The two girls stared at him in stunned amazement, being well aware that grown-ups seldom volunteered for such things after a busy day.
“Yes!” they shrieked in unison, before running off, likely to fetch every game they could lay their hands on.
“Away with ye, then,” Ross said, winking at them. “Ye had best not disappoint Mrs Murray. She’s expecting those wee knitted booties to be filled nine months from now.”
“If not sooner,” Samuel murmured under his breath so only Sampson could hear.
Sampson did not need asking twice. He tugged at Gwenn’s hand, pulling her in his wake as he ran up the stairs. She laughed as she hurried after him, still clutching Mrs Murray’s gift in one hand. Ushering her into the part of the house that held his private rooms, he closed the door and locked it behind him.
“There’s no escape now, Lady Cheam,” he said, grinning at her.
“Thank goodness,” Gwenn said, staring at him with such happiness in her eyes he felt quite dazzled by it. “I never want to be parted from you again. Nor the girls,” she added.
“I can’t help but wonder if you didn’t marry me for my sisters,” he said with a rueful smile.
Gwenn smiled and moved closer to him. “I do adore those girls,” she said, her voice soft. “But I have to admit that you have a certain appeal, too.”
Sampson chuckled and took the tiny knitted garments from her hand, staring down at them and imagining her round with his child. The image pleased him more than he could credit. He wanted that. “A big family?” he asked her, knowing what the answer would be.
“Yes, please,” she said, her voice a little breathless now. “A big noisy, chaotic family, full of love and laughter.”
He set the items down on his dresser and turned around to smile at her. “Poor Mrs Wilson will have her hands full.”
“I like Mrs Wilson,” Gwenn said, sliding her arms about his neck.
Sampson nodded. “You can thank Mrs Murray for finding her.”
In the days after Gwenn had left and Sampson had followed her back to London, Mrs Murray had sought out a governess. Mrs Wilson was a no-nonsense Scottish lady, a widow who had raised two sons and a daughter. She was also warm and kind and had been immediately taken with her two charges. Susan and Selina had resisted her at first, too distressed by Gwenn’s departure to take to another governess, but now it was clear there was a strong bond between them, and the girls were happy.
The girls were happy.
The knowledge settled in Sampson’s chest, and any last shred of anxiety he’d held onto these past weeks faded away. The girls would be fine, better than fine with Gwenn to guide them. They also had him and the rest of the family to protect them and keep them safe, not to mention some surprising friends. Blackehart, rather to Sampson’s astonishment, had turned out to be a devoted family man, and had taken to the twins at once. Naturally, they adored him. Any young man with less than honourable intentions towards those girls in the future would think twice and run in the other direction. The idea made him smile.
“You’re happy,” Gwenn said, stroking his cheek.
Sampson nodded. “Happier than I ever dreamed, than I ever realised was even possible.”
“I know,” Gwenn said, laying her head on his chest. “I feel the same way.”
“It was good of your mother to miss the wedding.”
Gwenn’s smile was rueful. “She said watching my triumph from afar was gift enough and that she’d never been prouder. I think that’s the nicest thing she’s ever said to me.”
“We’ll not cut her out of the family, Gwenn,” Sampson said. “I won’t stop you seeing her or visiting.”
“Thank you.” The smile she gave warmed him to his toes. “I would not like to lose her. She’s not an easy woman, but… well, I love her all the same. Anyway, I believe Alvermarle has bought her diamonds to soften the blow of having a married daughter, so she’s happy.”
Sampson laughed. “And what should I buy my lovely wife to make her happy?”
Gwenn sighed and touched a finger to his lips. “The only thing I want right now is this wicked tongue.”
She tugged at his neck and Sampson went willingly, desire rolling through him like a heated wave as their mouths met and her tongue sought his. He kissed her, slow and languid and deep, before drawing back.
“Where else do you want my tongue?” he asked, already breathless with wanting.
She let him go and turned away, sauntering to the bed, perching on the edge of the mattress. Sampson watched as she kicked off first one shoe, then the next.
“Hmmm,” she said, a low sultry sound that made his cock twitch with anticipation. “You may kiss my foot.”
Gwenn extended one dainty foot and beckoned him with a crooked finger. He went to her, of course, and got to his knees before her, sliding his hands over her silk clad leg before bending his head to press his mouth to her instep.
“And here?” he asked, kissing her ankle.
“No, not there,” she said, so he moved his attention to the inside of her knee.
“Here?”
“No.”
Sampson watched as she gathered her skirts and raised them higher, parting her legs. His mouth went dry. Slowly, he leaned in and kissed her inner thigh, the scent of her teasing his senses, lily of the valley and the feminine heat of her need for him.
