A Sinful Temptation
Page 31
“You could face severe consequences.”
Lady Franklyn laughed, showing the determined and carefree woman she’d once been, but in a flash it disappeared and the Duchess of Franklyn returned. “I am the wife of the Duke of Franklyn, Mr. Bowen. He will not allow anything to happen to me. Besides, as far as the constable knows, I was in peril, fighting for my life and virtue. What else could I have done?” She shrugged and stood and Marcus joined her. “I will be just fine, have no concerns on that account.”
“Either way, your debt to me is paid in full.” She smiled and patted his arm then crossed the room to leave. Before she reached the door, however, another thought entered his mind. “Was gifting me Northill your idea?”
She turned and smiled. “Every gentleman needs a home of his own and sufficient property to maintain him.” Her expression softened. “Be happy, Mr. Bowen. You are nothing like your father and every bit your mother’s son. Never forget that.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“How is marriage treating you thus far, my lady?”
Rebecca stretched and smiled as Marcus whispered his question against her belly as he made his way down the length of her body. She shivered at his touch. It was mid-afternoon and though both had duties to attend to with respect to the running of Northill, he had convinced her that he could simply not concentrate on his work until he attended to his wife first. Given that she felt the need to be attended to, the decision to join him in their bedchamber came with little argument on her part.
“Well, sir, it has been but three months, however I do believe I can make the claim that I find it most…satisfying.”
“Is that so? In what way?” His mouth had stalled on her belly and she squirmed, wishing he would continue with his travels and do that thing he did with his tongue that reduced her to a writhing mess of sensation and pleasure and many other things she had no words for. “Why have you stopped?”
“I’m listening.” He turned his head and pressed an ear to her abdomen.
“For what?” Tendrils of his dark hair tickled her skin.
“A heart beat. Do you think there’s one in there?”
She laughed and threaded her fingers through his hair. “I am certain there will be in time.” Especially if their frequent afternoon sojourns to the bedchamber continued. Though, excited as she was to fill their home with miniature replicas of her husband, she selfishly wanted him all to herself for just a little while longer.
He lifted his head and stretched out next to her, tossing his arm and leg over her to pull her close. “Fair enough. Though Spence is quite put out that given we are related he cannot marry any of his offspring to ours.”
Rebecca laughed, lightened by all the changes that had occurred in her family bringing them happiness beyond measure after much trepidation and hardship. “Poor man. How will he ever survive?”
Marcus kissed her neck and she forgot her question until he lifted his head and smiled down at her. “He suggested we gift him with Westmorough Manor as compensation.”
“Good heavens! He is after my inheritance. The cad!”
“He claims the evidence he gave the courts to prove you were marrying the eldest son of a titled peer require recompense.”
She kissed her husband’s smile and let happiness fill her. His smiles came much more frequently than they once had and his stoic manner, while still evident, possessed an ease that had not existed before. A change brought about not just by their marriage, but by the closeness and understanding now shared between himself and his grandparents.
“If that were to be the case, then I should be gifting Westmorough to Lord Selward. It was letter from his father he gave the court that convinced them.”
“Hm. I do not think I will go out of my way to thank your former suitor.”
“Your brother.”
He scowled. Her husband had yet to come to terms with their relationship despite Lord Selward’s fledgling attempts to make things right between them. When the circumstances of his father’s death and character were revealed, Lord Selward had made amends, providing the court proof of Marcus’s connection to Lord Walkerton. His mother’s identity, however, remained unrevealed, as it was unnecessary to satisfy the constraints of her father’s will.
“Let us not talk about family connections and property. I find I am much more interested in another particular landscape,” Marcus said, moving over her. She bent her legs and wrapped them around his hips, pulling him closer.
“And what landscape might that be?”
“The one that starts here.” He shifted and kissed the tip of her breast. “And ends somewhere a little farther south. Shall I show you the exact location?”
She smiled. “Oh yes, please. Geography has always been one of my most favorite subjects.”
“Well then,” Marcus said, kissing her rib cage. “Prepare yourself, my lady, for I am about to provide you with a thorough education.”
She laughed with joy and then lost herself in her husband’s tutelage, applying the knowledge she had accumulated thus far to ensure she was not the only one learning lessons that day.
