Inconvenient Affair
Page 26
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” she said, testily.
“No, of course you don’t,” he said, his eyes brimming with mirth. “You don’t know. Your brother has taken Evadne away from me.”
This time, Thea’s eyes grew wide. “He has? But—oh, Jeremy, I’m sorry! Does it hurt so?”
“No, don’t be ridiculous.”
“But you love her.”
“My dear, sweet, silly Thea.” He took her face in his hands and bent to give her a brief, gentle kiss. “After last night, you can say such a thing?”
She stared at him in confusion, “But—this afternoon, before the duel, you wouldn’t even look at me.”
“Because I was afraid I’d start kissing you and never stop. Darling, haven’t you realized I haven’t wanted Evadne for a very long time? Now I’m free.” He bent to kiss her again. “To marry you.”
“M-marry!” She pulled back, wincing. “Jeremy, there’s something I must tell you.”
“About the baby? I already know.”
She pulled her head back and stared at him. “But how-?”
“The doctor told me. Scolded me for not taking care of you, too. Which I intend to do. Someday you’ll have to explain why you weren’t going to give me the chance.”
She shifted again, not meeting his eyes. “I wanted to tell you. ‘Tis why I came to Moulton. But then I thought you really wanted to marry Evadne, and I couldn’t.”
“So you were just going to leave?”
“Yes.” She kept her eyes closed. “I thought I’d go to the continent where no one knew me.”
Jeremy didn’t speak for a moment. “I should be angry with you for that, though it’s not a bad idea.”
She opened her eyes. “It isn’t?”
“No. By the time we come home, no one will realize when the child was born.”
“We?”
“Yes. You’ll marry me, of course.” He stroked her fingers. “You thought you couldn’t have children.”
A smile curved her lips. “I was wrong, apparently. Are you very angry?”
“About the baby? Good God, no. I’ve always wanted another child.”
Thea’s eyes flew open. “Are you marrying me for the baby?”
“No.”
“For my money, then.”
Jeremy laughed again. “Dear, silly girl. Never. I want you for myself.”
Thea’s eyes widened. “You do?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” Jeremy’s face grew tender and grave as he shifted from the chair to the bed, bracing himself with his hands on either side of her. “Darling, I know you had a hard time of it with Jameson, and I know you never wanted to marry again. But, do you think you might want to try it with me? Our child should have a father. And I promise you, I’ll treat you well, I’ll take care of you. I promise I won’t be like Jameson.”
“Of course not, you’re nothing like him.” She searched his face. “You’re certain about this?”
“Of course I am. I want you at Moulton, with Gillian and me.”
“Oh, Gillian! Is she all right? She was so scared.”
“She’s fine. Well, Thea?” He leaned closer. “What do you think?”
Thea’s eyes shifted away. To hear him say these things now was unutterably sweet, but he had yet to say the one thing that mattered. “I—don’t know.”
“Thea, don’t turn away from me.” His fingers under her chin turned her to face him. “Don’t shut me out. My God, Thea, when I saw you go down, I thought you were dead, I thought I’d lost you. And I couldn’t bear the thought of living without you. Don’t leave me now.”
Thea gazed at him in wonder, and her fingers reached up to touch his hair. “Jeremy. I love you.”
Jeremy raised his head and looked deeply into her eyes, his own eyes glowing with joy. “I love you. Will you marry me?”
“Do you know, I think I will?” She tilted her face to look at him. “But, mind you, only because of the baby.”
“Gammon,” Jeremy said, but he was grinning. Quite without warning he swooped down and caught her up in his arms, cradling her gently against him, being careful of her shoulder. “My love,” he said, his voice husky, “I should have known. It was you, all along.”
“Well, of course.” She smiled up at him. “Now, are you ever going to kiss me?”
Jeremy’s eyes gleamed. “Of course.” And, bending down, he did just that.
Mary Kingsley is the author of Regency and historical romances, including the RITA nominated The Rake’s Reward, and the Regency novella “The Runaway Duchess,” winner of the New Jersey Romance Writers’ Golden Leaf Award. As Mary Kruger she is also the author of the Gilded Age mystery series, and two knitting mysteries.
Mary has, alas, never danced with a dashing duke or flirted with a rake, but she hopes that you, the reader, can have those experiences through her books. A librarian, she lives in Massachusetts with her daughter. She enjoys reading, crafts, walking, and, of course, chocolate. She is currently at work on her next book.
Please email Mary at marykruger@verizon.net
Books by Mary Kingsley
Sabrina
An Unsuitable Wife
(originally published as A Gentleman’s Desire)
The Rake’s Reward
A Summer Folly
An Inconvenient Affair
Scandal’s Lady
In a Pirate’s Arms
Masquerade
Beyond the Sea
An Angel’s Wish
Marrying Miss Bumblebroth
The Reluctant Hero
Gifts of the Heart
The Crystal Heart
Books by Mary Kruger
The Gilded Age Mystery Series
Death on the Cliff Walk
No Honeymoon for Death
Masterpiece of Murder
The Knitting Mysteries
Died in the Wool
Knit Fast, Die Young