Two Notorious Dukes Page 9

  ‘How do you know that?’ Argyll asked.

  She gave him a stern look. ‘I’m not a wilting violet, no matter how many nightmares I have and I was an experienced wife.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s written all over his face!’

  ‘Have you proposed yet?’ Verity asked brightly and Sarah squirmed. Robert slinked onto the terrace and she handed him a cup of tea.

  ‘Sort of.’ Argyll said and looked at Sarah appraisingly. ‘But she hasn’t given me an answer yet.’

  ‘Good.’ Elizabeth looked at Sarah. ‘Don’t rush a decision. You have the choice, so make it because you want it, not because you’re grateful. There is nothing in this world worse than a loveless marriage.’

  ‘Do you speak from experience, then?’ Robert asked and was disconcerted by the look of horror on her face.

  ‘Yes. I speak from experience.’ She said hollowly. ‘There is nothing worse than a loveless marriage.’

  Tea passed without effort and the five of them spent the evening playing whist and faro until dinner and then it was the men’s turn to entertain. Elizabeth was surprised that Robert had a fine singing voice and Argyll played the piano very well.

  The ladies retired to bed at about ten o’clock leaving Argyll and Robert to their cards and brandy.

  ‘Robbie?’ Robert looked up at his friend. ‘Do yourself a favour, don’t just fuck her.’

  ‘Who?’ he asked trying to be innocent.

  ‘Elizabeth. She’s worth so much more.’

  ‘I know.’ He said hollowly, ‘But I don’t think she’s really interested in me.’

  ‘What makes you say that?’ Argyll asked determinedly.

  ‘She called me an arrogant rake this afternoon.’ Robert squirmed and suddenly Argyll knew why she’d called him a rake.

  ‘Did you fuck her?’ he demanded.

  ‘No.’ Robert said shaking his head. ‘But I did make her orgasm under the oak tree.’ He smiled at the memory of her.

  Argyll smiled. ‘No wonder she called you a rake.’ He sighed. ‘Robbie you’re supposed to court them first. Not go straight to bed.’

  ‘It’s not as if she’s a virgin!’ he said indignantly.

  ‘That’s not the point though. A rake is always a rake until he chooses to marry, did you ask her?’ Robert shook his head. ‘So she doesn’t want to be another conquest that you love and leave when you’re finished with her, like Abigail Beresford.’

  ‘What have you heard?’ Robert asked warily.

  ‘I saw Rathbone a week ago and she’s with child and trying to skewer him for the money, but he knows you were there before him.’

  ‘Randolph was there before me and Cranwell and Farrington have been doing her at the same time. I told her if its dark haired I might think about helping her, but I’m not paying for Randolph’s bastard.’

  ‘What did she want?’ Argyll asked softly.

  ‘Marriage!’ Robert spat. ‘And I won’t be suckered in like that. She came to me first because I’m the richest and a Duke.’ He slopped more brandy in his glass. ‘I told her to go to the country and wait for her husband to come home, but I doubt she’ll do that.’ He sighed deeply, ‘she’ll hang around until the season starts and then she’ll turn up at every ball and soirée to try and embarrass me into giving her what she wants.’ Robert refilled his glass.

  ‘Now how do you feel about Elizabeth?’ Argyll asked.

  ‘I like her.’ Robert said softly. ‘Beside the fact she tastes good; she’s brave and knows her own mind.’

  ‘Can you see yourself with her for the next thirty years or more?’ Argyll asked an age old question.

  Robert actually thought about it, before making the usual snap reply of nothing is forever. ‘Yes, I probably could. I know I would love to see her with my children.’

  ‘Give it some effort, Robbie and don’t treat her like your usual whores.’ Argyll said. ‘She’s not like them, she’s different.’

  ‘I know!’ Robert spat, affronted to be lectured. He drained his glass and poured more. ‘I think it’s your deal!’ he said blithely and the cards continued until neither of them could see the value of the cards in their hands. They struggled to help each other up the stairs and Robert crawled into his bedroom, he managed to discard his clothes in a heap on the floor and just dropped naked on the bed.

  Elizabeth heard them come to bed. She smiled indulgently as they tried to shush each other on the landing. She waited another hour before she slipped out onto the balcony and went to Robert’s room.

