Taming a Rake into a Lord: Taming the Heart Series Read online

  “Lady, Elizabeth, such a pleasure.” Lord Carteret stepped forward. “May I introduce my eldest son, Viscount Townshend.”

  “Ith a pleathure, Lady Elithabeth.” The plump one bowed to her.

  She curtsied, her smile frozen in place. “Charmed.”

  “And my second son, Lord Parker.” He gestured toward the skinny one.

  “Lady Elizabeth,” he gave a sweeping bow, his hand flying out as he went.

  “Pleasure, Lord Parker.” She ducked as she curtsied to keep from being smacked.

  The party moved inside and Elizabeth tried to keep from pressing her fingers to her temples. It would be a long evening.

  Their coats were removed, muffs and scarves ushered away and the party moved to a parlor for afternoon tea. Liz distinctly heard Barrett declare to Piper he could use something a hell of a lot stronger.

  “Hush.” His wife gave him a stern look and Barrett clamped his mouth shut. Liz bit back a smile. Barrett’s love for his wife shown through in every interaction.

  As Liz entered the parlor, Lady Carteret ushered her over to a settee, where both sons sidled up on either side of her.

  Viscount Townshend made a face as May came in with Barrett and Piper’s children. “Odd bringing children to a thocial engagement.”

  “You think so?” She raised her eyebrows. On the contrary, she thought it was marvelous that they loved their children and wanted to be with them. If she were ever blessed with children of her own, she couldn’t imagine living any other way.

  “I never even saw my parenth till the age of eighteen,” he puffed proudly.

  The other son sensed his opportunity. With a dramatic wave, which nearly knocked over her tea he claimed, “I agree with Lady Elizabeth. Our parents were exceedingly lucky we turned out so well. Rearing children normally takes a strong hand.”

  “Indeed,” Alex added drily and Liz brought her teacup to her lips to hide her grin.

  “Don’t worry, darling.” Lady Carteret sang out. “The children won’t be joining us for dinner.”

  Barrett let out a low sound that Liz was sure was a growl.

  The next hour passed in equally bland conversation until the dinner bell rang. Sighing with relief, Liz stood, both Lord Townshend and Lord Parker stood beside her. “Gentlemen may escort their wives. My boys will escort you, Lady Elizabeth.” She gave her a toothy smile.

  “How delightful,” Liz answered, her teeth grinding together. She should have foreseen this but she was hoping for a moment of reprieve.

  “Normally I would have invited additional females but this was arranged on such short notice…” Her eyebrows rose as she looked at Barrett.

  Liz caught Piper squeezing his arm to keep him from retorting. Lord and Lady Carteret took the lead, with herself and her escorts behind them. She held the elder’s arm when suddenly she could have sworn someone patted her bottom. It was difficult to tell through the layers of skirts but the sensation came again and as she looked at Lord Parker, he leered back at her. A quick glance over her shoulder told her that the rest of the group had lagged behind. They were in a circle, heads bowed together. She begged one of them to look up. Someone had to save her.

  6

  Breaking bones had never been more tempting to Chris then at this very moment. He had done it before. It was a necessary part of extracting information from enemy soldiers. Not something he particularly enjoyed but today, he thought he might cherish the experience.

  “Chris, you simply must put a stop to this.” Rose was tugging on his sleeve as they stood in a circle. They only had moments before it would be rude not to follow. “She is a beautiful, sweet, kind woman who has suffered enough. You can’t possibly be thinking of attaching her to one of those buffoons so that you can stay a lord.”

  “Rose,” his breath hissed out. “If I am not her guardian, who knows the gentleman who will take my place. And what of May?”

  “Barrett, how could you bring us here?” Piper’s voice was near shrill.

  “Don’t blame me. I was simply using a connection within the peerage. He’s the one who sent the missive. Come right away.” Barrett crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Because I thought this process could take some time and not being a lifelong lord, I didn’t know how to beg―“ He stopped speaking. Liz was looking desperately back at them as the younger Lord Parker’s hand fondled her bottom. His eyes narrowed dangerously, a rumble growing in his chest. No one touched her like that but him.

