Page 15 of One Kiss in the Shadows (Singular Sensation #12)

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J une 1, 1819

Mallory was quite satisfied with how the day had gone. While the duke had been out of the house for a few meetings, she’d met with the housekeeper and butler regarding a handful of decorating projects she wanted to start within the townhouse. One of the ideas was quite bold in that she wished to draw a mural on one of the walls in the upstairs private parlor.

By the time Nathaniel had returned home for tea, she’d sent inquiries to a painter, a man who would change out wall sconces and the chandelier in the drawing room, as well as drapers, painters, and workers who would put up wallpaper. When she told him of her plans, he was quite enthusiastic about them and couldn’t wait to see the results.

Dinner had been a quiet affair where they’d discussed popular topics of the day. He’d offered a commentary of what he faced in the Lords and his opinions therein, and she rather enjoyed his descriptions and stories of the men he fought with and opposed on the floor when they discussed policies and potential laws. In turn, she’d provided him with anecdotes of amusing things that had happened in the home during the day.

Once they had both moved to the drawing room for the remainder of the night, Mallory fairly floated on a cloud of contentment. All those years when she’d been trapped in the asylum under false pretenses, there had been many nights when she’d consoled herself with dreams of days and nights just like this. For so long, she’d wanted the security of having someone in her life who respected her and wanted her for herself. More and more, she felt that she had that in Nathaniel, and it was glorious to think about.

Thinking of him, she glanced over the table to where he sat on a low sofa that matched the one she currently occupied. At some point during the quiet evening, Peri had come to join them as she usually did. And wonder of wonders, the cat had unbent enough to let the duke pet her, talk to her, and now, he was playfully teasing her with a tattered hair ribbon.

“Now see here, Peridot. I would very much like to read poetry to your mistress, but I can’t do that when you are occupying all my time.” Yet he continued to dangle the bedraggled yellow ribbon in front of the cat so she would bat at it and claw at the satin.

“Once she decides that she likes someone’s company, she’ll act quite selfish about it,” Mallory warned on the heels of a chuckle. “I’m glad the two of you are friends.”

“As am I.” Then he glanced at her and their gazes connected. Emotions that she couldn’t quite see in the low light of the candles roiled there, and sent a host of shivers down her spine. Then, with a wink, he pulled a ratty object from the interior pocket of his tailcoat. “Oh, what is this? It appears to be a mouse... er rather was at one time.”

Mallory snorted with laughter. “Oh, dear. Peri has had that for a very long time indeed. Someone in the asylum knitted it for her, but with the cat’s claws, the threads have been pulled and frayed. And it looks rather worse for wear, doesn’t it?”

“She loves it, so that is all that matters.” The whole of his attention was taken up with the cat at that point, and he made certain Peri saw the bedraggled mouse. “Do you want this, girl?” He dangled it by the equally frayed tail until her notice was fully engaged.

“Meow!”

“Ah, excellent.” Then the duke tossed the toy. It arced through the air to land on the far side of the room, skittering beneath a small ivory-inlaid table.

Immediately, the cat leaped over the high back of the sofa to land heavily on the floor beyond, and then she raced after the mouse to slide beneath the table and pounce on the sad toy.

With a chuckle, Nathaniel draped the ribbon on the sofa arm. Seconds later, he stood and relocated to her sofa, sitting close enough to her that when he slipped an arm about her waist, he pulled her close. Once they’d nestled together and leaned back against the arm with her settled between his splayed legs, she sighed.

“Content, Lady Strathfield?” he asked against the shell of her ear.

The deep rumble of his voice sent shivering tingles through her lower belly. “I am. Would you like for me to fetch one of the poetry books for you?”

“Not just now.” He held her loosely within the cage of his arms. “I’m enjoying myself enough like this.” For long moments, silence enveloped them while the faint late spring breeze came in through the open window, bringing with it the scent of flowers from the bouquet that now resided in a vase with water. Eventually, he spoke again. “Do you think we should perhaps talk about what we both want out of our marriage now that we’ve both quite shamelessly broken the ‘in name only’ designation?”

