The Prodigal Daughter
Page 24
“I love you,” she admitted. “The real you that lurks beneath the armor you show the world. I recognized it at the Blue Boar, though I did not think in terms of love until we talked in Oliver’s room two nights ago. You are worthy of so much more than life has brought you.”
“Will you have me then?”
“Yes, your grace, I will.”
“Nicholas,” he murmured, pulling her into another embrace. “Don’t ever treat me like an exalted being again.”
“Nicholas, my love.”
* * * *
It felt like a dream, Amanda admitted some hours later. She had dined at the Court, escorted to dinner by Nicholas. Now she stood next to Thorne in the receiving line. The courteous greetings barely hid the delight that beamed in the eyes of neighbors and friends to see her there. Nor did politeness hide the surprise in the eyes of those who had traveled from London and had either forgotten her existence or were ignorant of it.
Nicholas led her out to open the ball, ripples of wonder rolling around the room when people saw him smiling. Amanda glowed under that expression. She had seen it for the first time that afternoon when he released her from his second embrace. It changed his appearance entirely, smoothing out the forbidding lines that usually marred his forehead and lightening his hawkish features into a visage even an impartial observer would call handsome. Her joy must have shown at that moment, for he had groaned and pulled her back into his arms, kissing her more passionately than she had believed possible and not letting her go until both were on the verge of losing control.
Now they swirled through a waltz, eyes locked together, smiling at each other and oblivious to the rest of the world. So it came as no surprise to the gathered crowd when Thorne announced just before supper that his daughter, Lady Emily, would marry Mr. Oliver Stevens at Christmas, and his daughter, Lady Amanda, would become the Duchess of Norwood at a small, private ceremony in the Thornridge chapel the following Tuesday.
“You do not regret missing a big wedding?” asked Norwood when he and Amanda slipped away from the ballroom late in the evening.
“You know I have little use for the ton, Nicholas,” she reminded him.
“Then what do you say to spending a few weeks – or months – at your new estate, where no one in society will think to look for us?” His eyes gleamed as he led her into the library.
“Perfect.”
“It will not bother you that you were there with Jack?” The question had only just now occurred to him.
She smiled. “Jack was a romantic, my love. He would heartily approve.”
Nicholas closed the door behind him and pulled her into his arms.
Copyright © 1996 by Susan Ann Pace
Originally published by Signet Regency (0451186826)
Electronically published in 2005 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.