“Here?” he asked, his voice rough.
“No,” she said again, though she was breathless now.
Spreading her legs wide, he looked up at her before sliding his tongue through the soft curls at the apex of her thighs to touch tiny bud hidden beneath. He drew back.
“Here?”
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
She lay back on the bed, holding her skirts out of his way, and Sampson gave a low chuckle of pleasure at her obvious desire.
“Your wish is my command, Lady Cheam,” he murmured, more than happy to settle to his task. He teased and tormented her, bringing her to the edge of what she could bear, until she was clutching at the bedsheets, her body bowed before leaving her suspended at the moment before she climaxed.
“Sampson!” she exclaimed, her voice tight with frustration.
“Wait for me, love,” he said, pressing a kiss to her thigh before standing and undressing himself. She sat up with a huff to watch him disrobe and he grinned at her, quite unrepentant. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” he observed, once he was naked.
A shiver ran over him as her heated gaze took him in, lingering on his cock, hard and aroused. She slid from the bed and turned so he could unhook her dress, and he worked as quickly as his eager fingers could manage, throwing the beautiful gown to one side and discarding stays and petticoats with speed until only her stockings remained.
He sighed as she leaned back against him, the lovely swell of her bottom cradling his sex as he reached around and cupped her breasts, squeezing and pinching her nipples until she moaned her pleasure.
“So beautiful,” he murmured. “And all mine.”
She laughed then, a breathless sound of pure happiness. “All yours. Always.”
Sampson carried her to the bed and made love to her, taking his time to show her everything he felt, until his wife could be in no doubt that she was loved and adored, and would be cherished, always.
Much later, when the house was sleeping and skies beyond the windows dark and starlit, they lay together, sated and sleepy.
“Where did you go?” he asked her.
She understood at once, though they had never spoken of it before.
“Italy,” she said, toying with the hair on his chest. “Tuscany. A tiny village in the hills. It was extraordinarily beautiful. Not that I could appreciate it. I was too unhappy.”
Sampson turned on his side to look at her and took her fingers, kissing each one in turn. “We’ll go back there, and you can show us all and make it a place of happier memories. I don’t want you to think of such a lovely place with sorrow, Gwenn. You will never
be unhappy again.”
She smiled at that and touched her hand to his face. “I think life sends everyone challenges, and it is not within our power or our right to be happy all the time, but I do know I will never be alone again, and we will face any troubles that come our way together. I know, as the girls know, that you will always be with me, that you will always be there for me.”
“That I can promise,” he said, staring into her lovely turquoise eyes and seeing a beautiful future stretching out before them in the sparkle they contained.
“Then that is all I desire,” she said with a soft sigh.
“All you desire?” he repeated, a devilish note lingering in the words.
“Oh, well….” A naughty smile curved over her lush mouth and she leaned in to nip his lower lip. “Perhaps not quite all.”
Sampson gave a low chuckle of delight and turned her onto her back, eager to discover just what it was his delicious wife desired next.
Don’t miss Samuel’s story… coming soon!
Characters Referenced from Other Books
If you missed The Earl of Falmouth, Black Rule or Ross Moncreiffe’s story, you’ll find them in the Rogues and Gentlemen Series, details below…
Alex Sinclair, The Earl of Falmouth:
Book 2 – The Earl’s Temptation.
Luther Blackehart (Black Rule):
Book 14 – The Blackest of Hearts.
Captain Ross Moncreiffe:
Book 16 – The Scent of Scandal.
Turn the pages for links to these books and more!
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About Me!
I started this incredible journey way back in 2010 with The Key to Erebus but didn’t summon the courage to hit publish until October 2012. For anyone who’s done it, you’ll know publishing your first title is a terribly scary thing! I still get butterflies on the morning a new title releases but the terror has subsided at least. Now I just live in dread of the day my daughters are old enough to read them.
The horror! (On both sides I suspect.)
2017 marked the year that I made my first foray into Historical Romance and the world of the Regency Romance, and my word what a year! I was delighted by the response to this series and can’t wait to add more titles. Paranormal Romance readers need not despair however as there is much more to come there too. Writing has become an addiction and as soon as one book is over I’m hugely excited to start the next so you can expect plenty more in the future.
As many of my works reflect I am greatly influenced by the beautiful French countryside in which I live. I’ve been here in the South West for the past twenty years though I was born and raised in England. My three gorgeous girls are all bilingual and the youngest who is only six, is showing signs of following in my footsteps after producing The Lonely Princess all by herself.
I’m told book two is coming soon ...
