“Forgive me, my love, but when all of one’s dreams finally come true, it’s a bit overwhelming.”
Skirts rustled behind Aurora. Garrett glanced up and found the other ladies exiting toward the breakfast room.
Aurora rested her head on his lap. “I thought for a moment you were regretting proposing.”
Rising with her in his embrace, Garrett kissed one cheek then the other before taking her lips and devouring her. Suddenly unsure if he deserved her, he knew he would spend a lifetime being the man who made her happy. Breathless, he broke the kiss. “Never. I have loved you for as long as I can remember, Rora. I shall go on loving you until they put me in my grave.”
Her stomach made a perfectly timed grumble. She turned bright red and covered a laugh. “I think we have some years before that, at least if I don’t starve to death this very morning.”
Kissing her hair, he breathed in the scent of spring flowers and Aurora. She was everything. “We can’t have that. I have plans for the rest of the day with my fiancée.”
If the sun had not been shining already, it would have come out just to rival her bright smile. “Just today?”
He offered his arm to take her in for breakfast. She never looked away as she joined with him. A safety and permanence surrounded them, and his constant need to wander the world seemed distant and reckless. This woman was his world and all he would ever need. “And every day thereafter for as long as we both shall live.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
The Castlewick School
* * *
Aurora surveyed the rolling hills where eight girls played, running between and around the ancient standing stones. Their laughter rippled on the breeze as they played a game of tag. Running a hand down her rounded belly, she closed her eyes and let the early autumn sun warm her face.
“They look happy.” Poppy bounced her son on her lap while the little man gripped his mother’s finger.
Faith, very close to going into her confinement, took Nick’s offered hand and accepted his help to rise. “You’ve created something quite fine here, Aurora. You should be very proud.”
Shifting closer, Garrett wrapped a hand around her and eased her back against him. “We spend more time here than we’d ever imagined. There’s something about this school and the young ladies that is full of joy.”
“I was surprised to find my cousin in residence yet again.” Wesley pointed to the road where Malcolm walked with Miss Stein and seemed to be engaged in a heated debate. “I think he enjoys the challenge of a brilliant woman who won’t back down if she thinks she’s right.”
“Who can blame him?” Garrett whispered in Aurora’s ear.
There was no word yet invented to describe the power of her joy.
Mercy stood and stretched her lithe form. “I’m going for a walk. Faith, would you care to join me?”
“For a walk?” Faith pulled a face. “No. Wesley will walk with you, and I will go back to the house for a long nap.”
Nick took Faith’s hand and kissed it. “Then I shall return with you.”
His sultry tone had Faith blushing even in her delicate condition.
Some of Aurora’s favorite times were those spent with these people. All married now, but still and always the Wallflowers of West Lane. The thought made her cringe. There was no sense putting off the inevitable. “Before you go, I have news I must share, though I worry you will not like what I have to say.”
Mercy faced her. “That doesn’t seem likely. What is it, Aurora?”
She took a deep breath. “I am selling the West Lane house.”
Even the laughter of the girls playing nearby silenced as all eyes stared at her. “It makes no sense to keep it, as we no longer use it,” she rushed to add.
Poppy leaned forward and took Aurora’s hand. “I think it’s past time to let it go.”
Heart pounding, Aurora must have misheard. “You do?”
Mercy sank back to the picnic blanket, her long legs folded underneath her. “Of course, we do. We didn’t expect you to hold on to a house that you no longer need and still holds difficult memories.”
“Some very good ones as well.” Aurora thought of all the Tuesday teas the Wallflowers had shared in that house, and a knot tightened in her belly. Perhaps it was the baby giving her a shove.
“We will have tea in one of four very fine houses, Aurora.” Faith rested her hands across her protruding stomach. “It was never the house. It was always the four of us being together, and that will never change.”
“What of Tipton and the other servants?” Worry laced Poppy’s voice.
Garrett said, “My London butler, Casper, has long wished to retire and has only remained at his post this long because of loyalty to my family. I have pensioned him, and Tipton has graciously agreed to take the post. As that house was not heavily staffed, we have placed those who wished it in our other homes.”
“We could have helped with that,” Faith scolded. “You needn’t have taken on the full burden.”
“I was quite timid about telling you.” It was not an admission she was proud of, and heat crept up her neck and cheeks.
Rhys shook his head. “Brave enough to face some of the worst tyrants in London, but afraid of her closest friends. That’s my sister. It’s good to know you can still be silly, Rora.”
“It’s not silly.” She pulled her shoulders back and glared at her brother.
“It is a bit.” Mercy’s gentle correction came with a warm smile. “We love you, Aurora. No decision you make would ever or could ever change that.”
Nothing had changed, yet everything had. Somehow all her fears that their friendship depended on the house at West Lane seemed foolish and ill-conceived. “I’m relieved you’re not upset with my decision, and now I too need a nap.”
Garrett helped her to her feet, and they returned to the house. In the large bed draped with heavy brocade, Garrett curled in behind her. His warm body fitted hers to perfection. “Do you feel better?”