  Though he should have been at the back of the group, since he wasn’t escorting a lady, he started stalking after them. Rose let out a reprimand, “Chris, it isn’t how it’s done―“

  But he raised his hand to cut her off. His anger was justified, he told himself. She was his ward, it was his duty to keep lecherous pieces of cow dung away from rather luscious curves. Well, perhaps a guardian shouldn’t think of them as luscious but… to the point, Lord Parker was going to find himself missing several fingers if he touched her like that again.

  With his parents’ backs turned, Lord Parker’s eyes were feasting on every part of Liz while his hand twitched and then wrapped around her hip.

  Chris increased his pace and just as Parker’s hand was about to touch the delicate curve, Chris snapped his own out, grabbing onto Lord Parker’s fingers and squeezing them.

  The other man’s eyes bulged out while he emitted a squeak. “I take my duty as guardian very seriously. I thought you should know.” Chris stated low and deep. He gave the fingers one more squeeze before he let them go.

  Rose stepped around him with Alex, giving him the eye for his social misstep. He ignored her look. In this moment, he didn’t feel much like a lord, not that he ever did, but the rake in him longed to plant a fist directly in the other man’s face. As Alex passed him by, Chris grunted, “See that Parker keeps his hands to himself.”

  A look of surprise crossed Alex’s face but then a small smile touched his lips and he gave a nod of understanding.

  As they entered the dining room, Chris was immediately aware that name cards announced the seating arrangement and he was placed near the end of the table while Liz was opposite between the elder and younger Lord Parker. Clenching his teeth, he debated what to do. Piper gave him the eye as she took her seat, and begrudgingly, he sat in the assigned chair.

  Wine was poured and a soup was being ladled out to each guest. Chris barely noticed either as he watched Lizzie’s face. Though all seemed well, she was growing paler by the minute, a look of panic on her features.

  Suddenly she stood. “Would you excuse me for a moment, please?”

  As she raced out the door, the younger Parker stood as well, a gleeful expression on his face. “I’ll just go check on her, Mother.”

  “Oh, do Trenton, darling,” she called to her son.

  Chris narrowed his eyes. However small, there was a tent in the other man’s trousers.

  “If you will excuse me,” he said, standing as well.

  “Oh dear,” Lady Carteret stood as well. “We can’t all leave.”

  “As her guardian, I cannot permit her to be alone with Lord Parker.” Even he knew this rule and it was one, as a Lord, he intended to enforce to his utmost abilities.

  Lady Carteret gave a sly smile, which looked difficult to do considering the size of her front teeth. “Now what would be the harm in that, really? You came for a prospective marriage, you would leave with one. Lady Elizabeth is better suited towards a second son anyhow. It’s obvious she isn’t that accomplished and―“

  The elder Lord Parker interrupted but Chris didn’t bother to listen to the rest as he exited the dining room. Neither Liz nor Trenton were in the hall. Bloody hell he’d lost them. If that scrawny little― all thought left his head as a cry emitted from the library. Turning on his heel, he began stalking towards the door.

  * * *

  ***

  * * *

  ESCAPE, was her only thought as she jumped from the dining room table. Lord Parker wa
s grabbing her leg under the table and his hand was moving steadily higher. She’d never been particularly good at conflict, hence why the pig farmer had yet to change the fences.

  She wasn’t going to change now and so instead she sought refuge. How long could she be gone before anyone noticed? How would she make it through the rest of this meal with his scaly hands on her body?

  As if she conjured him, Lord Parker slipped through the crack in the door. Easily done considering how thin he was. “L-l-lord P-parker, what are you doing here?”

  “Following you, of course. I sensed real feeling between us. When you left, I knew you wanted me to come after you.”

  “My lord, you must return. We cannot be alone together and I think you misunderstand… Oh!” He had walked up to her and reached his hand directly for her breast.

