Catching the Baron

by Jenn Langston

  He let her go. Disappointment made her eyes sting. Why did life have to be so cruel? She shouldn’t have to suffer like this.

  “So this is where you’ve been hiding.” He glanced around. “The structure appears more solid than your last country house.”

  “Yes. I suppose I won’t need your assistance replacing the roof.”

  “A shame. I’ll never forget how delightful that day ended.”

  Heat flamed her cheeks at the memory. She’d been a wanton. Although given the opportunity she’d do nothing different. She cherished every moment she’d been in his company.

  “It was nice for you to stop by, but it would be better if you left now.”

  “Not without you. You don’t belong here. You belong with me.”

  She sighed. “Kenneth, we’ve been through this.”

  “I love you, Samantha. I’ve loved you for so long I can’t remember how life was when I’m not feeling like this. And I know you love me too. I can sense it in your every move and every word.”

  “You are-”

  “Don’t deny it. My mother will no longer bother you. If she as much speaks your name, she will find herself homeless.”

  A combination of shock and embarrassment shot through her. Had he been angry to discover how easily she’d been manipulated by his mother? Oh, how she wished she could go back through time and never have catered to Lady Berwick. Regardless, she would still find herself in this position.

  “How did you find out?” she asked, trying to keep her emotions out of her tone.

  “It doesn’t matter. We can be together now. I want to marry you, Samantha. I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile and taking you on adventures. We can live in Berwick or in London or just travel around the world. I’ll do anything to make you happy.”

  A sob tore from her throat as pain ripped her in half. “Stop. I can’t bare it.”

  Turning away from him, she ran toward her front door. How could she refuse? He offered her everything she could ever want. But he deserved better than to share his life with a ruined woman.

  His strong hands gripped her shoulders and stopped her flight.

  “Just tell me why.” His voice broke. “Tell me, and I’ll leave you forever.”

  “You paint a beautiful picture of a life you can never have with me. I’m ruined. Ostracized from society.” She turned back around to face him. “I can’t have you living as an outcast.”

  “Do you think I care about that? I would give up anything or anyone to have you.” He took a deep breath. “Is your only reason for rejecting me your fear over your ruination?”

  She bit her lip. How could she tell him it was so? Then he’d do the gentlemanly thing and marry her. The selfishness inside her reveled at the thought. She would have everything, and he would have nothing.

  But, he said he didn’t care. Was it true? Indecision ripped at her soul. She felt raw, emotionally drained. Her body could take no more. Nor could she lie to him.

  “Yes. Kenneth, I love you more than you can ever know.” The words fell from her mouth before she could stop herself. “You are the most beautiful person inside and out. I’ve been astounded by you and have fallen deeper in love with you each time we’ve been together.”

  His answering grin made her chest shake as joy entered her breast. He loved her. He truly loved her.

  “Then, my dear, I shall have to marry you soon.” He reached into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “You see, you are not ruined after all.”

  She scanned the words until tears clouded her vision. How did this come about? How did Kenneth find a boy to pass off as her? And who stood up for her by publishing this sheet? Too many feelings coursed through her to decipher them all.

  The sheet crumpled between them as Kenneth clasped her to him and spun her in a little circle. When his lips captured hers, she met him, eagerly throwing herself at him. Joy at the new possibilities in her life made her light as desire seeped into her body.

  In this moment, she had everything she could ever want. Kenneth loved her and she, by some twist of fate, was allowed to love him back. She couldn’t wait to marry him. Her heart hammered in her chest, wondering what adventures he would plan for them. Whatever it was, as long as she had him by her side, it would be perfect.

  Epilogue

  “I still don’t know if I can forgive you for this,” Grace complained as she hugged Samantha again. “You robbed me of a perfectly good wedding.”

  “But not the celebration,” Samantha pointed out. “Most of London is here.”

  “Yes. But going to St. George’s and seeing you in your wedding finery would have been much better than this.”

  Samantha laughed. “I told Kenneth this would happen, but he insisted on taking me to Gretna Green.”

  “Are you over here talking about me?” Kenneth asked as he appeared behind her and wound an arm around Samantha’s waist.

  “Yes. How dare you deprive us of a wedding? It isn’t fair.” Grace’s petulant face made Samantha smile.

  Kenneth laughed, the blissful sound making Samantha’s body sing. So much happiness existed between them; she wondered how she thought she could live without it.

  “You are right. It was selfish to keep the wedding to ourselves, but I would do it the same way a hundred times over. You, Grace, simply have to make it up to everyone. Take your pick.” He waved his hand out to the crowd. “Your future husband could be waiting for you out there.”

  Grace shivered. “I hope not. I guess I will be forced to attend random weddings to bolster my spirits.”

  “One day-” Samantha began.

  “I should probably go now. First, promise me you will both come to Brianna’s annual holiday gathering.”

  Samantha glanced over at Kenneth. She wasn’t sure she was ready to share him just yet. He’d assured her this gathering had been necessary, but she looked forward to the two of them alone at Berwick.