  He didn’t realise that he’d awoken a monster. She was filled with desire and intended all along to exact satisfaction from him during the night.But whether he’ll remember it or not is another matter.She thought as she pushed on the French doors. They opened soundlessly and she crept across the room to the bed. The moonlight was strong and bathed everything in a silver sheen, so she could see Robert lying there without a stitch on. She whipped her nightgown off and carefully climbed on the bed. She gently stroked her palm over his flaccid manhood. He felt so velvety and soft. At the same time she placed her nose against the centre of his chest and sniffed the aroma of his body. ‘Mmm! Sandalwood.’ She murmured as she took his penis in her hand and started to milch him. He moaned and was disturbed by her attentions, but his manhood stood up for the attention and she smiled at its arrogance. Slowly she engulfed him in her mouth and Robert was suddenly aware he was being sucked off. He groaned and clasped his hands in her hair as she sucked gently on the head of his penis, but his attempt to pull her away was thwarted as her other hand cradled his testicles, her thumb gently stroking them as she slid her tongue over the head and down the outside of his penis and then back up to torment the head again. He yanked her head away from his groin and said firmly ‘what do you think you’re doing, Madam?’ she smiled sweetly at him and kissed him deeply as she threw her leg over him as if he was a horse. Taking his throbbing penis in her hand she guided him into her entrance and slowly she lowered her body onto him. ‘Oh! God!’ erupted from Robert’s throat and his hands clutched her thighs in a vice, as she started to ride him. Her hands were on his chest, rather than his shoulders and she moved voluptuously. He moaned as he tried to force a quicker rhythm, but she wouldn’t be rushed. ‘So hot.’ He murmured and suddenly her internal muscles were contracting and she felt him spurt as he climaxed and she sat on him and watched him shudder and jerk by the moonlight. She could see the look of ecstasy on his face and was happy.

  ‘Why?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Because I wanted to.’ She whispered. ‘And don’t for one minute think that I’m finished yet. You woke a ravening beast this afternoon and she wants to be satisfied!’

  ‘Then allow me, Madam.’ He said and deftly rolled her onto her back and lazily slid his manhood out, before he pushed it back in. She gasped as her vagina spasmed and he grinned as her body reacted.That’s the first time I’ve had that reaction.He said to himself. He slowly glided within her, always pulling just out of the entrance until she was moaning and thrashing. Her body writhed in ecstasy as Robert worked her to another climax. As she lifted him with her hips, she grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it, screaming in delirium as her body convulsed and Robert pushed in as far as he could get before he left go of his climax and she could feel the pulsing of his member as his hot sperm burst inside her. She grunted with every spasm of her body and he was actually humbled. Never before had he felt a woman orgasm so explosively. He rested on the elbow on his good side and stroked the sweaty hair off her face. ‘How was that?’ he murmured as he kissed her softly.

  ‘Better, but there is definitely more to come.’ She said and smiled at him. ‘How’s your stamina?’ she asked raising an eyebrow.

  He smiled broadly. ‘Grab a hand hold!’ he said firmly and started to pump her vigorously. Again she writhed like a snake and she moaned as he demanded all that her body could give. Eventually she was convulsing as another climax swept her body and he kissed her deeply as her internal muscles relaxe
d again. He felt the burn as the last of his sperm dribbled out into her. His penis shrank away from her convulsing sex and he rolled on his back with a satisfied sigh. He pulled her body against his flank and murmured. ‘You should sleep now.’

  She lay quiescent beside him, enthralled with the deep ache that she had so longed for through the years of her marriage.Edward didn’t know what he was doing!She thought and then she considered the times they had sex where there was no violence and there weren’t many. It suddenly came to her notice that Edward needed violence to become aroused. She recalled vividly the size of his penis when he was thrashing her with his horse whip, it was huge and throbbing. But if she had sucked him off in the middle of the night, he would barely have got hard enough to perform. She was satiated and happy with the essence of Robert sticky on her thighs.And what will you do if you get pregnant?She asked herself.Finally have the child that I want. It doesn’t matter if Robert doesn’t want me; I’ll finally have what I want.

  Robert started to snore, from the alcohol still in his system and the sexual satisfaction that had totally relaxed his body. She smiled gently, kissed his lips softly and climbed off the bed. She scrabbled around for her nightgown, pulled it over her head and slinked down the balcony to her own room. She carefully washed herself and then went to sleep fully satisfied for the first time in her life.

