Page 9 of The Duke’s Indecent Scandal (Indecent Dukes #1)

Chapter Eight

G regory

Utterly wrung out by the evening’s events and then wrangling with Sebastian over the marriage contract terms, Gregory slipped quietly into his house. He’d had the coachman take him around back to the mews, where he let himself out, then crept in the back. The house was quiet and dark, giving him hope.

He might be safe.

Tiptoeing through the hall, he pushed open the door to the kitchen… and froze.

His mother was waiting for him there, perched atop a stool, a steaming mug of tea beside a plate of biscuits she’d apparently be nibbling on. As soon as he walked in, she brightened and turned to their housekeeper, Mrs. Bryant, who was beside her. Both were dressed for bed, wrappers over their nightclothes and bonnets over their hair. While Mrs. Bryant’s wrapper was a dark, earthy brown, his mother’s was a burst of color patterned with red, orange, and yellow flowers, as though they’d matched their personalities to their attire.

Mrs. Bryant gave him a stern look as he walked in, silently admonishing him for keeping his mother up later than she should have been.

“There he is,” his mother said, holding a biscuit aloft in the air as if she was brandishing… well, as if brandishing something with far more pomp and circumstance than a chocolate biscuit. “My son returns, through the back… just as I told you he would, Joy.”

“Yes, you did, Your Grace.” Mrs. Bryant was still glaring at him. His mother was the only one who called her by her Christian name; Gregory would not dare. She’d changed his nappies, as she liked to remind him, and had been a second mother to him in many ways. “I thought he would have the courage to come through the front rather than attempting to sneak into the house, but apparently, I am to be disappointed.”

“I was trying to be respectful and not wake up the household,” Gregory protested, even though he was doing exactly what Mrs. Bryant accused him of. Excuse him for wanting to postpone the inquisition until he’d gotten some sleep.

“So, is what I heard at the ball correct?” His mother asked, lowering her cookie. “You ruined a duke’s sister and will be dueling to the death on the morrow?” Despite the direness of her question, she sounded more curious than concerned.

“No!” Gregory shook his head. Good lord. This was why they were going to make a public outing to Hyde Park tomorrow, to quell such nonsense.

“Oh, good. I was a bit worried for a while, especially when you did not come home immediately.”

“Yes, well…” He cleared his throat. “I did not ruin anyone, but I did accidentally compromise a young lady. Bolton’s sister, in point of fact. That is why I am late. We had to work out the marriage contract and also a plan for dealing with the ton. ”

“You are getting married!” His mother clapped her hands together, sending cookie crumbs scattering across the floor, not that she noticed as she jumped up to throw herself at him in glee. Gregory caught her, hugging her tightly. Anything that brought his mother joy was a good thing as far as he was concerned.

Even Mrs. Bryant did not look so upset with him anymore.

“Yes, I am getting married.” To a woman he was finding more and more remarkable by the minute. She had handled this entire evening with grace and aplomb, and he’d very much enjoyed kissing her. Sebastian seemed to have come around to the idea, though with some grumbling, and neither of their families’ reputations would come to any harm. “Did you say anything to anyone tonight about it?”

“Of course not.” His mother pulled away from him, shaking her head. “The moment I knew you were the source of the contretemps, I deserted the field, as anyone with common sense would, until I could speak with you.”

“You have always been blessed with an abundance of common sense,” he said gratefully. Sitting her back down, he quickly outlined the plan he and Sebastian had devised. His mother’s quick departure from the ball could easily be explained by her own confusion. After all, if he and Tiffany had a secret engagement, she would not have divulged that information without knowing what had happened.

When he finished, his mother and Mrs. Bryant looked at each other, and his mother nodded thoughtfully.

“It is certainly an interesting plan.” His mother turned back to him. “Do you believe you will be able to carry it off?”

“I do not see why not.”

His mother stared at him, unblinking.

“Gregory, in order to be a believable love match, you are going to have to cleave to her and only to her. It is going to take weeks for the bans to be read and to plan the wedding. Are you sure…” Her voice trailed off, and she wrinkled her nose, obviously trying to come up with the appropriate words.