“Infinitely. I really thought they’d be sad to see the house we spent so much time in sold to someone else.”
“Your friends are more concerned with your happiness than any piece of property.”
He was right, and she closed her eyes and snuggled back until she felt the evidence of his arousal against her bottom.
Cupping one of her breasts, he kissed the back of her neck. “You are very naughty for a woman in your condition.”
“And I plan to continue being so for many years to come.” She loved the way their hushed voices hummed in the large room. They talked for hours in the dim light of evening. Garrett often told her about the places he’d visited and how he longed to show her some of them. Never had she dreamed she could find such passion and contentment with a man after Radcliff.
His caress stilled. “What are you thinking about?”
“I was wondering if we could have been this happy had not my past been so unhappy.”
“A question that shall never be answered and makes no difference, my love. The past was what it was, and we are happy in the present. Is that not enough?” His lips grazed the shell of her ear.
Desire shot through her with such speed she moaned with both passion and a happiness never before imagined. “It is more than enough, my duke, my love, my dearest friend.”
And it was.
I hope you enjoyed Not Even For A Duke. I admit to longing to give Aurora her much deserved Happily Ever After. She suffered so much and is such a good and worthy woman.
If you started with this book, you may want to go back to read the stories of Poppy, Mercy and Faith in the other Wallflowers of West Lane books.
Keep reading for the beginning of The Earl Not Taken and find out how Poppy and Rhys fell in love.
The Earl Not Taken
Prologue
* * *
Helmsbury Manor was grand and comfortable, but Poppy’s new friend Aurora had been right about her mother’s lectur
es. By her third day as a guest, Poppy was so tired of the droning on about behaving like a proper lady, she sneaked out before tea and went for a long walk around the property. After all, Aurora might have to listen, but Poppy had her own mother and had heard her fair share of the same kind of drivel over the years. She’d been sent from home dreading her fate at Miss Agatha Wormbattle’s School for Young Ladies, and now she wished they would leave sooner. They would leave in five days and meet two other girls in London before they all would travel to Lucerne together and spend three years learning to behave like proper young ladies. Father thought it a punishment for bad
behavior, but anything that took her out of his purview was a blessing.
It was a beautiful day with a light breeze and blue skies. She trudged across a lawn toward a line of trees at the top of the hill, stumbled, and smudged a grass stain on her pale blue dress. Brushing at the newest stain, she resigned herself to always having a stain or two on her clothes. Tea would have been nice, but enjoying a long walk was far better. All she had to do was figure out how to avoid the countess for the remaining two days of her stay. Then she and her lovely new friend would be free of critical parents while they attended the Swiss boarding school. Poppy only hoped that Aurora was right about their ability to handle Headmistress Agatha Wormbattle. Admittedly, they were both clever girls who’d managed a fair amount of mischief. Letting the lively thought fill her, she reached the crest of the hill and froze.
Shirtless, Aurora’s elder brother, Rhys, had a woman with long brown hair and her dress bunched around her waist pressed against a tree. It was
scandalous behavior for a man who would one day be the Earl of Marsden. He’d been nuzzling the woman’s neck, his golden hair falling to his collar when Poppy stepped into the stand of trees.
She must have gasped at the unexpected sight, as Rhys’s head snapped up. Their gazes met.
Not knowing what to do, she fumbled for words. “Satan’s beard. I’m…I…I beg your pardon.” Turning, she ran back toward the house with her cheeks on fire.
Laughter, both masculine and feminine, followed her as she dashed away from the tawdry scene.
Despite her bravado in most situations, she had never seen a man with so little clothes on before. Rhys Draper’s neck was corded, his shoulders wide and muscular, while his waist narrowed where his golden flesh disappeared beneath tan breeches. She had trouble catching her breath, and she was not at all sure it was from the dash back to the house.
“Poppy, are you all right?” Aurora called from the gazebo where she sat with a book.
So close to escaping to the house and running to her bedroom where she might claim a headache and avoid seeing anyone for the rest of the day, Poppy sighed and meandered closer. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired and was going to go upstairs for a rest.”
Putting her book aside, Aurora narrowed her gaze. “You looked flushed, and you were running as if you’d seen a snake. What happened to your dress?”
“It’s nothing. I’m quite all right.” Poppy sat across from Aurora in the gazebo. “What are you reading?”
“I’m not. I’m pretending to read A Lady Must Always Be a Solemn Creature in order to avoid Mother.” She changed to a soft conspiratorial whisper. “I would like to read the Gretchen Tormblat novel Danger Deep at Sea I bought the last time I walked to town. But that will have to wait for the journey. I’ve been collecting reading material and plan to continue as we travel.”
Glad for the subject to turn away from her, Poppy said, “I haven’t read that one. I managed to borrow a copy of Mrs. Tormblat’s The Pirate Cave from my neighbor’s daughter back home, and I found it very distracting.” “That’s what I love about the books, so thrilling and filled with adventure.
You may read any you like from my collection. My maid will sneak them in my bag once Mother has made her inspection.”