  She narrowly escaped by jumping backwards, difficult to do in a gown, and took three steps to the left, to put a straight-back chair between them.

  “Playing hard to get.” He leered, stalking towards her looking more like a grasshopper than a wolf but she backed up nonetheless. “You’re right, it does make it more fun.”

  “This is not fun.” She stamped her foot. “I must insist you return.” But it didn’t seem as though he would so she started angling her back towards the door. If she were lucky, she could exit while still keeping her eyes on Lord Parker.

  But in an instant he lunged forward grabbing her by the arm and pulling her body towards his. His lips came down on hers, buck teeth scraping across the sensitive skin of her lips and she cried out, trying to pull away.

  A loud bang rent the air, wood hitting wood and blessedly, Lord Parker lifted his head. With a startling force, he flew backwards, even as a hand at the curve of her waist held her exactly in place.

  “I warned you,” Chris growled, so intimidating, even Liz was frightened for a moment. But the hand at her side was gentle.

  “You can’t do that to me. I’m a―“

  “I’m an earl.” Chris grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from the room, stomping down the hall. “Don’t move,” he said just outside the dining room.

  He marched in, leaving the door wide open. “We’re leaving.” His voice boomed over the first course.

  “My lord,” Lady Carteret gasped.

  “Is Lady Elizabeth not feeling well?” Rose jumped in.

  “She was looking terribly pale,” Piper added.

  “We should get her home,” Rose filled in. “We’re so sorry. But this was lovely. We should do it again soon.”

  “I doubt that very much.” Even Liz could hear Lady Carteret sneering. She winced though she wasn’t sad to never return.

  Chris stepped back into the hall and grabbed her arm. She struggled to keep up as he pulled her toward the foyer. Tossing on his coat and her wrap, over his arm he trudged out the front door and into the waiting carriage. Once he lifted her in, he snapped the door closed and banged for the driver to leave.

  “But the rest of them!” Liz cried.

  “They’ll be fine. Barrett’s vehicle is made for eight. It will be a tight fit but―“

  “But we’re alone! And everyone knows.” She groaned and threw herself back against the seat.

  “I’ll explain it to them later. They’ll understand…” His voice was soothing and gentle.

  She made to protest but decided against it. She actually had bigger concerns at the moment than being ruined. She wouldn’t have thought it possible but there it was. Her only would-be suitors had been total buffoons. With nary five months left, she was likely never going to marry.

  Throwing her arm over her eyes, she tried to stave off the tears welling in her eyes. She shut them tight to keep any liquid from dripping out.

  Apparently, she wasn’t fooling him because gentle arms reached out and slid underneath her, picking her up. Chris settled her in his lap. “Don’t cry, I would never let him hurt you.”

  Startled, she opened up her eyes. Their faces were only inches apart. “I’m never getting married, am I?”

  7

  Startled, Chris opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Pain and hurt stared back at him, worry creasing her brow. “Of course you are. We’ll find…”

  She waved her hand. “It’s more than that. You’re right. I can find someone. But I’m never going to love him. He’s never going to make me feel breathless with want―“ Her voice stopped, heat filling her cheeks.

  Chris gulped down the lump in his throat. He couldn’t love her the way she deserved but he could give her this. The chance to know…

  His lips whispered over hers, passing once, twice, three times. The back of his fingers brushed down her cheek, soft, filled with all the tenderness a woman as pure and lovely as Lizzie deserved. He felt her intake of breath, it robbed him of his own. It didn’t matter how he hurt, he would give her all that was his.

  His fingers trailed lower, skimming across her skin, down the neckline of her dress. He deepened the kiss, bringing his lips more fully to hers as the tips of his fingers just brushed the top of her breast.

  He felt her arching up into his hand, and then he deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to brush lightly against her lips until she opened to him.

  Gasping, she pulled back. “We shouldn’t.”

  “I won’t do anything that compromises you, but let me give you this.”