“What your mother is trying to say is that if you do not remain celibate throughout the engagement, it is unlikely anyone will believe any declarations of love you make,” Mrs. Bryant said baldly.

“Yes.” His mother beamed at her. “That.”

Lord help him, he was having to discuss his lovers with his mother and his housekeeper. What had his life come to?

“I can be celibate until my wedding,” he said indignantly. They both exchanged a look, and he scowled. Did no one believe he could behave himself for a few weeks? “I would not disrespect my bride in such a manner.” Besides, if he did and Sebastian found out, that would likely be the end of their friendship. Even if he had been willing to hurt his bride by taking a lover during their engagement period—which he was not—he would certainly not risk his friendship.

“And after?” His mother asked.

“I would rather think you want grandchildren.”

“You know what I am talking about.” She stabbed another biscuit in his direction. “You are going to be playacting a love match. How do you know real feelings will not become involved?”

“We both agreed to the pretense. She is hardly going to fall in love with me over a false courtship.” He shook his head. They had just met this evening, after all. The brief glimpses he’d had of her when she was still in the schoolroom hardly counted. Love? No. She seemed far too sensible for such a thing. Attraction? Certainly. There was plenty of that between them.

The period of celibacy would just ensure anticipation of the wedding night, not that he thought that would be a problem. She truly was very pretty, and her kiss had been eager and passionate. Educating her on bedroom activities would likely prove very enjoyable. Sebastian’s glaring face popped up in his head for even daring to think about bedroom activities with his sister.

But his sister was going to be Gregory’s wife.

His mother huffed and exchanged a look with Mrs. Bryant.

Gregory took the opportunity to steal a biscuit.

“We should all go to bed,” he said, offering his mother his arm. “Tomorrow is going to be a very long day.”

Sighing, she took his arm and allowed him to escort her upstairs while Mrs. Bryant cleaned up the kitchen and went to her own bed. While they walked, his mother told him all about everything he had missed while hiding and then creating a scandal in the library.

“The Marquess of Camden was out with his new wife for the first time… married his nurse, you know! The whole family was there in support, so no one dared say a thing crosswise. Your friend Mr. North was there with Mrs. North, looking pleased as punch with themselves, taking congratulations for their recent nuptials.” She sighed. “Eloping to Gretna Green, can you imagine?”

“Not particularly, no,” Gregory murmured. If he and Tiffany had truly needed to marry in a hurry, as a duke, it would be far less effort to procure a special license than to take the North Road to Scotland. His mother elbowed him in the side as they went up the stairs, and he let out a small grunt.

“Did you hear the Earl of Stilton’s youngest is back in London this Season? And with an Indian wife and a son and daughter.”

Gregory cast his mind about.

“I do not think I am familiar with the family.”

“No, you likely are not… very stuffy lot.” His mother shook her head. “They gave Mr. Little and his family the cut direct when they met. Broke his heart, right in front of everyone. The wife and daughter are beauties, and the daughter is dowried to the hilt if the rumors are true, but no one talked to them after that. They persevered despite that. Even the wife had a stiff upper lip. They were still there when I left.”

Gregory raised his eyebrow at her.

“ No one talked to them?”

His mother smiled. “I might have introduced myself. If you had not caused such a scandal this evening, I would have introduced you to the daughter. Marrying a duke would make it impossible for the Stilton clan to ignore them.”

“Well, they are in luck, as there is certainly no shortage of dukes in search of brides this Season. Perhaps we can introduce Sebastian to her since I have already secured my own bride.” He could not help but feel a bit chuffed at that. Despite the very real knowledge that he was unsure of how to make a good husband—other than to be nothing like his own father—he was pleased to be the first duke to fulfill their mutual goal.

“Now, there is a thought.” His mother’s voice was full of amusement. “Truly, any of your friends would do. Which reminds me, what on earth happened between the Dowager Baroness of Ashfield and your friend Grafton? He was following her around like a puppy dog all night while she ignored him, then he turned into a mastiff any time another man approached her.”

Snorting a laugh, Gregory shook his head. He was sorry he’d missed seeing that for himself. Stopping in front of his mother’s door, he grinned down at her.

