Page 21 of A Bride for the Forbidden Duke (Forbidden Lords #2)

Chapter Twenty-One

“ M r. Worthington has sent word,” Henry told Veronica a week later over dinner.

Veronica had spent a blissful week visiting the village and staying at the Hoof’s Inn where they dined until the late evening. They had drunk wine while Henry told her about his summers in the countryside. He still did not open up to her truly, but it was something.

They visited Mr. Worthington to check on the progress of several furniture pieces. This time, even Henry joined in with the discussions. He had ordered a new bench for the pianoforte. Ever since Veronica had performed at the village fair, she had been making use of the music room properly.

Henry had told her she deserved a more comfortable bench than the hard wooden one still in the music room.

“He has?” Veronica asked. “He works tremendously fast.”

“Indeed.” Henry held up a card. “He writes to say that the Duchess of Westley’s pianoforte bench with the ornate polished mahogany and plush, pink cushioned seat is one day from completion. Tomorrow, I shall have it delivered for you .”

Veronica clapped her hands. “Wonderful! Perhaps then I could perform something for you. I have been tinkering with the instrument over the last few days.”

Her husband gazed at her, something akin to softness in his eyes that had not been there before this week. “I have heard.”

“It is a lament,” she continued. “I have realized I have held too much in my heart. It grows heavy, and I wish to express myself through my old passion again. Will you still listen to it?”

“Of course,” he said. “Grief and lamentation do not faze me, Veronica.”

“I understand; I merely wanted to take care with your past.”

He rolled his neck slightly in the way he did when he was growing uncomfortable, so Veronica quickly changed the topic.

“If you have finished with your dinner, I must show you something.”

She hurried around the table to take his hand, pulling him from his chair. He managed one last swig of wine before she was tugging him down the hallway.

Before she could pull him into the music room, he had her pinned against the wall, his thigh slotted between her legs, and he pulled her flush against his hips.

She gasped at the immediate stimulation, and he caught her gasp on his tongue, kissing her deeply.

“I could not resist,” he told her. “You look beautiful.”

His hips rolled against hers, and he let out a soft moan as she tugged him closer.

“Right here in the hallway, Your Grace? What would the staff say?” She pretended to be offended and taken aback, but Henry only laughed, dipping his head towards the base of her ear, kissing just below her lobe.

“They would know to look the other way and move to another part of the house when I bend you over the balustrade.”

Her cheeks flushed deeply, imagining the sight. His voice had dropped handsomely, curling in a sultry way through her. His fingers bunched in her skirt, lifting it teasingly but not anywhere close to exposing her.

“You tease me,” she accused.

“I do not.”

But he could not keep the smile from his face, and it was something Veronica was becoming used to.

He kissed her lightly, playfully. “It is not my intention to tease; my intention is to do exactly what I said. I shall have you bared to me in your nightgown tonight and have your sweet sounds of pleasure ringing throughout Westley Manor.”

Her cheeks burned to think of it, but her body responded quicker, especially when he cupped her intimate area through her dress. She pulsed with desire. He quickly removed his hand and thigh when they heard footsteps, and Mrs. Nelson walked past up ahead. She spared them only a brief nod, recently used to their closeness.

“In here,” Veronica whispered, as if they were playing a secretive game to hide.

They stumbled into the music room, her original destination regardless, and Henry slammed the door closed, pinning Veronica to it. His teeth dragged down her neck, his breathing rough against her. She could feel his length hardening.

“I would take you on the dining table and send all my staff out if you only said the word,” he growled against her skin. “You make me ravenous. I would have you spread out for me, your legs around my head, while I feasted only on you, sated only with your taste.”

The words sent shivers through Veronica, and she kissed him feverishly, tangling her fingers in his hair. He slid his thigh back between her legs and she found herself grinding against him, finding relief as he took her hands in his and pinned her arms behind her back.

“Do you not wish to be touched?” she asked, breaking the kiss. “Is that why you bind my hands?”

“No,” he answered, “I crave your touch on me, but I crave your submission more. I am in charge of when you touch me, and your pleasure is my first thought.”

“But you will let me touch you in return, will you not?”

He leaned in close, his mouth ghosting across her cheek. “Only if you beg for it.”

Veronica gave a helpless sound of pleasure.

“Later,” he told her, laughing darkly as he pulled away. “What is it you wished to show me?”

“I have quite forgotten,” she said, aroused and frustrated now that he had teased her.

But of course, he had.

