Chapter 20

Edward was having a really delicious dream that involved lavender-scented silk pressed to his face and soft skin under his fingers.

He squeezed his hand experimentally only to be rewarded by a soft sigh. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking till they adjusted to the daylight. He smiled, feeling sated and happy.

An expanse of pale skin caught his eye, and he looked down, his lips curling into an appreciative smile. Arabella was just so beautiful, looking like a goddess with her hair glowing in the sun like dark honey, her sweet lips puckered in sleep.

Their limbs were tangled, and as he looked, she drew him even closer with a delicious sigh. She looked like an angel, framed by the covers. His very own wood sprite.

She, who could summon spring in his heart simply by smiling.

He really had fallen helplessly in love, if he, the cold cynical Duke of Soulden, was now spouting poetry again.

The depth of his feelings for her sometimes scared him with its intensity. It was never easy to be that vulnerable with someone without the protection of the walls that had safeguarded his heart throughout the years, but he felt them crumble in his wife's arms.

The love he received in return made it all worth it in the end. Hence he now understood what it meant to walk on clouds.

His reverie was interrupted by the feel of Arabella moving her legs, inadvertently rubbing her core over his already aroused member. He hissed as intense lust shot through him.

It was really concerning how much he already wanted her, when he had already had her through the night in all the different ways known to man.

He already felt guilty for not controlling his desire for her, for she'd most definitely be sore this morning and would need to rest. But while his mind understood, his body was not cooperating—it burned for more of her.

She moved again, and lust shot through him once more. With a groan, he gave in to the demands of his body, lowering his lips to hers and devouring her sweet mouth. Arabella responded with a sweet sigh and pressed her body closer to his.

It amazed Edward how in tune her body was with his even while asleep.

He gently rolled her on her back and kissed down her stomach till he got to her core. Arabella answered with a sleepy moan.

"Edward," she gasped, waking up as he licked her folds.

He shot her a lopsided smile, his tongue darting out to taste her again.

"Awake already, my love?" he asked, a smug smile on his face.

He suspected she had been awake much earlier but decided to initiate this erotic interlude—not that he was complaining. Maybe she wasn't an angel, after all.

"What are you…" She gasped. "Doing?"

"Tasting you, of course."

"But…"

"Yes?"

"It's morning," she said shyly, trying to hide her blush.

"I know." He kissed her there again, applying pressure to the nub at the apex of her sex. "It's better this way."

"But anyone could see us." She blushed again, burying her hands in his hair.

"Tell me you want me to stop, then."

"Don't you dare."

He laughed against her folds. He had forgotten she could be a teasing minx, too. It surprised him how she could turn from a bold temptress one minute to a blushing maiden the next. But that was one of the many things about her that intrigued him.

This marriage was definitely going to be an interesting adventure going forward, and he was ready for it. But first, he had to perform his duty of pleasuring his wife, which was not at all hard since her sweet, responsive body never ceased to inflame his passions.

He continued strumming her hidden pearl and was rewarded with her throaty moans that only served to inflame his lust to unbelievable levels that he feared he was going to combust and spill like an adolescent boy. Just then, Arabella stiffened and screamed in ecstasy.

"Arabella, I need you. I can't wait any longer," he groaned, horsely, his voice sounding alien to his own ears.

In a few moments, he surged into paradise and almost immediately after a few strokes climaxed while groaning her name. Afterwards, the feeling of satiation was so acute that he collapsed on top of her. Arabella she ran her fingers through his hair as he caught his breath. When he had significantly recovered, he rolled onto to his side, taking her with him

"Good morning, wife. I must say, this has become one of my favorite ways to wake up." He laughed, squeezing her bottom.

Arabella laughed and gave him a lopsided grin. "Well, that can be arranged," she purred as one of her hands trailed down his stomach towards his already hardening member. "If you keep performing as you do."

He caught her hand in his. "While I would love nothing more than to continue this delicious interlude, we have pressing matters to handle. We have to go down for breakfast before Mother decides to come here to ascertain we are still alive. We also need to speak with them about what to do with Joana. I think we have to finally be honest with them, even though I'm definitely not looking forward to their censure."

Arabella pouted in disappointment. "I understand. This is definitely not going to be easy, but it must be done."

Seeking to wipe the sullen look off her face, Edward looked down at her naked body hungrily. A knock sounded at the door, interrupting his thoughts.

"Your Grace?" a small voice called from outside the door.

Arabella's eyes widened with fear as she looked at Edward. "Oh God," she hissed. "What do I do?"

She jumped out of bed, scrambling for her clothes.