Poppy pulled her feet up on the bench and wrapped her arms around her knees. “My mother inspected my trunk as well. Unfortunately, Willa
has not been my maid but a week. I could not trust her to hide reading material. Mother found three romantic novels by Priscilla Prettifield at the bottom and promptly tossed them in the trash. I was quite vexed.”
Aurora shook her head. “Do not fret; we shall replace those books. Did your parents give you pin money?”
“Yes, and I have some saved they didn’t know about. I’m quite solvent.” Proud of herself, Poppy hoped her new friend was trustworthy.
“Excellent. I have also been saving. Ever since they told me I would be sent away, I’ve been saving half of my pin money in case I need it while we’re in Switzerland. I have made Mother believe I’m sad about being sent away, but truly, I can’t wait.” Aurora leaned her head back against one of six posts that held the roof and smiled.
It was impossible not to ike Aurora, and Poppy was thrilled to have a friend to rely on for the next three years. “You may be right, Aurora. We shall have a marvelous adventure.”
Her joy fled an instant later when Rhys appeared from around the shrubs at the other side of the garden and strode toward them.
“Hello, Rhys,” Aurora said. “Why are your clothes so wrinkled?”
Poppy wanted to crawl away and hide. Cheeks heating, she was sure her blush was obvious. The last thing she wanted was for Rhys to know how embarrassed she was by what she’d seen. It was impossible to seem worldly when a man’s bare back sent her running across the countryside.
Rhys raised his eyebrows and stared at Poppy for a long moment. “I was frolicking with someone from town. A bit of fun.”
Aurora smiled. “Well, don’t let Father see you looking so messy.
He’ll throw a fit.”
Those sharp eyes of his settled on her for a long moment, perhaps waiting for a comment. “I’m going to clean up now,” he assured his sister. “Lady Penelope, what did you do with your afternoon?” A wicked smile twisted his full lips.
Were they so red because of kissing that woman? Poppy didn’t know and couldn’t imagine why she cared. Her stomach was in knots. She knew one thing for certain: as much as she liked Aurora, if she never saw Rhys Draper again it would be too soon. “Nothing of note. I took a walk around the property.”
“And how did you like the views?”
Perhaps he was teasing, but Poppy wanted to die. She wouldn’t have it. This being made to feel small by a boy would not do. “While the vistas are lovely here, I saw nothing notable.”
Frowning, he examined his shoes. “I see. Well, perhaps your next visit to our home will be more interesting.”
“As you know, I’ll be far away for three years learning how to behave like a proper lady. You’ll likely be married off to some very fine lady by that time and we shall never meet again.” Preferring the strong tone of her voice, she didn’t care that her words were cutting.
Aurora watched, looking from one to the other. “I feel as if I’ve missed something. But I am sure Rhys will not be married before I return from school. I’ll be very annoyed if you were to marry without me.”
He kissed his sister’s cheek. “And I would never do so. I wish I could talk Father out of this, Rora. I have tried to keep you home, but you do yourself disservice with your constant disobedience.”
Smiling, she shrugged and stood up. “I am what I am, Rhys. I cannot change to please Father and not even for you.”
He hugged her tight. “I would not have you change, just obey enough to keep you at home where I know you’re safe.”
She swatted his chest. “They are sending us to a fortress in the mountains. We’ll be perfectly safe and far enough away so I will no longer embarrass our esteemed parents. Speaking of our parents, I promised Mother I would meet with her before dressing for dinner. I must go. Will you escort Poppy in?”
“Of course.”
Aurora rushed to the house and was gone.
The awkward silence hung between them. Rhys remained guarding the entrance to the gazebo, and Poppy had no way out
but to push him aside. Not wanting him to suspect how uncomfortable he made her, she held her place. “Are you just going to stand there and glare at me?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you didn’t tell my sister what you witnessed.” He stepped a few feet away and scratched his head.
Poppy took advantage and made a quick exit from her trapped position. “I like your sister and she obviously thinks the world of you. I have no desire to hurt her with the truth.”
Narrowing his gaze, he closed the gap between them. “What truth is that?” “Perhaps I am mistaken, but to debauch young women in the woods
is not exactly gentlemanly. If you thought it was acceptable behavior, you wouldn’t be so relieved I kept your secret.” She backed away until the path to the house was beside her.
“I haven’t done anything wrong. Mimi is more than willing. You make me sound lecherous.” He gripped the edge of his coat and kicked the pebbled path.
Pulling back her shoulders, she looked into those winter-sky eyes. “I think you are well on your way to becoming a perfect English gentleman.” “And what of you with your bad behavior and stained dress? You’re
not exactly on your way to becoming a well-bred lady.”
“I never claimed to be. Besides, I don’t think my stumbling and ruining a dress is comparable to what you’ve been doing with who knows who. You’re a scoundrel, I’m just a lummox.”
His frown deepened, and something dark glared in his eyes. “You have no right to judge me.”
“Hades’s blood, I only tell what I see.” Her heart pounded in her throat.
He stepped toward her.
Poppy ran to the house and up to her room without looking back.
Chapter 1
Six Years Later
* * *
Not Even For a Duke Page 26