He enjoyed this game of riling her up so often. They had been intimate several times throughout the week, Henry’s taste for rougher, dark pleasure rubbing off on Veronica in the late nights and early mornings, and he often brought her close to that edge before denying her the relief of her climax. And then he would send her flying over it with another act that always had her dazed for a while afterwards.

She snapped back into focus and strode towards the curtains. “Do you notice anything different?”

“No,” he answered, looking at them with his head cocked. “Should I?”

“Yes! They were bright red two days ago,” Veronica muttered. “And now they are pale pink. Soothing. Calm.”

“And matching your pianoforte bench,” he noted.

“Exactly,” Veronica replied, proud of herself. “I take after my mother when it comes to decorating. She always loved looking at rooms of Grantham House and seeing what could be changed. It meant a lot to her to keep up with the changing eras.”

“And that is what you wish to continue with Westley Manor?”

“Yes,” she answered. “And Turner Hall, if you will let me, although I imagine it is much more fashionable than here.”

“It is designed how I like it,” Henry told her. “But you may put some touches to the house.”

He turned to her, bringing her close to the window with a hold on her hand. She was led by him willingly, curling her fingers in his shirt. Henry’s dark eyes bore into her as he held her. It was oddly tender, and she hummed, letting herself be carried away in the moment.

He leaned down to her, pressing his lips to hers. It was a more intimate kiss than the one in the hallway. This one felt like a stolen moment, a whisper of softness that was not the normal way of the Duke of Westley, but Veronica welcomed it all the same.

She tipped her head up to him, and he held the back of her head in his hand, allowing her to slip her arms around his neck.

“You do not know,” he said, voice rough, “the thoughts of you that plague me at night.”

“Will you tell me in great detail?” she whispered, her brow raising.

“I will,” he whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth, “if you shall indulge those thoughts and make them a real thing.”

“That depends on what I am to do.”

“I only ever ask for your willing submission,” he told her. “That is all.”

“And you have it,” she told him. “So, tell me what you think about when you lie alone in your chamber—seeing as you refuse to sleep in mine or let me be in yours.” Pressing herself closer to him, Veronica swayed against his body. “What do you think about when you take yourself in hand, wishing it me that was encasing you?”

Henry sharply inhaled. “Do not taunt me here.”

“As you did to me in the hallway?”

“I will not hold back in here,” he warned. “We will not be interrupted.”

Veronica only gave him a challenging stare, as if to say well, then ?

Her husband’s mouth slotted over hers with a groan, as if he was tired of holding himself back. He hoisted her up to sit her up on the pianoforte. He stood between her legs, and she wrapped her thighs around his waist. His hands grappled with her dress, pulling her skirt up higher and higher?—

Suddenly, the door opened, slamming against the wall. Veronica cried out and looked at the person who had interrupted them so loudly, and her jaw dropped.

“ You ! Get off my sister!”

Henry jerked back, away from Veronica, who hastily clambered off the pianoforte, her heart hammering in her chest as she gaped at the man who entered the music room.

It was her brother .

Robert Hartley, the Earl of Grantham stood in the doorway, and Veronica nearly fainted right there on the spot. She clung to the surface of the instrument, her mouth moving around words she could not find.

For her brother stood there, face contorted with anger. He had no jacket on, his shirt was askew, and his face was almost gaunt yet tanned. His hair was longer than she remembered, slick with oil, and she took him in.

A gasp fell from her lips.

“Robert,” she whispered.

“I am sorry, Henry!” Thomas cried, appearing behind Robert, flushed and out of breath. “I tried to stop him, but he tackled me outside the house.”

“Imbecile,” Robert snarled over his shoulder before he thundered further into the room. He jabbed a finger at Henry. “I have searched for a way back home for a year, only to do exactly that and find you— find you—compromising my sister? Get away from her.”

“Lord Grantham.” Henry’s voice was calming, as if speaking to a spooked animal. “Calm down.”

“How dare you—” Robert cut himself off with a shout as he stormed towards Henry, charging at him before he launched a punch that knocked both men to the ground. “That is my sister!”

Veronica gasped again, leaping backwards. Henry could easily overpower her brother, especially as Robert had grown thinner and visibly weaker, but he did not. He only defended himself.

“Lord Grantham!” Henry shouted. “Compose yourself immediately!”

“I will not !” he yelled. “I trusted you!” The words spat, seething. “Westley, you worthless, sniveling, backbiter!”