She’s keeping me on my toes, so I’d better get cracking!
KEEP READING TO DISCOVER MY OTHER BOOKS!
Other Works by Emma V. Leech
(For those of you who have read The French Fae Legend series, please remember that chronologically The Heart of Arima precedes The Dark Prince)
Rogues & Gentlemen
The Rogue
The Earl’s Temptation
Scandal’s Daughter
The Devil May Care
Nearly Ruining Mr. Russell
One Wicked Winter
To Tame a Savage Heart
Persuading Patience
The Last Man in London
Flaming June
Charity and the Devil
A Slight Indiscretion
The Corinthian Duke
The Blackest of Hearts
Duke and Duplicity
The Scent of Scandal
Melting Miss Wynter
The Rogue and The Earl’s Temptation Boxset
The Regency Romance Mysteries
Dying for a Duke
A Dog in a Doublet
The Rum and the Fox
Girls Who Dare
To Dare a Duke
To Steal A Kiss
To Break the Rules
To Follow Her Heart
To Wager with Love (November 15, 2019)
To Dance with a Devil (December 20, 2019)
The French Vampire Legend
The Key to Erebus
The Heart of Arima
The Fires of Tartarus
The Boxset (The Key to Erebus, The Heart of Arima)
The Son of Darkness (October 31, 2020)
The French Fae Legend
The Dark Prince
The Dark Heart
The Dark Deceit
The Darkest Night
Short Stories: A Dark Collection.
Stand Alone
The Book Lover (a paranormal novella)
Audio Books!
Don’t have time to read but still need your romance fix? The wait is over…
By popular demand, get your favourite Emma V Leech Regency Romance books on audio at Audible as performed by the incomparable Philip Battley and Gerard Marzilli. Several titles available and more added each month!
Click the links to choose your favourite and start listening now.
Rogues & Gentlemen
The Rogue
The Earl’s Tempation
Scandal's Daughter
The Devil May Care
Nearly Ruining Mr Russell
One Wicked Winter
To Tame a Savage Heart
Persuading Patience
The Last Man in London
Flaming June
Girls Who Dare
To Dare a Duke
To Steal A Kiss
To Break the Rules (coming soon)
The Regency Romance Mysteries
Dying for a Duke
A Dog in a Doublet (coming soon)
Girls Who Dare– The exciting new series from Emma V Leech, the multi-award-winning, Amazon Top 10 romance writer behind the Rogues & Gentlemen series.
Inside every wallflower is the beating heart of a lioness, a passionate individual willing to risk all for their dream, if only they can find the courage to begin. When these overlooked girls make a pact to change their lives, anything can happen.
Ten girls – Ten dares in a hat. Who will dare to risk it all?
To Dare a Duke
Girls Who Dare Book 1
Dreams of true love and happy ever afters
Dreams of love are all well and good, but all Prunella Chuffington-Smythe wants is to publish her novel. Marriage at the price of her independence is something she will not consider. Having tasted success writing under a false name in The Lady’s Weekly Review, her alter ego is attaining notoriety and fame and Prue rather likes it.
A Duty that must be endured
Robert Adolphus, The Duke of Bedwin, is in no hurry to marry, he’s done it once and repeating that disaster is the last thing he desires. Yet, an heir is a necessary evil for a duke and one he cannot shirk. A dark reputation precedes him though, his first wife may have died young, but the scandals the beautiful, vivacious and spiteful creature supplied the ton have not. A wife must be found. A wife who is neither beautiful or vivacious but sweet and dull, and certain to stay out of trouble.
Dared to do something drastic
However, Prue cannot help being intrigued by the rogue who has inspired so many of her romances. Ordinarily, he plays the part of handsome rake, set on destroying her plucky heroine. But is he really the villain of the piece this time, or could he be the hero?
Finding out will be dangerous, but it just might inspire her greatest story yet.
To Dare a Duke
Interested in a Regency Romance with a twist?
Dying for a Duke
The Regency Romance Mysteries Book 1
Straight-laced, imperious and morally rigid, Benedict Rutland - the darkly handsome Earl of Rothay - gained his title too young. Responsible for a large family of younger siblings that his frivolous parents have brought to bankruptcy, his youth was spent clawing back the family fortunes.
Now a man in his prime and financially secure he is betrothed to a strict, sensible and cool-headed woman who will never upset the balance of his life or disturb his emotions ...
But then Miss Skeffington-Fox arrives.
Brought up solely by her rake of a step-father, Benedict is scandalised by everything about the dashing Miss.
Melting Miss Wynter (Rogues and Gentlemen Book 17) Page 24