He opened both his eyes and bounced his brows. “Indeed. I knew you would not be able to resist.” Then he winked—the flirt.
“You know me too well, my lord.” She stared at him. Eleanor had told her the weather had improved enough that they would be setting out for London the next morning. How was she to leave this man? Her heart would surely break. What if things changed when they went to London?
The last few days, with the exception of the kidnapping, Gabby had felt as if she was living in a bubble that could burst at any moment and change everything. If she stayed here at Ivydale indefinitely, could she stay in the bubble forever?
“I thought I asked you not to stop what you were doing.”
She smirked. “It is not so proper now that I know you are awake.”
He pinched his eyes closed. “Is this better?”
“Your talking is ruining the illusion of you being asleep, Aaron.” She chuckled but raised her hand to his cheek once more. Her knuckles brushed lightly down his cheek bone and along his jaw to the other side of his face. When she stilled for a moment, Aaron placed his hand over hers and turned his head, kissing the palm of her hand.
Her breath hitched and she hoped the bubble never broke. “Now that you have awakened, did you not wish to talk?” Her voice came out wobbly. “You said it was important.”
He growled. “It could certainly wait a few minutes longer.” He swung his legs to the floor and sat up. “I was rather enjoying your diversion.”
She raised a brow at him. “You are the one who said it was important that we speak immediately. And as we will be leaving on the morrow…” She sighed. Would he be as disappointed as she was?
“Yes, I did say such things.” He paused mid-shrug. “Did you say you are leaving tomorrow?”
Gabby nodded. “Yes. We are returning to London.”
He pushed himself to standing and reached down for her hands. Tugging her gently to her feet, he pulled her to face him, leaving only inches between them.
Gabby was suddenly nervous. She pulled her hands from his and ran them down the front of her skirt. “Did you settle things with the men?” Why was she bringing them up now? She still could not think their names without her hands shaking. Although, she did not completely believe they were the reason for her jittery hands and legs.
“Yes. They will stay on their farms until the weather lifts. Then my hope is they will accompany Rebekah to Charlcombe. It would be best for all of them.” He sighed. “They wished to thank you for your kindness, but I persuaded them to do so in a letter.”
Gabby breathed in through her nose. “Thank you. I think that best.”
He leaned slightly in and his breath fluttered the curl at her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered shut briefly. She ran her thumb and index finger down a fold at the side of her skirt. “You said there were things we needed to discuss—things that could not wait.”
He lifted his hands and she thought for a moment he would cup her cheeks like he had done in the barn. But he rested them on her upper arms, instead and pulled her a step closer to him. His unbuttoned tailcoat grazed against her arms. “Yes. They are very serious things.”
She dropped her eyes to the floor. Would he ask her what had happened last night—how she had come to be abducted? He had asked her nothing about it, not even what had happened while she was in the barn. Surely, he was curious.
While it would be easier to discuss now than it had been early this morning, she still felt hesitant. They had very little time left together, and she did not want to waste it by reliving the events of early this morning.
Aaron shifted closer to her and his hands dropped to her forearms. “There are many things I wish to discuss with you. Your favorite books, plays, even your favorite ice at Gunthers. But all those things can wait.” Featherlight, his fingertips danced up her arms and gooseflesh raised on her skin.
Aaron grinned. “If you will recall, I had asked you to meet me here after the ball.” He let his hand rest at her hips, tugging her to within a whisper of him.
Gabby sucked in a breath. She would never have guessed a fortnight ago the playful nature she was seeing in Aaron now.
His hands slid behind her, and he clasped them together at the small of her back.
For a moment all thought fled from her brain. His gray-blue eyes the only thing she could comprehend.
His fingers rubbed small circles on the small of her back.
It was heavenly and she did not want him to stop. But then Eleanor’s shocked face from the doorway of the ballroom pushed its way into her mind. This embrace, as wonderful as it felt—and because of the way it felt—was improper.
She pushed against his chest, putting only a small amount of distance between them because he would not unclasp his fingers.
He stared down at her, a hint of doubt suddenly clouding his eyes. “Gabrielle, I asked you to come here because I wished to ask for your hand.”
Why should he want her hands? Her brain felt muddled. Surely it was the smell of lemon, bergamot, and rosemary emanating from him that was clouding her brain. She lifted her hands from his chest so he could see them. “But my hands are all scratched and swollen. Why would you want them?”
“For so very many reasons, mon amour. So you may run them along my face and in my hair, just to name one.” He chuckled and leaning down, brushed his lips against hers. He pressed against her back until her hands rested again on his chest.
She blinked several times before her eyes fluttered closed and she leaned fully into his kiss. Memories of the kissing ball and those moments in the barn when she worried she would never see him again flooded her mind, and she clung tighter to him.
He pulled back and grinned down at her. “Now that I have your focus where it should be…” He paused.
Her focus? For all the thoughts swirling in her brain, she had a brief moment of clarity. Her mouth formed an O and she nodded. “Oh, you want my hand.”
