Earl of Destiny

by K. J. Jackson

  All in due time. Patience.

  He pulled away, the heat clear in his brown eyes. “And lest I be remiss in saying so, your body is pretty important to me as well.”

  She laughed. “You kiss me like that, and I do not think you remiss at all. Seb, all of those things—all of them—I happily give to you.” Her head tilted, smirk on her face. “But it still gives me margin to…supervise things?”

  Sebastian chuckled. “Supervise? That is your new word for it?”

  “Kinder, gentler—do you not think?”

  “I do, my wife. I do.”

  { Epilogue }

  Brianna smoothed the skirt of the pretty peach gown she had borrowed from Lily. She had wanted to look bright, her best, and had realized earlier in the day that her wardrobe sadly consisted of blacks, browns and greys. Lily had been more than happy to hold Brianna captive in her room, making her try on eight dresses to find what Lily finally determined was the perfect one.

  Her silk slippers crunched on the smooth gravel of the circular drive outside the main gate to Notlund, grinding the rocks in place. The air was crisp, fall almost in the wind, and Brianna’s eyes swept over the wide rolling hill surrounding the castle, eventually settling on the main drive up from the forest.

  “You are anxious, my wife?” Sebastian’s arm went along her back to curl around her waist, pulling her tight to him. “Harry will be beyond ecstatic to see you.”

  “It is not Harry I am anxious about.”

  “My mother?”

  “Yes. I do want to make the best impression I can upon her.”

  Sebastian’s lips went to the top of her head. “She will adore you.”

  “But the break between you two—you said it was still tenuous, the bridge you have erected to her.”

  “My mother can very well tell the difference between how I disappointed her, and the woman that is pushing her son to mend the break.”

  Brianna looked up at him, his warm brown eyes settling her nerves. “You never told me. How was it that you convinced your mother to take in Harry and Frannie and keep them safe?”

  “I did not?”

  “No, you did not. You distract me too easily, my husband.”

  He gave her a wicked smile, the devil dancing in it. “And you love how I distract you.” His hand slid down, cupping her backside.

  “I do.” She laughed, grabbing his hand and pulling it up to set it firmly about her waist. “But it is not in good form to get me riled while we are waiting for, of all people, your mother. And you are distracting me again. So tell me, after the direness of your relationship with your mother, I am curious as to what magic you worked with her.”

  “Magic?”

  “I need to know how you managed it, mending the break, lest you use the same magic on me someday.”

  He wrapped his arms fully about her, spinning her to him as he kissed her forehead. “This particular magic will never work on you, Bree.”

  “No?”

  “I offered her something I could never physically give you.”

  Confusion crossed Brianna’s brow. “What could that possibly be?”

  “I merely promised her grandchildren if she did this favor for us.”

  “You promised her grandchildren?” Brianna slapped her hands on his chest. “Grandchildren that have yet to be created?”

  “Yes. So she can love and spoil them. She has been waiting for that very thing for years. She loves babes.” He tightened his hold, lifting Brianna from the gravel, as his lips went to her neck. “And as we were, and are, working quite enthusiastically on the mission, I did not think the promise too far off.”

  Brianna leaned away from him, her mouth pulling to the side. “You realize that puts even more pressure on me in meeting her?”

  “Pressure is one thing I have never known you not to handle, my wife.” He set her down, swatting her backside through her skirts just as the carriage appeared from the trees.

  Brianna resettled herself, hoping the flush in her cheeks would abate in the next seconds. Her heart instantly swelled when she saw Harry, laughing, poke his head out of the side of the closed carriage. Someone was holding him—it looked like Frannie’s hands—and he waved with glee, his whole arm flopping up and down and bringing his torso to teetering out of the carriage.

  Pure happiness washed over Brianna, and she grabbed Sebastian’s arm, leaning into him. “Thank you for this. For everything. For banishing every worry from my life.”

  “Just to see that smile on your face, my wife, is reward enough for me.” Sebastian looked up from her, nodding in the direction of the carriage. “And that little boy—if he only knew all you have done for him.”