“Perhaps that would be best.” Yet knots of worry pulled in her belly. Would he say he didn’t want her now that he’d bedded her? “Do you, ah, regret that change? From the talk I’ve heard here and there from the servants, it didn’t seem as if you were quite keen on taking a wife.”

He frowned. “Gossip, of course, and you know what they say about people who eavesdrop on conversations about themselves.” A very faint note of censure had crept into his voice, but he nuzzled the crook of her shoulder, which softened the delivery of the words. “However, I will admit that when I met you, I had no intention of marrying anyone. I thought my lot in life was to continue through it alone because of who I was, how I was, and perhaps what I stood for, but then you came along with your penchant for plain speaking and your sharp tongue and witty temperament, and I thought that having someone in my life who made things interesting wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Are you certain you aren’t as romantic as the poets whose work you read to me?” How had she been so lucky to find that trait in a man who was so much older than her?

He buried his nose into her hair. “What sort of man do you want me to be within this union, Mallory?”

“Yourself.” She shrugged. “I would never ask anyone to change themselves so drastically in order to fit my ideal.”

“Why? Isn’t that what everyone is searching for?”

She blew out a breath. “Because each of us should be accepted for who we are... not who we might be able to be at some point in the future... if all went well.” It was something she firmly believed. “If you’re curious as to why, well, I want you to accept me as I am too.”

“There is something to be said for that sentiment.” When he grinned, she felt it against her hair. “If we shift our marriage from name only, how would you feel about that? It would mean we’d need to accept everything that will come with such a thing.”

“I know.” The possibilities boggled her mind. Mallory glanced over her shoulder at him. Dear heavens, he smelled so good and was so solid with his body wrapped around hers. What else could a woman want? “I’m prepared for that.” Already, they’d coupled a handful of times. Had any of them resulted in a pregnancy? Only time would tell.

“Mmm.” When she rested her head on his shoulder, he continued. “Do you want children?”

“I wouldn’t be averse, though after the life I’ve lived, I would like to see something of the world, to remind me that there are still things worth fighting for, but I suppose having children won’t disrupt those plans much.”

“No, they won’t.” For the space of a few heartbeats, he paused. “I never thought I might want an heir, but now, the thought of a babe, an heir, is suddenly a dream that persists in pushing its way through the nightmares. Or perhaps a daughter I could spoil... along with her mother.” Briefly, he held her more tightly. “Once everything regarding your mother is over, I wouldn’t mind traveling for a year or so. If we should have a child during that time, all the better. What say you?”

“I have never been anywhere outside of London and the asylum.” Excitement circled within her. “Truly, I would adore going wherever you deem worthy. Perhaps starting at Brighton. I want to see the sea. And perhaps Rome, even further in the Italian countryside. That might prove romantic. Or to Scotland where Robert Burns is from.” Then she sighed, for all those places were lovely to dream about. “Truthfully, though, I am enjoying the safety and contentment we’ve found here.”

“Oddly, I feel the same, but we will travel, I promise.”

“I believe you.” With a tiny smile, Mallory closed her eyes. Again, the thought that she might be in love with this man crossed her mind, or was she simply being na?ve? “Uh, Nathaniel, I think I’m—”

The sound of shattering glass interrupted her need to declare her early feelings, and in the next seconds, a brown brick thudded on the Aubusson carpeting on the other side of the sofa where they sat.

“Shit.” Nathaniel moved with the instincts of a jungle cat. He was off the sofa and on his feet in moments. “Stay down.

There was no time to respond, for a second brick came sailing through the window, only this one had more strength behind it and hit Mallory on the right side of her head. Pain immediately went through her being and she uttered a cry. When she put her fingers to her head, they came away with a bit of blood on them.

“I’m bleeding.” Shock echoed through the words.

