In Good Conscience
Page 39
As for his sister-in-law, she wanted nothing to do with her former employer and had now taken up the charge to get Charlie to pack it in before their wedding at Christmas. As Liz repeatedly stated, “reality is a bitch; it’s a real life, friggin’ opera” and Pussy Galore had a frightening taste of it.
In the romance department, everyone came up a winner, even Knightley. Iceman’s death inspired him to jump feet first into a relationship with Fanny the receptionist. Unfortunately, she could not be invited to the wedding. The Thorntons lived out in the open and she knew them as the now-dead Darcys—one at the bottom of Hungry Bay and the other in a motorcycle accident in Europe.
The only ones outside of immediate family and Obsidian that were let in on the Thorntons’ not-so-little-secret were the Reynoldses, Dixon, and Higgins because they were family, too, and would take it to the grave.
He smiled at the pastor’s pronouncement of husband and wife and then kiss—what a kiss! His cousin was off to a perfect start.
***
“Who knew that you were such a good dancer,” Liz admired as Knightley spun her around the floor at the intimate reception. The baby was safe in his grandmother’s arms and there was laughter in the air. A feeling of palpable happiness filled Helstone’s magnificent ballroom as the band played, and the 19th Century mirrored panels reflected their smiling faces.
“Hey, I do work for a dance school, and my days in Monte Carlo were spent … among other things … charming the ladies. Can’t have two left feet in that town.”
“Gosh, we’ve missed you.”
“Yeah. It just ain’t right without you and—ahem—Thornton around. Do you like it here?”
“We love it. It’s sort of liberating to leave all our baggage on another continent and start fresh.”
He turned her under his arm and said, “Wish I could do that but I’m working on it.”
“So I hear. She’s a lovely girl.”
“I think so. She’s honest about herself and her opinions; she’s kind to me. It’s refreshing.”
“It certainly is. But, will you consider staying with us another week and not rush back to her? I have to admit I’m feeling a little jealous. I mean, I don’t know when we’ll see you again.”
“Can’t do. Crash’s plane is scheduled to drop me off in Paris for a quadrille lesson.”
Another turn and she could feel Fitzwilliam’s eyes burning her skin. She nonchalantly glanced over her shoulder and spied him standing at the edge of the dance floor like he was ready to pounce on Knightley. But she laughed to herself, ignoring him so she could finish the dance.
“Charlie did a great thing by flying everyone here in the middle of the night to avoid the airports, not to mention providing and creating aliases and documents. He has an amazing talent as a cobbler,” she said.
“Your sister is trying to get him to do it full-time and pull him out of the field.”
“I hate to say it to you, but I agree with her! Maybe you should think about it, too.”
“Nah. I like offing assholes.”
“Liar!”
They danced in silence for a minute until she cleared her throat. “You know, John, I never properly thanked you for everything you did for me in those dark days.”
“It was my honor to be there for you, and I knew you needed to work everything out in your own time. The last thing you needed was me hanging around 24/7.”
“Strange how life works, huh?”
“Strange that big oaf staring us down is a father now.”
“And great at it, too. Mark my words, Richard will be his little Mini-Me.”
“I’m real happy for you both. You deserve it all.” The song ended with another turn under his arm and then a dip—and just to get a rise out of Fitzwilliam, he kissed her. “That should piss him off good.”
Sure enough, her husband stood over them in the middle of the dance floor, with a smirk on his lips and humor in his voice. “If this wasn’t a wedding I’d beat you to a pulp, Mr. Clean.”
“One kiss from your stunning wife was all the payment I needed for saving your ass in Cadiz.”
“One kiss from her is worth a hell of a lot more than that.”
Fitzwilliam signaled the band and they began a familiar song from that incredible night under the stars: Van Morrison’s “Someone Like You.”
She laughed, “You’re such a mush, Fitzwilliam.”
“No. I’m just trying to get into your pants.”
“No … you’re just a romantic.”
