Rival Desires (Properly Spanked Legacy 1)

“It’s not us to whom you must apologize.” He heard the sharp edge to his father’s comment. “You must make amends to the lady. Going forward from such a misstep…it will require great attention to her feelings.”

“I know.” He resisted the urge to bury his head in his hands. “I acted in such grievous misunderstanding. I had no idea who she was.” He didn’t know why he repeated it again. He’d told them already. “I didn’t know. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“You’re certain you didn’t force her?”

His father’s words hung in the air, suffocating him within the coach. He hadn’t, had he? He reached to open the window, to let in some air, as he thought back over the previous night’s seduction.

“I didn’t. She never tried to stop me. It’s only that…well…” He tried to relax his hands, but ended up fisting them again. “I’m not sure she knew what she was trying to stop me from. But she was not upset. She didn’t… I swear that I didn’t…” His voice cut off; he was unable to say more.

“My dear.” His mother placed her fingers over his. “Whatever happened between you, it cannot be undone. You’re doing what you must to protect her from the repercussions.”

“If she’ll even want that. Perhaps she wished to marry someone else. Perhaps she and Townsend had an understanding.”

“I believe Townsend was one of many vying for her affections.”

He hoped his mother was right. “I don’t want to hurt her any more than I already have,” he said.

“You must take care you don’t,” said his father. “Or you’ll have me to answer to. You shall walk into Halsey’s house and offer for her hand with the greatest respect and sincerity, and hope that he accepts your suit without boxing you upside the head, or taking a cane to your back.”

“As for Lady Ophelia…” His mother straightened her shoulders. “I shall welcome her to our family with such affection that all the rest shall be forgotten. She’ll be happy as your wife, I’ll make sure of it. She’ll not know a moment of regret.”

“I believe it shall be Wescott’s job to keep her happy,” his father said. “And I trust he’ll manage it, starting with your behavior toward her this day. It’s best to begin a marriage in accord. Although…” He gave his wife a wink. “We began in the worst of circumstances, didn’t we, Gwen? And we survived well enough.”

“Indeed.” She smiled in reply. “You see, Jack, good marriages start in all sorts of unfortunate ways.”

He’d been a young man when he first heard the story of his parents’ marriage, the way they’d met a mere day before they were to wed. His mother, according to the oft-repeated tale, had written a hysterical letter to her father only a few days later, begging him to come fetch her.

“One positive note in this debacle is that you must hold some attraction to the young lady,” said Wescott’s father.

There seemed no need to answer, considering what had transpired between them. He flattened his lips in a line.

“I’m sure she’s lovely.” His mother squeezed his arm. Wescott wished he shared their positivity. The truth was, he hardly knew Lady Ophelia. He’d fallen for her in darkness and whispered fears. In morning’s light, all of it had seemed a dream.

When they pulled up in front of Halsey’s Grosvenor Square mansion, the dream became all too real. Riders and carriages dotted the courtyard, the remnants of a nightlong search for the young lady of the house. The Arlingtons were met inside the door by a red-faced father, before any of them could produce calling cards.

“If it isn’t Mr. Jack Drake,” Lord Halsey said in a grating voice. “My son has just left to visit your town house, Wescott, and slap a glove in your face.”

“That won’t be necessary, sir.” Wescott spoke in conciliatory tones, even as a flush heated his cheeks. “I’ve come to offer my deepest apologies to your daughter, and to make things right.”

“Make things right, indeed.” Halsey was spitting mad. “As if such a thing is possible. My daughter is hiding upstairs, destroyed by the shame and ignominy of her experience last night. You took her to an inn, then rode her home through London in the morning for every Tom, Dick, and Harry to gawp at.”

“Sir, I—”

“What’s more, you were too cowardly to bring her to her doorstep. What sort of gentleman drops a lady off unaccompanied at the edge of Hyde Park and continues on his way?”

“Sir, she asked me to take her there. I didn’t know—”

The Duke of Arlington’s deep voice sounded from beyond his shoulder. “My son did save your daughter from the fire, Halsey. Perhaps we might sit down and discuss things, since nothing at this point can be changed.”

The earl had no choice but to usher them down the eerily silent hallway of his mansion and guide them into the front parlor. “Guthwright,” he barked at his butler. “No damn tea trays. No interruptions. Let no one in, particularly Viscount Murdock,” he added, naming his son.