“It is in honor of you,” Lord Garret said, gripping her hand more tightly.
“It is in honor of us,” Katherine replied with a warm smile.
Lord Garret leaned over and kissed Katherine affectionately on the cheek and the children clapped as they saw this. It was the first time that he had made his affection public to the family, mostly because he was now unable to hold back. There would be no more hiding or concealing. Lord Garret had finally admitted to himself that there was no other woman in the world that he wished to love, and now, he would admit it to the entire world.
Whilst Katherine ate her sumptuous fruit and cream dessert, Lord Garret found himself suddenly aroused by the way that the cream lingered up her lip. He reached over to remove it, all the while seeing the warmth in Katherine’s eyes. Then, as the family was distracted with conversation, Lord Garret leaned over and whispered into her ear again.
“You’re the sweetest of desserts,” Lord Garret said playfully.
“And I’m yours to enjoy,” Katherine whispered back.
“Yes, and I plan to,” Lord Garret replied, “this very evening. And every evening to come.”
THE END
Can't get enough of Katherine and Garret? Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…
How will Lord Garret manage to give Katherine the life she always deserved but never got the chance to have?
What kind of advice does Constance ask from Katherine when she feels her heart beat faster for a handsome young man?
Will Katherine and Lord Garret finally manage to get their own happily ever after?
Click the link or enter it into your browser
http://henriettaharding.com/katherine
(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “What the Wicked Lord Desires”, my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)
What the Wicked Lord Desires
Introduction
Lady Alice Andrews has everything she’s ever dreamed of: a handsome husband, wealth and all her future ahead of her. Yet all is taken away from her when she’s left a widow. On top of that, she only then discovers her husband’s wretched business deals—one, in particular, with the mysterious and arrogant Lord Timothy Langley, which ultimately cast her into debt. He has a bad reputation but to her surprise, Alice can’t help but feel an electrifying connection with him. Will she be able to peer behind his darkness and perhaps find love again?
Lord Timothy Langley has a dark past, one that made him a self-built, ruthless businessman. When he visits a widow to collect her husband’s debt to him, he didn’t expect to be mesmerized by her striking beauty. He has vowed never to be fooled by any woman again, but his desire for her is so uncontrollable that he’s starting to believe that she’s different. When she proves that she is strong and ready to take her life into her own hands, will it be too late for him to make up for their rocky first meeting?
Alice will soon find herself at war with society and its dated rules, but only one man will show her the respect she deserves. Too bad it’s the same man that led to her ruin! Will they be able to face all obstacles thrown at them and acknowledge the one thing that unites them? Will they finally succumb to the forbidden desire they feel for each other?
Chapter 1
Lady Alice Andrews’ thin white wrists swirled over the opened trunk. Fingers scrambled across various types of fabric – suits, jackets, stockings, under garments – everything the head housekeeper had packed up for her husband, Lord Cecil Andrews, in the previous half-hour.
She muttered to herself, remembering the long list of demands her husband had given her, regarding the packing job. Surely she’d thought of everything, and yet, with Cecil, it seemed she was always forgetting something. Although it had been the housekeeper’s duty to pack, Alice knew she had to double- and triple-check. Otherwise, the insults fell to her.
“Darling,” Cecil so often said to her, his voice heavy with a sigh. “It’s ridiculous that you cannot keep all this in your head. You’re my wife. It’s up to you to ensure I don’t make a fool of myself in front of my business prospects. This is our future, Alice. Our future, together. It seems that doesn’t matter to you.”
Early spring sunlight flickered through the lace curtains. Alice turned her eyes towards the glass, gazing out across the moors. The Andrews estate was located a few miles from Mayfair.
After growing up in the city, Alice frequently felt that their location was a lonely one. Her eyes ached on the horizon line, looking for Cecil. He would return home for a brief moment before embarking on yet another business trip. Apparently, the trips were meant for them, for their future. But Alice hadn’t any clue what on earth Cecil did whilst away. When she demanded it of him, he always spurned her, telling her she couldn’t possibly understand.
Of course, this was ridiculous. Alice had always been a bright pupil of the world, eternally curious. Yet Cecil had never fully seen her that way. Always, she felt she had to prove herself with him, alerting him to her worth. And always, it seemed he came away disappointed.
The housekeeper, Evelyn Sanders, appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. The stooped woman, inching ever more towards the age of fifty, blinked beady eyes at Alice. She’d been the housekeeper at the Andrews estate for the previous twenty years, and thus knew the ins and outs of the affairs. In the wake of Cecil’s parents’ death – both within two years of one another, to a wretched influenza, Evelyn had become sole protector of Cecil. Although she had seen the benefit of Cecil’s marriage to Alice, she’d made no qualms at showing her occasional disdain towards Alice. It was clear that Alice would never be good enough, quite beautiful enough. After all, as Evelyn often remarked in passing, where on earth would Alice be if not for Cecil’s generosity?
