“Damn it to hell!” Lord Kirkland barked.

  Lady Kirkland fell into the wall, fanning herself.

  Bernie stood, beaming at Chester. “Good hit!”

  Chester glared at her. “Why were you in the maze?”

  “I went in with Nicolette and Odette. We got separated. It’s hardly my fault.”

  “I’ve told you it’s dangerous to go off on your own.”

  “Yes, and I defended myself—not as well as you—but he didn’t kiss me, he got a bloody nose instead.”

  Roderick shook his head as Bernie gloated.

  “This will be a scandal,” Lady Kirkland moaned.

  “We should leave,” Roderick said. “And I suggest you convince Mr. Rupert it’s in his best interest to not kiss unwilling women and to keep his mouth from telling tales.” He said this to Lord Kirkland.

  Lord Kirkland bristled. “I was against this party for this very reason. The Marsdens are undignified country rabble.”

  Bernie froze and turned. “Us! You—”

  Roderick clamped a hand over her mouth and hauled her out. Chester followed, his expression set in stone. But as they marched toward the drawing room, Anne stepped out of the retiring room and caught sight of them just as Lady Kirkland caught up with them. She grabbed her son’s arm. “You must distance yourself from them.”

  “They are my friends.” Chester pulled his arm from his mother’s grip.

  “They will only bring you down,” his mother pleaded. “It is time to cut ties and find a wealthy wife.”

  Roderick tried to force Anne and Bernie to keep moving, but Bernie held her ground.

  “What have we ever done to warrant such venom from you?” Bernie asked. “My father is a gentleman. He may not be wealthy, but his blood is as blue as yours.”

  Lady Kirkland ignored her. “Chester, see reason. I’ve tried to indulge your penchant for collecting rabble acquaintances but no more.”

  “Rabble?” Anne shook free of Roderick’s hold. “I beg your pardon? Did you refer to my sisters and I as rabble?”

  Lady Kirkland faced Anne. “I am speaking to my son.”

  “About us. In front of us.”

  “Come, Anne,” Roderick said.

  “I did Her Grace a favor by including you in my party today, but the truth is, you’re nothing but social climbers trying to attach yourselves to your betters by any means necessary.”

  “Mother stop,” Chester said between clenched teeth.

  “I’d rather be thought of as a social climber than a snob,” Bernie said. “Good day, Lady Kirkland. We’re taking our leave.” She took Anne’s hand and tugged her sister away. Roderick followed, praying that nothing more would be said.

  The fallout would be bad enough as it was.

  They collected the other sisters and departed. Roderick spoke quietly to Violet about what happened, and she promised to inform his mother.

  “Lady Kirkland will regret her words,” Violet said. “Your mother thinks very highly of all the Marsden girls.”

  “I know. But that won’t be enough to save their reputations should Lady Kirkland see fit to smear them.”

  This time when they took the barouche home, Roderick took Anne’s hand and she didn’t pull away. Only Bernie was there to witness it.

  Chapter 30

  That night, after the house had gone quiet and dark, Roderick made his way to Anne’s room. There was one brilliant perk to having a fiancée already with child, and he intended to reap the benefits.

  He didn’t like the idea of waiting to marry, but after today, and seeing how quickly and easily the futures of the Marsden girls could unravel, he understood the need to make the engagement and wedding look as proper and scandal free as possible. Which meant he would have to wait at least four weeks to wed, but that didn’t mean he had to stay out of Anne’s bed. With only one week left of the party, she’d soon have to return, and they wouldn’t have this much time together until they were married. Every minute was precious to him now, and he wasn’t about to waste a single night without at least holding her.

  He tested the handle of Anne’s door and it turned. He slipped inside, catching her as she was about to blow out her candle on her bedside table.

  “What are you doing in here?” she asked with alarm and a hint of a smile.

  He spread his arms. “Seducing my fiancée, what else?”

  Her lips twitched, but she tried to appear disapproving. “You can’t be caught in my room. We’re courting scandal already.”

