by Mary Nichols
‘When our father died, we thought we had been left destitute, my lord, and we knew we had kin in England…’
‘You came to appeal to the Viscount, your uncle?’
‘I thought we might, but Teddy was more concerned with learning the truth about our father’s exile. You see, we knew he had been banished but we didn’t know why. We did not believe he could ever have done anything bad enough to deserve that.’
‘And Aunt Agatha told you the truth?’
‘Yes.’
‘So, having discovered what you wanted to know, you simply packed your bags and left without so much as by your leave.’
‘Oh, my lord…Dominic, it was not like that at all.’
‘What was it like?’ he demanded.
‘You know very well I could not stay. I had deceived you. That letter of introduction was all a hum. I had never been a lady’s maid or a companion, never even worked for a living.’
‘That much I deduced from the first, but it made not one jot of difference. I still fell in love with you.’
Her heart gave one huge leap and then began to beat like a distant drum, thumping away inside her chest until she thought she would burst. ‘My lord, you must not say such things. You must not…’
‘Must I not?’ He noticed her heightened colour and the extra sparkle to her eyes; was it caused by tears or pleasure? he wondered. ‘It is not the first time you have tried to tell me what I must and must not do. You, my dear deceiver, are in no position to dictate to me.’
‘No, my lord, I beg your pardon. I only meant to remind you that an engaged man should not be so free with his affections.’
He took a step towards her, knowing he had a silly grin on his face, but he could not stop himself. ’emma, I am no longer engaged. There is to be no wedding.’
‘No wedding? Never?’
‘Never,’ he said firmly, holding out his hands to take both of hers and looking down into her upturned face. ‘At least, not between Sophie Mountforest and me. We have decided we should not suit. On the other hand, there might be…’
‘Might be?’ The rapid beating of her heart was making breathing difficult and the words were a whisper.
‘There might be if you would consent to be my wife. Oh, Emma, you would make me the happiest man on earth.’
‘But…’ She was stopped from going on by his mouth which sought hers and stopped her words with a kiss which left her in no doubt he meant what he said.
‘Dominic, oh, Dominic, I have loved you for so long,’ she said at last, looking up into his eyes, and seeing in them all she wanted to know. ‘I never dared to hope. I had come into your home under false pretences; I had been a poor companion to your sister and led her into scrapes and I upset Sophie and caused poor Brutus to be hurt. Can you forgive me for all that?’
‘Only if you do lifelong penance.’ He laughed aloud and drew her into his arms to kiss her again. It lasted a very long time, but when at last they paused to draw breath, he said, ‘That is your penance, today and every day from now on.’
‘Then I’ll gladly do it, my lord.’ And she reached up and put her arms about his neck and drew his head down to kiss him again.
She heard the door open behind them and knew it was Lucy returning. Dear Lucy. ‘Dominic,’ she whispered. ‘You do not expect Lucy to do penance too, do you?’
He laughed. ‘Oh, I can see I am going to have no peace until I give in.’ He turned to his sister. ‘Very well, Lucy, you have my blessing.’
She ran and threw herself at her brother and then grabbed his hand in one of hers and Emma’s in the other and danced them round and round until they were giddy.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-0253-9
DEAR DECEIVER
Copyright © 1998 by Mary Nichols
First North American Publication 2007
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