The Theft of a Dukedom Read online

  Constance had done exactly the same to him, noticing the growing bulge in his britches as well as the stick he leaned heavily on. She engaged his hazel eyes and smiled coquettishly. ‘Of course not. The blackguard got himself shot in a duel with a French Count over some little chit like your sister.’ And she smiled as she saw anger flame in his eyes. ‘I see you haven’t lost any of your fire. Maybe you can best Robin after all.’

  ‘Maybe I can, seeing as the stupid bastard got himself killed in a duel in Jamaica!’ He said harshly and was gratified to see shock in her eyes.

  ‘How careless of him.’ She murmured, but Charles saw the sudden pain and recalled that Constance had been very interested in Robin and not for his title.

  ‘So who did you marry?’ he asked evenly.

  ‘The Earl of Rochdale.’ She said coldly. ‘We have a very loose understanding.’

  ‘Have you produced the heir yet?’

  ‘No.’ She looked down at her hands. ‘He’s not really interested. That’s why I have as much freedom as I want. He would like somebody else to sire his heir.’

  Charles leaned forward suddenly and whispered in her ear. ‘So, who were you fucking last night?’ and was gratified to hear her gasp as she became aroused. It didn’t take much with Connie, just the right words at the right time and she would do anything.

  ‘Actually I haven’t had a lover since I’d heard you were back.’ She said and smiled invitingly at him.

  ‘And where would we enjoy our tryst?’ he asked impertinently.

  ‘There is always your carriage.’ She murmured.

  ‘But if the Earl expects you to conceive, surely he has supplied you with the facilities to do so?’ Charles pointed out salaciously. She gasped again and shuffled her feet. ‘One can’t really do a decent job without the proper setting.’

  ‘I have a small townhouse in St. James’s Street.’ She smiled lasciviously at him. ‘Its about two hundred yards away from White’s. So when you finish at your club, why don’t you stop by.’ She flicked open her fan and walked away from him.

  Jesus!Charles thought.Do I just want to fuck her?He stood staring at the floor, debating the issue. Yes, I want to fuck her. That’s all she’s fit for! That’s all she wants!His mind travelled back to the last time he had sex. She was a very nice whore at Cuidad Rodrigo, but she was a very busy whore, so he only had his twenty minutes before the next soldier was in.At least with Connie I’ll get to fuck her all night!He decided and smiled.

  ‘Oh! Dear.’ Kitty murmured as Richard took her hands and made the arch for all the couples in the set. He looked at her face to see her looking at Charles.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Constance Beresford.’ She said as if that explained everything and jerked her chin towards her brother.

  ‘And who is Constance Beresford?’ he enquired, after glancing over his shoulder.

  ‘Didn’t you live in London before you went to Spain?’ she asked impertinently. They broke apart and followed the line until they were face to face back at the top.

  ‘Not really.’ Richard said as they came together. ‘Actually, as little as possible.’ He finished as they moved apart.

  ‘Then I’ll tell you about her after the dance.’ Kitty said and smiled impishly at him.

  ‘I’ll hold you to that, Lady Amelia.’ He said as they turned and danced with the person next to them.

  As the set came to an end, all couples clapped for the orchestra. Richard asked her to stay for the waltz and as the music began he held out his hand. Coyly she put her hand in his and rested her other hand on his shoulder. She felt safe as he placed his hand on her waist and they started to dance.

  ‘I think you can call me Kitty.’ She said coyly. ‘Lady Amelia sounds so formal!’

  ‘I’m honoured, my Lady. You may call me anything you like.’ He said softly. ‘So! Who is Constance Beresford?’ Richard asked as he looked again at the stunning woman talking to Charles.

  Kitty looked up at his face and was astonished at his profile, like a roman god. His dark wavy hair brushed his collar as he turned his face back, he lifted an arched eyebrow in query and her mouth went dry. She tried to collect her wits.

  ‘I’m not supposed to know this, but she was one of Robin’s paramours.’ Kitty said and giggled. ‘He was quite put out last year when she upped and married the aging Earl of Rochdale.’

  ‘Why didn’t she marry Robin? He had a higher rank.’