He threw another punch, but this time, it was Henry who gained the upper hand by catching Robert’s fist.

“Stop it!” Veronica cried. “Mr. Shawcross, do something!”

He launched into action, having watched the fight unfold in a state of shock. He lunged forward as Veronica stepped back. Fists flew, and she heard the land of knuckles against flesh. Robert pounded Henry, grabbing his shirt and wrenching him back to their feet. They stumbled, and Henry rolled his neck.

“Do not fight me, Robert,” he warned. “We both know I am stronger.”

“And I am angrier,” Robert spat, throwing a wild punch.

“Both of you—stop!” Thomas shouted, trying to wrench them back, meeting Veronica’s gaze urgently. She shouldered her way between them, crying out.

“Robert, stop!”

“He has defiled you!” Robert shouted, his eyes wide as he looked at her. “I shall not stand by upon my return and ignore that.”

“He has not,” Veronica pleaded. “Please stop. He has not defiled me.”

“Then what did I walk in on?” Robert demanded. “Because it certainly did not look innocent, sister.”

“Robert, please. You must stop this nonsense and talk. It has been a year. Let me look at you, tend to you.”

He looked at her, paused, but only returned to Henry, who stared back coolly, despite the split lip he sported. He cleared his throat.

“Lord Grantham, what you walked in on is a husband and wife sharing a moment together as they are welcome to do so in their own home.” His voice was ever so calm as he announced such a thing, and Veronica felt a stab of nerves go through her.

The room fell silent.

And then her brother’s angry shriek split the silence as he attempted to launch another rain of punches at Henry but was steadfastly held back by Thomas.

“You—fool! You traitor ! You sent me away just to get to my sister, did you? You are a cunning bastard; I will give you that, Your Grace.”

The next punch hit Thomas instead of Henry. He stumbled back, caught by Henry, and stared Robert down. Veronica, only just avoiding being hit herself, remained between them. She would not move, not give an inch to let this fight continue.

“Lord Grantham,” Thomas gasped, composing himself, “with all due respect, I did not bring you all the way here just to be punched because you cannot pause for one moment and listen to what your sister is trying to tell you. She has been sick with worry, left almost destitute, and you cannot give her even a moment of your time before you jump to conclusions? Ignore His Grace for a moment.” He nodded towards Veronica. “For your sister is right there, and do you not think she should be more important to you right now?”

Thomas’s words sank in slowly, and Veronica watched the tension drain from her brother. Slowly, he released his hold on Henry’s shirt, clinging on despite Thomas’s interference. Hesitantly, he turned to her.

“I am listening,” he said firmly.

“Robert.” Veronica’s voice broke with relief, tears stinging her eyes. She moved towards him. “Robert, I have missed you. I thought you were dead.”

“For a time, I thought I was too.”

“I do believe we should all sit down somewhere,” Thomas suggested. “Shall I call for tea, and we can retire to the parlor?”

“I think that would be best,” Henry muttered, striding past Robert with a shake of his head.

He paused at Veronica and looked at her long and hard. He gave a curt nod before leaving. Thomas followed while Veronica led Robert down to the parlor as well.

When they were all seated, with Veronica seated next to Henry, opposite her brother, and Thomas opposite Henry, she cleared her throat.

Tea was served and untouched by all of them except Thomas.

“Brother,” Veronica sighed, “I am disappointed you rushed into such a fight and would not listen to me. I am sure you have a tale to tell, but first you must hear mine.”

Robert’s glare cut to Henry, who had righted his clothing and sat proudly, watching his business partner.

“Go on,” he said. “I am listening.”

“I understand what you think you saw,” Veronica said, unable to help her blush that her brother had caught her in such a position with the Duke. “But what Henry said is true.”

“ Henry ?” Robert said, outraged. “You use his name so casually, sister?”

“As he uses mine.” She shook her head. “You were not so hotheaded when you left.”

“The year has changed me,” he shot back. “Continue, Veronica.”

She met his gaze head-on. “Henry saved me. After you left for Heaven knows where, Mama and I were left without anyone to provide for us. We… Well, Mama was left with very few choices. We had to endure the aid of Lord Barwicke?—”

“ Barwicke ?” Robert spat. “That sniveling rat is still sniffing around?”