  Chapter 7 Love or need?

  Robert became aware that he was lying on his face. He opened his eyes slowly expecting to see Elizabeth’s fiery hair on the pillow next to him. His eyes took in the vast expanse of white linen, but no auburn hair. He lifted his head, wondering if she was curled up further down the bed, only to find himself alone. He rolled over and checked the room, but it was empty.

  Damn! Did I dream it? He asked himself, but as he looked down at his body he could see the tell tale signs of dried sperm on his groin and thighs.No, it wasn’t a dream. She was actually here!He was stunned as he thought about the night, as he became aware he wasn’t alone in bed.Damn me, if she didn’t suck my cock!He thought as he recalled the exquisite feeling as she gently sucked and teased him.I don’t think any girl has ever sucked my cock like that.And then he recollected how she made love to him and the ecstasy it was to watch her breasts swing as her body moved. A laugh spluttered from him.Some china doll!He thought and he smiled as he recollected just how many times he tupped her and how demanding she was.What did she say? I’d released a ravening beast?He gently massaged his penis as he thought about her in the night.More like a damned Siren!

  Burke arrived with a flurry and Robert quickly covered himself with the sheet. The bath was manoeuvred in and the servants filled it.

  ‘Good morning, Your Grace.’ Burke said as he went to the wardrobe and started to take out Robert’s clothes for the day. ‘Did you sleep well?’

  Robert looked up sharply. He was aware how much the servants observed in any household, but Burke was just sedately opening a drawer to get out his linen.

  ‘I did, but then I usually sleep well with an excess of brandy in my belly.’ He sighed contentedly, folding his hands under the back of his head and staring at the ceiling.She is so beautiful.He thought and smiled softly, and so damned sexy.

  ‘Your bath is ready, Your Grace.’ Burke said as he withdrew from the room. Robert dived out of bed and plunged his body in the hot water, revelling in the sting of it. He lay back to soak his shoulder and contemplated his next move.Should I creep into her room tonight? No, I should wait and see how she is today.He decided. As he thought about her deep need during the night, he also started to consider her marriage. Was it as brutal as her nightmare’s made out?She’s certainly not afraid of intercourse. I wonder what went wrong with her marriage. I suppose I should ask her.

  He got on with his ablutions. Elizabeth had bathed already and was downstairs with Mrs. Simmons in the kitchens.

  ‘Lady Elizabeth, you shouldn’t be in here!’ she said uncomfortably.

  ‘Relax Mrs. Simmons. I like being in a kitchen that smells of fresh bread and frying bacon.’ She was sat at the huge table, drinking tea. ‘How long have you known Lord Bosworth?’ she asked evenly.

  ‘Oh! I’ve known Lord Robert since he was in swaddling, My Lady. I was a kitchen maid at Roding Hall when his mother brought him into the world.’ She smiled contentedly. ‘According to the local midwife, he was an exceptionally quick baby and easy to get out. She didn’t need any forceps; he fair flew out on his own!’

  ‘Eager!’ Elizabeth muttered.

  ‘He was indeed, Ma’am. He was always a happy baby and he grew into a right charmer. He could entice cook to spoil him, me too! He was so gifted at getting us wrapped around his finger.’ She smiled benevolently. ‘And then his sister arrived, little Susanna.’ She sighed deeply. ‘Such a sweet little girl.’ She was quiet as she fetched the fresh bread from the oven, bounced them onto the table and tapped the bottoms until the bread fell out of the tin.

  ‘He was besotted with her from the moment he looked in the cradle.’ Mrs. Simmons continued. ‘Nothing was ever too much trouble for Susanna. He entertained her every day until he met that little slut Christina!’ she spat viciously. ‘She was the daughter of a local landowner, a gentleman of good breeding.’ She said proudly. ‘Not good enough for Lord Peter, of course, but ideal for the second son.’

  ‘Who is Lord Peter?’ Elizabeth asked softly.

  ‘Lord Peter was the eldest. Heir to the Dukedom. The old Duke made sure he was educated. Sent him to Eton and Cambridge. Lord Robert went to Eton, but as I say he was introduced to that little slut Christina and everything changed then.’

  ‘In what way?’ Elizabeth asked curiously.