  “Chris, I don’t think―“ His lips captured hers again, he didn’t want to hear her objection. His lips pressed harder, his tongue probing her mouth until her breath came in short gasps. Then he dipped his fingers under her neckline to capture the peak of her nipple. A moan filled his mouth and it took him a second to realize that it was hers. He’d love to strip off her clothes, see her laid out before him but it was too cold and the temptation would be too great.

  Instead, he slipped his hand out of the top of her dress and slid it down to her hem. His other hand was in her hair, holding her up. She was like velvet in his hand, soft and luxurious. He tipped her back slightly as his fingers slid up her silky thigh. Her breathing came in short gasps, but he brushed past her layers of clothing, and ever so slightly touched the soft folds of her sex.

  Her whole body jerked as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands tangling in his hair and grabbing at the strands, pulling.

  A soft groan left his lips as he increased the pressure and her body trembled in his arms. Even her lips trembled under his and he held her tight to his chest with his other hand. He wanted more, wanted to give her more. She deserved everything.

  She was slick with desire, he could feel it and as he slipped a finger inside her, the heel of his hand pressing against the rest of her as she shuddered, groaning. She was about to shatter in his arms.

  All he could think was that is wasn’t enough, but he pushed with the flat of his hand, sinking deeper and she gasped a cry. “Chris,” she moaned as her legs stiffened and her body convulsed.

  His name on her lips broke him to pieces. He wanted to take her. Needed to claim her for his own. Any reasons he had for holding back had evaporated, all he could do was feel and he had never wanted a woman more, had never felt so close to another person.

  A rash idea was forming in his mind. He would take her. She would be ruined and there would be no choice but to marry her. He didn’t want to think about it or the consequences, he’d worry about those later. But he was tired of denying his feelings for her and the desire building within.

  He laid her on the seat, her body pliable in his arms. Her skirts were already bunched around her waist, his hand holding her pantaloons open. All he needed to do was untie his breeches and then he could―

  The carriage came to a sudden halt. Liz lay languidly on the seat, his body covering hers. His fingers flexed, his blood thrumming. If there was danger, he would kill the man who tried to hurt her. This, he could give. His life was meaningless compared to hers.

  A rap sounded at the door. “Chris,” Alex barked out.

  Chris grimace
d, annoyance filling him. “What?”

  “I’m coming in.”

  Hissing a breath, Chris gathered Liz up in his arms. “I should―“ she started to say, but he shushed her.

  Adjusting her skirts, he pulled her closer, wrapping a blanket around them as she snuggled in his lap. “You’re staying right here.”

  The door snapped open and Alex climbed in.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m making sure that Liz isn’t―“

  “I’m her guardian,” Chris growled out.

  Alex quirked a brow. “Is that why she’s in your lap?”

  “Shush, both of you,” she murmured.

  “What’s wrong?” Chris focused back in on her face but she didn’t look upset, only sleepy.

  “We can talk about my virtue later. It’s been a long day, rather trying, and I am tired.” She snuggled into his shoulder and closed her eyes.

  He grinned, knowing that he had made her this way and it was intensely satisfying. Had it ever been so rewarding pleasing someone else? Kissing her forehead, he murmured, “Sleep, sweet Lizzie.”

  Alex was watching every move, and though Chris didn’t make eye contact, he could feel Alex’s gaze.

  Liz relaxed more deeply against him, her breath slow and even. Still ignoring, Alex, he began to softly caress the silky strands of her hair. He dipped his head to smell them, enjoying the way they tickled his nose.

  “Chris,” she sighed softly in her sleep. His body warmed at her murmured word.

  “Why don’t you just marry her?” Alex’s voice cut through the quiet.

  Annoyance flitted through Chris at the interruption. “Why don’t you mind your own business?”

  “Because you called me here to help. Remember?”

  Chris’ teeth clenched. Hells bells, Alex was correct. He had called him here. “Fine.”

  “The answer to her dilemma and yours is sitting in your lap.” Alex waved his hand at them.