“He gave the baroness her congé .”

His mother stared at him.

“Why did he not ask her to marry him? She is still young, certainly young enough to bear children.”

“Because he feels he should marry a debutante. That is the done thing.” He shrugged. Zachary’s reasoning had not surprised him, but his mother had always been a romantic—as she’d proven when she’d questioned him about falling in love with Tiffany because they were pretending to be in love. “Christian is keeping his mistress while he looks for a bride.”

His mother rolled her eyes. “I do not think I wanted to know that. Men,” she said disgustedly. “A bunch of nitwits, all of you.”

“Not me, surely.”

“Especially you.” She sniffed and then pulled him down for a kiss on the cheek. “But you are a good boy, even if you are foolish.”

Bemused, Gregory stood as she went into her room and closed the door. He was not sure why she was calling him foolish, but then, his mother’s reasoning did not always make sense to him. Making his way to his wing of the house, his mind wandered back to the events of the evening and to Tiffany.

He truly did not understand how her brother had thought her plain. The dress she’d been wearing could have been a good deal more flattering, and she was not an exceptional beauty, it was true, but she was pretty enough, and there had certainly been a spark between them. Especially when they’d kissed.

The press of her lips against his had taken him off guard in an entirely unexpected manner, which was how they’d ended up in the position they had. Granted, they might have ended up married anyway, just by dint of her being alone in a room with him for an untold amount of time, but at least they would not have ended up on the floor in front of everyone.

Though, she’d felt very nice atop him, all soft feminine flesh and plump curves.

No, he did not think he would have difficulties when it came to bedding her. In fact, he was very much looking forward to it.

Letting himself into his room, he found his valet, Redding, there waiting for him. Thankfully, Redding read his mood—as he always did—and helped him out of his clothes and into his nightshirt in silence. He also shook his head over the cravat that Gregory had mangled by pulling on it several times throughout the evening but did not bother to admonish him. Gregory knew the next time he saw the piece of fabric, it would be perfectly starched.

“Thank you, Redding, that will be all,” he said, dismissing the other man. Redding bowed and left, carrying the clothing with him, and Gregory went to flop down on his bed.

Bloody hell.

What a night.

Perhaps he should be worried about his marriage, but the more he thought about Tiffany, the more he was looking forward to having a wife. He’d never had a virgin before. That part was a bit daunting… but there was something rather exciting thinking about being able to introduce her to the pleasures of the bedroom.

Showing her the joy that could be found there.

He loved pleasuring a woman, but the women he dallied with knew exactly what to expect from him.

His wife would not. He’d be able to demonstrate everything, make her feel everything, see her reactions to everything.

Her lips had tasted sweet when they’d kissed… he’d wager her nether lips would as well. Gregory could just picture how she would look the first time he spread her legs and put his mouth on her pussy, licking and sucking. He could picture the way her eyes would widen in shock, then pleasure, the way she would blush at the intimacy of it… then cry out from the ecstasy.

Groaning as his cock stiffened, he rolled over to take a handkerchief from his nightstand, wrapping it around the hard length and beginning to pump his fist.

Would she even know what a climax was? Would she understand what was happening? Some ladies touched themselves… but even if she did, it was an entirely different thing to be touched by someone else. Especially someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

He could be her first climax.

The first mouth to taste her.

The first cock to slide inside her.

The first man to hear her cries of pleasure.

His own pleasure was growing at the thought, and he fisted himself harder, moving his hand up and down on his cock.

His would be the first cock she held… would she balk at the idea of using her mouth the same way he loved to use his? He could imagine her on her knees before him, cheeks pink with embarrassment, pouting lips opening to receive his cock. She would not know what to do, but he could teach her.

Imagining sliding his cock between her lips was what finally did it for him, and he cried out as his climax spurted from his cock. The length of it throbbed against his hand, waves of pleasure pulsing through him until he was completely spent.

Bloody hell.

For a moment, he felt just a twinge of guilt—it was his closest friend’s sister he was imagining defiling… but wife trumped sibling relationship. Once his ring was on her finger, she would be all his.

He felt an unexpected amount of satisfaction in that.