Dancing At Midnight

weight of these new responsibilities bore down on him, and he remembered Belle's words from just a few days earlier.

You can't do this alone.

John hadn't really known how to follow her advice. He'd been on his own for so long that he had no idea how to ask for help, no idea how to accept it. Alex was his family now-twice removed by marriage, but family nonetheless. John already felt a greater sense of kinship with him than he did with any of his brothers or sisters. Damien hadn't even been able to make it to the wedding.

Yet Alex and Emma had rushed in from the country. The unfamiliar warmth of family began to wash over John. He looked over at Alex, who had been watching him carefully. 'I have a problem,' John said softly.

Alex tilted his head.

'George Spencer is trying to kill me.'

There was the soft whoosh of indrawn breath before Alex replied, 'Are you certain?'

'I am certain that someoneis trying to kill me,' John replied. 'And I cannot accept that his presence outside this house is a coincidence.'

Alex raked his hand through his hair. He remembered Spencer's rage when John had forced him to desert. 'No. It's not a coincidence. We're going to have to do something about him.'

John was surprised by how reassured he felt by Alex's use of the word 'we.'

'Where are you staying tonight?'

It wasn't an unintelligent question. John had, after all, gotten married less than an hour before. Under normal circumstances, he and Belle would have left for a honeymoon or headed back to Bletchford Manor for some time alone. But he didn't feel that they would be safe in the country; there were too many windows and doors at his home that Spencer might be able to sneak into. London would probably be safer, if only because there were so many people around who might witness Spencer's attacks. 'I don't know,' John finally said. 'I've been busy. I hadn't even thought about it. I don't particularly want to take Belle back to my brother's.'

'Stay here,' Alex suggested. 'I'll take Persephone back to my house for the night. Belle certainly doesn't need a chaperone any longer.' He offered John a sideways smile. 'You took care of that in rather short order.'

John couldn't help but grin.

'I'll send over a few extra servants,' Alex added. 'This place is already crawling with them, but it can't hurt to have a few more. The more people here, the safer you'll be.'

'Thank you,' John said. 'I was also considering hiring a bodyguard for the next few weeks.'

'A good idea. I'll see to it.'

'That's really not necessary.'

'For God's sake, man, you just got married. Let me worry about the damn bodyguards.'

John nodded in assent, thinking that he could get used to the idea of having a family who cared.

'Emma and I will remain in town until we have this sorted out,' Alex continued. 'Contact me in the morning, and we'll decide what to do about Spencer.'

'I'll do that.'

'And in the meantime, have yourself a splendid wedding night.'

John grinned. 'I'll certainly do that.'

A knock sounded at the door, and Belle poked her head in. 'Are you through with him, Alex?' she asked. 'Because it's my wedding night, you know, and I think I've a right to my groom.'

'Actually we were just discussing that very topic,' Alex said with a rakish smile. 'And as a result I think I want to go find my wife and go home.'

Belle shook her head as he left the room. 'What on earth were you talking about?' she asked her husband.

He put his arm around her shoulders as they followed Alex out. 'I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.'

The handful of guests left soon thereafter. As Emma departed, however, she took Belle's hand in hers and pulled her aside.

'Do you, er, need to have a talk with me?' she whispered.

'I don't think so,' Belle whispered back.

'Are you certain?'

'About what?'

'That you don't need to have a talk with me?'

'Emma, what are you talking about?'

'Married love, corkbrain. Do you need to have a talk with me?'

'Oh, er, no. No, I don't.'

Emma drew back, a light smile touching her features. 'I had a feeling you didn't.' She let go of her hand and took a few steps away before turning back to say, 'Well then, have a good night.'

Belle smiled. 'Oh, I shall. I shall.'

'What was that all about?' John asked, leaning down to kiss his wife's neck now that all of their guests had departed.

'I'll tell you tomorrow.'

'Fine. I have other things on my mind tonight.' He steered her up the stairs.

'So have I.' She followed with alacrity.

'What are you thinking?' John asked when they reached the landing. 'Right… now.'

'I was thinking that I'm glad that we're staying here tonight.'

'Mmmm, me too. It would have taken far too long to make it home.'

'To your brother's?'

'No, goose. To Bletchford Manor.'

Belle smiled. 'It seems so long since I've been there. It hadn't even occurred to me that I have a new home.'

'It's not very grand,' John said quietly.

'It's grand enough for me.'

'It has a terrible name.'

'That can be fixed.'

'Not very many servants.'

'I don't need many. And stop trying to put down Bletchford Manor. It has several excellent attributes.'

'Really?' They were at the top of the stairs.

'Oh yes.' Belle smiled flirtatiously. 'The rose bushes are quite beautiful.'

'Is that all?'

'There is a stunning Aubusson carpet in the drawing room.'

'Is that all?'

'Well,' Belle said with a smile as they turned into her bedroom. 'There is the master.'

'The master?' John's eyes lit with delight.

'He's very attractive.'

'Do you think so?' He kicked the door shut.

'Oh yes, very.'

John's hands stole around to the cloth-covered buttons which marched down the center of her back. 'I have a secret for you.'

'You do?' Belle could feel her heart quickening at the touch of his warm hands on her skin.

'Mmm. This master you're speaking of… '

'Yes?'

'He likes you, too.'

'Does he?'

John undid the last of her buttons and let the dress slide down her body, leaving her clad only in a silky little thing which drove his every sense wild. 'He'd like to begin mastering you tonight.'

'Mastering me?' Belle questioned, with just a hint of playful scolding in her voice for his choice of verbs.

'Well, he's done it once before, and he liked it quite a bit.'

'Did he now?' Belle could barely get the words out, for John's hands were now moving up her legs, pushing her