Reckless Desire

by Rebecca King

  “What about you?” She asked. “What does this mean for your future?”

  Joe pursed his lips. Until he had the time to sit and think about what it was he wanted, he couldn’t be sure if he needed to say within the Star Elite. Reg’s betrayal had made him start to doubt and question everything, including his future and what he wanted out of life. Was it time for him to experience something else in life? A new challenge maybe?

  “We have all of Sayers little businesses to shut down now. We know what Sayers was doing. It is just a matter of working our way around those responsible and getting them off the streets. It takes time, but we will get there. Now that the ring leader has been taken, some of the people who have been forced into complying with Sayers demands will go home, ever so relieved to have their lives back. Those who have willingly been his accomplices will face time behind bars. Some will disappear, of that there can be no doubt. There is a finely woven network of people who are prepared to lie and protect loved ones from the authorities if they need to. Hopefully, Sayers’ cohorts won’t hide for long, though, because they cannot change the people they are. The money and notoriety they have become accustomed to will invariably draw them back to the old ways. I have no doubt we will get the majority of those who have helped Sayers along the way.”

  Marguerite sighed. While she was glad that an organisation like the Star Elite existed, she hated Joe being a part of it. To think of him facing events like tonight, putting his life at risk so people he didn’t even know so they could benefit left her with the chills.

  “What about you?”

  Marguerite looked at him. She wasn’t sure what she expected of him. It was far too soon in their acquaintance to expect him to offer for her, or for her to push him for a further acquaintance but she couldn’t just allow him to walk away either. Stymied to know what to do, she sighed deeply.

  “I will go home with my father. After what happened with that body, though, I am not sure if I can live there again. I think it might be better if we move somewhere else.”

  “Where to?” Joe’s voice was sharp. He had a house in London. It was where he called home. To think of Marguerite not living nearby anymore was dreadful.

  “I think we should try the countryside next. My father will get the peace he needs. We don’t have to go far; just find somewhere on the outskirts of the city. We can arrange for someone more reputable to look after the shop.” she replied.

  “Don’t go too far,” he ordered darkly.

  “Will you need me to help you with information about Sayers or something? I don’t know much about him-”

  She was silenced by the finger he placed over her lips.

  “I don’t know what this means right now, but I want you to know that you must remain a part of my life. Over the past couple of days, you have become an integral part of me. I should like permission to court you properly, without fear of danger, being shot out, nearly drowning, or being chased across London by a madman and his bunch of misfits.”

  Marguerite began to smile. “I don’t know. Now that you have put it like that it all sounds rather dull and boring.”

  Joe began to laugh. “Well, I shall have to make sure we don’t become dull and boring then, shan’t I?”

  “That would be wonderful,” she whispered.

  When he still didn’t get the message and gave her the one thing she truly wanted, she leaned toward him. However, when their lips were almost touching she hesitated.

  “As long as there is no shooting.” She was delighted at the twinkle in his eye.

  “Definitely no shooting,” he promised her with a mock frown.

  “No knives either.” The movement of her lips against his made her shiver, but she didn’t pull away.

  “No knives either,” he whispered teasingly.

  “Definitely, no gangsters.” She shook her head and in doing so slid her lips against his.

  “We will leave them well alone,” he promised huskily.

  When he still didn’t get the message, she tugged his head to hers and planted a kiss on his lips that shocked her father into silence. Ignorant of his scrutiny, Marguerite kissed Joe with every ounce of the deep and tender feelings she possessed for him. She was starting to suspect that it was love but had never been in love before so couldn’t be sure. What she could be certain of was that this man was as essential to her as the air she breathed. She couldn’t live without him. As long as he was happy then she was happy, it was that simple.

  The need to say the words was strong, and she would, at some point. Right now, she slowly became aware of the three people sitting nearby who were trying hard not to be noticed.

  Joe, meanwhile, was locked in his own silent battle. Now was not the time to make her promises he wasn’t altogether certain he could keep. Until he had spoken to Sir Hugo, he had no idea if he had to remain in London for the time being. Given the number of men who had succumbed to the delights of matrimony of late, and taken time off to sort out their domestic arrangements, and settle into matrimony with their wives, he wasn’t sure there would be enough men left in London to deal with the rest of Sayers’ thugs.

  However, while he was happy to see this investigation through to the bitter end, he wasn’t prepared to sacrifice any more of his life. He wasn’t prepared to lose Marguerite, no matter what Sir Hugo, Barnaby, or Simon Ambrose wanted. Until he had the matter settled with them, though, he couldn’t offer the delectable, decidedly strong, the woman before him anything.

  “Marguerite?” Eustace said, looking a little stunned and worried at the same time.

  Marguerite released her hold on Joe long enough to look at her father without any hint of apology.

  “You have met, Joe, haven’t you father?” she murmured.

  “Well, yes, sort of,” Eustace replied hesitantly.

  “He works for the War Office, you know,” she replied.

  “Yes, I heard that,” Eustace replied. His head swivelled from Marguerite to Joe, who had yet to take his eyes off his daughter. A scowl began to appear on his brow.

