Lysander winced. “I should take heed of that warning if I were you.” He stepped forward and placed his arm about Bella’s trembling shoulders. “My wife does not say things she does not mean.”
William Spenser stepped forward and held out his hand. “I am sorry for any harm done to you and your family, coz. I will accompany my father abroad, and take steps to make sure he never returns to England.”
Lysander removed his arm from Bella’s shoulders to shake the other man’s hand. “Come and see me when you have seen your father settled in his exile. I have need of a man I can rely on to help me with this marquis business.”
William grinned. “I would be glad to.”
Bella waited until all the men, including the pungent Billy and his friends, had left the house before speaking again. “That was very nice of you.”
Lysander grimaced. “William is not to blame for his father. Besides, I really do have need of someone to assist me with all the work involved in being a marquis, when I intend to spend the next six months, at least, convincing my wife that I married her because I love her.”
Bella’s eyes widened. “What did you say…?”
“I said I am need of assistance—”
“Not that part,” she cut in impatiently. “You said you loved me…”
“Love you. Present tense. Bella.” His hands moved up to cradle the sides of her face. “I behaved disgracefully when I asked you to marry me. I thought— It does not matter what I thought.” He gave a self-disgusted shake of his head.
“Oh, I believe it does.” Bella looked at him searchingly. “What did you believe of me, Lysander?”
He drew in a deep breath. “That night, when you told me there had been a dozen or more men you had helped your brother dupe, I thought you meant they had all been your lovers—”
“You believed I’d had over a dozen lovers?” She gasped incredulously.
“Yes. I am not proud of that thought— Why are you laughing, Bella?” He looked worried by her reaction.
Was she laughing? Yes, she was. She could not seem to help herself. “You must have had a terrible shock last night when you discovered I was still a virgin!” She recalled how Lysander had become as still as a statue above her.
His mouth twisted. “I felt heartily ashamed of myself for ever thinking such a thing about you.”
She eyed him shyly. “And what of the terrible things I accused you of earlier?”
“I believe we are now even in our mistaken assumptions about each other.” His arms moved about her waist as he drew her near. “I propose we forget about the past and promise to always be completely honest with each other from this moment on.”
“I promise.” Bella would have agreed to anything at that moment. Not only had their misunderstandings been dealt with to their mutual satisfaction, but Lysander had told her he loved her. “In the spirit of that honesty…” Her arms moved up about his shoulders. “I love you too, Lysander.”
“You love me?” His arms tightened about her.
“I love you.” She smiled at him warmly. “I believe I may have done so from the first moment I looked at you, which was why I refused to do as Arthur asked where you were concerned.”
He scowled. “And paid a terrible price for that refusal.”
Bella smoothed that frown from his brow. “All that is over now. I am so sorry about your uncle. But I am equally as pleased you have made your peace with your father.”
“If he loves my mother even half as much as I love you…!”
She arched a brow. “When is this convincing me of your love going to commence?”
“Right this minute.” Lysander swung her up into his arms. “I love you so very much, Bella. You and no other. Always,” he vowed as he walked up the staircase and along the hallway to Bella’s bedchamber.
“And I love you,” she vowed as emotionally. “Forever.”
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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 of Romance Romantic Times Award in 2014. She was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written 220 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
Regency Unlaced Series:
The Duke’s Mistress (Regency Unlaced 1)
Claimed by the Marquis (Regency Unlaced 2)
Taken by the Earl (Regency Unlaced 3)
Pursued by the Viscount (Regency Unlaced 4)
Desired by a Lord (Regency Unlaced 5)
Captured by a Gentleman (Regency Unlaced 6)
Pleasured by a Duke (Regency Unlaced 7)
Seduced by a Marquis (Regency Unlaced 8)
Tamed by the Earl (Book 9)
Knight Security 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)
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)
Seduced by a Marquis (Regency Unlaced 8) Page 14