“No, but you are loved,” he spoke quietly.
Emily stilled, even the breath seeming to have become trapped in her lungs.
“By me,” Xander added, so that there should be no mistake as to his meaning.
Xander loved her? It could not be true. Could it?
She shook her head. “My parents—”
“Are not you,” he stated firmly as he rose back to his feet. “I have always believed that people as volatile as your parents should never marry each other. But if your parents had not married, then there would not be you, which would seem to nullify that argument completely. Emily, you are beautiful, forthright, practical, enchanting, and delicious,” he added huskily. “And the most generous lover I have ever known. How could I not have fallen in love with you?”
“Because…because you are Lord Alexander Whitney, and I—”
“You were Miss Emily Anne Stanwick, latterly Mrs. Edmund Marsden, and now, if you will have me, you will become Lady Emily Whitney.”
“Society—”
“Oh, who gives a damn about Society—”
“You would if you found yourself shunned because of who your wife is!”
“They would not dare.” He stood every one of his six feet and two inches tall as he looked down the length of his imperious nose. “If I am not enough of a deterrent to their gossip, then I have powerful friends who are. My closest friends are the Duke and Duchess of Blackmoor, Viscount Brooketon and the lady who is to become his wife, the Earl and Countess of Winterbourne, and the Marquis and Marchioness of Oxbridge.”
Even Emily, shut away in the country for so many years, had heard of some of those gentlemen, at least. “Your friends would shun me too.”
“Never,” Xander stated with absolute certainty.
Which was when Emily’s resolve began to crumble. “You cannot possibly have fallen in love with me in so short a time.”
“I believe I fell in love with you during our first conversation together,” he mused. “You looked so prim in that unbecoming gray gown. And yet I saw grit and determination when I looked in your eyes.”
“That was desperation,” she corrected ruefully. “I was in dire need of the money you were prepared to pay to have your library cataloged.”
“There was also passion in your eyes. Was that desperation too?” he teased.
“That was the effect you were having on me,” she acknowledged, her cheeks warm. “But you do not need to marry me, Xander. I will be your mistress. For as long as you want me to be.”
“A lifetime,” he stated firmly. “I will not settle for less, Emily.” He gazed at her sternly.
“I— But— This is madness!”
“Do you love me?”
“It is too soon—”
“Do you love me?”
Of course she loved him. Possibly from the first moment she had seen him seated across the other side of his desk on the day of her arrival. But marriage? To become Xander’s wife? Lady Emily Whitney? It was beyond anything she could ever have imagined.
Xander quirked an eyebrow. “If you say yes to my marriage proposal, I will tell you why I did not make love to you last night.”
Emily gave a choked laugh. “That is blackmail!”
“But of the most tender and loving kind,” he cajoled.
“It is still blackmail.”
He sobered. “I am so much in love with you, I am not above using any means at my disposal to persuade you to accept my proposal.”
It was too much. Incredible.
And yet…
She loved him.
And Xander said that he loved her.
The very best of reasons why two people should ever marry each other.
She held his gaze as she walked without hesitation into his waiting arms. “Tell me,” she invited huskily.
His arms tightened fiercely about her. “Your innocence is to be your wedding gift to me.”
Ah.
Again the very best of reasons.
As Emily was convinced their marriage would be the very best of marriages. Loving. Caring. Passionate. A lifetime of happiness with Xander, the man she loved with her body, heart, and soul.
“Does that mean we will not… That we will wait until after we are married to… Before we… Again?”
“Absolutely not.” Xander’s laughter rumbled in his chest at the absurdity of such a suggestion. “We are two intelligent people who love each other. I am sure we can find many other inventive ways to make love to each other until our wedding night!”
Emily was sure they could too. “I love you, Xander.” She looked up at him, that love shining in her eyes.
His hands moved up to cradle the sides of her face. “I love you too, Emily. So very much. I intend to spend the rest of my life ensuring your happiness.” He claimed her lips tenderly with his own.
A tenderness that soon turned to desire.
And desire to passion, as they both became lost in expressing—inventively, of course—their deep love for each other.
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About The Author
Carole Mortimer is a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, a Pioneer for Romance Romantic Times Award in 2014. She was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written 215 contemporary and Regency novels.
She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!
Other books by Carole Mortimer
Carole has written 174 romance novels in the Presents/Modern series from Harlequin Mills and Boon.
She has also written 24 Regency romance novels in the Harlequin Mills and Boon’s Historical series.
Regency Unlaced Series:
The Duke’s Mistress (Book 1)
Claimed by the Marquis (Book 2)
Taken by the Earl (Book 3)
Pursued by the Viscount (Book 4)
Desired by a Lord (Book 5)
Captured by a Gentleman (Book 6)
Knight Security Series:
Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5)
Defying Asher (Knight Security 1)
Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2)
Caleb (Knight Security 3) Coming Soon
ALPHA Series:
Christmas Alpha (Alpha 1)
Dark Alpha (Alpha 2)
Shadow Alpha (Alpha 3) Author’s 200th Book
Midnight Alpha (Alpha 4)
Renegade Alpha (Alpha 5)
Warrior Alpha (Alpha 6)
Rogue Alpha (Alpha 7)
Savage Alpha (Alpha 8)
Desired by a Lord (Regency Unlaced 5) Page 13