  “He also works for the Star Elite,” she added. “These are his colleagues.” She waved a hand by way of introduction.

  Joe sucked in a deep breath and looked at his colleagues. He was immediately drawn back to their current predicament, and that fact that Marguerite was wearing her undergarments, freezing cold, and still soaking wet. If they didn’t get moving, with Marcus and Ben, and even Eustace, in their battered and weakened states, they were all going to be ill.

  “We need to get moving,” he murmured.

  Tugging his sodden shirt off, he draped it around Marguerite’s bared shoulders. He wasn’t at all sure it made her problem any better but at least her decency was covered.

  Everyone slowly pushed to their feet and looked for a path out of the area. Eventually, they found a narrow route that wound its way around the buildings and came out at the end of a quiet, residential neighbourhood.

  “Where are we?” Marguerite asked with a frown.

  “I don’t know,” Kerrigan replied with a sneeze. “But we need to persuade a coachman to stop and take us home before we all die of influenza.”

  When he sneezed again, Marguerite grinned.

  “You don’t have to look so happy,” Joe muttered with a grin. “We just cheated death.”

  “I know,” she replied. “Isn’t that a reason to be happy?”

  Joe thought about that but had to concede that she had a point.

  Eustace fell into step beside her, and looked at his daughter. She had a rosy glow to her cheeks he had never seen before and she just looked far more, well, alive than ever. He looked upon the man walking close by her side with renewed suspicion but no apprehension.

  “Are you and him-?”

  Marguerite smiled at her father.

  Joe suddenly stepped forward and held a hand out. “Joseph Haversham, at your service, sir.”

  Eustace looked a little stunned but shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet
you, sir. I-”

  “I know who you are,” Joe interrupted, looking at Marguerite. “I should like to ask your permission to court your daughter, sir.”

  Marguerite bit back on her smile, not least because it seemed such a bizarre way for a man to ask something like that.

  “Of course, you have it. I just-” Eustace looked at the pair of them, completely happy and totally unperturbed by the entire situation they had just battled through. “I have no idea what is going on. To be fair, as long as you are fighting the likes of Sayers you are alright in my book. I should like to ask you if you are able to look after her, but I am sure she can look after herself after what I have seen tonight.”

  “Of course I can,” Joe and Marguerite answered together.

  Marguerite scowled at Joe, her eyes alight with mischief. Joe felt something warm and wonderful settle in his chest and swept an arm around her so she was flush against him.

  Thankfully, the street they wandered down was almost deserted, but the same couldn’t be said for the main street they turned into. Although dawn had started to bathe the streets in a hazy glow of morning sunshine only a few hardy tradespeople who were setting up their stalls for the day.

  Marguerite tried to ignore them but was painfully aware of the curious looks she received.

  “I am perfectly capable of looking after myself thank you,” she informed everyone.

  She threw a look at Ben over his shoulder when he snorted.

  “You need to learn to swim,” he scolded.

  “I was hindered by my skirts,” she argued. “They are heavy when wet and wrapped me up.”

  Eustace then seemed to realise that his daughter was in her undergarments and looked around in alarm.

  “Oh dear,” he murmured.

  “There is nobody around to see,” Joe assured him. “We will find a carriage soon enough.”

  “Do you think anybody is going to stop for us?” Marguerite asked doubtfully. She squinted at the road ahead with a frown. “I mean, we look a little odd, don’t you think?”

  Indeed they did. They were all wet. Three had been badly beaten. Marguerite was in her under things, and Joe was, well, just as handsome as the day she had met him.

  That seems like a lifetime ago, she mused happily.

  “What are you thinking now?” Joe asked suspiciously, not liking that look of calculation on her face one bit.

  “I am thinking how much can change in a short period of time.”

  “It has been a bit fraught, hasn’t it?” Joe murmured.

  “How so?” Eustace replied.

  “Well,” Marguerite began. “It all began with a marriage proposal.”

  Eustace looked at Joe, his brows lifted.

  “Not yet, but soon,” Joe promised.

  Marguerite gasped and looked at him.

  Joe lifted his brows. “Well, you don’t expect me to let you go now, do you? I mean, I have rescued you from kidnappers, fought for your life and shot someone on your behalf.”

  “Dragged me through back alleys while being shot at, got me nearly drowned,” she continued inspecting the fingernails on her free hand.

  “What?” Eustace, looking horrified now, turned to Marguerite.

  “It is what happens when someone comes into contact with Sayers. Your daughter is beautiful, lively, spirited, strong, and utterly adorable. It should come as no surprise that she should attract the interest of someone like Sayers,” Joe replied. “None of it would have happened if it wasn’t for that man.”

  “Well, it is over now. Thanks to you, I am still alive. I owe you,” she replied.

  Marguerite looked at her father. “What happened to you at the recital by the way? Why did you leave me there?”

  Eustace sighed. “You disappeared, my dear. Then I received a note that you had taken ill and was waiting outside for me. When I got there, Sayers men grabbed me and I was carted off to that warehouse.”

  “Why did you go to the Carmichael’s recital in the first place? I understand you don’t normally socialise with them,” Joe pondered.