Alice shoved the top part of the trunk across the bottom, forcing herself to speak. “Hello, Miss Sanders,” she offered. “Thank you for packing for Cecil. I’m just finalising everything. As you know, he’s terribly particular about his affairs.”
Evelyn clucked her tongue. “As he should be, My Lady,” she returned. “His work is constant. You know his tireless mission involves the betterment of your family’s wealth. He thinks endlessly of the family that will come after you. Of the world he’s meant to leave behind.”
Alice swept a blonde curl behind her ear. Evelyn’s shadow grew increasingly menacing across the floor, darker as the sun shifted outside. “I understand that, Miss Sanders,” she said, knowing that whatever ill-will she projected towards Evelyn would surely snake its way back to her. The woman was akin to a spider, lurking across the web you didn’t see behind your back. “I’ve gone through my mental list of his requirements over and over again. I really do believe that...”
“What of his hat? The one he doesn’t wish to wear whilst travelling?” Evelyn demanded. “I didn’t see it on the list.” She cut deeper into the room – Alice and Cecil’s bedroom, a room she was meant to be invited into. It seemed she didn’t care.
“Of course,” Alice said, bringing her chin higher. “I would never have forgotten his hat.” She whirled back to the wardrobe, reaching for it. She dotted it next to the trunk, shivering.
“And what of his stockings?” Evelyn continued, her voice growing thicker, more textured. “He’s terribly rugged, this man. He likes to ride fast, like the wind, and it generates quite a…”
“It seems you’ve added enough stockings,” Alice whispered, feeling herself growing less and less confident. Could she draw enough air to answer? “Truly, I’ve thought of…”
Just then, the front door barrelled open. Familiar footsteps echoed through the foyer. Alice’s heart skipped; a smile inched its way between her cheeks. It was him – her husband – an impossible title for a man. Until several months ago, she hadn’t imagined herself ever to have the title of wife. They’d said their vows; Cecil had slipped a ring on her finger. His eyes had glowed when he’d said the words, “I do.” They were bonded forever. For life.
Evelyn gave off a clear air of disdain. She snorted and stepped back, arching her brow. “I suppose you had better pray you have everything in that trunk, My Lady. You know the consequences, otherwise.”
Alice shoved the words from her head and went towards the steps. The towering form of Cecil appeared at the bottom, all six feet of him, with glowing blond curls, a thick reddish beard, and enormous blue eyes. Frequently, Alice felt herself falling into those eyes, apt to believe anything they echoed back.
“There she is. My beautiful bride,” Cecil said. He spread his muscled arms wide.
Alice rushed down the steps, skirts billowing behind her. She tossed her lithe body against his, wrapped her arms around his neck, and showered him with little, doting kisses. This had been their recent routine, an assurance, for Alice, at least, that they’d made the proper decision in their marriage. They were well-suited.
Finally, Cecil drew her back, gripping her shoulders. Although Alice stood several steps above him, her stature still barely reached the top of his head.
“I expect you’ve been preparing me for my trip?” he asked, arching his blond brow.
“Absolutely, my dear,” Alice returned. “I know it’s terribly important to you.”
“And I expect you haven’t forgotten anything this time?” he asked, his voice still playful, yet reaching towards some kind of terror.
Alice tried to ignore it, ignore the expectation in his eyes that she had messed something else up. She stepped back, giving him a light grin. “Of course, darling.”
“Let us check, shall we? Darling Miss Sanders?” His words echoed up the staircase, striding towards Evelyn, who’d remained perched at the edge of the steps.
Alice hated that eternally the older woman seemed to be watching over them. The effect was not warm, didn’t evoke feelings of safety. It felt strange and sinister, without any of the welcome softness of a mother watching over her daughter or son.
Cecil led Alice into the bedroom. Alice blinked twice, remembering the raucous night they’d shared just a week before. His body, a dark shadow over hers, making hers feel electric, her nipples pressed hard against the coarse hairs of his chest. HIs breath had come in spurts, wild and loud. He’d seemed like an animal, and she’d welcomed it – knowing that this, this was the greatest secret between husband and wife. This was what the world knew you were doing, without actually saying it aloud.
This was a delicious newfound fact, at least for Alice.
Cecil stood over the trunk, thrusting the top open. Evelyn tip-toed around the landing outside the room, seemingly waiting for something to happen. Alice swept her hands over her lap, peering down as Cecil began to sift through his various belongings. He whistled as he went, hunting. Slowly Alice felt the colour drain from her cheeks.
