Chapter Eighteen

G awain listened with mounting anger as Cherish explained the purpose of the oleander potion. The horse leading the rig sensed his fury and grew agitated, but Gawain quickly calmed him down before both Cherish and the horse began to panic. “Sorry, love. But bollocks . Are you saying she used some churl to get her with child, and then came here to seduce me? All this in order to trap me into making her my duchess?” He shook his head and laughed with open bitterness. “Why am I not surprised she would stoop to such measures?”

“It would have worked had you bedded her,” Cherish said.

“But I didn’t. Thank the Graces I was already in love with you when she appeared with her cat claws out and ready to dig into me. But I am heartsick for that innocent life that will never be. I also feel sorry for the churl she used to get her with child. I hope he did not love her, for he would be yet another casualty of her plot. But this is the essence of who she is, someone who will not give a care for who she damages in order to get what she wants. I’m just surprised she waited this long to approach me. Shows how much she really thought of me…which is nothing at all.”

Cherish took his hand and brought it to her lips. “I like you.”

His laughter was a mix of frustration and genuine warmth. “I like you, too.”

He seethed for a while longer, but soon his anger began to abate. Mostly, he was relieved to now be married to Cherish. How was there any comparison between this jewel of a wife beside him and the manipulative schemer that Katie was?

“Gawain, are you all right?” Cherish asked him a few minutes later.

“Yes, love.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to his side, needing to feel her softness against him. “You know,” he said as Shoreham Manor came into view and his tension began to ease, “there’s a time-proven method of getting rid of your headache.”

At first, she thought he was serious and was about to tell her of a useful remedy, but then she noticed the heated look in his eyes. “Oh? Does it require my going up to our bedchamber with you?”

His lips twitched as he tried to suppress a smile. “Yes, that is part of it.”

She laughed lightly. “And does it require removal of clothing?”

He chuckled. “It would be helpful.”

“Yours and mine?”

“Well, I would not require you to do anything I would not do. So, yes. If your clothes come off, then mine will too. Fair is fair.”

Her lilting laugh was sweet and mirthful, and he silently gave thanks that he was now married to Cherish. He had been quietly expressing his gratitude to the heavens above for avoiding disaster during this entire trip from Brighton to Fiona’s home. It distressed him to think he might have been stupid enough to bed Katie had he not already met Cherish and fallen in love with her.

He hoped he would have had better sense than that.

“We do have some time before everyone is called to supper,” Cherish said, regaining his attention. “I am eager to test out your home remedy.”

He flicked the reins to urge their horse to a trot. “You won’t be disappointed, love.”

Fortunately, the house party guests and Fiona were all out on the back lawn having afternoon tea when they arrived. Gawain immediately led Cherish upstairs to their bedchamber and locked the door behind them. “Love, shall I pour you a glass of water to drink with your medicine?”

She sat on the bed and shook her head. “No, I am keen to try your method first.”

He smiled at her. “To be honest, I have no idea whether coupling actually works to clear out a headache. That was a fabrication on my part.”

She held out her arms to him. “I suspected as much, but let’s give it a try. Truly, Gawain. I think being in your arms is the best possible medicine for me.”

“The feeling is mutual, love.” He set about undressing, and then undressed her, marveling at the perfection of her body. He unpinned her hair, running his hands through the lovely cascade of molten gold curls down her back.

He wasted no time in getting her under him and kissing her with scorching heat, for he wanted to leave no doubt how strongly he desired her. He kissed her lips and kissed her lower, preparing her so that she was hot and receptive by the time he entered her. At the same time, he took the peak of her breast into his mouth and suckled, aware of her heightened pleasure and wanting to give her a slow build because he did not want a fast coupling.

He needed to hold her and love her, needed to lose himself in all the sensations she aroused in him with the warm scent of her body and her kittenish purrs. She tasted like sweet cream and strawberries, incredibly satisfying. “I love you, Cherish,” he said, watching her beautiful face in all its purity and all its sensuality as she reached her moment, and then he reached his.

He fell back against the mattress, his body in a divine sweat. She did not seem to mind at all and nestled beside him. He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead. “How is your headache, love?”

She laughed. “Completely gone. Truly. A miracle cure.”

He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “You are the miracle. I hope you know that.”

She grinned at him. “For someone who had closed himself off so completely, you certainly are showing a remarkable amount of affection.”

“Only for you,” he said with a light chuckle, and kissed her again. “Otherwise, I remain the surly Silver Duke of reputation.”

In truth, he was more of a savage duke, because he was still enraged by what Northam and his wife had done to Cherish. He meant to bring this pair down and have them crawling on their knees begging for her forgiveness.

But she was a soft thing, and he had no intention of marring this moment with his angry thoughts, whether of the Northams or of Katie. There was nothing to be done about his former love, either. He expected she would end up punishing herself without need of his interference because she did not have it in her heart to love anyone but herself. She would end up in her waning days alone, blaming everyone else for her misery.

But he thought no more of the Northams or Katie while he now had Cherish in his arms. In due course, they readied themselves for supper.

Everyone had questions for them the moment they walked downstairs. Cherish made no secret of what her uncle had done to her, or of the fact Northam Hall and its farms were now securely in her ownership.

Gawain noted Lord Fellstone’s expression as she related what they had discovered today, and knew the man would regret not having taken the risk on Cherish. Northam Hall alone was a substantial asset, and Gawain expected to learn she had a solid fortune. Not that he intended to touch any of it. He would leave the management of her assets to her, unless she asked for his advice.

As for Fellstone, he had to give the man a nod for his good taste in liking Cherish. Although Cherish was now out of his reach, perhaps Lady Eugenia’s impressive wealth would ease his heart. She was a ton diamond and beautiful. Fellstone might grow to love her.

Not that Gawain should care about that lord and his problems. Perhaps Cherish was turning him soft.

Yes, she had definitely turned him soft, he realized when Fiona’s parlor games began. His demonic cousin had saddled him with Lord Pershing, Lady Yvonne, and Margaret again. They came in dead last, as usual. This time, he took it in good spirits and did not mind that Lord Pershing snored on the settee the entire time, or that Lady Yvonne thought London and Paris were countries, or that Margaret cheered more heartily for Cherish’s team than her own.

He could not blame Margaret for adoring Cherish. He adored her, too.

And he made this eminently clear to Cherish when they retired to bed later that evening.