She eyed him ruefully. “I believe, as we cannot seem to keep our hands off each other, I am more suited to becoming your mistress.”
“I withdraw my previous offer.” Bastian could never agree to that arrangement now that he believed he had true feelings for Gail. “Stay with me here through Christmas and the New Year,” he persuaded. “And we will discuss the subject again then.” With time and patience, he hoped to convince Gail to accept him as much more than her lover.
“Stay here?” Gail quizzed.
“As my guest.”
Abigail looked at Bastian long and deeply and could see only sincerity in his expression. Besides, suspecting that she was falling in love with him, how could she refuse? “Very well.”
She was sure the whole household must have heard Bastian’s shout of triumph before his lips claimed hers again.
“You intend to keep her?” Gabriel looked doubtfully across the width of his desk to where Bastian stood facing him.
“I do,” he stated with satisfaction.
“Gail wishes to remain with you?”
“Over Christmas and the New Year, at least,” he acknowledged with even more satisfaction.
He and Gail had not made love the night before but they had lain in bed together and talked extensively of everything and nothing. Bastian had not cared what they discussed as long as he could hold Gail in his arms and know that she was happy to remain there.
She had told him of the reason for her previous reluctance to inform the duke of her whereabouts. But, with the question of Bastian’s involvement in the death of Gail’s stepfather eliminated, Bastian had insisted, knowing of his friend’s heartache in regard to the disappearance of his sister, he could not allow Gabriel to continue to wonder where Gail was and if she was safe. Besides, if everything worked out as Bastian wanted it to, then Gabriel could not help but eventually learn exactly who Gail was with and where.
“You are in love with her,” Gabriel now stated.
Bastian drew in a deep breath. “I believe so, yes.”
“And she with you?”
“If she is not yet, I intend to see that she very soon will be,” he said with determination.
Gabriel continued to look at him for several long seconds before he nodded. “I should tell you that my men, during their search for Gail, acquired a bag which I have reason to believe belongs to Abigail.”
“Acquired?”
“Took back possession,” Gabriel stated evenly.
“Are the men who took it dead?”
“Yes.” He made no apology for the fact. “I admit to looking through the things in that bag, initially to ascertain it did indeed belong to Abigail, but also out of a curiosity of my own.”
“I do not understand…”
Gabriel breathed deeply. “There was Abigail’s age of nineteen and the puzzle of her being well spoken. My niece or nephew would be that age now, and I wondered if perhaps…” He gave a shake of his head. “I found a gold locket sewn into the hem of one of Abigail’s gowns. Inside it were paintings, obviously of her mother and father. I did not recognize either of them,” he added bleakly.
Bastian’s heart ached as he realized Gabriel had questioned whether or not Abigail might have been his sister’s child, and been disappointed with the outcome.
Gabriel shook off the brief feelings of melancholy. “Never mind, I shall just continue looking. Of more immediate import is what you intend to do with Abigail after the holidays?”
“Marry her.”
“As I suspected.” His friend nodded. “In that case, I will do everything within my considerable power to ensure that comes about.”
Bastian’s eyes widened. “I had expected you to lecture me on the impetuosity of such a decision. To point out all the reasons why such a marriage is unsuitable for an earl. To at least try to talk me out of it.”
Blackborne shrugged. “You are the least impetuous person I know, Bastian, and I fail to see why the marriage is unsuitable if you love the girl. Do you want me to talk you out of it?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then I will not attempt to do so,” Gabriel drawled.
Bastian nodded. “I would, however, request your assistance in eliminating the more immediate danger of this mysterious earl who ordered Rafferty’s death.”
“You believe Gail to be in danger?”
“She will be if it is discovered she saw the three men who murdered Rafferty and is able to identify them if asked to do so.”
Gabriel frowned. “I believe I am capable of helping you find this earl and helping ensure Gail becomes your wife.”
Bastian stood up to offer the other man his hand. “When the time comes, I would like for you to be best man at our wedding.”
The duke smiled. “I gladly accept.”
“Not sure about inviting Winter.” Bastian scowled. “It seems somehow…impolite to invite a man to your wedding when he has seen your wife in the throes of physical pleasure.”
Gabriel chuckled. “He was only doing as I asked him to.”
“Perhaps.” Bastian continued to frown. “I shall leave it to Gail whether or not she wishes him to be there.”
All Bastian had to do, along with finding the man who had ordered Rafferty’s death, was persuade Gail into accepting him as her husband.
He intended to start that persuasion the moment he returned to Shaftesbury House.
Chapter Twelve
“I cannot possibly accept any more gifts, Bastian,” Abigail protested as she eyed yet another box he was holding out to her, this one tied with a red ribbon. “You have spoiled me dreadfully already!”
