Just One Kiss
Page 15
“What should we do now?” he asked.
“Whatever we want.”
“I want to make love to my wife.” He tugged her toward the stairs. “This house needs the sound of children inside it.”
“I agree.” Hazel laughed.
“There is only one way to ensure that.”
“I think we’ve done plenty to ensure it.” Hazel sighed blissfully
At the top of the stairs, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. Hazel was panting with need by the time they stopped to breathe. “There will never be enough.”
Hazel looked around and blinked. “Are you fond of kissing me at the tops of stairs?”
Garrett frowned. “I don’t think so?” His faced cleared and he grinned knowingly. “Our first kiss, I remember now.”
“It was just one kiss.” Hazel smiled back at him.
“It was all I needed to know you were the only woman for me.”
Sneak Peek!
Anything But Innocent
“Lucille, you are hereby banished from London—and the season, until I deem you mature enough to behave in a manner befitting of your breeding.”
“Father, please. When has breeding ever improved one’s behavior?”
“If your great grandmamma were alive, she’d be disgusted,” Lucy’s mother whimpered.
Lucy wished to roll her eyes but refrained. The great grandmamma guilt was overused by now.
“What on earth gave you the notion of pushing Lord Whippet in the fountain? In front of the whole of society for that matter?”
“Would you rather I’d done it in private?” Lucy asked while inspecting her manicure.
Lucy glanced up when silence answered her remark. Her father was red about the gills, his eyes narrowed at her in that insufferable manner that she knew to mean he found her behavior insufferable. She sighed.
“Go to your room until you are summoned. Marigold will pack your belongings, and we will depart for Grover as hastily as possible.”
“That will look suspicious,” her mother said.
“She pushed the damn man in the fountain, Augusta. It already is suspicious. Is there anything else we need to know?”
Lucy scoffed. The whole situation was absurd. “Absolutely not. The man is as daft as a drowned snake.”
Her father shook his head and turned his back to her. Lucy stared at his red neck in angry silence for only a moment before turning on her heel and quitting the room. Her father was extremely upset. She could see that. But banishment? Why is she to blame for one man’s foolish behavior? She stomped petulantly as she climbed the stairs. There had to be more to this exile than a simple share in a fountain—well, there was. The man had been down on his knees, for Christ’s sake. Everyone was looking, staring, and laughing while he clung to her skirts and professed his undying love. What was she to do? Surely, not agree?
All the blame would fall on her shoulders and not the buffoon who sought to trap her into marriage with a public proposal. To add to her temper, she would have to leave Thea behind. Lucy couldn’t ask her to abandon the rest of the season, too. Lucy reached her room. Marigold was already there with her trunks.
“I suppose you’ve been told everything?”
Marigold nodded sadly. “All the staff knows, but we agree with you. That man was inappropriate to demand marriage in such a way.”
“I wish my father would see it that way. All he sees is the potential scandal. Pushing a man into a fountain may have been scandalous, but scandal is fodder for the papers and then it fades. Had I agreed, I’d have to live with that fool for the rest of my life. But does my father care? No. All he cares about is the repercussions to his good name.”
Marigold nodded. “Believe me, I understand. It was not long ago that I was in a very similar situation, but my consequences were much more severe.”
Lucy paused in her agitated pacing and looked at Marigold. She had only been her lady’s maid for six months, but they had grown close in that time. Marigold was not the traditional lady’s maid. She was exotic. Her skin was a warm brown, and she sometimes had an accent when she talked quickly. But Lucy had never asked where Marigold hailed from. Lucy sat on her bed. “I’m sorry you went through such a thing.”
Marigold shrugged. I am glad to be far away from my homeland and from my father. Women are treated much differently there.”
“You must think me a selfish child.”
“No.” Marigold turned and met Lucy’s gaze. “You are lucky, but that doesn’t lessen the pain of knowing your life is not your own.”
Lucy dropped her gaze. She felt like she was being treated like a child. There were shadows in Marigold’s eyes that Lucy only now noticed. Wherever she came from, whomever she’d escaped, it was far worse than Lucy could imagine. Lucy lived in a rosy bubble of privilege. She knew that, but she’d never tried to see past it.
“I should appreciate a stay in the country then. The season has nothing to offer anyhow.”
“You did not like this suitor?”
“No. We danced one time. It is my understanding he is in need of a rich wife. A fortune hunter, our society calls the likes of him.”
Marigold shook her head in distaste. “And he thought humiliation would woo you?”
“He thought to trick me. Tis all it was. Humiliate me into agreeing. Why can’t my father see that? I should have bloodied his nose as well as push him into the fountain.”
“What will your brother do?”
“I can count on Jonathan to have a word with him to make sure he won’t bother me further. I wish my father would care as much.”
“Perhaps you will find a husband in the country?” Marigold offered as she closed one trunk and began the next.
“I doubt it. There is nothing to do in the country but ride horses, take walks, and read.” Lucy pouted.
“That sounds lovely.”
“I know. But Thea won’t be with me. She will have to attend parties with her aunts and they treat her poorly.”
“Can she visit?”
“Father will say no. He will wish to punish me. It will be Thea who will be punished. I shall appeal to my mother. She knows of Thea’s situation.”
“Then all is not lost.”
“The rest of the season will be lost. Dancing, meeting interesting gentlemen whom I have yet to meet. What if I miss the one man who may suddenly become interesting?”
Marigold laughed. “If he is meant to be yours, he will wait for you. I think I have a way to make our stay in the country more enjoyable, but you have to promise you will tell no one what we do.”
Lucy perked up. She loved mischief. “I promise.”
“It’s a style of dancing from my country. It is not done by women of noble birth—not openly, but we all learn a bit of it.”
Lucy didn’t react to the revelation that her lady’s maid was of noble birth in her country. There was a mysterious past that Marigold was obviously hiding. “Go on?”
“I could lose my place here if we are caught.”
“I know I don’t always behave so, but I can be discreet.”
Marigold smiled. “To the country we will go.”
“And great fun will be had.” Lucy grinned.
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About the Author
Dayna Quince was only fourteen when she developed a serious addiction to romance novels. What began as an innocent desire to read became an all-out obsession with the romance genre. She gave book reports on romance novels, got in trouble for reading during lectures, and would rather spend her time reading than attending high
school parties. After all, high school boys could not compete with the likes of Stephanie Laurens Devil Cynster. After getting her first job, her addiction only got worse. She now had her own money to spend and a car to get to Barnes and Noble as frequently as she wanted. She managed to maintain a somewhat normal life, marrying her high school boyfriend who was aware he was competing with fictional men for her attention. Dayna soon began writing her own romance novels, inspired by her love for all things romance. Dayna and her husband live in Southern California with their two children and three fur babies. Dayna is happiest at home where she can be with her family and write to her heart’s content.
For more information about Dayna, please visit her website, “like” Dayna on Facebook and follow her on Twitter or Instagram. Sign up for Dayna’s newsletter to be notified about upcoming releases. She’s loves hearing from her readers. Email her directly at daynaquince@gmail.com.
Also by Dayna Quince
The Fated for Love Series:
Mine, All Mine
Sweet Torture
Storm on the Horizon
To Love, Honor, and Obey
Desperate and Daring Series:
Desperate for a Duke
Belle of the Ball
Just One Kiss
Anything But Innocent
An Unconventional Innocent
Mad About You
Withered Rose
Wildwood Flower
An Undesirable Duke
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