The guests and the bride and groom gathered around them, giving them the floor in a spotlight dance that was so much more than a dance between husband and wife. All but Sarah’s family, whom they’d only just met, knew what they’d gone through and how important dancing in his arms was to her. Several guests knew that it had been a tango dance lesson that changed their lives, but only she and Fitzwilliam knew of their moonlit dance before he “died.” She would never forget that night for as long as she lived.
He took her in his arms and when his hand clasped hers, an electric current traveled through her. They swayed at first, her body moving in perfect unison with every step and motion he made as though brushing through the blades of grass and oxe-eye daisies. He said nothing, just gazed at her with the most endearing smile. His dark eyes spoke volumes to her, and she could see every emotion displayed in them like the stars that had filled the sky that magical night.
“No tango?” she whispered.
“Not today, Lakmé.”
His feet glided across the floor, leading her—as he had these last two years since finding each other. But he didn’t really need to lead anymore … she anticipated each step he made. Connected, they danced in coordinated bliss. Never had she felt such absolute completeness and unfathomable intimacy before.
“Why no tango today?” she asked as he turned her under his arm. When she came back into his embrace, he lowered his lips and pulled her against his body. Her feet stepped beside his as if one body in one space.
“Because the spirit and passion of the tango is meant to heal strangers … or lovers … through conflict and mistrust. I think we’re beyond that now. You transformed me into a better man.”
Smiling, she playfully replied, “I see. So the tango is reserved for when we argue?”
“Can you think of a more satisfying, passionate way to make-up after one of our disagreements?”
“Oh yes I can, lover,” she laughed.
He stopped dancing and kissed her in a delicious tingle that traveled straight to her womanhood. Their family cheered with cat calls and claps and the song swirled around them like a cocoon.
“Let’s skip the argument,” she breathed, when their lips parted. “Grab a bottle of Cabernet and I’ll meet you upstairs.”
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Music References
“Shake it Off,” Taylor Swift
“Back in Black,” AC/DC
“Enter Sandman,” Metallica
“Black Ice,” AC/DC
“I Stand Alone,” Godsmack
“Concerto No. 2 in G Minor (Summer)” The Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi
“Make a Memory,” Bon Jovi
“These Arms of Mine,” Otis Redding
“Someone Like You,” Van Morrison
“My Immortal,” Evanescence
“Scheherazade,” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
“For Your Precious Love,” Otis Redding
“Serenata D957, Ständchen,” Franz Shubert
“Trumpet Concerto Allegro,” Joseph Haydn
“The Flower Duet,” Opera Lakmé by Léo Delibes
“Shoot to Thrill,” AC/DC
“Flute Concerto No. 2 in
D Major,” Amadeus Mozart
“The Humming Chorus,” Opera Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
“Un bel dì,” Opera Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini
“Piano Concerto No 21 (Elvira Madigan)” Amadeus Mozart
“Embraceable You,” George Gershwin
“Isn’t it Romantic,” Richard Rogers
Note: List is inspirational and is not meant to convey or imply musician’s endorsement of novel
Glossary
Agency - Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Bang and Burn - Demolition and sabotage operation
Bel Canto - Italian: beautiful singing
Conflitto - Italian: conflict
Cariño - darling, honey
Comercializador - arranges meetings between two or more cartel members that don’t do business together directly
Cruzador - assassin sent to another country for hit
Deuce and a half - military nickname for 2 ½ ton truck
E and E - Escape and evade
El Fantasma - The ghost
Faida - Italian: feud
Five Eyes - The Five Eyes, often abbreviated as FVEY, is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Foxes - Cartel member in police department
Goombahs - Italian slang: friend, comrade
HAHO - High Altitude High Opening military parachuting
Infierno - Hell
Jefe - Boss
Jefe de Jefes - Boss of Bosses
Klicks - .62 miles in military lingo
Mikes - Minutes
Mil-dot - Within rifle scope, helps to calculate distance to target
Overwatch - Provides cover for the unit
Railroad Apartment – 4 or 5 room train car layout, a hallway runs alongside
Ring out - Signals quitting SEAL training during Hell Week by ringing bell
SCIF - Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility
Scopa - Italian card game
Soap makers - cocaine manufacturer
Sock puppet - Online identity for deception
Sombrillas - Umbrellas, cover protection
TOR - The Onion Router
Acknowledgements
When I introduced Iceman to his destiny in Denial of Conscience, I had never intended on a series, but I fell in love with our protective alpha-male and how he fell in love with his Lakmé. They are two characters who wrote themselves in each of the three and half books, and I oddly feel they deserve thanks for taking me along on their international, dangerous escapades to places that I only dreamed of going. These three years, I have lived vicariously through Liz and am so utterly happy they have found a place of serenity now. And, of course, I have to thank Jane Austen for inspiring me through the wonderful characters in her books.
