She was afraid to read her uncle’s missive as any interaction with the man usually had a negative outcome.
“My lady, I heard the most astonishing thing just this afternoon. It’s what put the arrival of your letter clean out of my head.”
She laughed. “Out with it then, Mary; what is so astonishing?”
“Mr. Maitlin’s valet has resigned his post. Wiggins is a baron if you can believe it.”
“There is quite a lot of story in between someone resigning their post and instantly becoming a peer,” she replied.
“One of the housemaids heard the tale from one of the servants at The Grange,” Mary said with a dreamy expression on her face. “Wiggins left England for the Continent some years ago to escape his past.”
Anna wasn’t really surprised about Wiggins being a member of the peerage. She’d guessed he was raised as a gentleman.
“We were never meant to be,” her maid said with a heavy sigh.
Mary was a romantic, sentimental fool and she wouldn’t change anything about the girl one little bit. She’d tried to give the maid a gift of new clothing to show her appreciation for all the young woman had done to help her with Franco and her recent illness.
“Give the clothes to someone who needs them, my lady. I’m happy enough with castoffs.”
Despite the maid’s protests Anna did raise the girls pay. She would have to find other subtle ways to reward Mary for her loyalty.
Anna’s hair had been brushed free of tangles. Her skin glowed with good health. Her muscles no longer ached from climbing the staircases at Somerset House. She’d made a point of walking every day through one of London’s many parks for exercise. The daily sojourns she’d taken so far into society afforded her more than fresh air; she’d met a few old acquaintances and discovered she could hold her own in society without the aid of alcohol.
Mary began to braid her mistress’s hair and she forestalled the girl.
“I’d like to leave it loosely bound this evening.” With her hair pulled back with a simple ribbon, Anna looked quite young.
Once Mary left the room to take Anna’s message to the cook, she opened her letter.
Dearest Niece-
It was with much happiness we greeted your recent correspondence. Your uncle is far too busy with the estate to make a journey to London. Lauren and Cassandra are in raptures at the opportunity of a journey to Town to spend time with their only cousin. Thursday next would be an opportune time for us to travel. Please advise if this will not suit.
Affectionately yours,
Louise Buress
She wasn’t disappointed in the least her uncle had left his wife to answer her letter. Aunt Louise and the girls might well benefit from an extended visit in the city without him. She quickly fashioned a suitable reply wherein she informed her aunt next Thursday would suit her very well. If all went as planned this evening, she would remain in London and not join Neil in Suffolk.
There was nothing for it. She would put the scheme in the back of her mind to work. Before she could change her mind, she composed another letter and sealed it with wax.
A knock at her bedchamber door heralded the arrival of her dinner tray. She exchanged her letters for the tray the housemaid carried. With explicit directions that Mr. Maitlin’s missive be delivered immediately and that she not be disturbed the remainder of the evening, she dismissed the servant.
Removing the silver cloche over the plate which contained her meal, her mouth watered at the delicious aroma of roast beef. Parsley potatoes, carrots and lemon pudding rounded out the meal.
She ate heartily and finished off the accompanying pot of tea. Not once had she thought about wine that day.
As she used tooth powder to clean her teeth, her thoughts turned to Devlyn and the letter she’d sent him.
“What will his answer be? As for me, I choose love.”
* * * * *
His mother was in an extremely good mood during dinner.
“Lady Stafford paid a call while you were out this afternoon,” she informed him brightly. “She wanted to see you.”
The dowager’s cheerful disposition had been explained. Surely his mother wouldn’t be so happy if she’d not gleaned some idea Anna would be receptive to his marriage proposal.
A footman approached Devlyn, a letter in his gloved hand.
“Excuse me, sir. This just arrived. The servant who delivered it advised Thomas the matter was of some urgency.”
Cameron took the missive and the footman returned to his post. His mother raised a brow and he shrugged.
The elegant handwriting on the outside of the note didn’t look familiar. He unsealed the wax and unfolded the expensive paper.
Devlyn-
Forgive my idiocy in believing there was something more important in this world than love: the approval of people who don’t matter. Whether my future holds the promise of a child, I do not know. What I do know is that I love you and want to spend my life with you.
