To Win His Wayward Wife (6 page)

Chapter 5

Madison blinked. That’s all she could do. She’d once again been rendered speechless by her husband. He seemed to have a knack for this sort of thing.

He wanted to
court
her? Surely she’d misheard him. Was this the same man that was so cruel to her last night and demanded she return to his home at once not more than ten minutes ago? “Could you please repeat that, sir? I’m quite certain I misheard,” she said.

Now it was his turn to blink at her. Opening his eyes after an extended blink, he calmly said, “First, please don’t call me ‘sir’. I admit it’s slightly better than Your Grace or Gateway, but not much. Yesterday you called me Benjamin, and I would like you to continue. Second, you did not misunderstand. I would like to court you.”

“Why?” she asked, uncertainty filling her voice. Why did the man want to court her? Couldn’t he just leave her alone? Many couples lived in separate residences, why couldn’t they?

Benjamin swallowed uncomfortably. “It’s been brought to my attention that we didn’t court, therefore, we don’t know each other well enough for marriage. I would like to change that.”

“Someone had to bring it to your attention that we don’t know each other as well as other married couples,” she said dubiously.

He sent her a lopsided smile. “I feel I know enough about you. But yes, someone had to remind me that you may not know enough about me to be comfortable with me.”

Of course he felt he knew enough about her already. He, like most men, was willing to take anything in a skirt to bed regardless of his knowledge of, or feelings for, the woman. He’d just confirmed that suspicion for her for the second time now. “All right. I’m free every Wednesday afternoon from one to three thirty. Provided Brooke is available to chaperone, I’ll plan to see you then.”

“Not so fast,” he said quickly. “I’m not some lapdog like some other man we both know around here. I’ll not be given a two and half hour window once a week. I’m compromising by agreeing to do this and not dragging you home right this minute. Therefore, you’ll be doing some compromising, too.”

Madison crossed her arms. “Name your terms, Benjamin,” she said smartly.

“First, you must call off your watchdogs. I require our outings to be unchaperoned. Stop shaking your head. I’m playing your game, and you’ll play mine. No chaperones. Second, I understand you like to participate in several charitable organizations. I’m not going to stop you from that, but you’ll allow me at least two and a half hours each day.”

“Absolutely not,” she said sharply, shaking her head. “I can understand your concerns about Brooke and Andrew being overprotective, but I cannot give you so much time. That’s more time than any couple, married or not, spends together.”

“That’s doubtful,” he said with a scoff. “I imagine one day you’ll think two and a half hours with me is not long enough.”

“Now,
that’s
doubtful,” she said, curling her lip in disgust at his innuendo. “Do those two and a half hours each day have to be exclusive?”

“No,” he said quietly. “I’d like it to be. But we can include family activities as well. Just as long as half the time is exclusive, I’ll be satisfied.”

“Fine,” she agreed. At least part of the time she’d have others present to help keep him pleasant. “Any other demands?”

“We’ll be leaving for Rockhurst after lunch. I’ve already sent a note to inform Lottie to pack your things. You’ll ride with me in my carriage,” he announced, standing to leave.

Madison blinked at him again. They were going to Rockhurst? He was coming, too? And they were to be alone in his carriage for the ride? “All right,” she replied in mock cheerfulness. She knew she’d have to ride with him anyway, but at least this way she got to pretend she agreed with him even if she didn’t.

After that lone tear hit the plush carpet the night before, Madison had made up her mind not let him play her the fool like Robbie had done. Granted he was not nearly as close to her as Robbie had been, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t take what power he did have over her and use it against her.

Quite honestly she was rather surprised when he showed up this morning. Not that she thought he wouldn’t come, his pride demanded it. She was just shocked he’d discovered her missing so soon. How had he even known? Did he go searching for her? It really didn’t matter, she thought dismissively.

Last night she’d waited until well after the household had gone silent before making her quiet escape. Obviously not a stranger to donning a dark cloak and hiring a hack, she’d easily made it to Brooke’s and used her key to let herself in before retiring to the bedchamber she’d been occupying previously. It wasn’t until only about thirty minutes before her husband arrived that she’d first seen Brooke.

