“Have you, my lord.” Smiling mistily, she stroked a finger along his jaw.
“Didn’t my following you to Cornwall give you some clue?” he asked with a grin.
“I didn’t dare hope, Edward, because I loved you so very much. I hardly dared admit to myself that I had feelings for you.” Her eyes grew shadowed. “I focused on carrying out my plan. To help my stepfather, but also for you to be proud of me.”
“I was so proud of you, facing up to Leighton,” Edward said. “You would have beaten him, too, if he hadn’t cheated.”
“Horrible man.”
“He’s dead. Isherwood shot him in a duel.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” Her eyes grew bleak. “But I couldn’t help my family,” she said. “And I had hoped to improve things, especially for my mother.”
“I know, my love.” He cradled her in his arms, drawing in her flowery scent, needing to make everything right for her. Now and forever.
Her parted lips and the radiant glow of her eyes filled him with the need to draw closer, to make her his own. All around them, the rain teemed down, splashing onto the floor of the gazebo and over his boots and wetting the hem of her dress. As they kissed and murmured to each other, it was as if they were in a world of their own. He didn’t want to return to her aunt and the distractions there. He wanted to make love to her on this timber floor, but took himself to task. “You’ll catch cold,” he said huskily. “Shall we run for the house?”
She placed a hand on his chest. “Not yet. I am not so fragile. I like it here. I want you to kiss me again.”
“Happy to oblige.” His words were smothered against her lips as he reclaimed them. He crushed her against him, kissing her until he was afraid he couldn’t stop. His heart pounding, he went down on one knee before her. “Marry me, Honor. I cannot offer you a title. I have a small farm in Surrey and an income which will keep us comfortable, but that is all.”
She knelt beside him and took his face in her hands. “It is entirely enough, my love, for all I want is you.”
As they kissed, they almost toppled onto the floor. Laughing softly, Edward pulled her to her feet and drew her into his embrace. He stroked her soft hair as her head nestled against his chest. “Darling Honor, we have wasted enough time. I want you so much.”
He kissed her again, his hands roaming from her waist to cup her breasts, his breath quickening as his need for her increased to fever pitch. “The rain has eased,” he said, his voice gruff with desire. “Shall we go inside?” He feared his hunger for her would frighten her and make her recall the horror of her past.
Honor’s brown eyes clouded. “In a moment. I need to tell you about something that happened to me, some years ago. It was during my first Season.”
“My mother told me what little she knew. She expressed her sympathy and a desire to see you happy, preferably with me.”
Honor’s eyes brightened. “She did?”
“But I don’t need to know the whole, if you don’t wish it, darling.”
“I want no secrets between us, Edward.”
He nodded. “I want that too.”
“Richard Gorham, Stenhouse’s heir, led me to believe he wished to marry me. Foolish young woman that I was, I believed him. I trusted him when he took me into the garden at a ball.” Her voice grew hushed. “But he had no such intention. He wished only to add me to his list of conquests.”
“I wish I’d been there,” Edward said as his mind filled with bloody thoughts.
“He ripped my gown, and…handled me appallingly. He exposed himself to me.”
“A wicked, perverted man,” Edward said, resisting the use of far stronger and more apt expletives.
“Richard pushed me down onto the grass, and he crushed me beneath him,” Honor continued, her voice trembling. “I can barely speak of it.”
“Did he ravage you, my darling?” Edward asked gently.
“He certainly would have, had I not brought up my knee as hard as I could. I’m afraid he rolled around a bit, horribly discomforted.”
Edward tamped down the urge to throw back his head and laugh with relief. “My Lord, you’re a wonderful woman, Honor,” he said huskily.
“My stepfather and Richard’s father went to a great deal of trouble to hush up the episode. Then Richard joined the army. But whether Richard spoke of it, or someone else did, the matter became common knowledge amongst the ton. There was some talk that I’d deserved it. And for a while, I believed that to be true. The unfairness and shame made me never want to venture into society again. That’s when I began to wear my glasses. I don’t need them, you know. I refused another Season. I have also refused any attempts my stepfather has made to find me a husband.”