“He did more than sniff around,” Veronica said angrily. “We had no other choice. Mama turned to him for help, and he… he asked for favors of her of a very unfortunate manner. We were gossiped about, and rumors spiraled about your whereabouts and actions. People speculated you had left us for a new life in the Americas. We had to assume we had no other option. It was at the Fernwell Ball that Lord Barwicke… He cornered me in the garden.” She swallowed and glanced at Henry. “His Grace found me and saved me. I told him the situation, and he offered me stability and security in the form of marrying him.”

“You cornered her all the same,” Robert accused the Duke. “You knew she would have no other choice?—”

“I had a duty to you,” Henry snapped. “I sent you across the sea, Lord Grantham. I sent you on this business venture. I had a duty to take care of your family should they have needed it in your stead. I did not think you would be a fool and be gone for this long and definitely without forming a plan for your family who depended on you to survive.”

Veronica cleared her throat, inserting herself back into the conversation. “His Grace proposed to me and said he would marry me. I accepted, of course. Anything to save our mother from Lord Barwicke’s cruelty.” She raised her head, clasping her hands in her lap. “Brother, I am the Duchess of Westley. His Grace is indeed my husband. You did not walk in on him defiling me or taking my honor. He has been helping our mother and me. She is once again part of society and is provided for, and I am saved from being a spinster. Everybody turned their backs on us once you disappeared.”

“And I can imagine that the defiling has long been taken care of,” Thomas laughed, only to receive three different glares. “Apologies. I only wished to lighten the mood.”

Veronica reached out to clasp her brother’s hand, bringing the attention back to them. “Brother, you always claimed that Henry was your friend. You claimed you were more than business associates. You told me you admired him, do you remember? We were strolling through the gardens, and you pointed out the climbing ivy to me and told me of your business venture with His Grace. So why are you not happy? Your friend and your sister have found—happiness.”

She winced, unsure if that was the correct word for what they had.

Because deep down, a part of her did not want to recall the other part of their agreement.

You shall live as my duchess, and when the matter is cleared, we shall live separately , the Duke had said, and she had agreed. For this marriage was only to be provided for. To secure her mother’s safety. And now with her brother back to provide for her…

Veronica tried not to think about that.

She would not be the one to raise the reminder.

“What I said about His Grace and finding out he is now my brother-in-law are two very different things, Veronica,” Robert said.

He was several years younger than thirty years old, but it seemed like the year of wherever he had been had aged him. He looked weathered and lost, desperate and angry.

“Lord Grantham,” Thomas spoke up. “If I may beseech you to be calm and rational about this. Lady Grantham was left with little option but to rely on a terrible man who was taking advantage of her. I tried to write to you myself to let you know I searched for you and to inform you of this marriage. It was never anybody’s intention to keep you in the dark. You merely were not here, and your sister found a way to survive. Henry was offering that survival. They make one another happy; I have seen it over many weeks.

“It is true that they had a struggle with the start of their marriage?—”

Henry cleared his throat, shooting him a look. Thomas continued. “They struggled at first, yes. But they have brought out joyous things in one another. I think that, with some time, once you see how happy your sister now is, you shall come around to this union.”

A union that shall likely not last the week in the way it has been. I agreed to return to Grantham House when my brother returned. I had waited for that .

Veronica’s thoughts were dour, even as she felt elated at the return of her brother.

But somewhere along waiting for him to return and being married to the Duke, she had stopped waiting. Stopped hoping. For she only knew it meant her marriage would end as it existed now.

“I do not think I will,” Robert answered bitingly. “It feels like a betrayal.”

Veronica started to react until she saw that his scathing glare cut to Henry.

“You say you did it out of duty and honor,” he spat. “But to me, it seems like you took advantage of my sister and mother. Tell me, did you plant the thought of traveling overseas in my mind, so you could be rid of me?”

“Oh, do not be ridiculous,” Henry argued. “You were too eager to prove yourself. I am not stranger to travel, Lord Grantham, but at least I know how to do it correctly and not get myself deserted for a year.”

Robert began to rise angrily, but Thomas put a hand on his arm, drawing him back down. “Now, now. Let us not rile one another up, shall we?”

“Stay out of this,” Robert snapped. “You do not know what I have been through, Westley. You ought to have warned me.”

“Forgive me for not when you were already flying out of the door from my study, desperate to be a businessman, playing a big game. You brought your misfortune upon yourself, and in doing so, you spared little care for your family.”

“At least, I have a family,” Robert seethed. The room fell silent, and Henry stood up, righting his jacket crossly.

