‘And so it was, then,’ he said, straightening up so that his eyes were level with hers. She could not look away from the glint in them. ’Now I find I have changed my mind. With you as the mother of my child, I can think of no finer thing.’
She was speechless.
‘But just as important as my reaction, is yours. How do you feel about it? For you too did not appear keen on the idea.’
‘I thought I was barren,’ she said in hollow tones.
‘Tsh - that was just the quack appeasing your husband’s ego, I am sure.’
She stared at him in amazement. It was as if an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders as for the first time she allowed herself to explore her own feelings about this child. She had been living in such dread these past few days, that she had not been able to consider her own sentiments in the matter at all. Now she turned to him slowly, a dimple of a smile peeping out.
’I think I am excited at the thought, for I love Charles with all my heart, and to have another child of yours - I mean, my own-’
She broke off in confusion.
Guy gave a self satisfied smile, then catching her unawares, he tipped her swiftly back down on the bed so he could lie atop of her. ‘Admit, you have come to like me, just a little,’ he murmured, grazing her throat with his lips.
‘Really Guy-’
‘Admit it,’ he persisted, blowing gently on her skin.
She felt herself going weak in her limbs, her body melting into his as it always did when he held her like this.
‘Well, maybe just a little,’ she conceded, a tremble passing through her.
‘For I have to own that I have become very partial to you,’ he whispered. ‘In fact, I could not envisage my life without you.’
‘Y-you could not?’
‘No.’
He raised himself onto his elbows so that he could look deep into her eyes, all traces of amusement gone. ‘For quite a while I told myself that my feelings for you were no more than sexual need, but I came to realise some time ago my love, that I was severely deluding myself. For they are so much more than that.’
He gazed down at her tenderly. ‘You have brought laughter and light back into a life that was dark and gloomy, and for that I can never thank you enough. I have never believed in love or the sentimental nonsense that goes with it, despite having parents who clearly adored each other. But these few months with you, have taught me that it truly does exist. For what else can you call it when you realise that someone else’s life is more important to you than your own? When the light of their smile turns your heart inside out? When you know that without them life would not be worth living? For that is how I feel about you, Isabelle. I probably won’t say it often, but know always that it is true. My love for you is as constant as I know yours is for me.’
She was staring at him stunned, her heart singing at his words, but at this last sentence she gave an indignant little gasp.
‘You take it upon yourself to presume rather a lot, Your Grace.’
But her expression was tender with love, as of their own accord her arms slid up to pull his mouth firmly down onto hers. It was as if his declaration of love had released a tidal wave of emotion, her tongue darting lovingly against his, her hands cupping his face to hold him near as she drank him in.
She was aware of him stiffening and it made her pause in her actions, as she drew back from him uncertainly. ‘Is everything well, Guy?’
He was looking at her in shock but then his expression eased into one of smug satisfaction as he gently grazed her lips with his.
‘Everything is very well, my love. But do you realise that this is the first time you have truly kissed me?’ His voice thickened. ‘I own it is a very pleasant sensation.’
She pressed her lips to his again, realising with a sense of wonder that his declaration of love had swept away the last of her doubts and insecurities leaving her free to surrender to him completely.
‘I love you, Guy,’ she whispered.
‘I know.’
‘Even if you are an arrogant swine.’
He smiled as he brushed his lips languorously over hers. ’You have all the time in the world to alter that. But if anyone can reform me, I suspect it is you.’
‘Can I take that as a challenge?’ She peeped saucily up at him.
‘You can take it how you want,’ he rumbled, his lips claiming hers again. She could feel his need through his breeches. ‘Right now I have more pressing things on my mind.’
He ground his ridge into her so that she would have no doubt as to his meaning.
’Then you are definitely the man for me,’ she whispered huskily, her body going limp as she melted into him. ‘For there’s nothing like a good challenge to keep a woman’s interest.’
THE END
I do hope you enjoyed reading this novella, and if you did, reviews on Amazon and Good Reads are always appreciated.
Of course I hope you have already read the first of my novels in this series, The Reluctant Bride, but if you haven’t and you’d like to take a peek, here’s the link:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FK9D792 for the UK, or
www.amazon.com/dp/B00FK9D792 for Europe and US
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Desperate Measures (Regency Undone) Page 13