Sinful Seduction

by Jun, Kristi

  He was informed that this criminal was headed to the Oregon Country, and he knew he would not be back here for many months, maybe even up to a year.

  He sighed again. There was enormous relief after Harris was tried in court with the help of Daniel and committed for life so he couldn’t hurt anyone. Once Daniel was settled back home and took over the family business, Hawk felt his job was complete.

  It was strange, this feeling. He thought once he returned to Boston and settled his matters with Harris, he’d feel better and ready to move on with this life. But it wasn’t easy in the least. This edgy feeling left him unsettled and restless, not to mention his constant foul mood, according to his mother.

  Since he returned, he took Kate’s advice and made an attempt to remedy his relationship with his father. By the time Johnathan came to see his father, he had recovered, but the illness left him weak and unable to walk long distances. And the fire and anger in his father’s eyes were now nothing more than the gaze of an old man.

  When his mother asked him whether he would settle down anytime soon, Emily materialized. She haunted his dreams by night, and by day she left him feeling agitated. Hell, he’d humiliated himself enough times for that damn woman. It was time to forget her and move on for good.

  As he walked down the busy street and crossed the street to get to his horse, he saw a woman in a green dress walk up to the U.S. Marshal’s office. With her back to him, he couldn’t tell who she was. The mystery woman looked side to side as if she were looking for someone, then turned around and faced the busy street.

  She wore a bonnet, and gloves on her dainty hands, which were holding a bouquet of yellow roses, and her curves were very familiar. Too familiar. It took a moment for him to realize who it was. Was he dreaming this? Was he so obsessed with the woman that he was seeing her everywhere he went now?

  The woman lifted her skirt and crossed the muddy street, and as she came closer, he saw it was Emily. His initial reaction was to take her in his arms and kiss her, but he didn’t. Why the hell was she here alone? It was not safe here for a lady to be roaming about alone.

  “Hello, Mr. Hawk,” she said. Visibly out of breath, her smile faded when he frowned.

  For several seconds he just stood there, speechless. Just when he thought he was going to forget and move on, she shows up.

  “What are you doing here?” Johnathan said, confused.

  “Well,” she started, “I am here to tell you that I had more to say.”

  “You traveled all the way to Boston to tell me you have more to say to me?”

  “You were so very angry with me,” she said.

  “For a very good reason,” he said. “So you brought those flowers to apologize to me, is that it?”

  “These aren’t for you. I wanted to pay my respects to your family.”

  He was left speechless. Why on earth was she doing this? “Let’s get on with it,” he said. “The church is around the corner.”

  They both walked in silence. As far as he was concerned, he had nothing to say to the woman. It was only a ten-minute walk to where his family was buried. He showed her the two gravestones that were side by side. He watched as she approached them slowly and knelt down on the grass, then proceeded to gently place a bouquet on each of the two graves. She then bowed her head and whispered something to them.

  He stood there, a distance away, watching her. Why had this woman come into his life again? He could never afford to hope again; that was not something he was willing to gamble. In the distance he saw Father Childress, but he did not approach. It was time.

  “We need to go.” He watched her stand, dust off the dirt on her skirt, and approach him.

  “I thought if we could have a moment to talk?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t have the time. I’m leaving for Oregon. I have an assignment.”

  “I see,” she said, disappointed. “When will you be back?”

  “Not sure,” he said. “If you have anything to say, I suggest you say it now. Otherwise, we must part ways.”

  “I’ve come to thank you . . . for everything you have done for me.”

  “You could have written.”

  “I could have,” she said, searching his eyes. “But I needed to do it in person. I wanted to apologize for everything. The way I’ve acted, the way my brother has treated you. It was unkind.”

  “Your apology is accepted. Shall we go now?”

  Emily was heartbroken. He was so distant and cold. Granted, he’d been angry with her the last time they saw each other, but that was over two months ago. Did it matter to him that she had traveled all this way for him? “Is that it?”

  “There is nothing more to say,” he noted bluntly. “I am due to leave town early tomorrow, and I have some packing to do. You should return to your husband. It isn’t safe to be out and about alone in the streets.”

  He started to leave and she stopped him. “Is that all you have to say to me?”

  “Go back to your husband.”

  “I am not married to Lord Foley,” she said. He blinked, then blinked again, but did not respond. “Didn’t you hear me?

  “Does your brother know you are here?”

  She bit her quivering lips. “My brother has passed.” She was too late. All that they shared meant nothing to him. These past two months without her brother were painful, and yet the thought of finally following her heart gave her hope. But now, it seemed it may be too late.

  “If you’ve come here thinking—”

  “I know I hurt you,” she said. “I pushed you away.”

  “Go back home, Emily,” he said. “There’s nothing for you here.”

  “At least tell me why you asked my brother for my hand in marriage?” Her cheeks burned hot, and she was getting furious at his stubbornness. When he wouldn’t answer, she said it again. “Didn’t you?”

  “I did,” he said. “Because I had no choice.”

  “Because you thought I was a maiden?”

  “It was the right thing to do.”

  “You’re saying you only asked my brother to clear your conscience?”

  His head shot up. “That isn’t what I meant.”

  “Then please, do enlighten me, because that is exactly what it sounds like.”

  “It was only right that I ask for your hand in marriage. The truth is, it was for your own good that he refused me.”

  “I cannot believe how stubborn you are,” she said.