A candle will be lit. My window will be open. I offer not only my body to you, but my whole heart as well.
Anna
“Devlyn, are you all right? Whatever is wrong, my dear?” His mother’s strained voice came to him through a haze.
He swallowed and raised a hand to forestall more questions. He was unable to speak for a moment. His day had been full of planning for the future, a future which now looked dazzlingly bright.
“Pardon my rudeness. I have some urgent business to attend to.”
He rose from the table and bowed to his mother, eager to leave the room.
“Devlyn, where are you going?”
He grinned for just a moment. “I’m going to claim my future.”
* * * * *
“I require nothing further this evening,” Anna said to Mary, eager for the maid to leave her bedchamber.
With stockings that needed darning in hand, the girl exited the room. Anna rushed to her dressing table. Once seated, she removed the ribbon from her hair and brushed her hair until it crackled. Pinching her cheeks to add color, she studied the face reflected in the glass before her.
Her body responded as it always did to the thought of Devlyn. Her eyes sparkled. A becoming flush settled on her upper chest and began to creep up her neck, and her breathing became rapid. She jumped up and went to turn down her bedside lamp. A single lit candle rested on her dresser. A light breeze came though her window. She listened intently for any sounds to alert her to Devlyn’s arrival on the balcony.
“What if he doesn’t come?” she asked aloud. The possibility didn’t bear thinking about. She knew Devlyn was her future. He would come.
She heard the snap of a branch and a loud thump outside on the balcony. A hand appeared on the sill of her window and her lover vaulted once again into her bedchamber.
There were no light quips on her tongue; no witty comments came to mind. Devlyn stood before her and she ran into his arms.
“I love you,” she said with a sob against his shoulder. “I love you so very much.”
They stood together for some time, until her sobs and subsequent hiccups ceased. Pulling back in Devlyn’s embrace, she laughed softly.
“Tear-stained and rumpled,” she said, her voice husky with emotion.
“And even more beautiful than the day I met you,” he whispered in reply and claimed her lips in a deep kiss.
When Devlyn raised his head and she could speak again, she asked, “Marry me?”
“I thought it was my duty to ask.”
“Is your answer no?”
“My answer is a resounding yes,” he replied and claimed her mouth again.
The intensity of his kiss turned her legs to liquid, and she slumped against him. Devlyn moved to sit on the bed and placed her on his lap.
“We need to discuss something very important.”
She sobered. “What is it?”
“Bradley’s body was found along with your necklace. Unfortunately, the rest of the jewels are go
ne.” He grimaced. “Although I’m sorry to spoil a tender moment, I wanted you to know that any ugliness attached to Bradley is over. Andrew and Lady Pickerel have nothing to fear.”
“That is wonderful news. With Franco missing, I would have always been a little bit afraid. Cecily and her son are in Norfolk with family. I will write her and let her know about the body.”
She lay her head against Devlyn’s chest and his arms encircled her in a loose hug. She felt his chuckle before she heard it.
“You little minx. You beat me to the proposal.”
Raising her head, she glanced up at her future husband. His eyes had darkened, the affectionate look on his face replaced with an intent expression she knew as desire.
“I wanted to start our unique marriage with an equally unique proposal,” she replied, breathless with anticipation. “Our marriage will be a love-match and we will live our lives as we see fit.”
“We will throw off all convention?” Devlyn asked. His low throaty laugh was a joy to hear.
“Completely.”
“Then I propose we do without the tradition of a chaste bride.”
She looked down her nose at him. “What are you suggesting, Mr. Maitlin?”
“I am suggesting that I be allowed to make love to my intended before our wedding.”
“Quite against all tradition,” she replied with a giggle, her attempt at seriousness failing.
“And we have a wedding as soon as possible so I can have you in our own bed in our own home. I looked at townhouses today and I might have found one you would like.”
Her breath caught at the vision of waking up next to Devlyn every day for the rest of her life before a sobering idea intruded. “What about your mother?”
“My mother?”
“We can’t leave her all alone at The Grange.”
Her lover was quiet a moment. “Would you live in my brother’s house? My mother would be delighted.”
“If we’re together, wherever we are will be home.”
