by Adele Clee
The butler inclined his head. “Lord Trevane is in the drawing room should you wish to join him.”
“Thank you, Bamfield.” The butler opened his mouth to speak, but Christian tapped him on the upper arm. “Get yourself off to bed. It’s been a long day, and I shall retire shortly.”
“But, my lord, you have—”
“Don’t fret, Bamfield. I shall snuff out the candles.” Christian strode into the drawing room to find Vane, minus his boots and cravat, sprawled out on the chaise. Something troubled his friend, but Christian was so absorbed with his own problems he’d not had a chance to broach the subject.
“I’m awake, Farleigh,” Vane said as Christian crept closer to the chaise. “Fetch a glass and have a drink with me.” Vane sat up and dragged his hand through his hair. “There’s enough left in the decanter.”
Christian poured them both a brandy, handed Vane a glass and then dropped into the seat opposite.
Vane took a swig. “I believe congratulations are in order.”
“Congratulations? Are you referring to my problems at Everleigh?” Christian frowned. His note made no mention of the doctor, only that he was meeting Peel.
“I am referring to your upcoming nuptials.”
“Do you know something I don’t?” While he had every intention of asking Rose to marry him, the words had not yet left his lips.
Vane gave a devilish grin. “Your lady love is upstairs and has been waiting for hours.”
Christian’s heart skipped a beat. “Rose is here?”
“Indeed. Lord and Lady Dovecot were passing as she entered, and I gave them a little wave. As my reputation is not without blemish, if you don’t marry her I’ll have to.” Vane swallowed a mouthful of brandy. “I don’t suppose it would be a hardship. The lady is rather unconventional, just the sort of wife a man in my position might find appealing.”
Christian raised a challenging brow. “Be thankful you’re my friend else you’d be on your arse for that comment.”
“Be thankful you’re my friend else I’d have pressed the lady for a little more than a smile.” Vane sat forward. “Rest assured, Farleigh, your love has spent the evening with my sister, your over-friendly housekeeper, and those bundles of noise you call children.”
“Is Rose with Lillian now?” The urge to dash upstairs proved overwhelming.
Vane shrugged. “Everything went quiet almost an hour ago,” he stared at the amber liquid in the glass, “although that might be down to the brandy numbing my brain.”
Christian considered his friend. The man was punishing himself for something. It could only be his failure to protect his sister.
“What happened to Lillian, it wasn’t your fault, Vane.”
Vane shot out of his seat. “Damn right it was. I might have fought the war, but Lillian bears the battle scars.” He dragged his hand down his face. “I seem to have a knack for ruining the only women I’ve ever cared about.”
Women? Despite his many encounters, Vane could mean only one other person.
“You’re not to blame for Miss Darcy’s fate, either.”
At the mere mention of her name, Vane sucked in a breath. A darkness passed behind his bright blue eyes. Whether it was pain or a warning to tread carefully, Christian didn’t know.
Vane turned his back and strode over to the decanters on the side table. “Why are you wasting your time here with me, when the answer to all your prayers is waiting for you upstairs?”
Christian sensed his friend retreating. The barriers were up. Not even a horde of vicious Vikings could break their way through.
“Will you be all right here alone?”
Vane cast him a sidelong glance. “Alone is the safest place to be.”
After the horrific events of the day and the years spent worrying about his troubles, Christian had no desire to sit and wallow in Vane’s misery. “Then I shall bid you goodnight.”
Vane raised his glass in a toast. “For what it’s worth, I’m pleased everything has worked out well for you.”
Christian inclined his head and slipped quietly out into the hall. It took every effort not to charge up the stairs. But what was the hurry? He had the rest of his life to love Rose.
After checking the only available rooms and finding them empty, a sense of panic took hold. He checked his bedchamber, hoping to find Rose sprawled naked in his bed, but no. And so he opened the door to the children’s room and peered inside.
The sight stole his breath.
Drawn by the beauty of the scene, he stepped into the room. Rose was curled up on Alice’s bed, her arm draped over both children as they lay huddled beside her. In sleep, they looked content. Their soft, peaceful breathing warmed his heart, and he simply stood there staring for the longest time.
The light patter of footsteps behind forced him to glance over his shoulder.
Mrs Hibbet entered the room. “Now there’s a sight to behold, my lord,” she whispered. “Happen I was right. The Lord sent us an angel.”
Christian struggled to contain the sudden surge of emotion. “You’re always right, Mrs Hibbet.”
