Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me: A Brethren of the Coast Novella
Page 8
“Are you not the benevolent soul.” With a flirty giggle, she wiggled her hips and offered her cheek, upon which he pressed his lips. “I wish our babe would hurry, as I am uncontrollably excited to meet our son or daughter.”
“If I may interrupt, I have something special for both of you.” Blake handed Almira an envelope. “Happy Christmas.”
“How curious.” When Almira flipped the missive, Nicholas noted the familiar Great Seal of the Realm, and his bride gasped. “Nicholas, it is from His Majesty.”
“Open it, sweetheart.” Peering over her shoulder, he held his breath as she broke the wax.
The posh stationary heralded momentous news, and it was then he realized the once boisterous gathering had quieted. For several seconds, he read and reread the contents, and in his mind he tried but failed to compose an eloquent response.
“Tell us what it says.” On the sofa, Sabrina bounced with unconcealed excitement.
“My lord, in grateful appreciation for services rendered in aid to an agent of the Crown, you are made the earl of Lonsdale.” With something between a sob and a sigh, Almira kissed Nicholas. “And we are to be received at St. James’s, in January.”
“That should take care of the last few holdouts in society.” Making the rounds of the room, holding a tray loaded with glasses of champagne, Dalton offered Nicholas and Mira a portion of the celebratory beverage. “And thanks to my cherished wife’s perfectly timed rumor, which explained the first discreditable on-dit as merely a ruse to inspire jealousy and get you to the altar, the scandal is all but forgotten.”
“The Season posited a triumph in strategy, and I credit Lenore with the idea of hosting a ball in observance of your nuptials, as it put to bed most of the unsavory gossip. And the stern discussion I had with Lord Moreton, as well as his father’s associates, quashed further hateful talk of past deeds, so you may rest easy as you ponder a bright future.” Standing at attention, Blake held high his glass. “Permit me the honor of a toast, in commemoration of familial ties and a love that binds us, for eternity. In fact, the older I get, the more I realize our ancestors understood the value of close connections, better than most, and I hope to instill in the next generation the same conviction, as there is incomparable strength in kindred affection. Tonight, we pay tribute to two deserving people, pledging our unreserved support, and long may joy and prosperity fill their lives. To the new Lord and Lady Lonsdale.”
In unison, the group replied, “To Lord and Lady—”
A piercing wail shattered the serenity, as Almira tensed and doubled over.
“Sweetheart, are you all right?” Quickly, Nicholas set aside the champagne. “Is it the babe?”
“Daphne, I think it time to summon Dr. Langdon.” Between pants, Mira gritted her teeth and squeezed his fingers. “Oh—I am sure of it.”
The hostess darted into the hall, while the others moved with lightning speed.
“It is snowing outside. Will the doctor make it?” Nicholas stood, taking Almira with him. As soon as her feet hit the rug, a rush of fluid poured forth. “What happened?”
“Her water broke, and that is perfectly normal, so everyone remain calm. And Dr. Langdon opened his practice on Portsea Island, after the war, so he should be here in a matter of minutes.” Balancing Almira, Lenore extended assistance. “Nicholas, if you would convey her upstairs, to your room, that we might prepare her for the birth.”
“Of course.” In an instant, he bent and swept Almira into his arms. “Do not worry, my darling, as I will let naught harm you.”
“But I am not worried, because you are with me.” Even as he moved with expedience, she accepted the developments with unimpaired aplomb and claimed another kiss. “Is this not a dream come true, because I did so want to give you an heir for Christmas?”
“Just give me a healthy child and survive, and I am content.” In their chamber, he strode through the sitting room and into the inner quarter, whereupon he set her down. “Shall I remove the wet gown, my love?”
“Yes, please.” As he loosened the laces, Almira sucked in a breath and groaned. “Hurry, Nicholas.”
“I can finish, if you prefer to join the men.” Daphne drew a fresh night rail from the armoire. “And the ladies converge, even now.”
“But I never leave her alone.” Holding Mira at her waist, he supported her, as Sabrina stripped off the slippers and shoes. “Indeed, we are never apart.”
From the day they married, Nicholas spent almost every minute in Almira’s company for a simple reason. On the singular occasion when he rose before her, and decided to prepare and deliver her breakfast, she woke to discover him gone and rattled the rooftops of their country estate with her mournful cries, because she thought their marriage a dream, and it took hours to reassure her. From that point forward, he never vacated their bed until she was awake, alert, and smiling.