It was Christmas morning, and she was surrounded by a vast number of boxes and paper from the gifts Bastian had handed to her. A silk scarf, a delicate white shawl, a beautiful fan, a new bonnet, a bottle of perfume, and a leather-bound volume of poetry she had only mentioned in passing as being one of the things she most regretted having not taking with her when she left the house she had shared with Daniel.
There was also a delicate diamond bracelet and matching earbobs she had instantly fallen in love with but protested they were far too expensive for her to accept. Bastian refused to listen to any of her protests and had instantly attached the bracelet about her wrists and gently attached the earbobs to her lobes before telling her how beautiful she looked.
Abigail had bought Bastian only two gifts: a silk waistcoat she had thought he would like and a bottle of the brandy he favored. Gifts he had paid for in any case, when it was the allowance he had given her that bought them.
These past few days had been some of the happiest of her life. Bastian had been as good as his word and treated her with the care and attention that had been so lacking in her life since her mother died.
The two of them had spent most of that time in each other’s company, eating all their meals together, spending their days and evenings either walking in the park, talking, or simply reading a book sitting in the same room.
Bastian had not gone out in the evening even once. And yesterday, he had arranged for holly and mistletoe to be delivered so that they might decorate the house in readiness for Christmas Day. That he had taken advantage of that mistletoe and kissed her soundly every time the two of them were near the bunches of it hanging over doorways or windows had filled her with delight.
How could she help but fall even more deeply in love with him?
Now that Abigail knew Bastian had not been involved in Daniel’s death, she felt free to acknowledge Bastian was everything she might wish for in the man she fell in love with, but had never hoped to find. He was kind, generous, passionate, and, despite the way in which they had met, he treated her with the utmost respect. One which meant he had not so much as hinted at visiting her where she slept in the bedchamber adjoining his these past four nights.
If Abigail was a little disappointed in that regard, then she kept it to herself. How could she possibly complain about Bastian not wishing to take advantage of the
ir living together by making love to her?
“You deserve to be spoiled,” Bastian dismissed in answer to her protest. “Indeed, it is something I wish to continue to do for a very long time,” he added huskily.
Gail eyed him uncertainly. “You do?”
Bastian nodded. “Open it.” He gave her the last present, feeling a little nervous as to Gail’s response to his final gift.
He had meant to wait until the New Year to tell her of his feelings for her. But these past four days of having her living here with him had been the happiest of his life, if also the most frustrating.
Gail showed pleasure in everything they did, be it breaking their fast together or simply sitting quietly in the evenings. She seemed to grow more beautiful every day now that the worries of the past had been lifted from her slender shoulders. It was a beauty and happiness, as each day passed, that Bastian wished more than anything to possess as his own.
Gabriel, as promised, was carrying out his own investigation, along with the search for his long lost sister and her babe, regarding the identity of the mysterious earl. Bastian was doing the same in regard to the latter. He had no intention of allowing anyone or anything to harm Gail ever again.
Because he now knew he loved her with everything that he was.
He woke each morning filled with the anticipation of seeing her seated across the breakfast table from him.
He discussed with her the necessary business matters that he dealt with each morning, as Gail sat in the window, either sewing or reading.
After lunch, they would invariably either go for a walk or carriage ride in the brisk December air.
They would dine together in the evenings and then either play cards together or sit quietly reading or talking.
All of it the sort of domesticity Bastian had long avoided and never thought he would want or enjoy as much as he did doing those things with Gail.
And every minute of every day and night, Bastian had longed to make love to Gail again. Stealing kisses every time the two of them so much as approached the bunches of mistletoe he had placed about the house yesterday had only increased his longing to touch and caress and pleasure her until they lay sated in each other’s arms.
She lifted the last parcel he had given her and gave it a shake. “It is very light.”
“In weight, perhaps.” His nervousness increased as Gail untied the ribbon as carefully as she had her other gifts before lifting the lid of the box.
Inside, nestled amongst red velvet, was a small black jewelry box.
Abigail frowned slightly as Bastian lifted the tiny box to open the lid and reveal a ring. It was a slender gold band with one large diamond surrounded by half a dozen smaller ones.
It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.
She gasped as Bastian moved down on one knee in front of where she sat in the armchair before taking the ring from the box.
His gaze met and held hers. “I know that we have not known each other very long, but—”
“Bastian, you cannot!” One of her hands moved to cover her mouth as a sob caught in her throat.
“I can and I will,” he assured her gently. “I love you, Abigail, more deeply than I ever believed possible. That being so, I wish to ask if you will do me the honor of mar—” Her fingers against his lips prevented him from continuing.