He grinned wickedly. “I want all of you, but for this conversation, your hand is all I require.” He rested his brow against hers. “When I kissed you under the kissing ball, I knew then that I never wanted anyone else. Only you would do. And then when I thought I had lost you—thought I was too late, I realized how fast everything can change. I don’t want to have to wait—even for the banns—to make you mine.”
She tipped her head back, a smile hovering on her lips. How could it be that this man wanted her? “Does that mean you have a special license in your pocket, Aaron? If not, I fear you will need to go at least several days before making me your wife.”
He grunted. “No. But as you saw on the sofa earlier, I am a planner. I just have not settled on which plan to go with, just yet. I thought perhaps you could help me with that.”
She ran her thumb along his bottom lip, and he let out a quiet sort of whimper. It was practically sinful that he should look as he did and have perfect lips as well.
“You are not going to make the next few days easy on me, are you mon amour?”
She shivered in his arms at his new name for her. “What are the options, my lord?”
He scowled when she pulled her thumb away. “I either have to wait three weeks for the banns to make you mine—which I have already told you I do not wish to do—or dash to London and arrange for an audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Either option does require me to wait.” He scowled. “I do not like to wait.”
Gabby tapped her lip and his eyes watched every move. “It would seem the second plan is best, as we are to leave for London in the morning.”
His eyes twinkled. “Ah, so we are.”
She grinned. “We?”
He guffawed. “If you think I am letting you out of my sight, you are quite mad. I will be returning to London tomorrow, as well. I am certain my mother would be more than happy to act as chaperone on our trip back.” He gently intertwined his fingers on her back. “But I am being selfish, again. I have only told you what I want.” He kissed the tip
of her nose. “If you should wish to wait for the banns to be posted, I shall do my best to be patient.”
“My only wish is to be with you…always. I confess,” her face warmed at what she was about to admit, “when I was playing with your hair earlier, all I could think about was how I could not bear to be away from you when we left tomorrow.”
“I know the feeling.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “When I didn’t know where you were last night, I thought it was the longest hours of my life. But somehow, I think the time between now and when we can be married, will feel far longer than even that.” He released her fingers from his but captured her hand and pressed it over his heart. “Because in here, you are already mine forever and always.”
Epilogue
Gabby sat in a chair along the wall of Lord Huntington’s ballroom. This was the first ball of the Season. Thus far, she had not been shunned by the Ton as she had feared. But she had not been all the rage, either. Several men had asked her to dance and there had been a fair amount of sets that she had sat out.
She was not sure if her marriage or her heritage were the cause, but she did not care which was the culprit. She had what she wanted. All of this…she glanced around her at the glittering candlelight and fine gowns before her. All of this was just a façade. An image that was not wholly real.
A hand dropped onto her shoulder and squeezed gently. “How are you enjoying the ball, mon amour?”
Gabby shivered under Aaron’s touch and at his words. He had called her his love for weeks now, but still it thrilled her to her bones. “It is lovely.”
He grasped her hand and pulled her stand beside him. “That was not an answer to my question.”
Gabby shrugged. “I am enjoying myself.”
Aaron tilted his head to the side. “But…”
She sighed. “But I should far prefer to be at home with you.”
“Then let us be on our way. I shall inform my mother and call for the carriage while you fetch your wrap.” He pulled her along, but with such a gentleness she could only smile at his back.
As they stepped into the entryway, she pulled him to a stop and he turned to face her. “It will be intolerably rude to leave early, will it not?”
He shook his head. “Not if you are feeling ill.” He placed his gloved hand to her forehead. “My dear, you feel warm. Are you feeling ill?” His voice raised in volume.
“Dreadfully.” She grinned at him.
“It is just as I suspected, we must return home.” He kept his voice raised for the benefit of those around them but leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Mon amour, you might wish to stop smiling, it will give our ruse away.” He motioned to a nearby footman and asked for the carriage and Gabby’s wrap to be fetched.
Gabby pursed her lips closed and tried to look ill. How did one look ill when they really were not? She placed her fingertips to her temple.
“Nice touch, my dear. If I did not know better, I should think you truly were ill.” Aaron placed a quick kiss in her hair. “We will be on our way soon.” He continued to play his part.
Eleanor stepped from a nearby hallway. She pushed at her hair and looked around the entryway.
Gabby raised a hand and offered a small wave, just as their gazes connected.
Eleanor changed directions and came to stand beside them. “What is it? Why do you look as if you are waiting for your carriage?”
Gabby swallowed, hating lying to her friend. “I am…”
“She is not feeling well. I am taking her home to rest.” It seemed Aaron had no such qualms about lying to Eleanor.
Eleanor’s face creased with worry. “You have not caught a cold, have you?”
Gabby shook her head. “I believe it is merely a headache. I will be well after some rest.”
Eleanor eyed her and then Aaron, who looked altogether too happy to be leaving. “You are certain you will be well?” She asked again.
