One by one, those that crowded the kitchen dispersed, leaving Jared and Persephone alone.
“The viscount—” Persephone began.
“Is no longer a threat,” Jared reassured her. “My men have summoned the Watch. Two of them will escort Hollingford to the constable. The others will stand guard outside.”
“I was so worried about you. Afraid something had happened!”
He crushed her to him. “King and his men had matters well in hand and were escorting the thugs to the constable by the time I arrived. I realized then that the message was a ruse. All I could think of was the danger you, Phoebe, and Edward were in. I got here as quickly as I could.”
“But I don’t understand,” Persephone said. “What would the viscount have to gain by luring you away?”
“That was only the first part of his plan,” he explained, easing back from her. “The second part was four thugs waiting to ambush me at the inn where I was to meet Hollingford. But the viscount had not counted on King and his Runners. I would not be here right now, about to kiss you again, if King had not followed Quincy and learned of the viscount’s plan.”
Now that they were alone, Persephone was able to relive everything that had happened. Distraught and holding on to her composure by a thread, she asked, “How did Hollingford manage to slip inside undetected?”
“One of my men left his post outside to investigate a scuffle and was hit from behind. Hollingford must have orchestrated the scuffle to get inside once the man was unconscious. It took a few minutes before my man was missed.”
Everything had happened so fast, but in the confusion one thing remained crystal clear. She had been perilously close to losing the man she loved. The tears she fought to hold back streamed down her cheeks.
“I never want to feel the fear that threatened to tear my heart to shreds when I saw the blood on your gown,” Jared told her. “You need to change out of it, else I’ll never be able to move past that fear.”
She wiped the backs of her hands over her eyes. “Of course,” she apologized. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“Indeed.”
When he raised one brow, she shook her head at him. “Before you start with your ducal glares and orders, I must tell you that I never want to feel the fear that stole my breath when the viscount said you’d already been killed.”
He swept Persephone into his arms and carried her from the kitchen, much as he’d done on the way in.
“I could get used to this,” she sighed, leaning her head against his chin.
“I like the advantage it gives me.”
“Oh, really?”
“I have you now, Wife,” he told her. “After I undress you, I shall do my best to remind you why you love me.”
“Do tell,” she said, smiling at the man she loved. “And am I allowed to remind you why you love me?”
“Of course,” he said, his smile more than a bit wicked. “I do not plan to be through reminding you until sunup.”
True to his word, and then some, the Duke and Duchess of Wyndmere did not emerge from his bedchamber for three whole days.
During that time, he’d ordered meals and hot water delivered, but refused entrance to anyone, save the servants who emptied the bath water while he and his duchess remained behind closed doors.
“Jared,” Persephone said, “I’m afraid to show my face, everyone will surely know what we’ve been about these past days.”
“If they did not, I would venture to say my household staff is not as intelligent as I had thought,” he chided.
She placed her hand to his cheek, needing to say the words again. After fearing that she’d lost him, she vowed that her husband would never begin a day without knowing that she loved him quite desperately. “I love you, Jared.”
He pulled her close, kissing her tenderly. “I know.”
Her mouth hung open and he chuckled, adding what he knew she needed to hear. “I love you, too, Persephone. More than even I thought possible.” He kissed her deeply then asked, “Are you ready to resume our mundane existence?”
“With you by my side, life will never be mundane again.” She slipped her arm through his and walked through their bedchamber door to once more assume their duties as duke and duchess.
No one who attended the duke’s first ball would ever forget it, least of all his duchess who would always remember that life is a gift…love and family are, too.
The staff was lined up, waiting for them as the duchess preceded the duke through the doorway. When her hand slid instinctively to protect her belly and the babe she sensed in her heart lay sleeping there, a cheer went up among the staff.
Mrs. Wigglesworth was the first to react, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief as she rushed to hug Persephone first and Jared second. “Congratulations, Your Graces.”
The duke beamed and held his duchess close to his side. “I daresay nine months from now, my lovely duchess shall present me with a gift beyond compare…the Seventh Duke of Wyndmere.”
Persephone laughed at her husband and corrected him, “And I say that I shall be safely delivered of a daughter.”
Eight and a half months later, the duke and his duchess were both correct, Persephone was safely delivered of twins—a son and a daughter.
About the Author
“Warm…Charming…Fun…”
C.H. writes about the things she loves most: Family, her Irish and English Ancestry, Baking and Gardening. Take a trip back in time to Regency England for her new series: The Lords of Vice, coming from Dragonblade Publishing in 2020! Venture back to the Old West with her Irish Western Series, then fast-forward to the present, stopping at the Circle G Ranch in Pleasure, Texas, before finally landing in Apple Grove, Ohio–Small Town USA–for a slice of Peggy McCormack’s Buttermilk Pie!
C.H. was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but her parents moved back to northern New Jersey where she grew up, which if you’ve met her would explain a lot. She’s always had her nose in a book, has traveled the world over, and even tested the time-space continuum, thanks to the awesome power of the written word. One of her writing quirks is that she loves to include bits and pieces of her ancestors and ancestry in her books. Her family centers her and keeps her sane, which is why she enjoys adding elements of family, hearth, and home in her romances.
C.H. is a member of RWA, NINC and WWA. C.H. is a former member of RWA/NYC, PASIC, and NJRW where C.H. held numerous jobs including Treasurer, Assistant Conference Chair, and PAN Liaison.
With 16 novels and 15 novellas and short stories to her credit, this award-winning multi-published author’s books are available in paperback, hardcover, trade paperback, magazine, e-book, large print, and audio book.
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