Brooke had once poured out her marital troubles to Madison, and she figured turnabout was fair play and dumped her bucketful of woes out for Brooke to help her wade through. She knew Brooke and Andrew couldn’t hide her. She’d had no intention to ask them to until she saw the raw anger in Benjamin’s eyes. She’d planned only to seek Brooke’s counsel on the matter. She’d been brutally rejected once already in her life, and that was once too many for her liking. She wasn’t going to stand idle while it happened again.

She would have returned, she reminded herself again as she dug through her sewing box. She would have gone back to his house and been the perfect cool, impassive wife. But no, he had to come and act all high handed, which only served to infuriate her more. Then she let her fear of him and his reputation for being the Dangerous Duke get in the way and she’d acted like a ninny and pleaded for Andrew’s help. Not that she minded the recent developments, mind you. She only wished she hadn’t revealed her vulnerability to him.

The morning passed swiftly and Madison once again found herself facing a table full of food with no desire to eat. She excused herself and waited in the drawing room for Benjamin to show up.

Just as her hopes were rising that he’d changed his mind and wasn’t coming, she saw his carriage stop out front.

***

Benjamin stared at her from across the carriage. She
was
scared of him. He could see that now. It all made sense. The uncertainty he thought he’d glimpsed in her eyes several times the day before, her loss of appetite at their wedding meal and then again at dinner, and of course, her trembling half-dressed body complete with tight hands fisting the sheets when he joined her in her room. He’d thought it was all bridal jitters, but now it was plain as day she was scared of him. What the blazes for? He’d never done anything to her to give her a reason to fear him.

“What has you scowling?” she asked suddenly.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “I just don’t understand you, that’s all.”

“What’s there to understand? You made some unflattering remarks and then you left me. Was I not entitled to do the same?” Her voice was smooth and calm and held no hint of fear or uncertainty.

“I came back,” he pointed out. “That's the difference.”

“And I would have, too,” she countered, plucking at a pleat in her skirt. “You just didn’t give me the chance.”

“I don’t believe you.”

She looked up at him with cool eyes. “Believe what you wish, but that’s the truth. In case you don’t know, allow me to inform you, I may come off as docile as a lamb, but I'm not. I’m not as outspoken about things as my sisters may be, but I do not take kindly to being treated poorly and I will not stand by while you make a mockery of me.”

“I didn’t make a mockery of you,” he replied defensively.

She shrugged. “Benjamin, I don’t care if you keep your wedding vows to me. I know you probably won’t and that’s fine. However, leaving me on our wedding night was the cruelest thing you could have done. I know now you didn’t seek the company of another woman, but I didn’t know it then.”

He stared at her in disbelief. She didn’t care if he kept his wedding vows? “Do you intend to keep yours?” he choked out, heart racing in anticipation of her answer.

“Of course,” she said with a dim smile.

He felt a bit of relief at her answer, but not much. He reached up and rapped on the top of the carriage.

“What are you doing?” she asked, blinking at him

“Directing the coachman to take us home,” he replied easily.

“No,” she snapped, her eyes widened. “You promised to take me to Rockhurst. That's where we’re going.”

“You just said you would have come home anyway, so I see no reason to go to Rockhurst,” he returned flatly.

“That was before.”

“Before what? Before I agreed to dance to your tune like some trained monkey in a traveling circus sideshow?” he asked sarcastically.

“Don’t speak to me that way,” she said evenly, belying the fire in her eyes. “I didn’t ask you to court me. You suggested it and I agreed. To be honest, I think it’s a rather good idea.”

“You would,” he retorted before leaning out the carriage and yelling to Billings, his artifact of a coachman, to go on to Rockhurst.

“I don’t know what that snide comment was about, but if you want to share my bed at any point in the future, you’d better woo me like there is no tomorrow,” she said cheekily.

He let out a harsh bark of laughter. “You make it sound like you have a choice.”

“Don’t I?” she countered with what he knew to be false bravado.

“No, actually you don’t. I don’t know the rules to marriage in America, but I know them well enough for England. And since you married an Englishman, who happens to have an English title, at a ceremony that took place in England, therefore, making you now English, you shall have an English marriage. And in England, the husband does not get denied entry into his wife’s bed.”

