Julia popped her head around the door shyly – but was soon obscured by the bustling entrance of the Dowager Duchess.
"Let me through! Let me through! I want another look at our little angel!"
She lifted George out of Alice's arms without as much as a thank you, and carried him over to Julia.
"Your young cousin," she said, holding him towards her. Julia gasped in delight, but Harry, behind her, rolled his eyes.
"Aunt, are you auditioning to replace our nursemaid? I've barely seen young George out of your arms since the moment he arrived."
"Nor should you," the Duchess said placidly. "I intend to see him brought up knowing all the traditions of the great house of Westbourne. Not as a wild creature like you and your reckless brothers!"
"We'll see about that." Harry gave his aunt a wink. "But cousin Julia, it's so good to see you again! Tell me, how does the Marquess treat you?"
They had found Julia a comfortable position as governess to the little daughter of the Marquess of Chiltern. Alice herself could not imagine life as a governess would be at all satisfying, but Julia's blush as she nodded her head spoke of some happiness.
"He's a very good man, Your Grace."
"None of that," said Harry, throwing his arm around her shoulders. "We are family, Julia. You may call me Harry or you may call me Westbourne, but never My stuffy Grace! How many times must I tell you?"
Julia blushed still more deeply. "At least once more, Your Grace."
"But look at those roses in your cheeks!" said the Dowager Duchess, delightedly. "Is there more to tell us about your new life than we might suppose, Julia?"
Julia shook her head adamantly. Alice had a suspicion she would be able to entice more from her later, if she could catch her alone.
"The little mite is falling asleep," said the Dowager Duchess, distracted from Julia's secrets by the sight of the tiny baby dozing in her arms.
"Give him back to me," said Catherine. "I'll put him to bed."
She glided from the room, looking radiantly beautiful in her newfound happiness, the Dowager Duchess following close on her heels.
Alice rose to take Julia's hands. "Are you truly happy in Chiltern?"
"Happier than I can tell you," Julia whispered. Fortunately, the men were engaged in a loud discussion which drowned out Julia's hint at secret joy.
"Well, Kirby, I must say that married life suits you. You have grown positively plump since I saw you last!"
Kirby laughed, his stomach – which truthfully was as taut as ever – shaking with mirth. "Wishful thinking, Westbourne! I'm not following your example of giving up all hope of vanity simply because I've found myself a wife."
"I hope he is jesting, Alice," said Harry, mock-severely. "Tell me, has Kirby given up all his wicked ways?"
Alice took her husband's hand. She thought of all the private joys they had shared together in Yorkshire. The way Kirby took delight in presenting her to all his acquaintances. The way she felt when she lay in his arms to fall asleep.
"He is the perfect husband," she sighed. Kirby coughed, embarrassed, and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.
Each time he touched her she felt the same quiver of delight she had known on their first kiss.
Harry's eyes widened. He made Alice a florid bow. "Why, Mrs Kirby, you have worked a miracle!"
Kirby squeezed Alice's hand. "I live in the certain hope of greater miracles to come."
"I hope he is jesting, Alice," said Harry, mock-severely. "Tell me, has Kirby given up all his wicked ways?"
Alice took her husband's hand. She thought of all the private joys they had shared together in Yorkshire. The way Kirby took delight in presenting her to all his acquaintances. The way she felt when she lay in his arms to fall asleep.
"He is the perfect husband," she sighed. Kirby coughed, embarrassed, and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.
Each time he touched her she felt the same quiver of delight she had known on their first kiss.
Harry's eyes widened. He made Alice a florid bow. "Why, Mrs Kirby, you have worked a miracle!"
Kirby squeezed Alice's hand. "I live in the certain hope of greater miracles to come."
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Lady Celia Hartley has a problem. She must find a husband soon or risk being ruined forever. Just as she is beginning to give up hope, William Marsden asks her to dance. Young, handsome, and kind, he seems to be the perfect answer to her prayers. But before he can claim her as his own, they must deal with the consequences when the Earl of Scarcliffe discovers the true nature of his sister's situation...
This is a short novella intended as a companion read to the Redeeming the Rakes series.
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Click here to buy Redeeming the Rakes Book 1: The Duke Suggests a Scandal
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PROLOGUE
A gentle murmur of conversation resumed behind Harry, Duke of Westbourne, as he slipped outside and left his dinner party behind. He did not go to the library, as he had told his guests, but to the garden, where he made straight for the circle of rosebushes outside the drawing room windows. Cracks of light spilled out through the closed curtains, illuminating Catherine Sharp's frightened face.
"Have you passed a pleasant evening?" asked Harry lightly. A small shiver passed over her – whether from cold or from fear he could not tell.
"Please, let's not waste time in idle conversation. I have made my choice and I am ready." She held her hands behind her back and closed her eyes. She looked as pretty as any of the roses – and just as prickly.
"Cathy, Cathy," said Harry. "Calm yourself. I am not going to force myself upon you."
She opened her eyes, perplexed. "But I am ready and willing. I have agreed to your plan."
He stroked a single curl of golden hair back from her face. Catherine almost flinched away at his touch. She was like a little deer in the wood: curious and terrified at the same time. At any moment she might startle and run away.
"A kiss is not a kiss unless it is wanted," said Harry. He had seduced women before, but never with this degree of tenderness. Truth be told he was almost as frightened as she. "You must want it, Cathy. I'll settle for nothing less."
In fact he might well have to. At the stroke of midnight, his plan would come to fruition. If her lips were not on his by then, it might all yet come to nothing...
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Table of Contents
Contents
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Epilogue
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