  “And all you have done for him,” Brianna said. “Did your mother tell him we are accompanying them back to Callish Hall after the wedding?”

  “I do not know. But I do know she has become anxious for us to settle in there.”

  “I honestly cannot wait. I love Notlund, but the wedding preparations have been enough to drive anyone to bedlam.” Brianna waved back at Harry, still flailing his arm about outside the carriage.

  “Is Lily ready for tomorrow?”

  “I believe so. Your mother, Harry and Frannie are the last guests to arrive.”

  “And are you still worried about her?”

  “I have tried to not be. Even though Mr. Flemming never discovered definitively what Newdale’s business was in those brothels, I am attempting to give Newdale healthy leeway. I have only been questioning the decision not to hire another runner to investigate—Mr. Flemming is still moving slowly after his injury.”

  “The man appreciates your loyalty to him, Bree. Especially for how guilty he felt, not guarding against Gregory following him to you.”

  “He could not have known what was to happen.” Brianna shrugged. “And he paid for it dearly as well. That scar across his forehead is atrocious.”

  She took a deep breath, giving a shake to her shoulders. “But I do not want to dwell. Lily made the decision to marry Newdale, and I am trying my hardest to respect that.” She looked up at her husband out of the corner of her eye. “That said, I may need you to take my mind into a different direction.”

  His eyebrow cocked. “Distraction?”

  “That should work. Distraction as only you can do.”

  Sebastian chuckled, his hand going to the small of her back, fingers slipping downward.

  The carriage stopped before them, and Brianna set her face to innocence.