“Is that so?” she returned haughtily.

“Yes, that’s so,” he mocked. “It’s only due to my generosity that I have agreed to this madness and have not demanded my husbandly rights.” He knew that was a cruel card to play, he just didn’t care.

“Then perhaps you’d like to just flip my skirt up right here and now,” she suggested coolly.

He clenched his jaw. “What did I tell you last night?”

“You said not
act
like a whore,” she corrected. “I’m not. I’m merely suggesting that since you seem so overly concerned about your ‘husbandly rights’ you should just take them now.”

He ground his teeth. “I’m not ‘overly concerned’ as you put it. I’m just telling you that you cannot deny me your bed.”

“Fine,” she ground out, leaning forward. “I’ve accepted that. My acceptance is why I made my suggestion. However, if you want a wife who is
willing
to accept your presence in her bed, I suggest you mend your ways. Otherwise, you’re going to be going to bed with a woman who is the equivalent of a cold fish. I may not be able to deny you entry, but I can deny you my willingness and participation.”

He was at a loss for words. This was not how he’d seen the conversation going. Not that he’d planned to force her, he’d never do that. He just wanted to explain that it was only because he cared for her that he’d agreed to do this. However, her last words, though they may not have come out exactly right, he got their meaning. She’d let him use her body, but she wouldn’t enjoy it; therefore, he wouldn’t, either. He knew beyond a doubt he’d only enjoy sharing her bed if she was willing and participated in equal measures. He’d be lying if he said otherwise.

“I see I’ve made my point,” she said evenly, breaking into his thoughts for a second.

She’d made her point all right, he conceded in his mind. She’d made it loud and clear. And now it was up to him to figure out how to win her affections.

Chapter 6

Madison tried in vain not to fidget in her seat. It was the one nervous tendency she had that was always guaranteed to give her away. Something about Benjamin unsettled her and put her off. She couldn’t describe exactly what it was though. At least she’d been able to get through her speech with a bravado she didn’t feel. She’d doubted a few times he’d believed her, but now she could tell by the look carved into his marble face that he’d believed every word. Good. She didn’t want him to think her a weakling he could run over. She knew she’d have to allow him into her bed at some point, but at least she could put him off for a while as he tried to gain her approval.

The ride to Rockhust went quickly enough. Madison kept herself occupied with sewing while her husband brooded in silence. They arrived just after dark to find a small supper had been prepared. Having not eaten more than a handful of crumbs in two days, Madison had to remind herself not to act the part of a glutton. She could raid the kitchen later.

After dinner, the uncomfortable situation intensified. It was no secret there were hard feelings shared between her husband and Brooke and Andrew. And it was also no secret who was the cause of all those hard feelings: Benjamin.

“Perhaps we should all retire,” Brooke said tentatively, swaying back and forth while holding Nathan, her three month old son, trying to get him to sleep.

“I agree,” Andrew added, shooting a pointed look at Benjamin.

Relieved she hadn’t had to be the one to suggest it, she gave an exaggerated yawn and said, “I’m mighty sleepy myself. I think I shall sleep ‘til noon.”

Brooke nearly stopped mid-sway and made a little high pitched urp sound in her throat before resuming her sway while Andrew bent his head to study the floor, presumably to hide his grin. These two may know she was an early riser, but Benjamin didn’t. If she could just slip out before he awoke, she could hide from him all morning.

“Well, then, let’s be off before I have to carry you to bed,” Benjamin said lightly, offering her his arm.

Madison lightly placed her fingers next to his elbow and allowed him to walk her to the end of the hall. “I know the way from here,” she said, loosening her grip on his arm.

His free hand came to settle on top of her hand that was trying to break free, keeping it firmly on his arm. “I’m sure you do,” he said smoothly. “All the same, I’ll escort you there.”

“There’s no need,” she said hastily. “It will take you far longer to get to the gamekeeper’s cottage than it will for me to get to my room. Perhaps you should head there before all the wild animals come out for the night.”