  ‘I’m not supposed to know or understand this either. But she has the reputation of a loose woman, with low morals.’ She said raising her eyebrows playfully. ‘According to Louise she wouldn’t marry Robin, beside the fact he wasn’t interested in marrying her, because he would have made an honest woman of her and forced her to remain in his bed.’

  ‘Tell me more things, you’re not supposed to know!’ Richard bade her and smiled mischievously. He was captivated by the light in her eyes.

  Thomas appeared beside Charles, disturbing him from his reverie about Connie Beresford. ‘This is the first time I’ve seen Kitty waltz.’ He murmured. The two men watched the animation in her face as she chatted with Richard. ‘I haven’t seen her that engaged with a dance partner since you went to Spain.’

  ‘Richard is a kind, generous and gentle man. If his feelings become engaged, he will make an offer and you could do a lot worse for a son-in-law.’ Charles said.

  ‘Does he have an independent fortune?’ Thomas asked.

  ‘Yes. His elder brother has been overseeing his estate while he’s been in Spain. Apparently his mother left all three boys a fortune each, when she died.’ Charles sighed and smiled at his father. ‘Ponsonby doesn’t look too happy.’

  Thomas turned in the direction Charles was looking to see Derek Ponsonby scowling at Richard. ‘Well, he can’t say anything; he hasn’t even made an offer.’ Thomas sighed. ‘Not that it’ll make any difference.’ He’d noticed his son talking to Constance Beresford. Thomas cleared his throat. ‘So will you be fucking Constance Beresford tonight?’ he asked impertinently.

  Because Charles had rarely heard his father swear so coarsely, he jerked his face around in astonishment. He was confronted with a knowing smile. ‘Yes.’ He said simply, swallowing the shock that his father would even know her.

  ‘She’s good.’ Thomas said. ‘I sampled her wares last year, while I was still debating asking Victoria to dance and I have to say it was a very satisfying experience.’ He laughed then, ‘and I promise not compare notes tomorrow at breakfast!’

  ‘I find that disconcerting.’ Charles said and quirked an eyebrow at his father. ‘Both Robin and I sampled her goods before I went to Spain and I thought she was good then.’

  ‘She’s better now. Another four years experience, it makes a great deal of difference.’

  ‘At least you won’t have to worry about paternity.’

  ‘No. She’s barren.’ Thomas said softly. ‘We all know it. So does Rochdale, that’s why he set her up with the townhouse.’ He sighed. ‘I should think he’ll divorce her next year and find a new wife to give him an heir.’

  Charles looked at his father abruptly. It was something in the tone of his voice. ‘He’s asked for Kitty, hasn’t he?’ he asked tightly.

  ‘And I refused.’ Thomas said and smiled gently. ‘I couldn’t possibly see my little Kitty married to an old man. She doesn’t need his title or his money. He can have one of the debs that is being pressured for a title.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I just wanted to warn you, that’s all. I know you had a thing for Connie before Spain, but she has become a harlot and I would hate to see you trapped by her.’

  ‘I told Kitty earlier, if I wanted a wife at the moment I’d be talking to Louise Trenchard.’ Charles said softly. ‘All I want is a fuck!’ and they both laughed heartily.

  ‘I’ll send the plain coach back for you.’ Thomas clapped his son on the shoulder. ‘I would advise you to lie back and let her do all the work. She much prefers it that way.’r />
  Chapter 5

  It was the punch bowl, this time. It was on an octagonal occasional table. Three ladies were just filling their cups when there was a loud crack and a leg gave way under the weight of the huge glass punch bowl. With graceful inevitability the bowl slid off the table, shattered on the floor into a million razor edged shards and the contents burst across the ballroom in a tidal wave.

  The waltz had finished and Richard asked if Kitty would like some punch.

  She smiled coyly again and nodded her head. ‘That would be lovely, thank you.’ She murmured and Richard held out his arm. Kitty delicately rested her fingers on his forearm and they walked over to the Punch. Richard filled two cups and bravely drank it while he stood with Kitty. They continued to chat and she was telling him about childhood escapades with Charles.

  ‘Well, he hid in mother’s armoire and I couldn’t find him for well over an hour. Even Robin was becoming impatient with him. In the end Mama told me where he was and I flew up the stairs into Mama’s room, yanked open the door to find him wrapped up in so much silk that he couldn’t get out.’ Kitty took another sip of her punch. ‘That’s awful.’ She said with a look of distaste. ‘What on earth is in it?’ she finished as she turned, placed her cup on the table and turned back.