“Go, Nicholas, as I am not alone.” With a gentle wave, she shooed him. “Have your brandy, and let me be about my business.”
“If you are sure.” Despite a desire to anchor at her side, he tied the bow of her nightgown and carried her to the bed. Easing her to the mattress, he met her stare. “I love you, my sweet girl.”
“I love you, too.” Aglow, she hugged him when he fluffed her pillow. “I am a little scared, but I do so long to have your baby.”
“Our baby.” He corrected her. “And I can stay. You need only say the word.”
“Nicholas, I promise, we will take excellent care of her.” At the opposite end of the bed, Elaine sat on the mattress. “Ross was the same way, until the first sight of blood, and he fainted.”
“I heard about that, from Lance.” He snickered, as he recalled the merciless ribbing. “Perhaps I should repair downstairs.”
“Yes, you should.” Yet, Mira grabbed his wrist. “But I would have another kiss.”
“Ah, my darling.” Framing her face, he covered her mouth with his in a reassuring affirmation of his devotion, that he might sustain her in his absence. “I will be but a mere handful of steps away, sweetheart. If you need me, I will be here.”
“And I will be here, waiting to introduce you to the new addition to our family.” Smiling from ear to ear, Almira blew him a kiss. “See you soon, papa.”
In the hall, he strolled until he came to the landing and the grand staircase, whereupon he descended to the main floor. In the foyer, he turned right and returned to the drawing room. It was then Almira’s parting statement struck him as a bucket of water in the face.
“Bloody hell, I am to be a father.” Nicholas’s knees buckled, and Dalton and Blake rushed to provide aid.
“Here.” Jason thrust a glass of brandy at Nicholas. “Drink that, as it will soothe frazzled nerves.”
Without complaint, Nicholas downed the contents in an impressive gulp. Then he swayed.
“Easy, brother.” Everett caught Nicholas in the nick of time. “The first is always the toughest, but you will accustom yourself to it.”
“I recommend pacing, as it alleviates the stress.” Trevor scratched his temple. “You know I actually believe women have it far easier, as they lie abed throughout the whole ordeal.”
“While we fret for their welfare.” Jason poured a refill. “Yet the ladies are given all the credit.”
As the men argued the finer points of childbirth, Nicholas initiated a repetitive back and forth journey before the windows. In the world beyond the glass, a blizzard raged, and for the next couple of hours he maintained his vigil. In a strange accompaniment, the wind howled in increasing intensity, seemingly in direct proportion to Almira’s escalating cries.
On the polished oak mantel, a clock marked the passage of time, which he checked against his pocket watch. Twelve chimes signaled midnight, and he stepped into the hall but found no one. When he feared he could take no more, and he loomed on the verge of running amok, silence fell on the grand residence, and he halted.
“What does that mean?” Yanking on his cravat, Nicholas unti
ed and pulled the yard-length of linen from his neck. “Someone tell me what is happening, sans levity, or arses will be kicked.”
“Oh, I say.” Ross burst into laughter. “I do believe he is serious. Given it is half past one, and he is just now threatening us, I win the wager.”
Money traded hands, and a few fellows grumbled complaints.
“You gambled on my reaction?” Nicholas bared his teeth. “And I thought we were friends.”
“Come now, no need for violence, as we are not friends.” Blake opened a box of cigars. “We are family, and we speculate on everything, most especially conception, birth, and whether or not the expectant father maintains consciousness. By the way, I won the last, as I knew you would not falter under pressure. If history serves as any example, your wife will want a bath before she receives you, so why not indulge in a celebratory smoke?”
“Do you think she is all right?” Cursed with palpable fear, Nicholas clutched fistfuls of Blake’s dark green coat. “What if something is wrong? What if Almira is ill? What if the babe is—”
“Healthy and hungry.” Hicks cleared his throat. “Mrs. Randolph bade me inform you that Mrs. Sheldon is well, and Mr. Sheldon may join his wife in thirty minutes.”
“What of my child?” In that moment, he teetered, and the male collective leaped into action.
“Whoa.” With a smirk, Jason shoved a lit cigar between Nicholas’s lips. “There. Suck on that and give your woman a brief respite, because I venture, double or nothing, you will cry when you glimpse your firstborn.”
“I will take those odds.” Ross nodded once.