He gave her a half smile. “I appreciate your concern for my safety and wellbeing. However, I assure you, if there are wild animals out there looking for dinner, which I’m certain there are not, they’re already out, so an extra ten minutes will not make a whit of difference. And, if there are wild animals out there looking for dinner, which as I already said, I’m sure there are not, I will gladly brave them for the honor of walking you to your room. Now, which way is it?”

Madison shook her head. The man was determined, she’d give him that. “To the right, then to the left, then up the stairs, then take the west hall until it splits, then go north until it dead-ends, then go left and my room is the third door on the right,” she said with a bright smile. Just see him bungle those directions.

But he didn’t. He led her straight to her room. “You do know it would have been easier if at the top of the stairs we’d just gone left, then taken the first right, don’t you?” he asked with a teasing smile.

“I know,” she returned.

“Do you,” he asked, leaning closer to her.

She shifted positions so her back was against her door and she was looking at him directly. “Yes, I just hoped you’d get lost and give up,” she admitted with a teasing smile of her own.

“I don’t think that’s what it was,” he mused aloud, cocking his head in feigned contemplation. “I think you wanted to spend more time with me.”

She swallowed.

“I think you weren’t ready for me to leave yet,” he continued. “I think you enjoy my company more than you want to admit. I think you’d also like to enjoy my company further by allowing me into your room…”

She opened her mouth to deny his charge.

“…but I’m not going to come in. No, I think I shall go see what the renovated gamekeeper’s cottage is like instead.”

She glared daggers at him. He was far too arrogant.

“Perhaps we should strike a compromise,” he said with feigned contemplation. “What do you say if we both indulge our inner desires and settle for a goodnight kiss, hmm?”

She stared at the cocky man. He honestly thought to accuse her of practically begging him to stay for a night of heated passion and then he suggests a kiss to tide her over. He was cracked. “I think not,” she said.

“Why not? Are you afraid you won’t be able to stop at one?” he taunted, a corner of his mouth tipping up.

Fighting the urge to slap the smug look off his face, she went up on her toes and pressed a quick peck against his handsome, hair bristled cheek before moving back against the door. She thought he’d frown and demand she kiss him again, on the lips this time. But instead, she noticed his face broke out into a wide grin like she’d seen at their wedding and he said, “That’ll do.”

She blinked at him. That wasn’t expected. What was he up to?

“Good night, Madison,” he said softly before leaning over and brushing a warm kiss over her brow.

Too stunned to say anything in return, she watched as he walked away whistling. When her mind was finally able to form a rational thought, she reached for the door handle and found it was already opened. He must have turned it for her when he leaned in for the kiss, she thought, bringing her cool fingers to where her skin still felt like it was on fire from his kiss.

***

Benjamin felt wealthier than a king as he walked away from Madison. She’d kissed him. It may not have been on the lips. It may not have been out of love and adoration. It may not have been because of any great passion she felt. It may have only been to rid herself of his presence. But it didn’t matter. She’d kissed him. And he’d liked it.

He liked that he could still feel the scorching heat of her lips on his cheek that branded him far more than if she’d slapped him. He liked that she’d had the spunk to act that way with him. She could have just denied his request completely or just stood there and acted rigid while he pressed his lips to her. Instead, she’d completely surprised him with her cheeky peck on his cheek.

Downstairs, he was walking out of the house when he caught sight of Townson holding his little boy against his shoulder. “Thank you,” Benjamin said softly, so not to wake the baby.

“You’re welcome,” Townson said quietly, seeming to understand what Benjamin was thanking him for. “Would you care to sit a minute?”

He really didn’t want to. He’d rather be alone planning his next move. And yet, he found himself taking a seat across from Townson and his sleeping son. How fortunate he was, and he probably didn’t even know it, Benjamin thought. To wake up every morning next to the one you love and have a child with her. A wave of jealousy for Townson similar to the one more than fifteen years ago bubbled inside him.

He’d once let his jealously of Townson get the better of him and no good had come of it. The two shared a common relation (of sorts): Townson’s mother. Lizzie, the dowager countess, raised both of them. She’d raised Andrew as her son, which he was, and himself as her brother, which he wasn’t. Through a sloppy genealogy and several sordid affairs, Benjamin and Elizabeth Black shared a common connection: the previous Duke of Gateway. When the old duke was a green lad, he had a liaison with a maid that resulted in Lizzie’s conception. Fortunately for Lizzie, the current duke at that time (Benjamin's supposed grandfather) took her in as a ward against the wishes of everyone else in the family.