  “I have to wait to marry you, don’t make me wait for this. Memory is not enough anymore.”

  He removed his shirt as he approached the bed and she gasped.

  He crawled on to the bed on all fours. She held the sheet to her chest and bit her lip, but she was also grinning.

  “You should leave.”

  “There, you said it. You’ve fulfilled your obligation to be the more responsible of the two of us, now we can move on.”

  “Oh?”

  He straddled her legs on his knees and set his hand on the buttons of his breeches. “Should I stop?”

  She shook her head.

  * * *

  Anne feasted on the sight of him on her bed, his wide chest bared to her.

  He undid the buttons as she watched, his manhood thickening and straining his breeches. She couldn’t wait to touch him. She knew they were supposed to be hiding their romance, but what harm would this do? No one knew he was here, just like the last time he’d visited her room.

  She dropped the sheet and came up to her knees. She ran her hands over his chest, kissing the warm skin on his collarbone. His arms came around her and their bodies fused together, her nightgown no barrier to his heated skin. He slipped his hands underneath, brushing his fingertips along the backs of her thighs and she shivered. Her body instantly responded. She wanted him so badly. And this time they wouldn’t have to stop at kisses and touches. She’d feel him inside her again, just as she’d dreamed and imagined for so long now.

  He removed her nightgown and tossed it over the side of the bed.

  Exposed to him, Anne instinctively covered her breasts and her womanhood.

  He shook his head. “Don’t hide from me. Please, Anne. I need to know if my imagination is as perfect as the real you.”

  She slowly dropped her hands to her sides, her breaths shallow and fast. His gaze raked over her, and a blush spread across her skin. He touched her braid and untied the ribbon, unraveling the ropes of her hair, brushing his fingers through it.

  “Feels like silk,” he said, his focus fixed on his ministrations to her hair.

  Anne found her courage again, emboldened by his fascination. He liked what he saw, and it made her feel more confident and beautiful than ever before. She rested her hands on his shoulders, and he brought her against him once more. She gasped, the feel of his bare skin against hers a wicked delight. He bent her back until she lay against the pillows again. He settled beside her and stroked his hand from her collarbone to her navel.

  He splayed his hand over her stomach and bent close to her belly button. “What are you doing in there, little one?”

  Anne gasped. A squirmy little tickle answered, or maybe it was a coincidence.

  “What is it?” Roderick asked with concern.

  “I think the baby moved when you spoke.”

  “Can they do that? How far along are you?”

  Anne bit her lip as she thought, counting the weeks in her mind. “Fourteen weeks, I believe.”

  He kissed her stomach, the motion so sweet her eyes grew misty.

  “I can’t wait to hold you, little one.” He looked up at her and she smiled.

  “Me too,” she said.

  And for the first time she could imagine it, holding her baby, smiling down at his or her little face, and Roderick would be there. There was so much happiness and love in her vision. It was exactly how she wanted it to be.

  Her heart lightened, the fears surrounding her pregnancy, how it would be accepted by him and her family evaporating. As long as he was happy, Anne didn’t care about the rest.

  He cupped her cheek and kissed her again, and as he did so, he finished unbuttoning his pants. He pulled back to remove them, and Anne made room for him under the counterpane. He slid in beside her, and Anne took a moment to appreciate Roderick in full nudity, stretched out beside her.

  “We can go slow this time,” he said. “I want to worship you like I should have the first time.”

  Anne didn’t want to go slow, she wanted to go as fast as her heart was racing. “We can go slow once we’re married, right now I need you.”

  He leaned over her, and Anne parted her thighs. He settled in between them, holding himself up on his arms. The blunt head of his sex slipped against her damp folds. Spears of pleasure made her gasp and reach for him.

  “I love you, Anne,” he said, his voice rough. “I never want to hurt you again. I never want you to doubt that I will always love you. I haven’t been the best man, but I promise that I will always try.”