“Not always. Dr Taylor had me good and proper. And to think I drank his potions.”
Guilt flared for his failure to spot the signs, but he pushed it aside. The past mattered not. “Let’s not think about the doctor anymore. The man has taken up enough of our time.”
Mrs Hibbet nodded. “Well, I best move Jacob into his bed else he’ll have a crick in his neck come the morning.”
“I’ll wake Rose.” Christian moved to the side of the bed. “Rose.” He placed a hand on her arm and shook her gently. “Rose.”
Her lids fluttered open. She blinked numerous times and then her eyes met his. “Christian, when did you get home?”
“Half an hour ago.”
“Is everything all right?” She sat up and eased herself off the bed, trying not to wake the children.
Christian caught her by the elbow when she nearly tumbled. “Everything is fine. But there are things we need to discuss. I’m afraid they cannot wait until the morning.”
“Oh, I see.” Her tone held a nervous edge. She glanced at the bed. “Let me settle the children, and I shall join you in a moment.”
Mrs Hibbet came forward. “I’ll see to things up here. You go off now.” The housekeeper ushered them out of the door and closed it behind them.
“Come.” Christian grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her along the corridor. As they passed his bedchamber, he took a quick peek over his shoulder before opening the door and dragging her inside. He kicked the door shut.
“Christian,” she gasped.
“This isn’t the time for talking, Rose.” He crushed his mouth to hers, delving into its warm depths in the hope of satisfying the clawing need within.
Passion burned instantly, soon reaching the point of no return.
With frantic hands, they stripped each other naked, sank to the floor despite there being an over-sized bed a mere foot away.
He wanted to pleasure her until dawn, but the urgency to claim her body took hold. “Rose, I imagined this would be a slow, languorous affair where I would … good God.”
Rose wrapped her thighs tightly around him and grabbed his bare buttocks. “Don’t wait, Christian.”
She didn’t need to tell him twice. He entered her in one long fluid movement. The muscles in her core gripped him like a glove. Everything about this woman felt right.
“I’m afraid I couldn’t wait even if I wanted to. Love, I’ve waited for you my whole damn life.” They were one now, and nothing or no one would ever change that.
“I’m yours, Christian. I always will be.”
His heart swelled, which was a feat considering every drop of blood in his body filled his cock.
“I love you, Rose.” He loved the way she looked at him with desire swimming in her eyes, the way she welcomed him into her body, made all his cares slip away. He loved the way she cared for his children, how she gave everythin
g of herself and expected nothing in return.
A whimper escaped from her lips as he thrust hard and deep. “I-I have loved you from … from the moment you wiped ash off my chin.”
He rose above her, and she looked up at him, love and lust evident in her eyes.
“Marry me.”
A smile touched her lips, one that turned into a sweet moan when he pushed inside her. “Yes,” was all she managed to say.
Christian withdrew slightly. “Then we’ll leave for Scotland tomorrow?”
She raised her hips and took him deeper into her core. “Yes.”
While he wanted to race to the rooftops and share his good fortune with the world, he focused his efforts on pleasing the woman clutching him tightly and panting his name.
She writhed beneath him, arched her back and pressed her breasts against his chest. And then she was shaking. Her body clenched around him, drawing his release from him in powerful jerks and shudders.
Their breathless pants filled the air. Beads of sweat trickled down the line of his back, and he collapsed at her side, exhausted.
“Do you know the first thing I’m going to do when I get you back to Everleigh?”
Rose threw her arm across his chest and smiled seductively. “Has it anything to do with the rug in the study?”
“No. There’ll be no more rushing to the denouement, no more uncomfortable places. I intend to spend many hours worshipping you in a plush bed.”
“Oh, I rather like frolicking in the study. I like the spontaneity of it all. And the fear of getting caught adds to the excitement.”
“There’s nothing to stop us fitting in a few study sessions in between.”
“Or a few midnight strolls in the woods.”
Christian waited for the frisson of fear to strike, but it didn’t come. When he thought of the woods, he imagined chasing Rose, pressing her up against a tree and claiming her mouth in a wild and passionate frenzy.
“So what is the first thing you intend to do with me?” Rose asked.
“I intend to teach you to swim.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll not risk losing you again.”
Rose chuckled. “Am I to learn to swim with or without clothes?”
He stroked her back, cupped one soft buttock and squeezed. “With clothes until you’ve mastered the art, without when you want to take me to the lake to work on your strokes.”
