Hearing footsteps on the dock he looked to where they were coming from, the yacht. As the person came into view Rainer saw it was a short, plump balding man he guessed to be Bianca’s father. Looking back to her the dour expression she wore confirmed his suspicion.
“Ah Tony, I see you brought someone else with you,” the barone announced.
“Yes as I don’t wish to hang for murdering a marquis I thought it best,” Tony replied, much to Rainer’s relief.
“Well good. I’m sure I can get an excellent ransom for him.”
Rainer chuckled while glaring at the man. “You’ll get nothing for me as I’m not worth anything,” he said, taunting the man.
“Then you’ll die as did la Contessa’ husband and son.”
What surprised Rainer she’d not said anything but on hearing what the barone had just told them he saw her stiffen her back. Now, more than ever, if she could get him to admit his part.
“Don’t you mean you had my husband murdered and you killed our son,” she shouted at him.
“Now, now such harsh words. You know I had to remove them from this earth as the conte wouldn’t give me the funds to maintain my lifestyle. Now, I’ll be able to live as I wish and you’ll languish away in an asylum.”
Even from the little the barone had spoken Rainer, and from the expression on Tony’s face, they knew the man had or was going mad.
“You pompous sick old man I’ve already set events in motion where if anything happens to me everything which was willed to me goes to several orphanages. So, you see all this is for naught,” Bianca calmly told him.
Since he’d only known her for a short time he wasn’t sure if what she said was the truth or not. She could have set it up with Mr. Quigley. At the meeting with him he could then have been instructed not to say anything about it. When he saw the man storm forward to them he started to panic Nardo would hurt her.
“No you can’t. I won’t allow it,” he blared out, lunging for Bianca.
However, he never reached her as two footmen grabbed the man, wrestling him to the ground and before Rainer could get a word out the barone was bound. Freed from his restraints he immediately took Bianca in his arms.
“It’s over darling. Now you can live a trouble free life,” he declared, then pressed his lips to hers.
Ignoring the sounds around he teased her mouth open with the tip of his tongue, delved in tasting her sweetness. He wasn’t surprised when she did the same to him, confirming her affection for him.
“You do know, even though she’s a widow, in some circles you could be compromising the Contessa,” Tony announced, to seemingly deaf ears.
Satisfied for the moment Rainer lifted his lips from hers, smiled, then glared to him.
“And who’s going to declare it?”
He smiled when his friend shrugged. “Now, what do we do with the barone? As we know he’s mad and allowing him to return to Italy could still put Bianca in danger.”
“If I may, I do believe Her Grace has a small, untitled estate, on the Orkney Islands with a comfortable staff. I’m sure we can prevail upon her to send him there for the rest of his life,” Bianca told them.
“That would be perfect and we can borrow his yacht to take him there as it would only be appropriate to send him into exile on it,” Rainer declared, wrapping an arm around Bianca’s waist drawing her into him.
“Yes and until we hear otherwise I feel keeping him secured in my townhouse would be for the best,” Tony suggested.
“Agreed. Now we must hasten back to the palace as Her Grace is most likely pacing with worry,” Rainer added, then gracefully handed Bianca into the carriage which had brought Tony.
“With your permission, I’ll borrow the footmen Stanley sent along to make sure Nardo arrives safely to my townhouse while I travel with you,” Tony said.
Rainer waited by the coach door and studied the way the moonlight was illuminating Bianca. He knew, without a doubt, she was the most beautiful lady in not only London but England. He only hoped she’d accept his offer of marriage.
“Rain, what are you looking at?” she asked, catching him peering in at her.
“You, that’s all.”
He was saved from expounding on his answer by the arrival of Tony.
“Everything is all set and my driver will return the duchess’ footmen once the barone is safely secured.”
“Perfect and thank you. Now shall we set Her Grace’s mind at ease?” Rainer said, climbing into the coach followed by Tony.
At the ducal palace, after handing Bianca down from the coach Rainer offered his arm but, to his pleasure, settled her slim fingers into his strong hand. Together, with Tony following, they climbed the marble front stairs to be met by Stanley at the door.
“Welcome home, hale and whole I’m pleased to see. Her Grace awaits you in the formal sitting room,” he pronounced, then bowed them in.
Rainer glanced to Bianca only to get a questioning look from her. He then directed his attention to Tony, earning a shrug. All he knew, his godmother never used the room except for ceremonial purposes and them returning, he knew, didn’t qualify.
With Stanley leading, they made their way to the room. On entering he saw his godmother wasn’t alone but the ducal minister was also present. Now, he was even more curious as to what was going on. After releasing Bianca’s hand from his he bowed, knowing she would give her godmother a deep curtsey while Tony would also bow.
“Your Grace, Mr. Greenbrush. As you see we accomplished what we set out to do, get the confession from Barone Nardo,” Rainer stated, wondering at the sly grin from his godmother.
“My dear Bianca, Rain and Tony I knew everything would work out. I had that much faith in you three. I see you are wondering why our minister is here. Simply put, to marry you and Bianca,” she directed to Rainer
“To begin with, I’ve not even asked her and don’t have a—”
He never finished as the duchess held out a special license. Knowing he’d been outmaneuvered he had no choice but turn his attention the Bianca.
Taking both of her hands in his, he gazed into her eyes and took a breath. “La Contessa Bianca Maria Medford Goretti, Countess de Massa, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife.”
“Rainer Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, I never would have allowed you to kiss me if I didn’t want to, so my answer is yes.”
Ten minutes later Rainer and Bianca kissed for the first time as husband and wife.
“My dearest, you have made me the happiest man in the world,” he declared.
“And I the happiest lady in all of England,” she added.
The End
About Lindsay Downs
I’ve been an avid reader ever since I was old enough to hold a red leather bound first edition copy of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake in my lap.
So it only seemed natural at some point in my life I take up pen and paper to start writing. Over time my skills slightly improved which I attribute to my English teachers.
My breakthrough came about in the mid 1970’s when I read a historical romance written by Sergeanne Golon, Angelique. This French husband and wife team opened my eyes to the real world of fiction. Stories about romance, beautiful damsels, handsome heroes and plots which kept me hooked. Of course, being a man, I had to keep my reading hidden from others as that wasn’t appropriate reading for men.
With this new found appreciation of the written word I took up other books and devoured them as a starving person would a plate of food. I them attempted to write again. I still wasn’t satisfied so I put it aside for years as other events entered my life.
Finally, in the early years of the new millennium I tried again to write and once again met with limited success. At least now I was able to get past the first page or two. Then, in 2006 a life changing event brought me back to my love, I took a job as a security officer. This allowed me plenty of time to read different genres.
My favourite was regency. As I poured through
everyone I could get my hands on I knew this could be something I wanted to attempt.
Since 2012 when my debut regency romantic suspense released I was hooked and have, except for a few contemporaries, focused on this genre.
Since 2012 I’ve lived in central Texas. I’m also a member of Romance Writers of America and their local chapter.
Where you can find me—
Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.downs.7
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Regency-by-LindsayDowns/421654731286944
Twitter- @ldowns2966
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La Contessa and The Marquis (A Rogues and Rakehells Mystery Book 1) Page 10