  One last swipe to smooth the front of her skirt, and she stepped forth.

  ~~~

  “Lily will be ripe to put me on a spit and roast me when I get back up to the castle, Seb.” The lantern in his hand glowed, swinging with their gait, and Brianna’s mouth pursed. “You promised her it would only be five minutes, but now we are down at the stables. She will think I chose to sneak off with you for fun instead of walking her through every step tonight.”

  “Your sister can well handle her own steps, Bree. She is just nervous, as anyone would be the eve before they are to be married.”

  Brianna glanced up at his dimly lit profile as they crunched out of the trail from the woods. “Were you nervous?”

  “No.” Sebastian smirked, winking at her.

  She rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

  “Believe me, Bree, this is important. I would not drag you down here and take you away from the festivities if it did not warrant it. It is more important than your sister’s need for someone to hold her hand.”

  Brianna scanned the stables and the fields beyond. Still. Everything seemed still and peaceful in the low light of the cloud-covered moon. “Seb, is something wrong with Moonlight and you have not told me?”

  “No, nothing of the kind. Here.” Sebastian lifted the lantern, pointing to Wynne’s painting studio. “In the studio.”

  “The studio?” Her eyes whipped to his face. “What is going on, Seb?”

  “You will see. I would not have brought you d
own here, Bree, if it was not necessary.”

  Brianna quickened her steps. They rounded the side of the studio, soft light spilling from under the door. Her palms suddenly itchy, Brianna stepped to the side as Sebastian opened the door.

  “Mr. Flemming?” Shock crossed her face for a moment, but then she composed herself, stepping into the studio. Sebastian closed the door behind them.

  “Mr. Flemming, it is so good to see you.” Brianna rushed into the room, grabbing his hands as he stood to greet her. “But this is quite unexpected. Whatever are you doing here? But first—” Her hand pulled from his, her fingertips going to the scar that arched over his wrinkled forehead from his eyebrow to his scalp. “First, your head. How is it faring?”

  “Better every day, mi’ lady.” Mr. Flemming’s look went over Brianna’s shoulder, and he gave Sebastian a short nod.

  “Excellent. I am relieved to hear it.” She glanced back to Sebastian and then looked to Mr. Flemming. “But why are you here?”

  “I know it is a late hour, and late to the activities in the castle, and I apologize. It is about Lord Newdale, mi’lady. I spoke to your husband about it, and he believes you should have the information directly from me.”

  Sebastian moved to stand next to her, his hand on the small of her back. Always a comfort, her husband. Her hands clasped in front of her. “Do tell me, Mr. Flemming.”

  “I discovered what Lord Newdale’s business was in the many brothels, mi’ lady.” His eyes flickered to Sebastian. Sebastian offered a nod. “He was purchasing virgins, mi’ lady.”

  “Virgins? Purchasing virgins?” Her eyebrows collapsed, her look going to Sebastian. She glanced back to Mr. Flemming. “Whatever does that mean?”

  He coughed. “Virgins. They are sometimes sold for a high price at brothels. Not one’s typical business in them.”

  “He buys virgins?” Brianna’s head shook, still trying to wrap her mind around what Mr. Flemming was telling her. “But that…that…that is horrific, Mr. Flemming. Utterly horrible. Vicious.”

  “It is, mi’lady. All of those things. The sales, they are more common than they should be, but are usually discreet affairs. It is why it took me so long to discover what Lord Newdale’s business was in those particular brothels. I apologize again for the late news on the matter, but I did think it imperative that you had all the information before tomorrow.”

  Brianna’s hand clamped over her mouth. “Tomorrow…”

  She looked to Sebastian, and at seeing her face, he grabbed the nearest wooden chair, slipping it behind her. He made it just in time for Brianna to sink.

  “But tomorrow…Seb, tomorrow…Mr. Flemming, you are sure of this information? Absolutely positive?”

  “I am afraid so, Lady Luhaunt.”

  She nodded, slumping back on the chair, her muscles turning to jelly.

  Sebastian stepped in front of her. “Wait here a moment, Bree? Sit, Breathe. I will walk Mr. Flemming to the stable.”

  Brianna nodded, unable to conjure words.

  Sebastian squeezed her shoulder, his fingers sliding along her neck before he left her, ushering Mr. Flemming to the door.

  He left the lantern on the table, and Brianna stared at it, stared at the curve of the black iron framing the flickering light. Eyes glassing over, she tried to keep her head from floating away. The wedding was tomorrow. Eleven in the morning. Tomorrow. And Lily was happy. Excited.

  Brianna was going to have to do it. She was going to have break Lily’s heart again.

  The door opened and closed.

  It took moments for her heavy head to rise.

  But it wasn’t Sebastian that walked in through the door.

  A man. A man pulling a dark hood back from his head.

  His face. A face from the past. A face she almost didn’t recognize.

  Garek. Garek Harrison.

  Lily’s Garek.

  He smiled at her.

  “So what will it be, Brianna? The devil you know, or the devil you don’t?”

  ~ Author’s Note ~

  Thank you so much for taking this latest trip back in time with me!

  Word of mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you liked reading Earl of Destiny, please consider leaving a brief review on Amazon—even if it is only a line or two, it is an enormous help. I truly appreciate the reader’s words and thank you so much!

  And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out my other historical romances in the Hold Your Breath and Lords of Fate series—each is a stand-alone story and they can be read in any order:

  Stone Devil Duke

  Unmasking the Marquess

  My Captain, My Earl

  Worth of a Duke

  My next historical book will debut in Winter 2015/16, and yes, it is Lily’s story!

  Be sure to sign up for news of my next releases at www.KJJackson.com(email addresses are precious, so out of respect, you’ll only hear from me when I actually have real news).

  Interested in Paranormal Romance?

  In the meantime, if you want to switch genres and check out my Flame Moon paranormal romance series, Flame Moon #1, the first book in the series, is currently free (ebook) at all stores. Flame Moon is a stand-alone story, so no worries on getting sucked into a cliffhanger. But number two in the series, Triple Infinity, ends with a fun cliff, so be forewarned. Number three in the series, Flux Flame, ties up that portion of the series. I do hope to continue that world in 2016.

  As always, I love to connect with my readers, you can reach me at:

  Email: mailto:kjk19jackson@gmail.com

  Website: www.KJJackson.com

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  Like me at: https://www.facebook.com/kjjacksonauthor

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  Thank you for allowing my stories into your life and time—it is an honor!

  ~ K.J. Jackson