“We will have to occupy rooms far away from the dowager.” His grin was contagious. “You do tend to make a lot of noise when you’re being pleasured.”
“Devlyn Maitlin!”
He kissed her again and she couldn’t remember why she’d been upset with him.
“You will have no regrets?” he asked once she lifted her mouth from his.
“My only regret is that I didn’t meet you before you left England three years ago.”
Devlyn shook his head and replied, “I wasn’t the man I am today. I am better for the time I had to grow and learn what kind of man I wanted to be.”
“You might be right although it would have been nice to learn about desire a few years earlier.”
His eyes roamed over her disheveled hair and nightdress. “There is still quite a lot I need to teach you about desire, my love.”
“Really?” She purred. “No time like the present.”
They both worked at getting Devlyn out of his layers of clothing. She tried to kiss every piece of his skin as it was unveiled. Her future husband thwarted her efforts in his haste to get naked.
“Patience, woman,” he told her more than once.
Once Devlyn was undressed, he lifted her in his arms and dumped her in the center of her large bed. Before she could get her bearings he moved over her, his body covering her like a warm heavy blanket.
“I want you.” She looped her arms around Devlyn’s waist and pressed him closer. The evidence of his arousal lay nestled against the juncture of her thighs. “Now.”
Devlyn groaned and moved against her. “We need to move your nightdress out of the way.”
“Details,” she muttered, impatient. She reached for the hem of her nightdress as Dev raised himself up on his arms. Her gown now at her waist, she pulled her lover back into her embrace.
“I wanted to take my time,” he said as she rained kisses over his face and down his throat.
She moved her legs to circle her lover’s waist and gave him what she hoped was a seductive look. “We have the rest of our lives to take time.”
“Yes, we do, my love,” Devlyn replied, his eyes soft, his words a mere whisper. “Yes, we do.”
EPILOGUE
Caroline sat in the drawing room of Stafford House and exchanged a conspiratorial wink with her future daughter-in-law. Joined by Anna’s domineering aunt and lovely young cousins, the women discussed preparations for Anna and Devlyn’s wedding.
“It all seems rather rushed,” Mrs. Buress said. “Why in my day-”
“Anna and Devlyn thought it best to take the opportunity to wed and enjoy a short honeymoon before my son takes up his new position in the Home Office.”
Anna looked relieved at the way her future mother-in-law dealt with Mrs. Buress’s boorishness. For her part, Caroline was ecstatic her son and his intended chose to start their life as a married couple at The Grange. She already loved Anna like a daughter and looked forward to having the couple there to keep her company in the townhouse.
“A small wedding is appropriate considering the family is in mourning,” she said before Mrs. Buress could raise any further objections. “The family chapel at Wiltham Hall would do nicely.”
Anna nodded. “I think Kent is a lovely idea. Devlyn tells me the gardens at Wiltham Hall are beautiful.”
Caroline also thought having the nuptials in Kent would help the wedding fade quickly from the minds of the ton. She’d read some of the gossip printed about her son’s physical health and his attachment to Anna. The family would be away from London and in the country when the gossip sheets learned of the wedding.
Her heart swelled with joy at the thought of her youngest son finally finding his one true love. She remembered the day Anna came to see Devlyn and knew she should have told the girl straight away that Devlyn planned to stay in London. She’d only thought to give the girl a little push in the right direction.
She knew everything might not be smooth sailing for the young couple. Anna may have to deal with her dependence on wine for the rest of her life. If anyone was strong enough to help her, it was Devlyn.
Now if she could only find out where Miss Emma Hart had gone to, she would see Cameron settled as well. She would have to tread lightly with her eldest son. If he had any idea she was matchmaking he would never allow Miss Hart near him, let alone fall in love with the girl.
Soon enough she would be in Kent for Devlyn’s wedding. She would not rest until she discovered where Miss Hart had disappeared to. She must take one thing at a time. Devlyn had found his happiness and that would have to satisfy her at present. There was other big news coming for the family.
Caroline wondered when her future daughter-in-law would realize she was in the family way. She was sure Devlyn would rather the couple found out on their own. After all, hadn’t she promised not to interfere?
THE END
A Lady's Addiction (Honor Prevails Book 1) Page 26