Page 20 of The Earl’s Tempting Ward (Dukes Gone Dirty #2)

ONE MONTH LATER…

Philippa had thought that perhaps the revelry might die down once the wedding breakfast was complete.

She’d been wrong.

Laughter bubbled up inside her at the sight of a drunken Marquess of Hayden tugging a reluctant Lady Raffian onto the dance floor in the midst of their country manor’s drawing room.

There were no musicians at this morning’s fete, nor even a lady playing upon the pianoforte. But that did not stop the incorrigible Lord Hayden from whirling a laughing Evangeline about the room as her husband looked on with tolerant exasperation. “You do know that is my wife, yes?”

“Of course,” Hayden said cheerfully.

Lord Raffian sighed, but there was laughter in his eyes as he watched his wife giggle along with his friend. “He’s insufferable,” Raff said to Philippa who stood beside him.

“But entertaining,” she added with a grin.

“I’m glad you think so. Some ladies might fear a rogue like Hayden would ruin their perfect day.”

Philippa laughed softly as she cast a glance over toward her new husband who was conversing with the Earl of Fallenmore and his wife. But even while speaking to others, Benedict’s dark gaze was fixed on her from across the room, along with a small, affectionate smile that made her heart do a flip in her chest. “Nothing could ruin this day, my lord,” she murmured.

Raff’s chuckle was knowing. “I would imagine not. Benedict has been driving us to distraction as he waited for this day to finally come about.”

“It was hardly a lengthy engagement,” she said.

Though it had felt like an age. While she’d been enjoying this day thoroughly, she was more than a little eager to be alone with her new husband.

But if he were just as frustrated with pent-up desire, then it was his own fault. Benedict had decided that they ought to do things properly for once the day after she returned from her ill-fated trip with Mr. Foley.

The exact words he’d used were, we ought to take things slowly . She teased him that staying out of her bed was the worst sort of punishment of all, but he’d grown frighteningly serious as he explained his reasoning.

You deserve to be courted , he’d said. You deserve to be wooed and flirted with and treated the way a gently bred young lady ought.

She’d gone to argue. They were well past flirtation and courtship, after all. But she’d seen what it meant to him, and she’d known very well that he was doing this for her. That he wanted this marriage to begin as they meant for it to continue.

With mutual respect and trust…and without the guilt and regrets that had driven them together in the first place.

Despite the fact that she ached to be in his arms again, Philippa could admit that perhaps he’d been right to insist upon this time together spent as friends and as a new couple.

But she was still counting the seconds until they were finally alone as man and wife.

“Ah, there you are.” Benedict’s mother—her new mother-in-law, Philippa realized with a start—stood beside her and sighed at Hayden’s antics. “I suppose it would have been too much to hope that all of Benedict’s friends had outgrown their careless ways.”

Philippa pressed her lips together to stifle a smile because even the dour and formidable dowager countess seemed to be holding back a laugh as they watched Hayden and Evangeline dance.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done, my lady,” Philippa said. “You made today a truly special occasion and?—”

“Mother,” she interrupted abruptly.

Philippa blinked. “Pardon?”

The dowager sniffed. “I’d like it if you call me Mother. If…if you wish it.”

Philippa’s eyes widened with surprise. Benedict’s mother had been making more of an effort to spend time with them these past few weeks, joining them on strolls through the park and even occasionally playing cards with them in the evening.

But this still seemed out of character for the standoffish woman.

The dowager countess turned to her with a wry twist of her lips. “You don’t have to look so shocked, dear. I’d have embraced you as part of our family solely because Benedict chose you as his wife. But aside from that, I am quite fond of you.”

Philippa’s lips parted. Was she? She’d known the other woman tolerated her, but she wouldn’t have guessed she felt affection for Philippa.

The older woman’s face softened. “You remind me so much of your mother when she was young.”

Philippa braced for it, but a flicker of pain still lanced through her. “So you’ve said.”

Many times.

The dowager countess tsked. “Not just in looks, you know. Your mother shared your spirit.”

Philippa blinked in surprise. “Did she?”

“Oh yes.” The dowager countess looked so much younger when her eyes sparkled with laughter. “She was always getting into trouble when we were young.”

Philippa gaped at the other woman. “She did?”

The dowager countess’s laugh was a cackle as her face softened with memories. “Oh, the stories I could tell you. She drove your grandmother mad with her wicked ways.”

Philippa stared some more, her words coming out on a breath as she fumbled for words. “Did she?”

“And your father too, from what I understand.”

Philippa gasped. “No.”

“Oh yes. Before they settled down to be near his family in Italy, they were wild and free-spirited. Truthfully, I was surprised that they’d settled at all.”

Philippa’s mind raced with questions, and for the first time in more than a year, talk of her parents made her want to laugh instead of cry. “I would love to hear more about them,” she said. “About what they were like…”

She smiled and patted her arm. “Of course, dear.”