Though the most important lesson she had learned had been the one her mother had tried diligently to teach. Follow your heart.
She had not had to follow it very far and when she did, Marcus had been waiting.
She sighed as his mouth and hands and heart gifted her everything she desired. As it turned out, very good things came to those who waited.
And even better things came to those who followed their hearts.
Dear Reader,
Thanks so much for reading A SINFUL TEMPTATION—I hope you enjoyed Marcus and Rebecca’s story. This is the third book in the SINS & SCANDALS SERIES and by far the most challenging as I tried to pull all the pieces together. I loved telling their story, though, even if they did take me on a bit of a wild ride!
For those of you who are new to the series—find out where it all began with AN INVITATION TO SCANDAL (Nicholas & Abigail) and A SCANDALOUS PASSION (Spencer & Caelie).
Now, with the release of A SINFUL TEMPTATION, I’m taking a brief break with the full length novels to write a novella where we finally discover the true identity and story behind Lady Blackbourne’s lover. This is a story I’ve been wanting to tell since completing AN INVITATION TO SCANDAL, so I’m thrilled to finally get the chance! Watch for A LADY’S SINFUL SECRET coming out in Spring 2015. The next full-length novel, SURRENDER TO SCANDAL will be out in Summer 2015, featuring the very handsome Earl of Glenmor, Benedict Laytham. The poor man is in need of a wealthy bride, but Fate does not appear to have his best interests at heart in this regard. Oh dear…
To keep up to date on what’s new, upcoming releases, a sneak peeks on cover reveals and be entered into contests, please visit my website at www.kellyboyce.com and sign up for my newsletter.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving an honest review at your favorite retailer. It is always appreciated!
All the best!
Kelly
Acknowledgements
Once again, my awesome husband gets the biggest nod here. Between working full-time at the day job and writing during a large portion of the time in between, I’m surprised he remembers what I look like. Yet when I do manage to come up for air, he feeds me and convinces me I can keep going. Babe—you’re the best! I couldn’t write a hero as awesome as you.
A big thanks to my sister and cheerleader, Alyson. There’s a special language sisters speak. Thanks for the giggles. Moth.
To my family—you guys are rock solid and your own special brand of crazy. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s amazing the people you meet on this journey and I’ve been blessed with a great crew of good friends who I can’t imagine not having in my life. Pamela Callow, Julianne MacLean, Cathryn Fox—keep the wine & dinners coming! Anne MacFarlane and Annette Gallant—commiseration and a kick in the pants are always appreciated.
To my great editor, Nancy Cassidy—
I still owe you a bottle of wine (or two) for this one!
To The Second Cup on Portland and Starbucks at Scotia Square. If not for the steady supply of lattes, this process would have been a whole lot tougher.
And last, but definitely not least, to my readers for coming along for the ride! Thanks for being there!
About the Author
Kelly Boyce started writing in Grade 2 when her favorite teacher, Mrs. Matheson showed up with a box filled with plot ideas and she was hooked, but it wasn’t until she read Lisa Gregory’s Bitterleaf that she fell in love with historical romance.
It took several years after that however, before she discovered Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada and realized how to take those stories, turn them into books and send them out into the world. Once she did, it was full steam ahead, with lots of interesting twists and turns along the way, including being a featured author in the documentary on the romance writing industry, Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings.
A life-long Nova Scotian, she lives near the Atlantic Ocean with her awesome husband and a clownish golden retriever in possession of a stubborn streak a mile wide.
She loves writing stories about relationships and creating a sense of community around the hero and heroine filled with secondary characters that take on a life of their own.
Carina Press released her first western historical romance, THE OUTLAW BRIDE, in 2011. Two more western historical romances will be released by Harlequin Enterprises, SALVATION IN THE RANCHER’S ARMS (August 2014) and its follow up, SALVATION IN THE SHERIFF’S KISS (February 2015).
THE SINS & SCANDALS SERIES is her first foray into self-publishing. A SINFUL TEMPTATION is the third book in the series.
A SINFUL TEMPTATION
Copyright © 2014 Kelly Boyce
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or a portion thereof, in any form. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others.
This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-0-9936169-4-5
Cover design: The Killion Group, Inc.
Editor: Nancy Cassidy
Formatting: Author E.M.S.