  She had barely taken a step when the table leg gave a loud crack. To Richard it sounded like a pistol shot, but out of the corner of his eye he saw the punch bowl lilt sideways. Years of military service had honed his reflexes and in an instant his right arm clutched at Kitty’s waist as he swept her off her feet and forward out of the bowls trajectory and as the contents spilled out, he caught her legs with his other arm, turning her away and shielding her body, just as the punch bowl shattered on the floor. The noise was so shockingly sudden that she squealed, along with the rest of the ladies in the ballroom. Richard held her to his chest and said a prayer of thanks.

  An army of footmen appeared to help clear up the mess and Richard carefully walked out from a glass infested punch lake. When he reached Charles and Thomas, he carefully stood Kitty on her feet.

  ‘Are you alright, My Lady?’ he enquired solicitously.

  ‘I think so. What happened?’ she gasped, bewildered.

  ‘It would appear Lord Richard has just saved you from tonight’s disaster.’ Thomas said and turned to Richard. ‘I can’t thank you enough. She would surely have been cut by the glass.’

  ‘It’s a good job I’ve got boots on, or I would have been cut too.’ Richard said jovially. He turned to Kitty. ‘I’m sorry I handled you the way I did, but haste was necessary.’ Kitty had turned to look at the mess and was very grateful he’d been there. ‘Do you need to sit down? You look quite pale.’ Richard asked and Kitty nodded.

  Both Thomas and Charles inspected the table, along with most of the male population at the ball. Lord Henderson was most indignant and Lady Henderson was beside herself with embarrassment that such an event could occur at her ball. ‘I’ll have all the tables checked in future.’ She said scathingly.

  After that incident, Kitty wanted to go home again, even though her gown didn’t have a single spot of wine on it.

  ‘Allow me to accompany the ladies.’ Richard offered as Agatha was making ready.

  Both Thomas and Charles smiled in relief, as both of them had an assignation after the ball. Charles sauntered off to one of the card rooms so he could sit down. Richard escorted the ladies to the plain Landau and Thomas gave the driver instructions for returning to collect Charles. Thomas also called the ducal coach for Victoria and himself, because all he wanted to do was take her to bed.

  ‘Are you in a hurry, my love?’ she asked with raised eyebrows. ‘It is most unusual for us to leave a ball this early.’

  ‘As far as everybody is concerned we are going home with Kitty to comfort her in her near miss.’

  As the footman held the door open, Thomas whispered. ‘Round Hyde Park until I bang on the roof, then back to Berkley Square.’

  ‘Yes, Your Grace.’ The footman murmured as Thomas scrambled in the door. He dropped onto the seat opposite Victoria and stretched out his legs.

  ‘What are you planning?’ Victoria asked with a quirk of an eyebrow.

  ‘I plan to ravish you thoroughly in this carriage!’ Thomas said salaciously as he reached forward and swept her onto his lap. She gasped as he kissed her cheek and then traced his lips to her mouth. Delicately brushing his lips across hers he asked. ‘Do you have an objection, my love?’

  ‘No.’ Erupted from her mouth in a gusty sigh as she stroked her gloved hand around the back of his neck.

  Oh so slowly he kissed her, gently opening her lips with his, like the petals of a flower. Gently he probed her mouth and fenced with her tongue as his fingers released the back of her gown. He broke away from her maddening lips and whispered ‘I want you,’ as he traced his lips over her cheek, along her jaw and down her throat. He paused on her pulse for a moment feeling it throbbing rapidly and then he traced his lips over her collarbone, as he pulled the gown from her shoulder. She gasped as her breast was revealed and he gasped as he saw her erect nipple spring from the restraining material in the dim light. His lips found it a moment later and he tormented it with his lips, then stroked it with his tongue and in the end he engulfed it with his mouth until she could feel his soft palate and the fierce suction. It made her moan as she relaxed across his lap.

  ‘Yes, Tommy.’ She murmured and inflamed him.