  “I’m not sure that’s possible,” Kenneth answered for them, obviously thinking the same as her.

  “We will make it up to you. Perhaps you can come stay with us after the holidays,” Samantha suggested.

  “I’ll hold you to it.” After a nod to the both of them, Grace left.

  “I came to fetch you, dear wife, to see if you are ready to quit this day.”

  Samantha sucked in her breath. “So soon? What will the guests think?”

  “That I’m a very lucky man.”

  She laughed and swatted at his side. Her need to be alone with her husband trumped her better sense. She wondered if the burning desire to be with him would ever wane. Glancing around at some of the other married couples, whispering together intimately, she imagined not.

  Turning back to her husband, she took in his playful expression. Then she allowed her eyes to travel down the length of his body. Her mouth dried.

  “I’m ready to leave. Take me on an adventure.”

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed reading Catching the Baron. Kenneth held a place in my heart when I wrote His Perfect Lady, and I knew he needed a story of his own. Although his estate needed funds, I didn’t want him to find an heiress and marry her for the settlement. I do love a good love story based on an arranged or necessary marriage, but Kenneth wasn’t a character who could find happiness in such a situation. He needed to find security independently of Samantha.

  If you enjoyed this book, please check out the other titles in the Perfect Series. You can also read on for a preview of the next book in the series, Winning the Duke.

  I would love to hear your reactions to this story, either in the way of fan mail or reviews.

  Happy Reading!

  Jenn Langston

  And now, for a preview of Winning the Duke, coming soon from Soul Mate Publishing:

  “Mother, I’ve decided who I shall marry, and I don’t care if you don’t approve. I love him,” Lady Grace Denton proclaimed, her voice echoing in the quiet drawing room.

/>   The Countess of Ransley didn’t look up, merely continued to stick her needle in the fabric. “That sounds wonderful, my dear. May I know his name?”

  “Mr. Nobis, my dance instructor.” Grace attempted to infuse her voice with as much of a love-stricken quality as she could stomach. “He dances like an angel, and the way he holds me in his arms makes my heart tremble.”

  Bile crept up her throat as she uttered the words about that stiff, unexcitable fool. Grace swallowed. This was not going well. She had expected at least a small amount of reaction from her mother. Why didn’t the woman care about her?

  As her mother stood and walked toward her, Grace felt a lightening in her chest. This was it. The reaction she’d hoped for. The one she needed.

  “Thank you for telling me.” The countess patted Grace on the cheek and then left the room.

  Grace’s heart sank. Defeat weighed heavy on her shoulders as her chin quivered. What just happened? Was that her mother’s blessing to marry a penniless man? How had the woman become so drastically altered in the past few years? Her mother had never been so uncaring with her older sister, Brianna.

  Falling back in a chair, Grace sucked in a shaky breath. What was she to do? Nothing she did ever got through to her mother.

  “Grace?” Ashley called as she entered the room.

  Although the woman had been Grace’s governess, she’d remained on by taking other duties around the house, and Grace loved her like a sister. Grace also feared she was the only person in this household who cared about her. Well, besides her father.

  “Yes, Ashley?” Grace responded, pasting on a smile although her insides still churned from the conversation with her mother.

  After taking a seat across from Grace, Ashley inhaled deeply and looked at her expectantly. “Your mother said you have some news to share with me.”

  Grace sat forward in her chair, feeling marginally better. Finally, the reprimand she sought. “What else did she say?”

  “Nothing. Just that you have something you wanted to tell me.”

  Reclaiming her previous position, Grace dropped her head against the back of the chair as she wondered why she even cared. No amount of declarations from her could obtain her mother’s attention. Her throat tightened.

  “I told her I wanted to marry Mr. Nobis.”

  Ashley gasped. “Oh Grace, no. You can do so much better. That silly man wouldn’t know what to do with a woman.”

  “I know that, and I don’t want to marry him. I simply wanted my mother to care.”

  The look of pity on Ashley’s face hurt Grace more than she wanted to admit. Pinching her lips closed, she tried to discourage her tears from falling. This was why she never told her friend her true feelings.

  “She loves you a great deal. She simply has a strange way of showing it. I recall Brianna and I sharing similar conversations about the countess.”

  Grace sat up straighter. “No. Brianna never had this problem. Mother handpicked a marquis for her and never allowed Brianna to do so much as to look at another man.”

  “Yes, and Brianna hated it. You should be thrilled to have your pick of gentlemen. If you knew of all the danger your sister placed herself in . . .” Ashley shuddered.

  On one hand, Grace agreed. She remembered how smothered her sister had felt. But Brianna could never question their mother’s regard.

  “Why do you think Mother dropped her standards for me? I grew up knowing what I would go through with her. In fact, I prepared myself for it. Before and during my first Season, I surveyed everyone to find the most suitable titleholders in order to please my mother.”

  Ashley chewed on her bottom lip. It was something she often did when she had no answer to give. That was confirmation enough for Grace.

  “Perhaps she hopes to encourage your wild side. After all, Brianna’s schemes helped her obtain the attention of the Marquis of Stonemede.”