“I want a piece of that action.” Everett narrowed his stare. “Three to one, he faints.”
“As to your query, I believe I will let Mrs. Sheldon answer you, sir.” The butler bowed. “Mr. Randolph, Mrs. Randolph asked me to inform you that she is retiring, as is Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Collingwood, and the other ladies.”
“Time for bed.” Dalton doused his cigar and rushed into the corridor, followed in quick succession by the rest of the men, leaving Nicholas alone with his musings.
In the quiet, he counted the minutes until the long-case clock in the foyer signaled it was time to meet his child. Slow and steady, he climbed the stairs. After navigating the gallery, he strolled the hall that led to the luxurious apartment he shared with Mira.
“Hello.” Propped in the middle of the massive four-poster, she held their babe and smiled. “I have someone very anxious to meet her father.”
“It is a girl?” As Nicholas neared, he fought tears and cursed Collingwood. “We have a daughter?”
“And one more, sir.” To the right, Mildred approached, bearing a second infant, which she gave into his care. “This would be your son.”
“Twins?” Infinite joy filled his heart, and he wept unashamedly.
“Two down, four to go.” Mira giggled. “Are they not the most beautiful creatures you have ever seen?”
“He has your eyes.” Nicholas stroked the soft cheek of his heir, eased beside his wife, and chuckled. “They are perfection, my dear. And how are you?”
“Wonderful.” Mira lifted her chin, and they shared a tender kiss. “And you?”
“Never better.” His son cooed and Nicholas burst with pride. “Did you hear that? I think he spoke.”
“Yes.” She rested her head to his shoulder. “He has your mouth.”
“My lady, let Mrs. Jones and I take the babes, as you need rest.” Mildred lingered at the ready, along with the housekeeper. “I promise, I will bring them to you, first thing in the morning, once you are awake.”
“Oh, all right.” Almira yawned, and he gave the children into the maid’s custody. “I am tired.”
Trailing in the servant’s path, he waited until she navigated the sitting room before closing the doors. When he turned to his bride, he discovered her dozing amid a mound of pillows and shook his head.
“So much for the romantic interlude I had planned for tonight.” Yet he suffered no disappointment. “And wait until your parents arrive, this afternoon, because I managed to appeal to your father, and your mother threatened to divorce him if he did not relent.”
Ah, love manifested a curious emotion. Bereft of envy, it grew, it spread, it touched, and it consumed everything in its wake, redeeming even the darkest, damaged soul, and his was not immune. He had walked the hot coals of damnation, endured scandal, and survived seemingly insurmountable heartbreak to seize the prize, and the same could be said of his wife, so they deserved a bit of good fortune. In light of recent revelations, it appeared they had been doubly blessed.
In relative silence, Nicholas stripped naked, stoked the fire in the hearth, draped an extra blanket on the bed, blew out the tapers, and slipped between the covers. As always, Mira rolled onto her side and scooted close. Wrapping his arms about her, he pressed his lips to her forehead.
“Happy Christmas, Nicholas.” With a sigh, she returned to the land of dreams.
Closing his eyes, he sank into the down mattress. “Happy Christmas, indeed, my love.”
ABOUT BARBARA DEVLIN
Bestselling, Amazon All-Star author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, DE that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite. Barbara writes heartfelt historical romances that feature flawed heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero, before they find their happily ever after. Barbara earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.
Connect with Barbara Devlin at BarbaraDevlin.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, The Knightly News.
Twitter: @barbara_devlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDevlinAuthor
TITLES BY
BARBARA DEVLIN
BRETHREN OF THE COAST SERIES
Loving Lieutenant Douglas: A Brethren of the Coast Novella
Enter the Brethren
My Lady, the Spy
The Most Unlikely Lady
One-Knight Stand
Captain of Her Heart
The Lucky One
Love with an Improper Stranger
To Catch a Fallen Spy
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me: A Brethren of the Coast Novella
The Duke Wears Nada
BRETHREN ORIGINS
Arucard
Demetrius
Aristide
PIRATES OF THE COAST
The Black Morass
The Iron Corsair
KATHRYN LE VEQUE’S KINDLE WORLD OF DE WOLFE PACK
Lone Wolfe
The Big Bad De Wolfe
CONTEMPORARY
Magick, Straight Up
Table of Contents
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
Nicholas & Almira
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Epilogue
About Barbara Devlin
Titles by Barbara Devlin
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