  “Are they connected with Sayers?” Eustace asked with a frown.

  “I don’t think so,” Joe replied honestly. “I think they just wanted to invite the Russian Count like everyone else has.”

  Eustace nodded. “In my wisdom, I decided that it was time Marguerite got married.”

  “What?” Marguerite cried.

  Eustace nodded. “It is true. The Carmichaels ordered a clock from me and were so pleased with it that they invited me to their recital. It seemed like a gift from the Gods, so I accepted and made you, my dear, come with me. I had hoped that you would find a husband while you were there.”

  He coughed and looked away when Marguerite glared at him.

  “It looks like she has found a husband anyway,” Jacob muttered from behind them. He grinned at Joe when his brows lifted.

  Joe didn’t argue. Instead, his grin grew wider when he turned his attention to the street they were walking down. It took a moment or two but he eventually became aware that Eustace was staring at him. When he looked at Marguerite’s father, Eustace held his hand out.

  “Good luck,” he said.

  Joe grinned. Jacob and Kerrigan began to snigger.

  “I beg your pardon?” Marguerite gasped; outraged at the commiserating look her father gave Joe.

  She glared over her shoulder at the snickering Kerrigan and Jacob couldn’t hide. She squinted meanly at them but ruined it with the smile she couldn’t dim and the merry twinkle in her eye.

  “Alright,” Joe suddenly declared, his arms akimbo. He stopped in the middle of the street and turned to face her. “Look, I know we haven’t known each other all that long, and the time we have spent together has been fraught, to say the least. However, you have come to mean more to me than any woman I have ever met. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to keep you by my side. I love you, more than anything in this whole world. It took nearly losing you through drowning to make me realise that in spite of everything I adore you. You have to court me for a suitable period, but then I will accept nothing less than your hand in marriage.”

  A little stunned at the passion in his declaration, Marguerite stared at him for a few moments. She didn’t need to stop and think about it. She knew, deep in her heart that there would be nobody else for her for the rest of her life. It was this man or no man.

  “Well, that’s good then,” she replied carefully.

  “Is it?” Joe demanded, a little deflated by her sudden hesitation.

  “Yes.” She nodded firmly.

  When he looked a little crestfallen, she grabbed a hold of his head and tugged him down to her, and placed a kiss on his smiling lips that left him in little doubt that she was happy with his plans for their future.

  “I love you too,” she whispered.

  “Well, that’s good then,” he murmured a little awkwardly, aware that several people had now stopped on the pavements to watch them. “I think we had better go before we cause a riot.”

  Before he began to walk again, Joe held his elbow out to her. In the most ladylike fashion she could manage, Marguerite took it and allowed him to escort her down the street as though they were out for a casual stroll on a Sunday afternoon.

  “Where are we going?” Marguerite asked, uncaring where they were going as long as they stayed together.

  “We are going home, darling,” Joe murmured. “We have a wedding to plan.”

  “I thought we were going to have a courtship?”

  “We are,” Joe replied. “A short one.”

  He looked at her. Those pursed lips of hers warned him that she wasn’t pleased about something. Eager to eradicate any doubts she might have he lifted his brows at her.

  “Would you prefer a life of adventure?”

  Marguerite didn’t need to think about that. “A lifetime together is adventurous enough or me.”

  “Amen to that,” he murmured, and with a heartfelt sigh followed the others towar
d a bright new day and a wonderful new future.

  The End.

  THE ARRANGEMENT

  Saved By Desire Series

  Book Seven

  RELEASED MAY 2017

  Marcus needs a woman and quickly, but without any kind of romantic entanglements. He is too busy with his duties with the Star Elite to bother with affairs of the heart. The only woman he knows but isn’t attracted to is his best friend’s sister, Briony. He hasn’t seen her for several years but remembers a shy, pig-tailed young girl who always seemed scared of, well, everything, but that’s alright because he only needs to borrow her for a couple of hours.

  What he doesn’t take into account are the changes three years can make on any woman.

  Briony owes her brother one huge favour. When he calls her on it and asks her to pose as the wife of one of his friends, at first she objects. The last thing she wants is to be saddled with a drunkard, rabble-rouser who grabs more than he should and propositions her with tawdry offers, expecting her to be strange enough to accept. However, intrigued by the possibility of just a little adventure to break the hum-drum of her normal life, she agrees to go along with the charade. After all, it is only for an hour or two–what could go wrong?

  The truth is everything. Briony is quickly drawn into a battle of wits, disguises, and mystery which throw her into the dangers of London’s underworld. Marcus is the only person she can rely on, and that grates because she really doesn’t like him at all. He is too strong, too commanding, and more than a little arrogant.

  He thinks she is a pain in the proverbial. Her questions drive him nuts. She never does what he asks of her without an argument, and he always seems to be falling over her. He has to be saddled with the most annoying woman he has ever met and resolves to hand her back to her brother the first chance he gets.

  Actually handing her over proves difficult, though, when Sayers’ and his gang decide they want her too. When her life is put in danger, it is up to Marcus to save her, and he quickly realises that leaving her far behind is the very last thing he wants.