She had to smile. “Now, that’s plain silly. But what are you going to do about Stonefell’s situation? You need to get the money somewhere.”
“That’s where your family comes in. Sir Dominic and Charles are quite insistent about investing in the mining scheme, and they’re confident they can bring in other investors. And believe it or not, Lindsey is feeling better about the way the harvest is shaping up for the fall.”
“That’s all good news, but is it enough?”
“It will be once I sell the mansion in Bedford Square.”
Lia almost fell off the bed. “Jack, no! You can’t do that.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“Because it’s part of your family legacy, that’s why. Besides, your mother will hate it—hate me. And she doesn’t need additional reasons to do so,” she added morosely.
He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “I was pondering selling it even before I discovered I wanted to marry you. Honestly, love, I have no attachment to it, and it’s simply too big and too expensive to keep.”
“But where will your mother live? Where will you live when you come to London?”
“You mean, where will we live? As to that, I was thinking of buying one of those new terrace houses going up in Belgravia. My mother will be merry as a grig in a stylish new town house, I assure you. As for us, we’ll be spending most of our time at Stonefell.”
“Jack, your mother will never agree to this.”
He took both her hands, cradling them in his warm grip. “I know she won’t be happy, but that is her choice, Lia. I cannot live my life for her. I must live it for myself.”
She gnawed her lip, wanting to believe they had a chance. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Beyond doubt.”
“Stonefell has never been your dream,” she said. “Can you be happy with such a quiet life?”
“Lia, dreams change. My dream now is you. You are the kindest, sweetest person I’ve ever known. How could I not want to spend my life with you?”
She clutched his hand, blinking back tears. “Thank you, but I’m afraid others won’t see me in the same light.”
“Then I want no part of them. Now, my darling, all that’s left is for you to face down your own fears. Can you do that?”
She stared into his loving gaze and knew he was right. She’d been afraid for most of her life—afraid she would lose the small circle of people she loved and the one place she could call home. And yet she’d spent weeks trying to push all that away, push him away, because she’d thought it was best for him. But that was a decision Jack needed to make for himself, and apparently he had.
“Well, it would appear you’ve figured everything out to everyone’s satisfaction, Lord Lendale,” she said, emotion making her voice gruff.
A slow, utterly masculine smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “I have, although I do wish to make one other point.”
“And that is?”
He clamped his hands around her waist and lifted her into his lap. She gasped at the feel of his erection pressing against her bottom.
“I also have an unquenchable lust for your delectable figure,” he said in a husky tone that made her shiver. “And if I don’t get you into my bed very soon, I will no doubt go stark-raving mad.”
“Dear me, that would be most unfortunate,” she said in a breathless voice.
He bent down until his mouth was a mere inch from hers. “I love you, Lia Kincaid,” he murmured. “With all my heart. We’re getting married and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
Lia’s throat had gone so tight that all she could do was nod. But for once, she was more than happy to give him the last word.
Epilogue
Stonefell Hall
Christmas 1816
“My lady, you should let me carry that tea tray,” the butler replied in a mildly disapproving tone as he hurried to intercept her. “It’s too heavy for you.”
Lia paused before the door of the library. “Richard, I’ve been lugging tea trays around the manor for years. You never objected before.”
“That was before you were the lady of the house.” A twinkle lurked in his eyes. “At least officially.”
“It still seems strange, to tell you the truth. Every time one of the servants addresses me as my lady, I’m tempted to look behind me.”
“You’re doing splendidly, my lady. And everyone below-stairs agrees, I might add.”
“Especially right before Boxing Day, I would imagine,” Lia joked. She had collected quite a pile of gifts and small change purses, ready to distribute to the staff in the morning.
“Especially then.”
She smiled. “Very well, Richard, that will be all for the night.”
“Very good, my lady,” he said, reaching for the doorknob.
“I suppose I shouldn’t call you Richard anymore, should I? I keep forgetting.”
On their return to Stonefell, Jack had encouraged the old butler to retire. Debbins had never approved of her and he’d been more than happy to be pensioned off rather than suffer the indignity of answering to a Kincaid as lady of the house. Jack had replaced him with Richard, the head footman and her old friend. It was just one of the many changes, large and small, her husband had made to ensure her comfort.
“Lady Lendale, you may call me whatever you like.” He cracked a slight smile. “Just not in front of the other servants.”
She laughed. “Thank you, Betley. Good night and happy Christmas.”
Richard pushed the door open. “Happy Christmas, my lady.”
Lia started across the spacious room. The tea tray was rather heavy, and she’d hate to spill on the new and very beautiful carpet that had been installed only last week.
“Here, let me help you,” Jack said, striding around his desk to take it from her. “Why didn’t you let one of the servants bring that in?”
“Betley wanted to, but I didn’t wish to inconvenience him, and the others are down in the kitchen having a bit of a holiday party. They’ve been working so hard to get the manor ready for Christmas.”
He placed the tray on his desk. “Love, you’ll hurt their feelings if you don’t ask them to do things. They want to help you.”