"While I do appreciate the view, I don't think I want anyone to see you naked. If not for anything, we need to maintain the facade of the proper miss you present to the world," he said saucily.

Arabella gasped and attempted to gather the bed covers.

"It is a little late for that, don't you think? I have seen every inch of your delectable body."

She shot him a warning look, before running to the screen to dress.

Edward laughed with obvious enjoyment. He was definitely enjoying needling her.

Her maid knocked again, before opening the door and stepping into the chamber. She was still blissfully unaware of his presence in the room.

He saw the moment her eyes took in the clothes strewn all over the floor and the bedsheet that covered the floor.

He was surprised when her lips curled into a smile, but the next minute, that stoic mask slid back into place, making him wonder if it was just a trick of the light.

"Your Grace?" she called out, walking towards the bed. "Is—oh, Your Grace!"

She turned away quickly, surprised to see him.

"Matilda, you should have waited for me to bid you to enter," Arabella scolded, stepping out from behind the screen.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace." The maid curtsied.

"It's not her fault, Ara mine," Edward said slowly, rising from the bed, already wearing his breeches. He picked up his shirt and pressed a kiss to Arabella's cheek. "Has my mother gone below stairs to break her fast?"

"Yes, she has, Your Grace," Matilda answered.

"All right." He nodded. "Help Her Grace get ready quickly. We'll be joining the morning meal."

He shared a look with Arabella and then went to get dressed. He dreaded the conversation he was about to have with his family, but it had to be done to tie up loose ends. It was about time they put an end to all the lies between them.

As soon as he finished dressing, he stepped out of his rooms, only to find a radiant-looking Arabella standing in front of the door, with her hand poised to knock.

"Wife, I was about to come to you." He smiled, pulling her into his arms. "Perfect timing."

She smiled, moving up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "Indeed. You look handsome."

"And you look ravishing."

"Is that all that's on your mind?" She laughed.

"When it comes to you, yes."

"We have to discuss what we're going to say to them." She reminded him, her mood turning somber.

"Do not fear." He smiled, squeezing her hands. "They will understand why we did what we did."

Arabella smiled sweetly at him, looping her arm through his, and then they went downstairs. The joy in his heart was ridiculous, and he smiled down at her.

Various images of little girls with her beautiful eyes and smile, and a boy with honey-colored locks, flashed in his mind. The pictures were so vivid that he was sure he had a ridiculous grin on his face, but he didn't care.

He was jolted out of his reverie when Arabella stopped abruptly, staring at the dining table in in pure terror. He followed her gaze to see Joana sitting primly at the dining table, as if nothing was wrong. She lifted her head and gave him a smile that sent cold shills down his spine.

"Arabella, you overslept," Joana said, before turning to Edward with a dark look. "It is obvious why."

Then she gave a saccharine smile.

Harriet picked up on the tension and looked from them to Joana.

"Of course," Emily piped up in her cheery voice. "What do you expect from newlyweds who are crazily in love with each other? It was how it was with Charles and I. It is such a joy to marry for true love. I'm so happy there are so many love matches in this family."

"Is that what you believe?" Joana asked, plastering a tight smile on her face and gripping her cutlery very tightly.

"What are you doing here, Joana?" Edward glared at her. "How did you escape?"

"Escape?" Harriet frowned. "Eddie, what are you talking about?"

"Yes, Edward." Joana sneered. "Why don't you tell the family everything?"

"You are no family of mine," Edward growled. He turned to a footman and ordered him to send for the constables.

"Edward, what is going on?" Emily asked incredulously.

"Joana tried to kidnap and ship Arabella off to the West last night," he hissed. "Charles and I assisted in her arrest, but I don't know how she managed to escape."

"I am very good at getting what I want when I want." Joana smiled, before suddenly picking up a knife and pressing it to Emily's throat.

"Joana, what is wrong with you?" Harriet gasped. "Put down that knife."

"I will. When dear Edward tells you the truth."

"What truth?"

"The truth about their sham of a marriage," Joana spat.

"What?"

"Harriet, I was caught in a compromising position, and Edward was kind enough to step up and marry me to rescue me from ruination. We planned to separate after a few months, but down the line, we fell in love, and we want to have a real marriage now," Arabella blurted out.

"Well," Harriet said after a long minute of silence. "There are many marriages that started on worse notes. I am just happy that you and my son are happy."

"What?" Joana yelled, throwing the knife. "You're not angry?"

"Oh, I am, but what does it matter?"

"What does it matter?" She screeched. "Your son would not have had to marry her if she was not a whore who was willing to do anything to lie with a man. She is a nasty wench not fit to be the Duchess!"

The hate in her eyes was so vivid that it made Edward shudder.