Gabby nodded. “Yes, Eleanor. Why do you not come for tea tomorrow and you may see for yourself?”
Eleanor smiled and patted Gabby on the hand. “I should love to join you.” She glanced at Aaron and then back to Gabby. “Have a wonderful, quiet time at home.”
Gabby grinned and Aaron whispered a reminder. “Looking much too happy.”
“Run along now. I am certain your carriage has arrived.” Eleanor shifted more toward Aaron. “And do not worry. I shall inform your mother. Hugh and I will bring her home with us.”
“Thank you, Eleanor.” He took the wrap from the footman standing at his arm and placed it over Gabby’s shoulders. He glanced back at Eleanor but spoke to Gabby. “You see, I told you she was not such a grump.”
At Eleanor’s intake of breath, Aaron chuckled and wrapped his arm around Gabby’s waist, supporting her as one might a fake ailing wife. “Come, dearest. Let us get you home.” He winked at down her.
“And you think it is my smiles that will ruin our charade?” She tsked as they made their way out the front doors and to their waiting carriage.
Just over an hour later, Aaron stretched out on the couch, his cravat discarded and his tailcoat draped over the back of a chair. The library was quiet. Too quiet. What was taking Gabby so long to join him?
The door opened almost soundlessly. Only the swishing of Gabby’s skirts alerted him to her presence. “I was beginning to think perhaps you were ill and had gone to bed.”
“I would have to be very ill, indeed, to stay away from our time in the library.” She approached the couch and Aaron sat up.
Gabby reached for the book on the side table and sat down, drawing Aaron’s head onto her lap. She opened the book to the marked page and held it in one hand as she began to read in French.
Aaron sighed as her other fingers lightly caressed one cheek and then the other. She moved to his nose and up his brow before splaying her fingers out into his hair. “Ah, why do we even bother to leave the house, when this is so much more enjoyable?”
Gabby’s voice wobbled slightly as she smiled. “We cannot stay in every night, my love. People will whisper.”
Aaron closed his eyes and pulled her hand from his face. Intertwining their fingers, he rested their hands on his chest. “Let them whisper, mon amour. Yours is the only voice I wish to hear.”
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you love this story as much as I do.
When I wrote Unmasking Lady Caroline, I knew that I wanted Gabby to have her own story. She was such a unique character and I loved her. I was excited I was able to find a man that was perfect for her, even if they did not think so in the beginning.
As a note on the setting of the Frost Fair. This was an actual event that took place in late January and early February of 1814. But for the sake of the story I moved the event forward a month. However, the descriptions of the fair are accurate.
You can stay up to date on all of my author happenings by signing up for my newsletter.
Be sure to check out my other stories:
Unlikely Match Series:
An American in Duke’s Clothing
The Baron’s Rose
A Princess for the Gentleman
Regency House Party Series
Mistaken Identity
Miss Marleigh’s Pirate Lord
Scoundrel’s Rake and Rogues Series
Reforming the Gambler
Rake on the Run
The Belles of Christmas Series
Unmasking Lady Caroline
Contemporary Romances
Top Flight Series
Bear: A Fighter Pilot Romance
Mustang: A Fighter Pilot Romance
Happy reading!
Mindy
Acknowledgments
To Jenny Proctor, my fabulous editor who helps me with my comma addiction and gives great insight when I have used all of mine up.
For my great Regency critique peeps: Dickens, Heyer, Bronte and Austen, Esther and Anneka! You guys are amazing and o
nly make me want to be better. I’m grateful to call you my friends!
To my beta readers and proof-readers: Kim Ball and Patti Knowlton, Kendra, Michelle, Camille, Maria, Marilee, and Stacey—many thanks for all your help. I truly could not do this without all of you!
To my great ARC team. Thank you for all you do to help me be successful! You guys are the best!
And last and most importantly, for my boys. You guys are why I do this. Thanks for being patient when you want me to do other things besides write. I couldn’t do this without your support! LY
About the Author
Mindy loves all things history and romance, which makes reading and writing romance right up her alley. Since she was a little girl, playing in her closet “elevator,” she has always had stories running through her mind as she visited exotic places.
But it wasn’t until she was well into adulthood, that she realized she could write those stories down. Now they occupy her dreams and most every quiet moment she has-she often washes her hair two or three times because she wasn't paying attention when she did it the first time. Which usually means really clean hair and a fixed plot hole.
When she isn’t living in her alternate realities, she is married to her real-life Mr. Darcy and trying to raise five proper boys. They live happily in the beautiful mountains of Utah.
Stay up to date on any upcoming releases by signing up for her newsletter.
Also by Mindy Burbidge Strunk
Unlikely Match Series:
An American in Duke’s Clothing
The Baron’s Rose
A Princess for the Gentleman
Regency House Party Series
Mistaken Identity
Miss Marleigh’s Pirate Lord
Thawing the Viscount's Heart: A Christmas Regency Romance (Belles of Christmas: Frost Fair Book 3) Page 19