A satisfied sigh left her lips. “I’m so happy, Christian, I could burst.”
Christian pulled her on top of him and kissed her tenderly on the lips. The feel of her warm body against his sparked his desire. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted, the angel I dreamed would one day come and save me.”
“An angel? Am I not the damsel who came to save the knight?”
“Love, a damsel is a naive maiden. After all we’ve shared, I’d hardly call you innocent.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. “But you’re right. You saved me from myself. From a miserable, lonely existence and so you may claim your reward.”
“Then I claim you, Christian Knight, as my husband, lover and friend.”
Christian pressed his growing erection against her stomach. “I shall be forever your servant, my lady, and am ready to do your bidding.”
Rose chuckled. “Good, you can start by sweeping the grate.”
Scotland proved to be the perfect place for a wedding. Not only did it give them the opportunity to put the events in the apothecaries’ garden behind them, but Christian refused to marry in Abberton while Reverend Wilmslow remained there. And, of course, the children thought of it as an exciting adventure.
Even so, when the gates of Everleigh came into view, they all sighed with relief.
Rose clutched his arm. “Oh, it’s so good to be home.”
“I hope Foster’s kept the staff working hard in my absence,” Mrs Hibbet said.
Rose shrugged. “I don’t care if the house is in chaos, with a full complement of staff we’ll soon have everything right again.”
“When are our swimming lessons starting, Papa?” It was the fifth time Alice had asked in the last hour.
“If it’s dry tomorrow, we can take a picnic to the lake.” He glanced at Jacob and raised a brow. “We’ll look for a spot where you can both touch the bed.”
“The bed?” Alice screwed up her nose. “Fish don’t sleep.”
“They do,” Jacob protested. “But they keep their eyes open.”
Rose turned to Christian. “I think you need to hire a governess posthaste.”
Having received the news that their master had married, the servants lined up to greet Rose as mistress of Everleigh. She accompanied Mrs Hibbet on her inspection of the house while Christian settled in the study and sifted through his correspondence. One particular letter caught his attention, and after breaking the seal and scanning the missive, he sent for Rose.
“I’ve received a letter from Vane.”
Rose narrowed her gaze. “Judging by your solemn tone, I assume it’s not good news.”
Christian shook his head. “Lillian is missing.”
“Missing!”
“Vane wants to know if she said anything to you when you met her at the house in Berkeley Square.”
“No.” Rose put her hand on her chest. “She asked a few questions, vaguely touched upon her ruined reputation. Perhaps she went to stay with a friend or other relative. While it’s clear her brother cares for her, his need to protect her must be suffocating.”
Guilt drove Vane to behave as he did. “I’ll ride to London tomorrow and see if there’s anything I can do.”
Rose gave a weak smile. “Of course.”
He handed Rose the letter. She scanned the first few lines and looked up. “But this is dated ten days ago. There’s every chance he’s found her.”
Christian rifled through the rest of the letters littering his desk before finding another written in Vane’s flamboyant script. He tore it open. “This one’s dated a week ago.” The first few words calmed his racing heart. “It’s all right. He knows where she is.”
“Oh, thank heavens. Now I’ve got you all to myself, I can’t bear the thought of you leaving.”
Christian offered a devilish grin. “When I’m done with these perhaps you should come here and sit on the desk, let me admire those new stockings that cost a small fortune.” The letter in his hand shook as he imagined a rather erotic scene. The next few lines wiped the smile off his face.
Christian swallowed as he absorbed the words on the page. “Good Lord!” He fell back in the chair, dragged his hand down his face and reread it.
“What is it?” Rose stepped closer to the desk.
“Surely not?”
“Christian?”
“Sorry. Vane knows where Lillian is because she’s been kidnapped.”
“Kidnapped? By whom?”
Christian read it once more, just to be certain. “By a blasted pirate.”
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Coming soon!
The Scandalous Lady Sandford
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When a lady discovers stars shine in the blackest sky.
Books by Adele Clee
To Save a Sinner
A Curse of the Heart
What Every Lord Wants
The Secret To Your Surrender
A Simple Case of Seduction
Anything for Love Series
What You Desire
What You Propose
What You Deserve
What You Promised
The Brotherhood Series
Lost to the Night
Slave to the Night
Abandoned to the Night
Lured to the Night
Lost Ladies of London
The Mysterious Miss Flint
The Deceptive Lady Darby
The Scandalous Lady Sandford