"Neither are you, going by your actions yesterday," Arabella answered, the steel in her words arousing him.

That seemed to drive Joana to the limits of sanity.

"You disgusting whore. You can never have him. He belongs to me! You are just a fortune hunter and a disgusting whore. Only you could ask a gentleman to bed you. You can never have him. If I can't have him, no one else will. Least of all you!"

In a blink of an eye, she threw a knife in Arabella's direction.

Edward managed to move Arabella out of harm's way at the last minute, but the knife speared his shoulder. Joana was gearing up to throw her fork next when the Dowager Duchess gave a command with a simple tilt of her head. Joanna was immediately restrained by two footmen who were conveniently standing around the dining room.

"Get your filthy hands off me," Joana screeched, squirming violently.

She whipped her head around and bit one of the footmen. He yelped but managed to keep hold of her. She turned to Arabella then.

"You think you've won, don't you? I should have killed you when I had the chance, but you just wouldn't die, would you?" she hissed. "You even managed to escape the trap I set for you. Miss Goody Two Shoes offering your horse when you were supposed to ride it. I should have known that those incompetent fools would not get the job done. As usual, if you want to get a job done properly, you should do it yourself. Humans are incompetent, and men are not to be trusted—except for you of course. You are the exception."

She smiled maniacally at Edward.

Edward suppressed a shiver.

"Don't worry, I will get rid of her, and we can live happily. I know you love me. You always have," she said as the footmen dragged her away.

"No, Joana," Edward called. "I never saw you as anything other than a sister, but I'm starting to regret that now."

The eerie silence was broken as she flew into a rage.

"No, you love me. You have, and you always will!"

She screeched, attempting to free herself of her captors' hold, screaming and kicking. Emily and the Dowager Duchess stared after her with such shock that it would have been comical under different circumstances.

"That was definitely very dramatic," Charles mused as he stepped into the room.

"Husband!" Emily cried, running into his arms. "Are you all right?"

"I am well, wife." He smiled down at her, pressing a kiss to her lips. "How are you?"

"Better now that you're home."

Edward smiled at the sweet scene but swayed on his feet.

"Edward?" Arabella gasped, holding tightly onto him.

"I'm all right."

"No, you're not. There is a knife in your shoulder," she scolded. "Come, sit."

"It's nothing. Only a flesh wound," he said flippantly.

"Only a flesh wound?" she cried. "You're hurt."

"It is nothing, wife," he protested.

"You don't know that." She wept.

"Francis, get the doctor," Harriet ordered the footman standing nearby.

The man rushed off to do her bidding.

The doctor came rather quickly, seeing as he'd been tending to Peter, the footman Joana had stabbed.

"Come, Your Grace," he ordered. "You need to retire to your chambers."

"There's no need for?—"

"He's going now," Arabella interjected.

Edward gave in, knowing his wife would resort to several means to get him to comply.

She helped him undress, and after the doctor inspected wound, he confirmed it was a flesh wound. While cleaning the wound, her composure finally broke, and her hand started shaking as she worked hard not to break down in tears.

The numbness was starting to wear off, and it was obvious she understood how much danger all of them had been in and how worse things could have been. The Dowager Duchess noticed this and took over from her.

"Here, let me help you, dear."

Arabella handed over the supplies and then proceeded to burst into sobs in her sister-in-law's arms. Edward looked on helplessly, her sobs tearing at his heart.

He was grateful for his family's understanding of their situation. When her sobs finally ebbed, Emily led her to the sofa and laid a blanket over her.

Once he was declared fit to move around, he donned a shirt and moved to carry his wife to the bed. Her face was still puffy from her tears. Emily smiled at him and motioned for him to leave. Edward hesitated, before he nodded to her and stepped out of the room.

On his way to his study, he met Charles, who looked like he'd been awaiting his arrival.

"Is something wrong?" Edward asked, bracing himself for another onslaught of criticism.

It was only because of sheer will and the fact that he remembered how his brother had helped him rescue Arabella that he hadn't dismissed him.

"We have much to discuss, don't you think?" Charles smiled ruefully.

"Indeed." Edward nodded, motioning for him to step into the study.

Once inside, he poured two glasses of whiskey and handed one to Charles. Charles received it with a word of thanks and took a bracing sip.

"Things definitely haven't been the same since…"

"I know." Edward sighed.

So much had happened in so little time, and he wondered how they'd adjust to everything. The sun outside shone irrespective of the dark mood he was in, a testament to the fact that the rest of the world had no idea the battle they'd just overcome.

"I… I knew about Joana's infatuation for you, and I never understood it, but for her to go so far?" Charles shook his head, taking another sip. "You've never had good luck with women."