  He hefted her onto the seat and dropped to his knees on the floor. ‘I want you so much!’ he muttered as he started to strip off his jacket. She looked at the him and smiled happily as she slowly pulled up the hem of her gown. Thomas literally wrenched the buttons on his britches open in an effort to release his very erect penis as he watched the hem get higher and higher. First it revealed the garters and stocking tops, followed by the bare flesh of her thighs and finishing with that dainty triangle of golden hair.

  ‘Take me Tommy!’ she demanded and lifted her hips in a thoroughly wanton manner. ‘Don’t waste anymore time! Take me now!’ and she opened her legs as wide as the carriage would permit.

  Thomas groaned and braced his left hand on the upholstered seatback. Taking his throbbing member in his right hand, he guided it into her slick, wet passage. There was no delay, as he thrust forcefully in and pulled back almost to the point of withdrawal, before pushing forwards again. His buttocks flexed with the haste and force he used. He watched Victoria’s face and was astounded at the expression of ecstasy. She started moaning after only a few moments and lifted her hips to meet him with every thrust. She became almost wild beneath him and he could feel her orgasm building.

  ‘Come for me, Vic.’ He murmured and increased the speed. ‘Oh yes! Come for me!’ he encouraged and suddenly her internal muscles rippled and she clamped her teeth around her fist to stop herself from screaming in ecstasy. He felt his orgasm burst like a dam as he heaved himself in to the hilt and shuddered in rapture. He held himself rigid as he felt every flex of his pulsing ejaculation and every throb of her vagina.

  Eventually his body relaxed and he scooped her off the seat, sat back on his heels and held her body to his chest, all with his penis buried deep inside her.

  ‘I could make love to you in here all night long.’ He whispered in her ear.

  ‘I much prefer the privacy of my bedroom.’ She murmured back, her lips brushing his ear. ‘At least I can scream in there.’ And she nibbled on the lobe of his ear.

  ‘You have a point.’ He snorted. Slowly he withdrew and lifted her with ease back onto the seat. He offered his handkerchief to clean away his issue and he buttoned up his britches over his flaccid manhood.

  Victoria straightened her gown and resumed the place she’d been sitting in before they had mad passionate sex in the coach. Thomas shrugged his jacket on and then he rapped on the roof.

  ‘Whilst that was very satisfying,’ Victoria murmured. ‘I feel it was rushed. You seemed in an awful hurry.’

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nbsp; ‘I have been burning for you all evening.’ Thomas admitted. ‘If I’d had my way, I would have had you over the dining table at dinner. But I don’t think Kitty or Agatha would have appreciated it.’

  ‘I’m sure it would have offended Charles and Richard too!’ she said astounded.

  ‘Don’t be surprised if it didn’t. They’re soldiers. They’ve seen more pillage and rape than you can imagine.’ Thomas said evenly.

  They were silent after that and as the coach pulled up at the bottom of the steps, Thomas rushed her up to her bedroom as quickly as decently possible. He had every intention of making love to her for the rest of the night.

  Charles stayed in the card room for an hour, won a few games and lost a few. He looked at the ornate ormolu clock on the mantle over the fire and decided that he wanted to go now. He dealt himself out, used his stick to lever himself to his feet and went out into the ballroom.

  Constance was still there. She was flirting with some young buck and Charles smiled evilly. ‘There you are , Darling.’ He said as he took her elbow. ‘I think it’s time to call the carriage.’ He said as he propelled her forward.

  ‘Do you find that this masterly approach works?’ she asked frowning.

  ‘Yes. Especially if I’m desperate for a good fuck!’ he whispered in her ear and smiled again as she inhaled sharply.

  ‘You should really be a little more discreet, Charles.’ She muttered as he forced her forward and held onto her as they went down the front steps.

  ‘It’s not really necessary, when my own father tells me you’re a good fuck!’ Charles mumbled and signalled for the coach. The plain Landau jerked to a standstill and the footman opened the door. Charles handed Constance inside and said ‘St. James’s Street, and make it snappy!’

  ‘Yes, My Lord.’ The footman said and helped Charles into the carriage.

  ‘I should be annoyed with you.’ Constance said. ‘But I’m not.’ She sighed. ‘I was sorry to hear about Robin, though. He was such an excellent lover.’

  ‘Was he as good as my father?’ Charles asked evenly.