by Louise Clark
“There is no such thing at court,” Philip said softly.
Suddenly, Thomas looked tired. “Perhaps not, but what is His Majesty to do? If he turns Cedric Ingram away without a soft word the fellow will be sure to make mischief. At least King Charles and his supporters will be able to keep an eye on him if he is at court.”
Prudence was frowning. Though he remained at Ingram Abbey, she had not seen Cedric since the kidnapping and the ill-conceived passion she had developed for him continued unabated. “Thomas, are you sure you are correct in this matter? I cannot understand why Master Ingram would want to claim he was a true Royalist. Why, in words and actions he admitted he preferred the Protectorate!”
“But the Lord Protector has tumbled from power and Cedric must discover a new way to find advancement,” Alysa said gently. She added a bit more tartly, “He appears to have found it.”
“But—” Prudence bit off whatever she was going to say. “His actions are not very honorable, are they?”
“No, my dear, they are not.” There was a gleam of speculative hope in Abigail’s eyes, for perhaps Prudence could be cured of her besottedness for Cedric Ingram after all. “Thomas, is it possible that Prudence might spend some time at court? I believe the experience would be of great value to her.”
“I shall ask,” Thomas said, looking a little surprised.
Philip, who had immediately caught on to Abigail’s idea, enlightened him, although in a rather oblique way, so as not to make Prudence obdurate. “As I am sure you already well know, Leighton, court life has a way of bringing out elements of a person’s character that one does not expect to find. Your sister would do well to learn what happens in the greater world. Perhaps she might even decide that West Easton is a better place to be.”
Which meant that if Prudence could see Cedric Ingram in the broader scenario of court life she might well realize just what sort of man he was. Or she could very well attract a suitor more acceptable to her family.
Thomas looked thoughtful. “Indeed, I shall ask. Would you like to go to court, Prue?”
A determined gleam leapt into Prudence’s eyes. “Above all things, Thomas!” She clapped her hands together with delight. “Just imagine! I will be able to see the king every day. Me! Oh, I am so thrilled!”
Thomas laughed. “Don’t get too excited. I haven’t found a place for you yet.”
Prudence laughed gaily. “But you will, Thomas. I know you will.” She turned to her sister. “Are you not jealous, Alysa? If you had not married Philip, it might have been you who was going to court.”
There was a brief moment of constraint, until Alysa looked at Philip. The smile on her face was serene and contented as well as beautiful to behold. “I would have forfeited more than I gained, if that was so,” she said softly. “Philip is the most precious thing in my life and I would be lost if we were not together.”
“Is that why you rushed the marriage?” Prudence asked irreverently.
“We did not rush anything!” Alysa retorted. “We waited three months. Three long months.” She shot a teasing look at Philip. “And I am not sure my husband would have been willing to put off our vows any longer than we did.”
“At least the neighborhood cannot say that you were with child and forced to marry Philip,” Abigail said practically. “By waiting the three months you made it clear that the wedding was no hasty union to bless an early child.”
Alysa sighed. “I know a child conceived too soon in our marriage would have set tongues wagging, but I do wish I could have one now.” She glanced at Philip, love brimming in her eyes. “Philip’s child would make my life complete.”
Prudence made a face. “Well, I would prefer to be at court, myself.”
Alysa smiled. “Maybe that is how you feel right now, but when you find a man you can love, as I love Philip, you will think differently.”
Later that evening, after they had all retired to their beds, Philip said to Alysa, “So you want to have my baby, do you?”
As he nibbled the corner of her mouth, Alysa sighed voluptuously. “More than anything else in the world.”
His hand drifted down her side in a slow, sensuous caress. “Let’s think about making that baby tonight.”
She turned toward him. “I’d like that.”
Their lips touched in a sweet embrace that soon heated into passion. As their bodies met in tender communion, the thought was in both of their minds that this joining would create the new life they so desired. Later they lay quietly, their bodies still touching and their hearts still twined together.
“Philip,” Alysa said quietly.
His eyes were shut and there was a tiny smile of satisfaction on his lips. “Hmmmm?”
“If Thomas was able to get you a place, would you want to return to court?”
His eyes snapped open and he looked at her sharply. “Would you like to go to court? If so, Alysa—”
She hushed him with a finger over his lips. “I meant what I said, Philip. I am happy at Ainslie. But I have never known anything else, while you have. Your father was a powerful man at the late king’s court and you were brought up there. Sometimes I wonder if you pine for the life.”
“Never,” he said, drawing her to him again. “What I want, Alysa, is you. Your love, your happiness, your desires. If you wish, we will go to court, but not on my account.”
“Then we will not.” She curled against him. “Hold me, Philip, and tell me you love me.”
“With all my heart, Alysa. I bless the day Edgar Osborne suggested I should go down to the estate I had inherited so I could keep an eye on the Royalists there. As nefarious as his scheme was, it brought me into your life. You are my other half and I could not exist without you.”
She reached up to touch his face. “Nor I you. I love you, Philip, my Roundhead husband. Once I would have scorned the idea that I would wed one whom I considered to be the enemy. But you taught me that honor and trust and faith know no boundaries. You are all I want in a husband and as the years pass our love can only grow.” Her eyes grew misty. “Together we will help to create an England where people of all persuasions can live together freely and in peace.”