“I am already yours, Bastian.” Tears stung her eyes. “You do not need to offer me marriage in order to—” This time, it was Bastian’s fingers against her lips that stopped her from completing her protest.
“I am asking you to marry me because I love you and wish to make you my wife,” he told her firmly. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, loving you, having children with you.”
Abigail’s heart felt as if it grew bigger and bigger with each word Bastian spoke. “But I am no one, and you are an earl,” she reminded him emotionally, the tears falling unchecked down her cheeks. “You should marry a woman of Society—”
“I should marry the woman whom I love,” he corrected gently.
“Your friends—”
“Will love you too once they know you. Gabriel has already given us his blessing,” he assured her softly.
Her eyes widened. “He has?” Knowing what he knew about her, she could not imagine the arrogant duke approving of her as a suitable wife for his closest friend.
Bastian smiled. “The fact that Gabriel owns and runs Club Venus should tell you that he does not give a damn about what Society thinks, about him or anything else.” He sobered. “But if you do not love me—”
“I love you!” Abigail threw herself into his arms, throwing him off balance, so that they both ended up prostrate, Bastian on his back, Abigail lying on top of him. “I love you so much, Bastian. So very, very much.”
One of his arms encircled her waist and held her tightly against him. “Then marry me.”
Could she…? Dare she…? “You will not regret it and come to hate me if Society does not accept me?”
Bastian rolled over until Gail lay trapped beneath him as he gazed deeply into her beautiful eyes. “I will never, for any reason, ever regret loving you and making you my wife and the mother of our children,” he vowed as he held up the betrothal ring he wished to place upon her finger. “Please say yes, Gail! I promise you will never have cause to regret loving me or marrying me.”
Just the thought of being Bastian’s wife, of the two of them having children together, filled her heart to bursting. “Yes,” she breathed.
“Thank God!” Bastian slid the ring onto her finger before claiming her lips with his own and showing her, rather than only telling her, how very much he loved her now and would love her always.
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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, RT Career Achievement Award 2017, RT Pioneer for Romance Award 2014. She was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written 250 contemporary, Regency and paranormal romance 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
Regency Club Venus:
Bastian’s Surrender (Regency Club Venus 1)
Gabriel’s Torment (Regency Club Venus 2)
More books to come in this series
Regency Men in Love M/M (Written as C A Mortimer)
Hidden Lover (Regency Men in Love 1)
Hidden Desire (Regency Men in Love 2)
More books to come in this series.
Regency Lovers Series:
INDECENT (Regency Lovers 1)
OBSESSION (Regency Lovers 2)
CRAVING (Regency Lovers 3)
FORBIDDEN (Regency Lovers 4)
SURRENDER (Regency Lovers 5)
SCANDAL (Regency Lovers 6)
Series complete
Steele Protectors Series:
LOGAN (Steele Protectors 1)
ATTICUS (Steele Protectors 2)
BRYCE (Steele Protectors 3)
ROURKE (Steele Protectors 4)
HAYDN (Steele Protectors 5) Author’s 250th book
More books to come in this series
Dragon Hearts – Co
ntemporary paranormal
Nathaniel (Dragon Hearts 1)
Deryk (Dragon Hearts 2)
Bryn (Dragon Hearts 3)
Dylan (Dragon Hearts 4)
Grigor (Dragon Hearts 5)
Garrett (Dragon Hearts 6)
Aeran & Rhys (Dragon Hearts 7)
Dragon Reunion (Dragon Hearts 8)
Series Complete
Regency Sinners Series:
Wicked Torment (Regency Sinners 1)
Wicked Surrender (Regency Sinners 2)
Wicked Scandal (Regency Sinners 3)
Wicked Deception Regency Sinners 4)
Wicked Captive (Regency Sinners 5)
Wicked Temptation (Regency Sinners 6)
Wicked Sinner (Regency Sinners 7)
Wicked Christmas (Regency Sinners 8)
Series now complete.
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)
Pleasured by a Duke (Book 7)
Seduced by a Marquis (Book 8)
Tamed by the Earl (Book 9)
Series now complete
Knight Security Series: Spin-off to ALPHA series
Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5)
Defying Asher (Knight Security 1)
Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2)
Capturing Caleb (Knight Security 3)
Tempting Zander (Knight Security 4)
Enticing Ian (Knight Security 5)
Seducing Ethan (Knight Security 6)
Series now complete
ALPHA Series:
Christmas Alpha (Alpha 1)
Dark Alpha (Alpha 2)
Bastian’s Surrender: Regency Club Venus 1 Page 7