“Damn it.” Immediately, the duke snatched her off the sofa. Once she’d gained her feet, he shuttled her across the room with a hand at her waist. “This on the heels of my being attacked last night can’t be a coincidence.” Taking her chin in hand, he moved her head so he could better see the side of her head. “This could have been much worse. You’ll have a large lump. Not bleeding heavily so nothing much was damaged.” He shoved his handkerchief into her hand. “Thank God.”

It wasn’t so much the attack, but the concern in his eyes and the relief in his voice that caused her to break. “This is all so upsetting...” Then she burst into tears.

“Shh.” The duke bundled her into his arms as she cried. “I’m here. Nothing else will happen.” He held her so tightly, that she felt as if they were truly one in that moment, a team... partners. “This is ridiculous and needs to end,” he said against the top of her head. “We can’t continue to live in fear, else I’m sending you away for safety. I won’t announce it; I’ll just pack you up and send you off.”

What? Despite what had happened, she pulled back enough to peer up into his face. “I refuse to leave you.”

“And I refuse to have you injured further.”

She swallowed around the ball of fear in her throat. “You’ll lose me if you send me away.”

“For your own good.” He shook his head. “I mean it.”

“No.” Mallory took hold of his cravat and gave it a tug. “I am the only good you’ll need, so I’m staying at your side.”

A slow grin curved his lips “Stubborn minx.”

“Obstinate fool.” Then they both shared a laugh, but it was shaky on both their counts.

“I’ll be right back.” As she protested, Nathaniel left her to retrieve the first brick. There was a folded letter tied to it with twine. “What the hell do we have here?”

Mallory joined him in the middle of the room and tried to ignore the pain on the side of her head. She held the folded handkerchief to the wound on her head. “Read it.”

“All right.” After he unfolded the letter, he cleared his throat. “’This is your last warning, Your Grace. I have the rogues within my sight, and soon I’ll rid London of every one of you. Then my plans will have no obstacles and can proceed unhindered. Enjoy the night if you can, for you won’t be granted another one, and once you’re gone, I’m taking back my daughter. Her punishment will be swift and sure for joining the wrong side, make no mistake.’”

“Merciful heavens.” Her fright jumped exponentially, and the urge to retch hotly climbed her throat. “My mother has no shame.” Nearly lost, Mallory rushed back into her husband’s arms. “I refuse to let her win.”

“That is my sentiment exactly.”

When she opened her mouth to respond, Nathaniel tugged her back in his arms and fit his lips to hers. He kissed her as if she’d vanished into the air in the next second, and since the fright hadn’t left her, Mallory kissed him back, put all her emotions into that gesture hoping that he understood what she couldn’t yet say.

Perhaps he did, for he surprised her by picking her up into his arms. He only winced once then strode to the door, then he sidestepped Jennings when the butler came to the door.

“I heard glass breaking, Your Grace, on my last rounds of the night. Are you both well?”

“Her Grace has been hit in the head with a second brick. I’m taking her abovestairs to tend to her wounds and see her calmed. Summon the housekeeper to the duchess’ suite if you please.”

“Of course.” Jennings took one look inside the drawing room at the mess. “One moment, Your Grace.” He then retrieved Nathaniel’s cane, and when he returned to their position, he handed it to Mallory. “You’ll need this.”

“Thank you, Jennings.” She thanked him with a smile. “Please be careful having the maids straighten the room. There is glass everywhere.”

“I will, Your Grace.”

Then Nathaniell went into the corridor. He swept her upstairs in such a romantic gesture that she was in tears once more by the time they reached her suite. “This is just like the heroes in story books act with their heroines.”

“Such gammon. I am not a hero.”

“I rather doubt that.” With each day, each hour, he showed her his true character and for that she was grateful, and her silly heart continued its tumble for him. “But I am truly glad I am not alone in this, even if I’m terrified.”

“I’ll keep you safe, tonight notwithstanding, and I promise, after I meet with my clubmates, we will determine a way to stop your mother.”

“I hope it’s soon. She has caused far too much damage and fear, and I don’t want my sisters to grow up to emulate her.”

If nothing else, she could try and rescue them once everything was over.