“Lord Grantham, do not come into my home and disrespect me in such ways. I would have met with you again to discuss the dangers of overseas travel, but you were already gone. That is not my fault nor responsibility. However, as I posed the idea to you, I felt a sense of guilt for your disappearance.” He avoided Veronica’s gaze, for she had not known he felt any guilt. “So, I took it as my duty to provide for your family in your absence which I believe I caused. For that, I am sorry, but I could not endure seeing what Lord Barwicke was doing to them.”

It was the most Veronica had heard her husband speak in one go, and his words were clipped, so she knew they came from a place of anger he was trying hard to hold back. He hated losing control, and her brother wandering into his home unannounced after a year of disappearing and being presumed dead, would be a lack of control for him.

“I would like to invite you to stay the night in one of my guest rooms,” he told him. “You may freshen up here. We shall send for a change of clothes for you. Should you wish to join us for dinner this evening, along with you, Thomas, then I would be grateful for us to restart your return home in a better manner.”

He nodded at the two men and spared Veronica another longing glance before he strode out.

“I shall enquire about those clothes,” Thomas said, slinking out of the parlor after Henry.

It left the two siblings alone. Robert rose just as Veronica did. Distance and time spanned between them, the air thick with words.

“Brother,” Veronica sighed, smiling, “may we start over too?”

“It is not you I am upset with,” he grumbled. And then a small smile spread across his face. “So, you best come over here and embrace me, sister, before I change my mind.”

She flew at him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She let out a small, giddy laugh, even as she cried into his shoulder. He smelled terrible.

“Did you not get a chance to bathe before Mr. Shawcross found you?” she muttered.

“Regretfully, no,” he laughed. “Apologies to Mr. Shawcross when he returns to his carriage. I am sure it will be unpleasant.”

“Mama will want to see you,” Veronica said, drawing back. “We shall visit her together soon.”

“Veronica,” Robert interrupted, “I know you are excited, but I think I should meet with Mother alone. I have much to explain to her and a lot to apologize for. I fear she will say less if you are there. She has always felt a need to protect us, and you more so as her daughter. I need to understand, truly, what has happened this past year.”

Veronica paused before nodding. Her own reunion with them both could come soon, but Robert was right. For a long time, Veronica had been in the dark about the dealings with Lord Barwicke and her mother. Robert would need to know everything.

“I shall agree only if you take up the Duke’s offer of joining us for dinner.”

Robert nodded. “I shall. If only because I am tired and weary and cannot bear to travel again. At least for a while. I wish to sleep for a very long time after my ordeal.”

“You must tell us all about it at dinner.” She sighed and hugged him again. “Robert, I am so happy to have you return home.” She drew back again, cupping her brother’s face. “You have grown so thin!”

“And you are worrying about me, sister? Nonsense. I am your older brother. It is my role to take care of you.” He looked away sheepishly. “The Duke was right about that. I was overeager and entitled and chased money before thinking of my family. I did not take care of you as I ought to have done, and I am sorry for that. I am sorry for everything my absence has brought upon you and our mother.”

Veronica smiled at him, and they sat back down, picking up their teacups. “Time shall heal everything, do you not think?”

“Indeed,” he answered. “I am grateful for your patience and your forgiveness, and I understand I have a lot of making up to do with you both.” He laughed humorlessly. “I can only hope Mama won’t be too angry. I hope her to be happier that I am not dead than angry I am alive and committed such reckless acts.”

Veronica laughed, moving to sit next to her brother. She tucked away a torn piece of his shirt. “I am sure she will be very happy to see you. But for now, you must rest and bathe. You must eat and enjoy the fact that you have returned, for I know I shall. And the Duke will no doubt serve the best wine.”

Robert pulled a face, and Veronica was stricken. “I never thought I would say this, but I have had quite enough wine to last me a lifetime, Veronica. And when I tell you why, you shall very much understand and possibly laugh. Now, will the Duchess of Westley be so kind as to show me where I can retire to until dinner?”

“Of course,” she said.

“I cannot believe this is your home,” he said. “I cannot believe you are a duchess, and I had no hand in it.”

“Do you truly need more bolstering to your ego? I can take the credit for securing such a fortunate thing alone.”

“Oh, you can, can you?” he teased, and for a moment, it was like they were young again, laughing playfully as they chased one another and blamed one another for mishaps.

“Yes,” she answered. “For it was me who approached the Duke, after all.”

With that, she strode out, knowing he would follow. She greatly hoped he would rethink his anger that Henry had approached Veronica without a cause.