She smoothed her skirts as she sat in the big leather club chair in front of his desk. “The staff have made it tremendously easy on me, so there’s no need to worry.”
Ever since their return in October—as husband and wife—the servants had been welcoming and helpful. The tenant farmers had also seemed pleased to see Lia in her new role, as had most of the shopkeepers in the village. There were, of course, a few who disapproved. Some of the local gentry were mortally offended that Jack had picked her instead of one of their own daughters. Jack had taken an exceedingly dim view of anyone having the nerve to snub her, prompting her to suggest that it might be best to ignore the offending party rather than tear a strip off him or her. After all, one couldn’t spend the rest of one’s life going about insulting neighbors; it was simply too exhausting.
“The servants respect you,” he said. “They know how much you love Stonefell and care for the people who live here.”
“How could I not love it? It’s my home.”
“I’m glad you finally realize that,” he said wryly as he handed her a cup of tea.
“I always realized it. I just didn’t think it was the right place for me to be, for your sake as well as my own.”
He sat on the edge of his desk, studying her. “It’s exactly where you should be.”
She smiled at him over the rim of her teacup. “Wherever you are is where I should be.”
He grinned. “Then we are in perfect accord.”
“As usual.”
“I’ll remind you of that the next time you contradict me.”
Lia affected surprise. “My lord, when do we ever disagree?”
He huffed out a derisive snort.
Hiding a smile, she nodded at the correspondence on his de
sk. “You received a letter from your mother, did you not? Is she enjoying herself?”
“I believe she’s is in her element. It was a brilliant idea on Gillian’s part to invite the old girl to the Leverton family pile in Wiltshire for the Christmas season. It sounds like my mother and the dowager duchess are as thick as thieves, and Mama is most impressed with the distinguished nature of the guests.”
Lia set her teacup down on the desk. “It was quite selfless of Gillian to invite her, given that she and your mother are not the best of friends.”
“I have a feeling Gillian will talk Mama into accepting the new reality by the end of her stay,” Jack said. “Your cousin is a force of nature when she sets her mind to something.”
As predicted, Lady John had been infuriated by the news of Jack’s betrothal to Lia, and there had been a towering row. Fortunately, Lady Anne had intervened, stoutly coming to Lia’s defense. Dominic and Leverton had also made a show of support by calling on Lady John to tell her that they would be assisting the Lendale family and helping to secure Stonefell’s future.
Just as importantly, Lia had been able to persuade her mother to send a letter of apology to Lady John, expressing regret for past insults and bad behavior. Of course, Lia had been forced to stand over her mother’s shoulder and all but write the letter herself. Lady John had never acknowledged receiving it, but she had grudgingly admitted to Jack that, as a good Christian, she supposed she must try to forgive such a fallen, unfortunate woman.
For now, it was the best they could hope to expect from Jack’s mother. Lady John had not attended their small wedding at Leverton House, nor had she yet written to Lia to welcome her into the family. Jack was annoyed, but Lia had counseled patience. There had been too much pain and heartache in the past for her ladyship to suddenly express such generosity of spirit.
“I’m just happy you and your mother are speaking to each other,” she said. “I was terrified she’d never forgive you.”
“Not to worry, sweetheart. She loves me and she’ll come to love you.”
Lia doubted that, but she’d be content if Lady John at least deigned to visit Stonefell someday.
“I hope you don’t mind that we had such a quiet Christmas,” she said. “I know you missed your family and friends.”
“Nonsense. This is exactly where I wanted to be. Besides, we had your family.”
She smiled. “Yes, it’s splendid that Dominic and Chloe are able to spend the holiday season with us. I’d been missing little Dom, too.”
“I wasn’t,” Jack said wryly.
When she poked him in the knee, he laughed. “I’m joking. He’s an engaging little scamp.”
“He’s a darling, although I’m very sorry he cast up his accounts on your new coat. If it’s any consolation, he did the same to me only this morning.”
Those unfortunate incidents aside, it had been a truly delightful holiday with the Hunters. And for the first time in her life, Lia’s grandmother had been able to fully spend Christmas at Stonefell. Granny had gone a bit teary, still missing Uncle Arthur, but she’d also been bursting with pride to see Lia presiding over the festivities as the new Marchioness of Lendale.
“Little Dom is rather like a drunken sailor at this stage, isn’t he?” Jack said. “My valet immediately took to his bed when he viewed the extent of the damage.”
“Now you’re just being foolish.”
“I am.” He nodded toward the door. “Has everyone else gone up to bed?”
“I think so. Dominic walked Granny back to the cottage and Chloe retired a half hour ago.”
“Good, because I have another present. I wanted us to be alone when I gave it to you.”
“Jack, you shouldn’t be spending so much money on me,” she protested. “You’ve already given me too much.”
His gifts included beautiful riding boots, buttery-soft leather gloves, a fur muff, and several books. Rarely a week went by that her husband didn’t give her a present—mostly small, intimate gifts like a new kerchief or sweets from the local confectionary. He said he was making up for all the years when he hadn’t been able to spoil her.