Before she came of age to be introduced to society, which her grandfather fully intended to do, the man died, leaving her a ward to the duke at the time, her newly married biological father. Her father had been forced to make a match for her in order to his receive funds. So he matched her with the first wastrel who asked: Thomas Black, the former Lord Townson.

Immediately after Lizzie and Thomas’ marriage, the new duchess inadvertently exposed Lizzie’s bastardy, thus causing Thomas to exile his breeding countess to Essex. Lizzie would have spent the rest of her days in the country raising Andrew and forgetting all about her previous ties if not for Benjamin’s mother’s adultery with a footman, and presenting her husband with an undeniable cuckoo. The duke had no choice but to accept Benjamin legally, but refused to accept him otherwise. Instead, after his wife ran off with her lover to Italy, he contacted Lizzie and asked her to raise Benjamin in Essex. With no other source of income, she agreed and Benjamin was bundled off to Essex.

Benjamin and Andrew's respective fathers, the old earl and duke, had demanded they not share company past age five, which led to Benjamin living with his nanny and Lizzie coming to visit him every afternoon. It all sounded rather confusing and convoluted, but when one doesn’t know any different, one grows accustomed to the idea.

Benjamin knew that Lizzie, who as Andrew once so eloquently put it, was neither his sister on blood nor paper, had a son and since he himself didn’t have a mother, jealous feelings formed.

Those jealous feelings came to the forefront when they began school and Lizzie informed him he couldn’t acknowledge her in public. He’d sat in silence as he watched the woman he’d grown to love hugged and kissed Andrew goodbye, and not doing more than sending him a small glance. Jealousy gave way to bitterness that night and in all his thirteen year old wisdom, he’d mentioned rumors about Andrew's parentage. Word quickly spread and like Benjamin predicted, Andrew was the outcast at school. However, what he hadn’t counted on was the bullying to become as bad as it had. With some quick thinking and skillful manipulation, Benjamin was able to offer Andrew a cover of protection from a disaster he’d thoughtlessly created.

Benjamin was fairly certain that to this day Andrew didn’t know Benjamin was the one behind the initial rumors. He’d like to keep it that way, too. He’d created enough problems with his petulant jealousy and any mention of it now would only cause to create more problems that neither of them needed. However, that didn’t help Benjamin’s current jealous state. It only helped to remind him to think before he acted.

“What are your plans?” Townson asked, bringing him out of his fog.

“You mean with Madison?” he countered, folding his arms.

Townson nodded.

Benjamin blinked back a vision of déjà vu. He remembered having a similar conversation with Townson once, except the roles were reversed. “I’m not sure yet,” he admitted.

“Would you like some advice?” Townson asked, repositioning Nathan in his arms.

“Since the general consensus around here is that you’re the best husband there ever was, please,” Benjamin returned somewhat sarcastically.

Townson grinned. “Well, with you as my competition, I was a shoo in.”

“Thank you,” Benjamin returned dryly.

“You’re welcome,” Townson retorted with a smile. “Now, what I was going to suggest is to take it easy with her. She’s not delicate necessarily, but she’s not very trusting, either. That horse’s arse she was courted by in America was one of the worst kinds.”

“I know,” Benjamin told him solemnly. He remembered his month in Robbie’s company, that was bad enough, who knows how much worse he’d gotten in five year’s time.

“You do?” Townson asked, not just with his voice, but with his eyes, too.

“Yes,” Benjamin confirmed. He’d bet he knew more of her situation with Robbie than Townson did. He’d received several rather explicitly detailed letters from Robbie describing his and Madison’s courtship.

“All right,” Townson said quietly. “Just treat her right, please.”

“I will,” Benjamin vowed, standing up to take his leave. “I know my actions in the past haven’t always been respectable, but I promise I will do right by her.”

“See that you do,” Townson said gruffly, his concern for his sister-in-law’s happiness plain as day in his eyes.