“Mother,” Benedict’s deep voice behind her interrupted the moment. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“I am,” she said. And she sounded genuine. “But I see some guests who I ought to speak with. If you’ll excuse me…” She took her leave to speak with the older crowd who were looking on with a mix of amusement and shock at Benedict’s friends’ behavior.

Benedict lowered his voice for her ears only. “And how does my wife fare?” His hand came to her low back as he stood between her and Raff.

She tilted her head back to meet his gaze and was very nearly swept off her feet by the love she saw there.

“I’m having the most wonderful day,” she said truthfully. “And you?”

His smile warmed her heart as he leaned in to speak closely to her ear. “I’ll be better once everyone is gone and you and I are alone.”

She laughed. “Patience, my love.”

He growled in response, but his smile never faltered as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “But I too am having a wonderful day.” His smile widened. “The best day of my life.”

“With many more to come,” she said.

They shared a sweet smile that was broken by laughter from the small crowd around them.

“To think,” Lady Fallenmore murmured beside her, “I always thought marquesses were meant to be so very proper.”

Philippa laughed. Philippa had become fast friends with the Earl of Fallenmore’s new wife. As a widow and the daughter of a businessman who ran London’s most salacious scandal sheet, Lady Fallenmore was a fellow outcast in good society.

She and Evangeline had taken Philippa in as a friend, while Benedict’s old school companions had been kind enough to pretend that day out in the rain had never happened.

In all, Philippa was aware she’d been very lucky indeed when she’d met Benedict. Not only did she find the love of her life, but she’d found a family too.

An odd family, perhaps. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Here you are,” Hayden said with a flourish as he handed a flushed and laughing Evangeline over to her husband. “I thank you for allowing me to borrow your wife.”

“Allow?” Raff scoffed, his arm coming around his wife’s waist. “As if I had a choice.”

Evangeline smiled sweetly and planted a kiss on his cheek which had his feigned anger fading into a grin.

“Perhaps it’s time you stop stealing other men’s wives and find a wife of your own, Hayden,” Benedict said as he tugged Philippa close to his side.

“You are the last man standing,” Lord Fallenmore pointed out.

Hayden scowled. “Three out of the four of us married. Isn’t that good enough for you?”

Raff arched a brow. “The trouble is, Hayden, none of our wives can help you to sire an heir.”

This was met with laughter from the ladies, and Hayden sighed dramatically. “It’s not like I haven’t tried. I’ve danced with every pretty young lady in the ton . I’ve been to more soirees and theater outings and picnics and strolls and…” He trailed off with a shake of his head. “And for what?”

“You did promise to find a wife this season,” Benedict pointed out, laughter in his eyes at his friend’s expense.”

“And the season is almost over,” Raff warned.

Philippa took pity on her new friend. “You cannot force him to marry if he hasn’t found a lady who appeals to him. Like he said, he’s met them all.”

“Not all ,” Lord Fallenmore said, his gaze meeting his wife’s in a silent exchange.

With her connections to the scandal sheet and her acquaintance with those spies who provided all the best gossip, Lady Fallenmore tended to know everything going on in society—for better or worse.

She was a keeper of secrets, she liked to say…which made her a truly excellent friend indeed.

“Tell us,” Philippa demanded.

“Do you have someone in mind for our dear Hayden?” Evangeline added.

Hayden was grimacing as if readying for a blow.

“It’s a rather sordid tale…” Lady Fallenmore started hesitantly.

“My favorite kind,” Hayden shot back.

The Earl of Fallenmore stepped in with a warning look. “She’s a young lady in need of saving, not necessarily by marriage.”

“A damsel in distress, eh? I like the sound of it even more now,” Hayden said. He adopted a roguish grin. “One last grand adventure before I resign myself to a tedious marriage.”

Benedict’s tone was dry. “You are aware that you are currently in attendance at a wedding, are you not?”

“Don’t try and change his mind on marriage, Benedict,” Raff laughed. “There are some things a man must learn for himself.”

Hayden ignored that, turning to Lady Fallenmore instead. “Now, tell me about this lady who needs saving and I shall rush to her rescue.”

The Earl of Fallenmore winced. “Right now? You’re well in your cups, old chap.”

Hayden waved him off as he took Lady Fallenmore to the side to question her on this lady in need of his assistance.”

Philippa glanced up at Benedict. “Is he in earnest?”

“About saving the young lady in question?” He grinned. “Most definitely. For all his faults, Hayden has never been able to resist a damsel in distress.”

She started to laugh. “Oh dear.”

“Precisely,” Benedict said as he tugged her closer in his arms. “Fallenmore knows this well, and I suspect that’s why he brought it up.”

Philippa turned to watch Benedict’s friends closely. “You are truly devious, aren’t you?”

His laugh was a low rumble as he kissed the top of her head. “Would you want us any other way?”

She grinned up at him. “Definitely not.”

* * *

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