Page 87 of Cherish and the Duke
There was a common use for such potions. She had read extensively about medicinals while taking care of her parents and come upon a particularly helpful book on the healingandpoisonous properties of plants. Oleander was commonly used by women who were with child and no longer wanted that child.
It saddened her, but who was she to judge?
She had married a duke and her situation was secure. But what of that dour maid’s mistress? Perhaps the lady in questionwas not married and would be thrown into the street if her family ever found out.
She took her own package, thanked Mr. Drake as she left his shop, and then climbed into the waiting rig.
Gawain was frowning. “What was Lady Albin’s maidservant doing in the shop? Did Lady Albin send her in there to insult you?”
Cherish’s heart lurched. That unpleasant woman was Lady Albin’s maid?
“Not at all. In truth, I doubt she knew who I was.” But this meant the oleander potion was for Gawain’s former love. She gasped, for suddenly it all made sense. She now understood the reason Lady Albin had turned up at Fiona’s party, and why she had been relentless in her pursuit of Gawain. The brazen woman had even stolen into his bed in an attempt to seduce him.
Gawain was studying her expression intently. “Cherish, what is going on? What are you not telling me?”
Afailedattempt to seduce him.
The child was not Gawain’s, of course. He had been so righteously indignant in finding her in his bedchamber that he had moved in with Reggie. But this explained why Lady Albin was so determined to get into his bed and have intimate relations with him.
He was to be her dupe.
This was her scheme to force his hand and have him marry her. All it took was one night of lovemaking, and then she would come to him a few months later, claim the child was his, and force him to marry her. Being honorable, Gawain would have agreed.
What Lady Albin had not counted on was his never touching her. Or his getting married.
Dear heaven. What horrible people. What a horrible day.
“Gawain, I will tell you once we have left Brighton.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Why wait, Cherish?”
“Because you are going to fly into a rage when I explain what I think happened. Oh, not in a rage at me…but…” She sighed. “Let’s just get back to Shoreham Manor.”
Chapter Eighteen
Gawain listened withmounting 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. Butbollocks. 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.”