  ‘I never quite understood how Lord Robert didn’t know what she was like. I suppose its necessary for a young lady to be excessively demure if she’s in the marriage market. But somehow she managed to hide from him her sordid past.’ She sighed again. ‘I suppose we could have told him, but it wasn’t our place to be so forward. We knew the first day she was there that she was tupping the groom.’

  ‘What happened?’ Elizabeth asked.

  ‘He caught her in the act. She was in the stables, riding the groom for all she was worth and Lord Robert went to check on his injured horse.’ She looked as if she was going to cry. ‘He was so shocked. His father dissolved the engagement on the spot and she was unceremoniously ordered off the grounds. His father was so incensed that he allowed Lord Robert to almost beat the groom to death. But violence wasn’t the answer to a broken heart. A week later Lord Robert bought his commission and was gone.’

  ‘Where?’ Elizabeth enquired, noticing that she barely needed to prompt the housekeeper to gossip.

  ‘Into the Army. He was sent to Flanders at first and then he went to India and he was in Copenhagen when his family died.’

  ‘What happened to them?’ Elizabeth asked with such compassion, that Mrs. Simmons looked at her face.

  ‘It was the morbid sore throat. Nearly everybody in the house had it, including me. I was lucky, because I survived. Four other servants did too and I was immediately promoted to housekeeper, because the housekeeper was the first one of the staff to die. It was rampant through the village and the Duchess caught it first, the Duke nursed her day and night and the housekeeper helped him. He held her while the housekeeper painted Melrose on her throat.’ She shook her head sadly. ‘Didn’t make any difference, she was dead in a week. Then the children got it, both Lady Susanna and Lord Peter’s children, then his wife followed by Lord Peter and then the Duke.’ She wiped a hand over her face. ‘I had it at the same time as the Duchess and I was getting better when the old Duke became ill. He sent for me and instructed me how to send for Lord Robert.’

  Mrs. Simmons had been working throughout this explanation and suddenly she shouted a string of orders to the housemaids. She turned back to Elizabeth. ‘Breakfast is going up to the breakfast room, Lady Elizabeth, can I get you anything else?’

  ‘No. Thank you Mrs. Simmons, for your cando
ur.’ She smiled kindly and went to the stairs, leaving Mrs. Simmons up to her elbows in breakfast preparations.

  She walked slowly upstairs, realising that Robert’s army career was longer than she’d thought. She assumed that his campaign in Copenhagen was in 1801, when Lord Nelson bombarded the city, but it was obviously much later.He’s not been a Duke for very long!She thought in amazement.No wonder he was lost, to come back from the army and shoulder those kinds of responsibilities must be very difficult. He’s now in the position to help run a war, rather than fight in one!

  In the breakfast room, Johnny Argyll was just helping himself to tea. ‘Good morning, Lady Elizabeth.’

  ‘Good Morning, Your Grace.’ Elizabeth replied demurely as she sat down.

  ‘I think we have reached the stage where we can drop formal titles?’ Argyll said softly. ‘It would be much nicer to have an informal atmosphere.’

  ‘If you say so, your Grace.’ She said coyly and looked up at him. He turned abruptly to say something else, but was captivated by the wicked smile plastered across her heart shaped mouth.

  ‘What did you do?’ he asked softly.

  ‘I gave him a dose of his own medicine.’ She said softly and smiled again. ‘Just watch him at breakfast.’

  ‘Good morning!’ Lady Verity said brightly as she seated herself at the table. It didn’t take long for Lady Sarah to arrive and then Argyll was waiting with bated breath for Robert to arrive.

  Suddenly he skidded into the doorway and then he gave every one a good morning and slipped into a seat opposite Elizabeth.

  Argyll desperately tried to hide his mirth at Robert’s expression. He tried to decide what it was on Robert’s face,puppy love? Or maybe it was devotion, but it was probably lust!

  Argyll kept the conversation going and Lady Sarah was hanging on every word, so Argyll lost interest in Robert, but Lady Verity did not, she watched him like a hawk.

  Elizabeth spent the whole day with Lady Verity and Lady Sarah. Robert desperately tried to get her on her own, but was thwarted at every turn by somebody else. By dinner, he was quite put out and a little offended by Elizabeth’s unwillingness to talk to him alone. He actually wondered what he’d done wrong. Have I offended her, by going to sleep? But I was exhausted and couldn’t help it.