"I used to think otherwise until yesterday." They shared a laugh. "To think she was bold enough to return here after yesterday shows how far gone she was."

"That's the funny thing. I spoke to Emily, and she said that after the footman you sent to me informed us of your movement, she went to see Peter, and he told her everything. She found it hard to believe that sweet Joana had done anything of the sort and even confronted her about it before Mother came into the dining room. But Joana denied everything."

"I can understand her hesitation." Edward nodded. "I didn't want to believe it until I saw it with my own eyes."

"And when you returned with Arabella yesterday, she promptly forgot about it," Charles continued. "I'm sorry I was quick to insult your wife. It seems I have a lot of apologizing to do."

"She's the stubborn sort, so you better prepare yourself."

They laughed again, and for the first time in many years, Edward found himself feeling at ease with his brother.

"I should know, for Emily and I were wrapped up in the same passion in our early days as a married couple." Charles smiled. "I was only startled by how quickly you married. It was like one minute you were the ton's most eligible bachelor, and the next you were leg shackled with a lot of salacious gossip surrounding your union."

"You really need to stop entertaining gossip, Brother." Edward laughed. "You're a father now."

"It has helped us in the past," Charles argued. "But I do understand, and I apologize for treating you poorly. I truly do respect you and all you've achieved. I should never have projected my fear and hurt from Father's behavior on you."

"All is forgiven, Brother," Edward assured him, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "We do have other important matters to discuss, including Joana's trial."

His expression turned grim. "When I remember how she almost got my wife killed, I get so angry that I want to see her hang," Charles hissed, voice thick with anger. "But then I remember she was family and I get confused about what should be done. I think she should be sent to Bedlam. Hopefully, some time there will return her sanity."

Edward bent his head in thought. As much as he did not like the idea of Joana going to a mad house, there seemed to be limited options available.

"All right," he answered. "I'll write to the judge. Another matter worth discussing is Peter's health. How is he?"

"Doctor Bellingham said he'd make a full recovery, but it would take time. He lost a lot of blood."

"Keep me abreast of his recovery. He helped me save Arabella, and I would like to extend the same favor."

"I will." Charles stood up to leave and shot him a look over his shoulder. "You do know Mother is going to have your hide for lying to her, right?"

"Don't remind me," Edward groaned.

Charles then left the study, his laughter echoing in the hall.

Edward sat in his chair, deciding to catch up on his correspondence, When he looked out the window sometime later, he realized he'd missed luncheon.

He lifted his hand to ring for a maid when a knock sounded at his door, and it opened to reveal his mother. She had a team of maids with her carrying trays of all his favorite foods. The maids immediately set about laying out the food.

"Mother," he greeted, rising from his seat.

She indicated the coffee table, and he obliged, settling into the sofa uneasily. She had a grim look on her face even while she made him a plate and waited till he'd finished eating.

"You lied to me," she began, not one to play games.

She and Arabella were alike in that aspect.

"Yes." He decided not to beat about the proverbial bush and face her censure head on. "It had seemed the best course of action at that time. We are sorry for it."

"I like her," she said at long last. "Arabella. She's strong, sweet, beautiful, and above all, she's made you more… human."

"Human?"

"Yes." His mother smiled warmly at him. "Human. You used to carry such a heavy burden on your shoulders that you barely even laughed or smiled. I see you with her, and I remember…" Her voice broke.

Edward wanted to go to her but knew she'd resent him for it, so he stayed in his seat till she regained her composure.

"I remember my early days with your father." She smiled. "Not that I'm comparing you with him, and neither do I expect you to become like him. I remember how in love we used to be."

"What happened, Mother?" he asked, taking her hands in his.

She seemed so small now that she had finally started talking about something he'd always wanted to know.

Had something really happened to have turned their father away from them?

"I… I don't know." She sighed. "I think it had always been there, but I was just too blind to see it."

Edward sighed. "I'm sorry to make you remember something so painful."

"I am happy to have discussed it finally." She laughed. "For the first time in years, I feel so free."

He smiled at her, envying her strength.

"So, tell me, what exactly has been happening this past week?"

And he did, leaving no detail out, including his decision to send Joana to Bedlam.

"I agree. It is a wise decision."

He nodded, and they sat in comfortable silence. Edward replayed everything that had happened and realized that somehow, all the change he'd feared marriage would bring had been nothing but good for him and his family.

He could finally boast of a relationship with his brother, his mother had been freed from her prison of grief, and he had finally gotten peace that he had never experienced before.

Indeed, the breeze of change had blown across Soulden with Arabella as it's harbringer.