by Amelia Grey
He placed his hands to each side of her face and lowered his face to hers for a deep kiss. When he raised his head, he said, “Is that a wrinkle of worry I see on your brow?”
“I must have read that paper five times already. I can’t help but concern myself about the countess. I’ve met her, and she seemed such a warm and caring person. This was an absolutely dreadful thing to happen to her.”
He pulled Mirabella into his arms and held her tightly against him. “Don’t worry about her. She and Albert might have a spot of trouble now, but all will be well by the time the new babe arrives. I would hope Albert would pick a more discreet mistress next time.”
Mirabella raised her head and looked at her husband. “Camden, do you plan to employ a mistress? I realize it is all the rage and—”
He silenced her by placing his thumb over her lips. “Listen to me, my love. I have no need of a mistress in my life. I have a bride who is almost”—he stopped and smiled—“but thankfully not more woman than I can handle. You need have no fear in that direction.” He kissed her sweetly on the mouth, and gently moved his lips down her neck and back to the crest of her breasts.
“Thank you, Camden.” She ran her hands over his strong shoulders. “I have no wish to share you with another woman.”
“Why don’t you invite the Countess to tea?”
“Do you think she would come?”
He continued to graze her neck and chest with his lips, leaving little raindrop kisses on her skin. “You won’t know unless you ask. But I’m thinking she probably needs a friend right now.”
“I think I will. I can call on her tomorrow after my visit with Papa.”
“How did your father look today when you saw him?”
“He’s still quite tired from all that has gone on with the ball and the wedding, but I believe he had a little more color to his cheeks today.”
“Good. And what did he say of Hornbeck leaving Town?”
“Only that he wished Mr. Hornbeck wasn’t going. And perhaps he could find another friend to visit as often as Mr. Hornbeck had.”
“Did your father mention grandchildren again?”
She laughed lightly and planted a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. “What do you think, my lord?”
“I suspect he will mention them every day until you are with child.”
She slid her hand down the front of his pantaloons and felt his hardness beneath the clothing. “We would not want to disappoint him, would we?”
“Absolutely not. Help me undress, my love.”
“First, I have something for you.” She left his arms and walked back over to the table and picked up a sheet of paper. She handed it to Camden.
He glanced at it and looked back to Mirabella. “What is this?”
“It is the list of suspects I made from Sarah’s dance cards. You wanted to know how many men I had kissed.” She took a deep breath. “They are there for you to count. The ones with an X by the names are the ones I allowed to kiss me.”
His eyes searched hers, but he never looked back at the paper. “I do not need to see this. It no longer matters to me.”
“Are you sure, my lord? It was once very important to you.” He walked over to the candle and stuck the sheet into the flame. It caught fire with a swoosh. He watched it burn to only a small piece before throwing it into the fireplace to become ash.
“I don’t know why I thought it was important. I think I was jealous that other men’s lips had touched yours, and I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want you to know that I wanted you the moment I saw you standing on the street. I didn’t know how to handle those feelings because I never wanted to fall in love.”
“Camden, I found no joy in any of those kisses. You are the first and only man I have kissed because I wanted to. The night you were so angry with me and you kissed me, I felt I was on fire—and that flame has not gone out.”
“I’ll see it doesn’t.” He scooped her up and laid her on the bed. He leaned over her and placed a hand on her breast over her heart. “Believe me when I say it does not matter how many men you have kissed. There is no reason to ever speak of it again. I love you.”
Mirabella placed her fingertips to his lips and smiled gently at him. “And I love you with all my heart, my husband.”
“You are my bride, my wife, and my lover.”
She raised her eyebrows. “And if you should ever have need of a mistress?”
He laughed. “I know where to find you.”
“Yes. I do not intend to share you.”
“Have no fear, my darling. You are all I need in a woman, Mirabella. Wife, lover, and companion for all my life.”
“I am so very happy, my lord.”
“So am I.”
Camden lowered his lips to hers, and Mirabella thrilled to his touch.
The End
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Mirabella and Camden’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Never a Bride is a special book to me because it was my first book set in the Regency time period, and it started my love affair with sexy, titled gentlemen.
I’m currently putting the finishing touches on my ninth Regency Romance, titled A Gentleman Never Tells, which will be published in Spring of 2011. And if you haven’t had the chance to pick up A Duke to Die For, A Marquis to Marry, or An Earl to Enchant, all three books are still available at your favorite local bookseller or any online bookstore.
I look forward to hearing from my readers so please visit me at ameliagrey.com or email me at [email protected].
Happy reading,
Amelia Grey
About the Author
Amelia Grey grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for more than twenty-five years.
Amelia has won the Booksellers Best Award and Aspen Gold Award for writing as Amelia Grey. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she has won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter, the Maggie Award, and the Affaire de Coeur Award. Her books have been sold in many countries in Europe, in Russia, and in China, and they have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs.
Amelia loves flowers, candlelight, sweet smiles, gentle laughter, and sunshine.