pulled her face to his and gently he kissed her, as if he was tasting her lips. Being a widow, rather than a virgin, Elizabeth opened her lips and kissed him right back and they gradually engulfed each other in a long passionate kiss. The way she was sitting she could feel his manhood swelling against her thigh and it made her moan as she dropped her hand onto it, making him jump. He jerked his lips away from her and she smiled at him.

  ‘What?’ she asked coyly again.

  ‘You surprised me, that’s all.’

  ‘Don’t all your other women handle you?’ she asked impertinently.

  ‘Not really.’ He murmured and caressed her cheek with his nose.

  ‘I know all about sex, Robert.’ She said calmly. ‘You do realise I’m not a virgin.’

  ‘Yes. I know.’ He said and kissed her again. He shoved his hands in her armpits, lifting her to her feet, pushed her skirts up to her knees and pulled her down to straddle his lap. He kissed her passionately wrapping his arms tightly about her frail body. His tongue began to explore her mouth, the way he wanted his manhood to explore her passage. He erotically stroked his tongue in and out of her mouth, making her moan and writhe. Suddenly she didn‘t seem so small, he pulled her up on her knees and his fingers started stroking the backs of her thighs. It was so erotic she shuddered, especially when he traced his fingertips around the top of her thighs, under her buttocks, until his hands were flat on the back of her legs and his fingers were between her thighs. ‘Oh! God!’ burst from her lips as he removed his mouth and he smiled as his fingers touched her, stroking softly at the lips of her sex. ‘Yes!’ she gasped . ‘Oh! God! Yes! Robert, it’s been so long!’

  Robert had no intention of making love to her under the oak tree,but I could maybe give her an orgasm or twohe thought lasciviously.

  He gently prised her lips apart and stroked his long fingers along the silky interior, from back to front. She moaned again and jerked as his fingertip slid over her clitoris. He was astonished at how wet she was, it was pouring out of her. He delicately teased her until her first orgasm exploded and her body shook with the intensity. He quickly laid her on her back, pushing her skirts up around her waist and buried his face between her thighs. He sucked and licked at her as her body writhed and she orgasmed again almost immediately and clutched her hands in his hair. ‘Oh!’ she gasped and continued to grunt as her sex pulsed. ‘Oh! God! It’s fantastic!’ she groaned as she lifted her hips for more. He kept her coming until she was so sensitive he couldn’t touch her and her legs were crushing his skull. He finally removed his tongue with one final slow lick and she jerked. He pushed her knees together and pulled her skirts down again. Laying beside her, propped on his elbow he stared down into an ecstatic face. ‘Thank you!’ she gasped. ‘I’d almost forgotten what it was like!’

  ‘Was it that good?’ he asked so softly. She stared up into his face and nodded.

  ‘It was wonderful.’ She mumbled against his lips as he kissed her softly.

  ‘I think anything else should be done in private, not under the oak tree by the lake.’ He murmured in between kisses.

  ‘And when do you intend t
o seduce me properly.’ She asked with a smile.

  ‘Well, I was thinking about after dinner or tonight.’ He said and smiled, ‘your choice of course.’

  She nodded. ‘And where do intend for this illicit joining to take place?’

  ‘My room or yours?’ he asked and she actually giggled.

  ‘You’re despicable!’ she said and sat up. ‘Do you think that because I’ve let you have your face between my thighs that you can just climb into my bed?’

  ‘Not if you don’t want me to.’ He said and lay on his back with his hands behind his head.

  She screwed her body around and looked down at him. ‘There it is!’ she said suddenly. He opened his eyes and looked at her quizzically. ‘The arrogant rake!’ She stood up suddenly and brushed her skirts down. ‘Its alright Robert Bosworth. I don’t intend to be your next conquest. But thank you for the taster.’ She said tartly and walked away towards the house.

  Taster?He thought in shock as it dawned on him she was actually walking away. He thought about what she’s said.Am I just an arrogant rake? I suppose if I want her to take my suit seriously, I shouldn’t have given her an oral under the oak tree. Its a pity, she really tasted quite good and she’s the only girl I’ve felt like having oral sex with for a very long time!

  Elizabeth arrived back on the terrace, just as Sarah and Argyll got back from their ride and Mrs. Simmons brought out tea.

  ‘Where’s Robert?’ Lady Verity asked pointedly. Elizabeth smiled brightly. ‘I left him on his back under the oak tree thinking about what he really is and what he really wants!’

  ‘The devil you did!’ Argyll exploded. ‘Did you actually call him a rake?’

  ‘I did. I called him an arrogant rake, actually.’ She smiled as she accepted tea from Lady Verity.

  ‘If he asked you to marry him, would you?’ Lady Verity asked.

  ‘He won’t do that until he’s sorted through his emotions. At the moment he can’t decide whether he loves me or not!’