“Together,” he echoed, drawing her close. “Always together.”
The End
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DANGEROUS DESIRES
Hearts of Rebellion Series
Book Three
Excerpt from
Dangerous Desires
The Hearts of Rebellion Series
Book Three
by
Louise Clark
DANGEROUS DESIRES
Reviews & Accolades
“…an action packed journey with an exciting pair of lovers… all the history without losing focus on the romance.”
~Romantic Times
“Nicholas is one of a kind. He will sweep you off your feet.”
~Affaire de Coeur
She lifted her chin, tilting her head in an oddly vulnerable little movement. She could not gauge the effect her gesture had on the Earl, as he, too, had his defenses well in hand. They stared at each other across the dimly lit room, each measuring the other’s resolve as the candlelight flickered eerily.
Stephanie made the first move. “I think, milord, that I should bid you good night and retire. I am wet and tomorrow—”
“By tomorrow you will have had the time
to create a neat little explanation for your unorthodox behavior. Oh, no, I think not, Mademoiselle.”
Amusement colored his deep voice. Stephanie stiffened angrily. “I protest, Monsieur! It may amuse you to malign my character, but I am far too fatigued to be in the mood for jesting. Tomorrow I will be happy to discuss the evening with you. But for now I will retire.” She turned toward the door, intending to sweep out in a grand, imperious exit.
Instead, forgetting that she was not wearing a fine gown, she stumbled over her own booted feet and the clinging folds of the heavy cloak. Stifling an unladylike curse, she twisted, trying to save herself from falling.
As her shadowy form swayed, then pitched forward, Nicholas moved quickly, familiar with the layout of the room and sure of his path even in the gloom.
Stephanie felt his hands catch her waist, stopping her fall. The momentum pressed her body against his hard chest and his hands slid round her waist to wrap her securely in his strong arms. Her heart thundered—because of the narrowness of her escape, she assured herself, patently ignoring the sensations that his long, lean body was arousing in her.
“My, my. Mademoiselle, I had no idea you knew such colorful language.” His words were light and mocking, but there was a telltale unsteadiness in his voice. Evidently the Earl was as much affected as Stephanie knew herself to be.
The house was very still: silent evidence that they were truly alone. Stephanie knew that there was danger, not because Lord Wroxton would do anything to hurt her, but because he roused feelings in her that she was hard put to control. The absence of others freed her from constraints that would normally have kept her safe. “Please, milord,” she whispered.
She put her hands on his chest to push him away, but as her palms touched him, they seemed to take on a will of their own. Slowly, she smoothed the fine fabric of his shirt with her fingers, savoring the warmth of his skin beneath. His heart pounded, beating as erratically as her own.
“Mademoiselle.” Nicholas caught her roaming hands. His voice was ragged, and he cleared his throat before speaking again. “Mademoiselle, I am now sure of what I only surmised before.”
She looked up quickly. “Q’est-ce que c’est?” Instantly, she realized that she had made a mistake. Her mouth was inches from his and the temptation to rise up on her toes to eliminate the intervening distance was almost irresistible. Their eyes locked and she thought he was moving toward her. But then he drew back, deliberately breaking the spell between them.
Shakily she said, “Pardon, milord. I forget my English at times. What was it you were asking?”
Before responding, he prudently stepped back. Still holding her hands, he paused at arms’ length to examine her. Even in the gloom, Stephanie was able to watch the passion that had darkened his eyes being damped down, until it was nothing more than a pale smoldering gleam in the blue of his eyes. That he had himself well under control was confirmed when he spoke in a cool, amused voice. “Apart from the dampness of your outer garment, which you have transferred to my own apparel, I cannot help but be aware that you are not clothed, er, shall we say respectably?”
Stephanie offered no resistance as he gently guided her toward the fire and the incriminating light. Bravely, she turned to face him and boldly she met his challenge with one of her own. “I am dressed for riding, Monsieur. What of it?”
Dangerous Desires
by
Louise Clark
~
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Dangerous Desires
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Louise Clark’s eBook Discovery Author Page
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Louise Clark is the author of both contemporary and historical romance novels. These two genres are combined in Fighting Fate, a time travel story set in contemporary Boston with an 18th century time traveler who comes forward into his future, and Ridgeway, a historical time travel that takes place in post-Civil War North America. Ridgeway is available as part of the seven book time travel boxed set, Swept Through Time. In 2014 she was a quarter finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest.
In addition to working on new material, she is also republishing her out-of-print titles—Dangerous Desires, Lover’s Knot and Pretender’s Games—in e and print format. Louise holds a BA in History from Queen’s University and a Master of Publishing degree from Simon Fraser University. Her books have been published in fifteen countries worldwide. For more information please visit her at www.louiseclarkauthor.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LouiseClarkAuthor.
Table of Contents
Cover
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
A Note from the Publisher
Excerpt from DANGEROUS DESIRES (The Hearts of Rebellion, Book 3)
About the Author