  “I believe you, Roderick. I love you. Even when you hurt me, I have always loved you. I forgive you for it all. Make love to me.” She arched up to kiss him and he caught her lips. He put one hand between their bodies and stroked her core, coating his erection in her moisture.

  Anne clung to him as he used his fingers to tease her open, stretching her, driving her to distraction. Then he positioned himself at her entrance and slowly thrust into her.

  He broke the kiss and took her nipple into his mouth. Piercing pleasure stole her breath as he thrust forward, stretching her while teasing her sensitive nipple with light sweeps of his tongue.

  Anne widened her legs, easing his passage, but it felt tight and burned a bit. He used his hand to rub her mons, massaging the hood of her sex until she squirmed with desire.

  He sunk deeper, filling her completely and the burning sensation lessened. Then he began to move.

  Anne gasped, gripping his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his hips as he pumped. It was just like before but better. Having him skin to skin was so intoxicating, she wanted to touch every part of him. She ran her hands over his back, even gripping his derriere. He growled his approval against her neck and Anne grinned, gripping him harder. His thrusts grew fast, the delicious friction making her wild.

  She dug her nails into his skin as pleasure coiled inside her, pulling her tighter and tighter until she exploded, slamming her eyes closed and crying out. Heavenly pleasure filled her body, carrying her on wave after wave of lethargic bliss.

  Roderick didn’t slow. He dug his hands under her and tilted her hips, his breathing harsh in her ear.

  “Oh, Anne,” he groaned.

  His bucking hips slowed and he shuddered, his arms shaking as he lifted himself, thrusting languidly, and then stopped. He looked down at her, his eyes glazed, and sweat dewing his brow.

  Anne smiled up at him. It was a view she would commit to memory. He looked utterly perfect, and utterly hers.

  He shifted to her side, and she rolled into him, hugging him. She didn’t want him to go just yet.

  He kissed her forehead and sighed, still out of breath. “Each time I make love to you, I will give you more and more pleasure. I promise.”

  “It was perfect,” she said.

  He laughed. “Perfect? No, it will be perfect when you’re my wife, and we have the whole night to ourselves. Perfect is when I will wake up with you in my arms.”

  Anne blushed, burying her face against his chest. Her heart was ready to burst with joy.

  “We should marry as soon as possible. I can’t bear to wait.”

  Anne regarded him. “I’ve been thinking.”

  “About?”

  “I think we should wait until after the party. My sisters are having fun and perhaps making alliances of their own. I don’t want to disrupt that.”

  He frowned. “I was thinking the same thing after this afternoon but I’ve changed my mind. I’ve already lost enough time with you.”

  “I’ll still be here. I’m not leaving. ”

  “You’re never leaving. You’ll move from this room to my room. Perhaps we will purchase our own residence. Would you like that?”

  Anne nodded. She tried to imagine being mistress of her own grand home. She couldn’t do it. “But not until my sisters are somewhat settled.”

  He sighed. “At some point you won’t be able to give all of yourself to them and will need to focus on your own needs.”

  “I know. But not yet. For right now we can wait because we will be waiting together.”

  He kissed her lips. Her words only scratched the surface of the reassurance he needed that he wouldn’t lose her again. He wanted her by his side day and night, but the rational side of his brain knew it was unlikely. “Sleep, Anne. I’ll hold you as long as I can until I have to go.”

  He would never let go again once they were married, but loving her meant loving her sisters, and he must protect them with as much as he was willing to protect Anne. So wait he must, until he was sure they would be safe from scandal. His marriage to Anne would not be enough to save their reputations if Lady Kirkland saw fit to ruin them in society.

  Chapter 31

  Anne came down to breakfast, a secret smile on her lips. As she entered the dining room, a familiar voice caught her attention.

  “I demand she marry him at once! Where is my daughter!”

  “Father?”

  He turned, catching sight of her. “Annette? Good heavens, where is Bernadette? Lord Kirkland has just informed me that she’s been compromised but refuses to marry the lad. I’ll not have it. I’ve sacrificed so much for all of you. Bernie will marry him. I will see to it!”