  Grace snorted, hardening herself against the conversation. “Not likely. Mother continually lectured us when we were children against our recklessness. Anyway, it doesn’t matter as I don’t intend to marry.”

  “Don’t make a rash decision just yet. We will be departing soon for Stonemede. You can rest and take time off thoughts of marriage for the holidays, then next Season . . .”

  “I will try. For you. But I assure you, I won’t change my mind.”

  If marriage wouldn’t make her mother love her, she wouldn’t put herself through the torture of dealing with an annoying man day in and day out. After all, the only men she could stand to be around were already married or related to her.

  She was much better off alone.

  Braiden Everett, Duke of Donetic, also titled Marquis of Hauney, stared at his cousin, Thomas, in disbelief. Ever since Braiden’s wife, Tabitha, died, Thomas continually tried to get him to reintegrate back into Society, but he wasn’t interested. He’d paid his dues and suffered for it.

  “Don’t give me that look.” Thomas crossed his arms and glared down upon Braiden as if he held the power.

  Running a weary hand down his face, Braiden cradled his chin in his palm as his elbow rested on the desk. “Why shouldn’t I? We’ve been over this before. I have no desire to fake a smile and associate with all the made up people.”

  “This is different. These people are practically family.”

  “Greyson and Abigail are the only attendees who are my family, but with my niece, Amber, being not quite a year old, they have their hands full.”

  “Come on. We didn’t attend last year, and I don’t want to miss it again.” Thomas’s voice took on a pleading quality that Braiden hated.

  The annual holiday celebration thrown by the Marquis of Stonemede always proved to be a good diversion. As a matter of fact, that group of people helped him get through a difficult time. He put his hands on the arms of the chair, tightly gripping the wood. He was not that man anymore. He’d lost the ability to enjoy life.

  “Are you insisting because you want me to socialize or do you desire to see Laura?”

  Thomas turned away and coughed, making Braiden shake his head. After experiencing the heartlessness of a woman, Braiden couldn’t understand his cousin’s need to travel such a great distance to see one. Although he knew Thomas’s and Laura’s relationship existed only for mutual satisfaction, a time would come when Thomas could lose his heart to her. Braiden couldn’t bear to see that happen. The very thought brought a tightening in his chest.

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing Laura. Besides, it saves me from having to hold your hand all the time.” Thomas stroked his bare chin.

  The insinuation burned within him. Would everyone always look at him with such pity? And treat him like a child or someone to be coddled? He was a man, damn it. He could take care of himself.

  “I don’t recall telling you to move to Donetic or Everett House with me.” Braiden’s voice sounded bitter, even to himself. “I told you, as my heir, you can make yourself comfortable at Hauney, since it will be yours one day.”

  “Yes. And I still say I wouldn’t make a good duke. Why not marry some random skirt, sire an heir, and then ship her off?”

  “Do you honestly believe that is the best solution? You are better suited to-”

  “Braiden, I want my own life. Not yours. I came to live with you to help you, not groom myself for the position.”

  Pushing himself out of his chair, Braiden crossed the room and glared out the window at his land. All his life, he wanted the responsibility of the dukedom and memorized every word his father had uttered. But now, the very thought of all the soul-crushing obligations brought an acrid taste to his mouth.

  He no longer wanted to be a duke. Couldn’t his cousin see that? Or how much he envied Thomas and others like him? They could live their own lives how they saw fit. Society’s structures didn’t crush them. Braiden longed to be able to taste just one drop of freedom. For once not be looked upon to do his duty.

  Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, realizing how selfish
he’d become. How could he force his cousin to take on the life that he, himself, abhorred so much? Resigned to his miserable fate, he didn’t turn to look at Thomas.

  “All right. You win. Send our acceptance.”

  THE PERFECT SERIES

  by Jenn Langston

  HIS PERFECT BRIDE

  Richard Carrack received the title of Marquis of Stonemede upon his father’s death six months ago. Knowing of the duties associated with the title, he decides to marry and spend the remainder of his days tending to the estate. His requirements for his bride are simple; he wishes her to be obedient and calm-spirited. When circumstances place him in the path of Lady Brianna Denton, whose wild ways make her an unsuitable candidate, he lies about his identity to discourage her from pursuing him for his title.

  Brianna Denton knows what she wants out of life. She wishes to marry an untitled lord and live the remainder of her days in the country with no obligations. Only then can she spend her free time painting. When she meets Mr. Richard, she decides he would make the perfect husband. Little does she know, her boldness puts her in a position where she must decide between what she always thought she wanted and what her heart is telling her.

  Available now Amazon on: http://tinyurl.com/q94bx5b

  HIS PERFECT GAME

  Greyson Thorpe, Viscount Merrick, wants respectability above all else. Knowing the fastest way to achieve that state comes through marriage, he challenges Hammond Everett, the Duke of Donetic, to a card game. After winning the match, the duke agrees to exchange his daughter’s hand in marriage for the forgiveness of his debts.