Thank you to all the readers who have joined me in these fantastic adventures and to those in Iceman’s fan club (you know who you are!) I value every one of you and feel immense gratitude for your support and enthusiasm.
My heartfelt appreciation goes to my editor and friend Kristi, who is always at the ready to get to work on our latest project. Thank you for striving to keep “my voice,” and for attempting to teach me (even though I’m slow to wrap my head around modifiers, semi-colons, and comma usage.) You, my dear, have helped to publish the best book we can to readers through your dedication and professionalism! *Smooch*
Thank you Debbie and Gail for the generous time you took to beta IGC’s raw manuscript, offering invaluable insight and excitement while patiently awaiting updates as I researched and attended to other spinning plates. *Hug*
And of course, I could never have finished this series if not for my personal cheerleaders: Mom, Dad, Pamela, and Sheryl. Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself!
And to my own Mr. Darcy, Bill: 25 years of coordination and bliss. I love you!
About the Author
Cat Gardiner loves romance and happy endings, history, comedy, and Jane Austen. A member of the National League of American Pen Women and a PAN member of Romance Writers of America, she enjoys writing across the spectrum of Pride and Prejudice inspired romance novels. From the comedic Christmas, Chick Lits Lucky 13 and Villa Fortuna, to the sultry Conscience Series bad boy biker Darcy, these contemporary novels will appeal to many Mr. Darcy lovers.
Cat’s love of 20th Century Historical fiction merges in her first Pride & Prejudice “alternate era,” set in a 1952 Noir, Undercover. Her greatest love is writing Historical Fiction, WWII–era Romance and it is in Memories of Old Antique Shop Series where she has merged her two loves: WWII and P&P with time-travel in three novelettes. The fourth is on its way!
Historical fiction devotees will thoroughly enjoy Cat’s debut WWII epic novel, A Moment Forever, a 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award Romance Finalist. She is currently working on her second novel in the Liberty Victory Series.
Connect with Cat
facebook.com/cat.t.gardiner
vanityandpridepress.com / twitter.com/VPPressNovels
cgardiner1940s.com / twitter.com/40sexperience
Vanity & Pride Press
Austen-Inspired Books by Cat Gardiner
The Conscience Series
Contemporary, Romantic Adventure
Denial of Conscience, Book 1
Guilty Conscience, Bonus Vignettes
Without a Conscience, Book 2
In Good Conscience, Book 3
Memories of Old Series
Contemporary, WWII-era, Time-travel Novelettes
A Vintage Valentine
A Vintage Victory
A Vintage Halloween
Undercover – An Austen Noir
Mid-20th Century, Steamy romance, Mystery
Villa Fortuna – Pride, Prejudice, & a Haircut
Contemporary romantic comedy, Holiday
* Honorable Mention, 2016 Hollywood Book Festival
Lucky 13 – Matchmaking & Misunderstandings
Contemporary romantic comedy, Holiday
**
Romantic Historical Fiction by Cat Gardiner
A Moment Forever
A compelling WWII Historical Fiction romantic epic
* Romance Finalist, 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
**
Austen-Inspired Books by Pamela Lynne
Dearest Friends
A heartwarming, Regency, Pride and Prejudice variation
* Bronze Medalist, 2016 IPPY Award in Romance
Family Portraits
Romantic Regency, a Dearest Friends continuation
Sketching Character
Romantic Regency, Pride and Prejudice what-if variation