“Not true, but in any case, you deserve to be spoiled,” he said, silencing her protest with a kiss. “For years you took care of everyone else. Now it’s time for me to take care of you.”
He retrieved a small velvet pouch that had been sitting on his desk, opened it, and tipped a delicate gold bracelet into the palm of his hand. When he took her wrist and fastened the bracelet around it, she saw it had a medallion attached to the chain.
“Is that—” Her throat went tight.
“Happy Christmas, my love,” he said, bending down to give her a sweet, lingering kiss. “Thank you for bringing me safely home.”
“Oh, Jack,” she whispered. “It’s the Roman coin I gave you that Christmas, just before you went off to war.”
The coin had been polished to a high gleam and set within filigreed gold. It was elegant and beautiful and the most wonderful gift she’d ever received.
“I didn’t know you still had it,” she said.
“I carried it with me through the entire war. It was my good-luck piece.”
“But it brought you luck; are you sure you don’t wish to keep it?”
“I’m sure,” he said, gently cupping her cheek. “You’re my good-luck charm, Lia. I need no other.”
“You’re going to make me cry and I’ve already turned into a watering pot too often today.”
It had been such a wonderful, emotional day—her first proper Christmas at Stonefell—and she’d found herself choking up more than once.
“We can’t have that,” he said, pulling her to her feet. “I propose to take you to bed, where I can offer you a very powerful—and large—distraction.”
She snickered at his awful joke. “Very well, but do you mind if we step out on the terrace for a few minutes? I’d like to take a look at the stars before we go to bed.”
“It’s cold out there,” he said, apparently a bit puzzled by the request.
“I know, but we did it once before, remember? The night I gave you the coin, we stood on the terrace and listened to the carols.”
It was the night she’d wished on a star, hoping to be here someday with Jack, openly and happily in love.
“I remember,” he said. “No carols this evening, but we can still look at the stars.”
He led her to the French doors, taking a lap blanket off a chair on the way. They stepped out under a clear night sky lit up by a million stars, the universe’s jewels scattered across the inky void. Jack wrapped the blanket around them, pulling her into the shelter of his arms. The air was cold enough to tickle her lungs, but his big body kept her warm and safe.
Lia stared up at the glittering celestial arc, drinking in the deep happiness of the moment. “I missed this when we were in London. Most nights you could barely see the moon, much less the stars.”
For several moments they gazed upward, taking in the music of the spheres.
“Since we’re reminiscing, there’s a question I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Jack said.
She wriggled around to face him, enjoying the feel of his erection against her belly. When he sucked in a little breath, she couldn’t hold back a smug grin.
“And what is your question, my lord?”
“It’s about that demented idea you had to become a courtesan.”
She rolled her eyes. “It didn’t seem demented at the time. But that point aside, what would you like to know?”
“You gave me three weeks to decide whether to become your lover or help you find a protector, remember? You told me it was simply a nice, round figure, but I think there was more to it than that.”
She hid her face against his chest. “Yes, there was,” she said, her voice muffled. “But you’ll think it’s silly.”
He nudged her chin up. “I promise not to tease.”
“You’d better not, or you’ll find yourself sleeping on the chaise in
my dressing room.”
“Forewarned is forearmed. Now, out with it, lady wife.”
“Very well. When I was a girl, I couldn’t wait for your visits to Stonefell. I even used to mark them on a little calendar I drew up. You came to visit three times a year and you always stayed for . . .”
“Three weeks,” he finished for her.
“Yes. Those were the happiest of times for me, when we were together—even though I’m sure I was a bother to you more than anything else. And I hated it when you left.” When he remained silent, she wrinkled her nose. “I told you it was silly.”
Silly that a little girl should pine so much for her only friend. Silly that she felt so lonely when he went away. Those three weeks always meant so much.
He bent down to kiss her. Lia melted against him as he gently brushed her lips, then slipped inside to taste her mouth with a delicious passion.
“It’s not silly at all,” he said when he finally allowed her to breathe. “In fact, you quite humble me. What did I ever do to deserve you?”
She pretended to consider it. “You made me mistress of Stonefell?”
He laughed. “I got the better end of that bargain, as anyone who works on the estate will tell you. Now, if you’ve had enough stargazing, perhaps you will allow me to take the mistress of Stonefell to bed?”
“I am happy to comply, my lord.” The chill was starting to seep through her gown, despite the blanket and his warm embrace. This was lovely, but bed with Jack would be even better.
He was turning her toward the terrace door when his head jerked up. “Will you look at that?” he exclaimed.
Lia craned back to look and then let out a gasp. Shooting stars were streaking down the sky, one after another.
“It’s just like that last Christmas we were together,” she exclaimed.
“Quick, make a wish, my love.”
She did, keeping it close to her heart. She wasn’t certain of it yet—not enough to tell him, anyway. But if her wish came true, in less than eight months, they would welcome a new addition to the Lendale family.
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