“Oh, Honor.” Edward hugged her to him, filled with regret for what she’d been through. “A young, innocent girl leading on a practiced rake?” He stroked her hair. “Of course you didn’t encourage him. I have heard what a scoundrel he was. You were so brave, my darling.”
She drew back and searched his eyes. “You aren’t shocked?”
“I’m relieved you weren’t badly hurt. Some members of the ton can be cruel, but most will wish us well.” He dropped a light kiss on her lips, wondering how soon they could marry. Something occurred to him. “We must make plans,” he said briskly. “Gretna Green isn’t far from here. Shall we?”
She smiled. “Oh yes, my love.”
“Let’s tell your aunt.”
“Aunt Christabel will be relieved to see the back of me,” Honor said with a laugh.
“I don’t believe it.” He smiled. “How can that be, when I want to spend every minute of my life with you?”
“Aunt wants only to be left in peace to read her books.”
They hurried along the path as another deluge threatened.
He chuckled. “I must say that she does seem to enjoy them.”
“I intend to read one. I feel I’m missing out on something.”
On the porch, he pulled her around and into his arms. “You won’t have time for it, sweetheart. I shall supply all the romance you need. And I suspect,” he said with a laugh, “that you shall supply the adventure.”
Epilogue
Surrey, two months later
“Don’t shake water over me, Ruby.” Honor scolded the dog, which had been swimming in the lake with the ducks. Their faithful red setter remained at her side as she walked back to the house from the home farm. She’d been throwing scraps to the geese and ducks. An unnecessary task, but one she enjoyed. She had come to realize that she was not cast in the mold of a lady, but Edward did not seem to mind. He even encouraged her. Their cook had grown used to Honor taking over the kitchen to prepare him a special meal.
The shingle roof of their neat manor house, which was painted a soft cream with blue shutters, appeared through the leafy elm trees. A gnarled old rosebush heavy with pale blooms grew around the front door, attracting bees. Reaching the porch, she pulled off her hat. Edward was away in London sitting his bar exams.
Rose opened the door. “Master has just returned, my lady. He’s upstairs in your bedroom.”
“Oh! He is?” Honor ran upstairs and burst through the door. “Edward!”
He was at the bureau and swung around. With two strides, he caught her up in his arms. “My love. How I’ve missed you.” He kissed her soundly. His tongue sent shivers of desire through her as his hands on her derriere drew her closer. “Come to bed,” he whispered moments later.
She giggled, used to his demands, which suited her very well. “Oh! You are shameful, sir. In broad daylight.”
“It is your fault, my lady. You are too fetching by half.” He hefted her in his arms and carried her to the four-poster bed.
He scattered pins and threaded his fingers through her hair.
“What if Rose comes in?” Her eager response matched his, her breath shortening in anticipation.
Edward raised a lock of her hair to his nose. “Darling, you smell so sweet. I want to taste
you.” He gave a wicked smile. “I believe I shall.”
Her nether regions heated at the bright flare of desire in his eyes. “Lock the door.”
He rolled off the bed. “Rose is well schooled. She has learned when not to knock,” he murmured, joining her again.
Honor gasped and tried to sit up. “I forgot! The vicar is calling this afternoon.”
He pushed her gently down. His green eyes grew heavy with intent as he undid her buttons. “Then we shall be quick.”
She loved when he looked at her like that. When he grew so intense, her desire for him burgeoned, with a needy throb low in her belly. He was so adept at undressing her; she lay naked within minutes, and supported her head with her hand to watch him strip away his clothing. He was so handsome—his finely muscled body, his broad chest sprinkled with dark hair arrowing down to where his ardor was most evident. “You are beautiful, my lord,” she whispered, her voice low with want.
“Nonsense.” He tossed his trousers on the chair and came to kiss her, his hands cupping her breasts and thumbing her nipples into tight, needy peaks. “You are beautiful.”