  “She…” Anne didn’t know where she was, but even if she did, she wasn’t about to tell her father. “I would assume she’s in the breakfast parlor, with all my other sisters.”

  “She is not,” her father fumed.

  The dowager duchess appeared, followed by Violet and Weirick.

  The dowager duchess addressed him first. “Mr. Marsden, how lovely to see you this morning. I’ve been informed that you were inquiring after Bernadette’s whereabouts?”

  “I must take her to meet with Lord Kirkland and Mr. Rupert, her fiancé. We will depart for Scotland at once.”

  Anne fretted as a crowd of her sisters and the gentlemen gathered around. Her sisters began to ask questions that only agitated her father.

  Anne covered her ears and stepped back.

  Firm hands caught her by the shoulders, and she turned to find Roderick looking down at her with a frown.

  “What’s happening?”

  “Lord Kirkland went to my father and they are forcing Bernie to marry Mr. Rupert. Today! But no one can find her.”

  His arms came around her and Anne leaned into him, resting her cheek on his chest.

  “What’s this?” her father barked. “Get your hands off my daughter!”

  Anne turned in Roderick’s hold. “Father, stop.”

  “What has been going on here?” His gaze bounced from Roderick to Anne.

  “Anne and I will be getting married. You need not force Bernie to marry that spineless pup.”

  Her father puffed his chest out. “My Anne, marry the likes of you? She can barely stand the sight of you.”

  “That’s not true anymore, Papa. I love him.”

  Her father’s face reddened. “But… He is a womanizer, a drunken lout. Have I not raised you to desire better in a man?”

  “You haven’t raised me at all, Father,” Anne retorted.

  He blustered, his jowls shaking. “Such insolence!” He turned away, and his other daughters blocked his path.

  “Go home, Father,” Georgie ordered. “We’ll find Bernie, but she isn’t going to marry anyone she doesn’t wish to.”

  “When I tell your mother of this, she will be quite distraught, and I’ll find Bernadette myself!” He marched away toward King’s Hall, but the spectacle wasn’t over.

  Anne noticed she had the attention of all of her sisters—except Bernie, and all the gentlemen—except Chester.

  Roderick cleared his throat. “Well, now you know. Anne and I are engaged. There, now may we please continue to breakfast? I’m starving.”

  The gentlemen shrugged and dispersed, but her sisters looked utterly shocked and dismayed. Roderick escorted her to a chair and went to fill a plate for her, and that’s when her sisters swarmed around her.

  “Sister meeting, your room, as soon as you’re finished,” Georgie said.

  “What?” Anne asked in confusion.

  “You’ve quite a bit of explaining to do,” Georgie said.

  “You sound like me, Georgie,” Anne quipped.

  “What of Bernie?” Jeanie asked.

  “I’m sure she’s fine, wherever she is, as long as she isn’t with Father or Lord Kirkland,” Anne replied. Though in her mind she was far more panicked.

  Violet appeared, and her sisters dispersed. Violet bent to Anne and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, but I am worried about Bernie. Where is she?”

  “Don’t be worried. She is safe with Chester, though I don’t know where they are either. Weirick told me that Chester arrived early this morning, and he and Bernie fled together.”

  Anne’s eyes widened. “Fled? Together? Are they fugitives?”

  Violet nodded and then grimaced. “I’m sure Bernie would be amused with that idea. We shouldn’t let that bit of news spread around. I don’t know what’s happening, but—and this is what Chester told Weirick—his mother is trying to ruin all of you if Bernie doesn’t marry Rupert.”

  Anne paled. “Why?”

  “I personally think she’s afraid that Chester and Bernie are…in love. She wants Bernie married off to someone else.”

  Anne had that suspicion too, but did Lady Kirkland really dislike them that much that she’d ruin all of them to prevent Bernie and Chester from being together? Roderick returned with her plate, but Anne had lost her appetite.