by Reid, Stacy
She did not want his love, for surely, he would want the same thing from her. And giving him any more of her heart would lead to such agonizing pain should she ever lose him. And what of children? Sophia stumbled, pressing her hand to her stomach. Children. Hunger roared through her with such fierceness she trembled and started to cry.
But I could lose them too…
“I’ll not love you, William Astor!” she snapped as she walked even faster, almost stumbling in her haste. “I’ll not marry you!”
Losing his support, his tender love following on the deaths of her family had twisted something inside of her, but it hadn’t fully shattered. But now as she hurried down the dirt-beaten path away from Hawthorne Park and his mother and her condemnation, Sophia realized with each step, it was as if a knife sliced into her belly and twisted.
The love which had shown in his eyes just now, the joy which she had felt the last several days with him. Not once had she thought of death or pain or the fear of loss. There had only been time for living, for enjoying each other, and she knew a lifetime with William, each day would be a revelation, a blessing, a joy they would treasure.
Her steps slowed.
Something huge and powerful swelled inside of her, a revelation she could not shy away from. If she kept walking, she would never see him again, or touch him, or hear his voice, or see his smiles, or feel the bliss of him making love with her. Everything would go back to how it was before she had seen him at the ball. A life of fun with rollicking jaunts, but with no genuine contentment with her lot in life. And the very idea broke her.
Wild, unimaginable grief filled Sophia’s heart, and she cried out. She wanted to be with William. They had only been together a little over two weeks, and Sophia knew she loved the man even deeper than she’d loved the boy. He made her yearn to live…hunger to claim all the dreams she once had in her heart. And only with him.
She spun around and started running back the way she came. Endless seconds passed, and she did not stop, desperate to reach him, hating the pain that he must be feeling that she had run from him after he laid his heart open to her. A sob hitched in her throat, and she panted harshly, but she did not stop. Holding the folds of her skirt Sophia ran and ran. She saw him in the distance, hurrying down the path she had taken.
He’d chased her. And at that moment, she realized he would always come for her even when she did not see clearly and ran from her fears.
Oh God William, she cried silently. Too winded to speak.
He hurried down the path, his face cast in anguish. When he saw her, he faltered, his expression becoming guarded even as his gaze wandered over her as he clearly tried to decipher her intention. She barreled toward him as fast as she could and hurtled herself into his arms, knocking him back a few paces. He did not hesitate, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her tightly. She heard the long, slow breath of relief he blew out.
Sophia thrust her fingers through his hair, and pulled his head down, crashing her mouth onto his. He made a faint noise of surprise but returned her kiss even more fiercely.
“Forgive me for being so stupid,” she said against his mouth, her own lips trembling.
“I am certain I will. Maybe tomorrow for you gave me a terrible fright.”
“I love you!” she cried. “I never stopped loving you, William and I cannot bear the thought of not having you with me, always. Forgive me.” She pressed kisses all over his jaw and lips. “Forgive me, William!”
He was hers, and she was not letting him go.
Abruptly his arm was beneath her knees; he was scooping her up, lifting her. She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To my chamber, where I plan to make love to you until you are too sated to stir.”
“There is a bit of way to walk, William,” she said on a choked laugh. “And your mother—”
“Do not mention her to me. I’ve not let her off lightly. I’ve banished her to the dower house and have cut off her allowance. Nor will I invite her to our wedding. She does not deserve to bear witness to our day. One day I am certain to forgive her, for I love her, but it will not be for some time, nor will she enter our home until she has apologized sincerely to you…and you’ve forgiven her.”
“I am so sorry,” she said, hugging around his neck even tighter, hoping to comfort the pain she could still hear in his voice.
They reached the main entrance, and the butler opened the door, his face stoic as if he saw his master every day chasing a lady and bringing her back to the house in his arms. He walked past his mother who rushed out of the drawing-room as if she’d awaited his return to speak with him.
A scandalized gasp escaped her when she saw them. But William hugged Sophia even tighter to him and shifted to face the butler. “My mother is to be escorted from the premises and all her belongings sent to the dower cottage in Brighton. She is not permitted entry in this house or in the grounds of Hawthorne Park unless my duchess decrees it, and if there are any doubts about her identity, she is in my arms.”
Mortification mottled the duchess’s face, but she kept her lips firmly sealed.
William walked away with her, and at the base of the stairs, he said to the staring butler, housekeeper, and maid, “We are not to be disturbed, and dinner should be send up on trays. And for breakfast and luncheon tomorrow.” Another pause where he thought about it. “And perhaps another dinner tray. We will, however, require a bath to be set up in the morning.”
Sophia giggled at the servant’s expression of scandalized titillation.
Her love started climbing the stairs. “Are they still there?” he huffed.
She peeked over his shoulder. “Yes. Even your mother. They are staring up at us with varying degrees of shock and amusement.”
“Impertinent!” He groaned. “I am about to drop with you, but I dare not put you down if they are watching. The rumor that would reach as far as London townhouses would not be flattering to me.”
She pealed with laughter as he huffed with each step he took to up the stairs.
“There it is,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “The sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.”
At the landing, he peered down at her, and she realized he was not winded at all. That act had been solely for her…to make her laugh. “I do not deserve you.”
“Wrong, you deserve the world to be laid at your feet.”
“I love you so, William.”
“So, you’ll be my duchess then?” he asked as he deftly opened the door to his ducal chamber.
“And your friend…and lover… I’ll love you in this lifetime and the next,” she said on a softly shuddered breath, her eyes glistening with tears.
A powerful need flared in his eyes, and he bent his head to brush his mouth along her temple then down to her lips, which he claimed in a deep kiss. He tumbled her onto the bed and proceed to ravish her with exquisite thoroughness for the night, and long into the next day.
The End
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Acknowle
dgments
I thank God every day for my family, friends, and writing. A special thank you to my husband. I love you so hard! You encourage me to dream and are always steadfast in your incredible support. You read all my drafts, offer such fantastic insight and encouragement. Thank you for designing my fabulous cover! Thank you for reminding me I am a warrior when I wanted to give up on so many things.
Thank you, Giselle Marks for being so wonderful and supportive always. You are a great critique partner and friend.
Readers, thank you for giving me a chance and reading my book! I hope you enjoyed and would consider leaving a review. Thank you!
About Stacy
Stacy Reid writes sensual Historical and Paranormal Romances and is the published author of over sixteen books. Her debut novella The Duke’s Shotgun Wedding was a 2015 HOLT Award of Merit recipient in the Romance Novella category, and her bestselling Wedded by Scandal series is recommended as Top picks at Night Owl Reviews, Fresh Fiction Reviews, and The Romance Reviews.
Stacy lives a lot in the worlds she creates and actively speaks to her characters (aloud). She has a warrior way “Never give up on dreams!” When she’s not writing, Stacy spends a copious amount of time binge-watching series like The Walking Dead, Homeland, Altered Carbon, watching Japanese Anime and playing video games with her love. She also has a weakness for ice cream and will have it as her main course.
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