“I do hope you’re safe on your journey,” Alice began, uttering words that sounded strange and foreign on her lips.
Cecil murmured, “Of course. You know I’m always safe.” He continued to pile things out of his trunk, making a mockery of everything Alice had done.
“And I wonder if, perhaps, we can have a conversation about – about our family, when your return,” Alice continued. Her cheeks flashed with heat.
Cecil didn’t bother to meet her eyes. “Of course, darling,” he said, his tone precisely the same. “I know it’s time.”
Alice’s stomach bubbled with warmth. Behind her eyes, she grew lost in visions of little boys who looked like Cecil – blond curls, dimpled cheeks. Perhaps the girls would resemble her – blonde as well, slight and easy with a laugh. She could half-hear their giggles, already echoing down the hall. With a strange, arrogant air, she thought about how she could find a way to rid the house of Miss Evelyn Sanders, the moment the children were born. But of course, it wasn’t up to her.
“I just truly think it’s time. Time for us to – to find that kind of love. Together,” Alice continued. “I’m twenty-six years old, darling. My younger sister already has two children. I’m not terribly competitive, of course. But it would be good to begin. At least so they can have a small amount of time to play together. You know how much I appreciated having two siblings. Cousins would have been just spectacular.”
“Ah-hah!” Cecil reared back, blinking big eyes towards Alice. They seemed accusatory. “You’ve done it. You’ve forgotten my comb.”
The blood drained from Alice’s cheeks. She pressed her lips together, feeling her heart drip towards her stomach. “I felt sure I saw it within the trunk,” she murmured. “I really…”
“No, no, darling,” Cecil sighed. He stomped to the side wardrobe, slipping his massive fingers through the top drawer. “It’s right here. You’ve always known it’s right here. How could you possibly forget?”
Alice bumbled back. She stretched her fingers over her stomach. Somehow, the echoes of children’s voices swept away. The hollowness of the house felt heavy around her. She felt she could hear Evelyn chuckling outside the door. Perhaps she had put the comb back into the drawer – although Alice didn’t fully remember packing it.
“Alice, how did you imagine I would comb my hair prior to my business meeting tomorrow afternoon?” Cecil asked. He demanded as though he was god, asking why one had gone through with a sin on earth.
“I’m not. I didn’t…” Alice’s voice barely hung out of her lips. It sounded meek and stupid, the words from a much younger girl.
“It’s absolutely atrocious that you would think … I mean, Alice, I can’t possibly do this without you,” Cecil spat.
Alice took a light step back. Throughout her life, she’d never seen such volatility in anyone. Her father had always been soft, at any point pressing his forehead into wrinkles and speculating on the right mode of action. Her mother had been similar. Perhaps she’d said the rogue word or two, but it had always been followed up with an act of kindness, or apology. Cecil was far different. Perhaps that was part of the reason Alice had liked him – at least, had eventually fallen for him in the midst of their courting. He was so different.
Of course, his title may have had something to do with it, as well.
“I know that,” Alice murmured. She swallowed slowly, trying to articulate her inner, swirling thoughts. “I really didn’t mean it, Cecil. You know I respect your work. I wouldn’t forget your comb on purpose.”
Cecil slowly forced a smile to snake up towards his ears. His eyes sparkled. “I know that,” he said. “It’s just imperative that I teach you. If you’re going to be my wife for the rest of time…”
Suddenly, he sprung forward, drawing his hand along the small of her back. He inhaled deeply, allowing his lips to dot along her neck. Alice shivered. She wasn’t sure if her inner motion was apprehensive in nature, or simply proving her love for him. Finally, he drew back and brought his lips over hers, allowing his tongue to sweep along hers. This – a fresh, newly practised marital kiss – made Alice passionate, yet also terrified.
“I love you,” Alice murmured, the moment their lips broke apart. “I really do.”
“I know,” Cecil returned. After a pause, he uttered, “I love you, too.”
Alice helped Cecil latch the trunk once more. She grinned wildly at him whilst he turned to the bedroom door, the trunk swinging at his side. Always, her inner heart shifted with such highs and lows while he was around. He sniffed. “I’ll be back in a few days, darling. Don’t look at me as though you’ll never see me again. You know how irritating it is.”
Alice pressed her lips together. “I know, Cecil,” she murmured, her voice breaking. “You have to admit, though. Days apart are always difficult.”
Cecil clucked his tongue. His eyes remained locked onto hers. Alice knew this was her shot. She had to say it.
“Cecil, I don’t suppose you remember what it was I just asked you about? In the wake of all this – commotion – I want to make sure you heard me. At least a little.”
Risky Rules of a Passionate Governess Page 32