‘It was a little thing. It was wrong of me.’ She squeezed his hand.
‘It was utterly right of you. And then when we met again at Shaw’s, I knew that I could not let you marry anyone else. I knew you were the right woman for me.’
‘You did that to save me from Sir Geoffrey Lea, because you did not want me to be tied to an old man…like Suzanne was.’
‘You think so little of my abilities that I could not find another way of saving my reputation, besides marrying you.’ He gave a slight laugh, but his hand went about her waist and pulled her close. Lottie laid her head against his chest and listened to the steady thumping of his heart. ‘I wanted to secure you for myself and not have to worry about anyone else taking you away from me.’
‘Is that why you married me?’ she whispered, unable to trust her ears. Tristan had married her because he desired her.
‘Yes, and selfishly I wanted you to want me too. I wanted you to care for me, not just my title or my wealth.’ Tristan tilted her chin so she gazed up into his deep black eyes, burning with an intensity and desire that she had not seen before. ‘Can you? Can you forgive me for what I did?’
‘There is nothing to forgive,’ Lottie said and knew it was the truth. She could understand now why he had done it. She could forgive him now she knew that he loved her.
‘I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.’ There was a humble note in Tristan’s voice that she had not heard before. ‘Please tell me that there is a little bit of your life that you are willing to share with me. That it is not all duty for you. Please take my ring back.’
‘With pleasure. My hand has missed it so very much.’
He took off her glove and slipped it on her finger. She gave a contented sigh as the weight settled once again on her hand. ‘I love you, Lord Thorngrafton.’
His response was to lower his head and claim her lips. She brought her arms up and arched her body towards his, savouring him. Wanting him. Demanding him. Here. Now.
The door clicked and Lottie jumped away from Tristan, hurriedly tried to straighten her gown, but knew she looked thoroughly kissed. Tristan moved to shield her.
‘Excuse us.’ Emma Stanton’s musical voice floated from the door. ‘We thought to find a quiet room, but I see this one is otherwise occupied.’
‘I thank you for that,’ Tristan said, and started to draw Lottie into his arms again.
‘And you need not worry, Lady Thorngrafton, our lips are sealed.’ Jack Stanton gave a laugh as the door closed once more.
‘Tristan,’ Lottie whispered.
‘I am afraid your reputation is ruined, Lottie. It is just as well we are married.’
‘That is true.’ Lottie laughed as she reached up and pulled his face next to hers. ‘They already know what a hopeless pair we are.’
‘And do we go back to the ball?’ he asked against her temple. ‘This room is not exactly secure. I have no desire to be interrupted again.’
‘I was hoping for a little more.’ She peeped at him from under her lashes.
‘Shall I take you home?’
‘But you are in lodgings.’ Lottie attempted to keep the disappointment from her voice. She could not imagine taking him back to Henry and Lucy’s. It would be unbearable.
‘I have a small confession.’ Tristan laced his fingers with hers, and pulled her close. ‘I think that the principal suite in the Royal Hotel would be suitable for you…for now.’
‘And for later?’
‘We can live in Newcastle if you wish. I also have homes in London, Paris and Rome.’
Paris. Rome. London. Places that had she once dreamt of and had boasted she would see, but they held little appeal now. The only place she wanted to be was in Tristan’s arms.
‘But the estate?’ Lottie paused, thinking of that once-loved place and how much it mattered to Tristan. ‘What about Mrs Elton? And the rest of the servants? You wanted to restore it, or was that another ruse?’
‘I will restore it in time, but we will live where you want to live.’
‘Let’s go home to Gortner Hall, Tristan—tomorrow. I find I am weary of society and long for my bed. And my husband in it.’
‘Done!’
Their mutual laughter rang off the walls of the little room. Lottie smiled up at her husband and knew that somehow, despite all the misconceptions and mistakes they had both made, all her dreams had come true.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5665-5
AN IMPULSIVE DEBUTANTE
Copyright © 2008 by Michelle Styles
First North American Publication 2010
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at [email protected].
® and TM are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.eHarlequin.com
Michelle Styles Page 25