He bent his head to her breasts, stroking each areola with his tongue, while she grasped his black hair and mewed at the pleasure of it. When his adept fingers found her core and circled the hard nub, Honor moaned and was lost to desire.
****
Honor was chatting to the vicar in the parlor. From his study, Edward heard her accept his invitation to arrange the flowers in the church every Sunday. He frowned. That meant the end to their delicious Sunday morning lie-ins. He didn’t want to share her with anyone—an entirely unreasonable way to behave, he knew.
Sibella laughed at him and accused him of being a possessive husband. She and John were now the parents of a delightful little boy, Auberon William John Haldane. The birth had gone well, and the baby’s grandmother was besotted, but not so distracted that she gave up on Edward. She more than hinted it was time he and Honor gave her grandchildren. He was pleased to gratify her wish, for Honor would make a splendid mother. But he hoped not yet.
Honor entered his study with two letters in her hand. “The vicar has just left. I promised to help with the fete.”
“Did you?” He swung her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck below her ear. Violets. She was like a flower herself; nurtured and loved, she had blossomed into a true beauty. His wife made little attempt to escape him, instead planting a quick kiss on his lips.
“The vicar would not approve of such behavior,” she said with mock severity.
“A pity. It might remove his sour expression.”
“A note from Faith, no doubt filled with her experiences in London.” She opened the letter and scanned it. “She is having a wonderful time.”
“Is she in love?” Edward undid another button on her bodice. His hand cupped her soft breast and thoughts of work flew from his mind. He could never get enough of his sweet wife.
“Not yet. I think she’s enjoying the attention of a number of beaus.”
“Good. She’s keeping a cool head and will know when the right one comes along.”
“Now, who is this from?” Honor said, examining the missive. “It’s addressed to me.” Edward cursed when she jumped off his lap. He crossed his legs and winced.
Honor seized his letter opener, sliced the papers, and unfolded them.
Her eyes widened. “My goodness!”
“What is it?” Edward leapt up, alarmed at her unhappy expression.
“It’s from a Mr. Robert Leighton.” Her eyes flooded with tears. “He is the son of Alberic Leighton.”
“Oh?” Edward stood close to her, his arm around her waist. “What does he say?”
“He finds he cannot live with the shame of his father’s fraudulent activities. He has gifted a part of his father’s inheritance to me.” She gazed up, her eyes wide as she handed him the letter.
“A very generous amount, I see. Decent of the fellow.” Edward tossed the letter onto his desk. He turned her shoulders to face him and searched her eyes. “That is good, my love, isn’t it? It puts the matter to rest.” At the distress on her face, he gathered her into his arms, tilted her chin, and kissed away the tears on her cheeks.
“I suppose that it does.” Honor dabbed at her eyes with his proffered handkerchief and sniffed. “Not all men are horrible; you showed me that, my love. Quite the opposite, in fact.” She reached up and brought his face down to hers, pressing her lips to his.
“I must write to my stepfather. He may have use of some of this money.”
“Baxendale came to my office. He seems a changed man. Quite cheerful, in fact. The contacts Chaloner sent him went in some way to help him. Sir Robert Pickering has bought half your stepfather’s railway shares at a good price, and he has been able to clear his debts.”
“Oh, that is good news.” She bent and scooped up the grey cat, Misty, who was coiling itself around her legs, and walked to the door.
“And where are you off to? Come back here, my lady,” Edward called after her.
Her hand on the doorknob, Honor laughed and shook her head. “I am going to the kitchen; I plan to make a pie.”
“Only if it’s steak and kidney.”
“Then you shall have your wish, sir.”
She grinned and escaped from the room.
The End
MAGGI ANDERSEN
Maggi Andersen lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She wrote her first book at the age of eight, an adventure story. Maggi still writes adventure stories, but they are now sensual romances. An Amazon bestselling author, Maggi writes in several genres, contemporary and historical romance and young adult novels.
Maggi loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website: www.maggiandersenauthor.com
Coming in 2015
LADY FAITH TAKES A LEAP
Book 2 in the Baxendale Sisters Series
Lady Honor's Debt Page 11