Baron of Bad (Lords of Scandal 5)

But then her father continued. “Perhaps a fortnight?”

Her mother clucked her tongue. “Can’t one of my daughters have a proper wedding? I haven’t been able to plan a single one. Not really.”

Grace shook her head as Bad tightened a hand about her waist. He knew Grace would prefer to spend her nights in his bed and he had a powerful need to keep her by his side. “My lord,” he started. “Perhaps something even sooner. We don’t want—”

“No.” Her mother waved her hand. “This is my last chance.”

“Mother,” Grace interjected. “After everything that’s happened, it seems wise to have a quick engagement.”

Her mother stopped, planting her hands on her hips. She looked very much like Grace in that moment. “A fortnight is ridiculously fast.”

Grace clamped her mouth shut but Ben noted the jaunty set to her jaw. He’d seen that look before and when Grace gave it, she usually got her way.

Daring turned back to him then, having been unusually quiet. “Grace,” the duke rumbled. “May I borrow your fiancé for just a moment?”

Grace frowned but slipped her hand from his. “Of course.” Then she moved ahead, joining her mother who’d begun to discuss churches and spring flowers, and which dress most suited the occasion.

“What is it?” Bad asked, his voice dropping low. He didn’t much like the interruption and he didn’t care if Daring knew it.

Daring stopped, reaching for Bad’s arm. “I’ve a ship leaving in the wee hours of the morning.”

“What?”

“It’s headed to Scotland. I’ve a winter crop of barley to deliver and cases of whisky to return. Rather close to Gretna Green, all things considered.”

Bad scrubbed his jaw with his hand. “A ship you say?” Daring might be his new best friend in all of the world. “Leaving tomorrow?”

“Four or so, as the tide flows.” Daring slapped him on the back. “If I’m not mistaken, Malice and Cordelia should be reaching Scotland to see his family on their wedding tour. Perhaps they could be coerced into stopping in Gretna Green as well.”

That confused him a bit. “They’re already married.”

Daring shook his head. “A woman likes to have a little family in attendance.”

Bad looked up to where Grace stood next to her mother, the other woman still talking without pause. Would Grace elope with him?

He knew she would, but his chest tightened again. Should she? He was still a man who didn’t know how to express himself. She’d offered her heart on a platter and he’d yet to even confess his love. He’d said he’d worship her but this was different. His heart twisted again. He couldn’t let her go, they’d marry for certain. But he’d need to learn how to share his feelings to keep her forever.

Chapter Fifteen

Grace stood by the garden gate, trying to hold still. The truth was, she was excited. The man she was going to marry, who had proposed in front of all of her family, was meeting her in a dark garden at midnight.

She tightened her grip on the wrought iron gate. He was the man who’d already made her body sing. Would he touch her again tonight? Her insides fluttered as she peered into the darkness.

Her mother had talked of nothing but wedding plans until Grace had cried headache and retired for the evening. The truth was, she couldn’t care less how they married, she was far more concerned with when.

Besides her fear after the kidnapping, she no longer liked being without him and the weeks, or if her mother had her way, months, until their ceremony would be torture. After the intimacy they’d shared, she couldn’t go back to sleeping alone for too long.

The sound of gravel crunching stopped her thoughts and she ducked behind the brick post checking to make certain it was Ben who was coming down the path to the gate.

He was nearly at the fence when she finally saw him and popped up from her hiding spot. “Ben.” She raced for the latch and clicked it open, backing up to make room for him to come through. He was in the garden in a second and swept her into his arms as the gate clanged closed behind him.

“Oh dear,” she whispered, peeking over his shoulder even as her arms wrapped about his neck. “That was loud.”

He grinned, kissing the hollow of her neck. “If we’re caught, your mother will cease talking about our wedding that’s to happen in two months’ time.”

Tension skittered along her skin. “I can’t wait that long. Can you?”

“Gads, no,” he rumbled as his lips kissed a trail to just behind her ear. “I think we both know I am not a man who stands on convention.”