  He shook his head. “Besides, I have many enemies here. You are not safe with me.”

  She wanted to scream from the top of her lungs that she loved him, utterly and desperately, and that she wanted to live out the rest of her life with him, only him. But how could she when he was refusing her this way? Was he so hurt that he would not allow this to happen?

  For two months she looked forward to this day. For two months she dreamed of their future together, and she was beginning to lose hope.

  “Before my brother died, he asked me to do one thing,” she said. “He said I belonged with you. That he was wrong to get in our way.”

  “You are not his puppet, Emily. Stop doing what everyone tells you and think for yourself for once.”

  “Foolish man, that is why I am here. I made the decision to journey here. I will tell you the whole truth because I refuse to live out the rest of my life in regret,” she said. “I love you. I have never loved anyone more than I have loved you. I desperately, utterly love you, stubborn man.”

  “You shouldn’t love me. Everyone I care about has either died or we are no longer on speaking terms. It won’t work.”

  “So, you’d rather live out your existence alone for fear of getting hurt?”

  “You are not hearing me.”

  “Marry me,” she said, ignoring his comment. “I know you won’t ask me again, so I am aski
ng now.”

  He didn’t respond right away, and she feared he may reject her. The fear was there, but she knew if she didn’t ask, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

  “You’re sure this is what you want?”

  “I have never been surer in my entire life.”

  He lifted her into his arms and kissed her. “Damn woman, I have loved you from the day I laid my eyes on you, and I will never stop loving you.”

  Some onlookers pointed their fingers, and some giggled and whispered to each other as they walked by. Looking into each other’s eyes, they both smiled. “Is that a ‘yes’?” she said.

  “If you insist, I will marry you.” He released her, took her hand, and started to walk into the church.

  “What are you doing?” she said.

  “I thought you wanted to get married.” She looked baffled. “Is this not what you want?”

  “Here? Now?” she asked.

  “This is a church and I know the man in charge,” he said. “Once we’re married, we can meet my parents, then we can return to London.”

  “London?” she said. Her eyes widened with a smile. “I thought I would be living here with you.”

  “I’ll go anywhere you desire me to. London? Boston?”

  “You would do that for me?”

  “You are my life now.” Johnathan leaned in and finally kissed her fully and with all of his heart.

  Epilogue

  London

  One Year Later

  Blackthorn Hall

  Johnathan paced nervously in the parlor. Blackthorn and Roberts were sitting with their wives to keep him company at this critical time.

  “Have your parents arrived?” Kate asked Johnathan, sipping her hot tea. She touched her swollen belly and smiled at Roberts.

  “They will arrive in a few days,” Johnathan replied without stopping.

  “I am sure they don’t want to miss the birth of their grandchild,” Kate added.

  When Emily had arrived in Boston last year, she met his parents for the first time. His mother adored her, and his father was more than happy to discover that she was the daughter of a duke and related to the Prince Regent.

  Johnathan wouldn’t lie; Emily’s presence in their lives brought some semblance of peace, and he was thankful for it. Before they departed for England, his parents made plans to relocate to be closer to them once the baby was born. He wasn’t certain if this was a good idea, but it made Emily happy to have family nearby.

  With his investments and Emily’s inheritance, they had more than enough to live comfortably. In fact, they had hoped the new house they purchased was ready, but the renovation was taking longer than planned. So Blackthorn suggested they stay with them until their house was ready for occupation.

  The door swung open and Frances came running in and went to Blackthorn for comfort. “Where is Mum?” she said. “I can’t sleep without her.”

  “She is helping with the delivery of the baby.”

  “I’m sorry,” Miss Quinn said, entering the private parlor holding the three-legged dog. “She insisted on sleeping with Puppy, and when I went to look for her, Miss Frances escaped.”

  “It’s all right, Miss Quinn. She can stay with me.” Blackthorn watched Miss Quinn take her leave. Putting Frances on his lap, he told her that Mum may not be able to help her tonight.

  “I am tired of waiting for the baby,” Frances said. “When is it going to be here?”

  “Well,” Kate said, looking at her. “We can’t rush these things, Frances.”

  “Why not?” she asked innocently. “Can I stay up to see her?”

  “How do you know it’s going to be a girl?” Kate asked, smiling.

  “Because I want a little sister.”

  “You already have five sisters, Frances,” Blackthorn noted.

  “But not a little sister.”

  Everyone chuckled. When the door clicked opened, Johnathan froze and looked up at the woman standing by the door. Everyone’s eyes followed suit in anticipation.

  “Twins,” Amelia said with a wide smile.

  “Twins?” the crowd all said in unison.

  “My wife?” Johnathan said. “How is she?”

  “Resting,” Amelia said. “Go see her.”

  Johnathan thanked Amelia and rushed past her up the stairs and ran down the hall, nearly colliding with the maid before entering the guest bedchamber. There he saw the most beautiful two infants his wife was holding in her arms.

  Never in his life had he seen such a remarkable scene. His heart burst open. From this moment on, there would be nothing he wouldn’t do for his family. He rushed to his wife and kissed her, then kissed each of his babies.

  “We are a family,” he whispered to his wife. “Our family.” He saw the love in her eyes and never thought he would be this happy. “This is what you’ve always wanted.”

  Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. “A boy and a girl,” she quietly said. “I’d like to name the boy Adam, after my brother, if that’s alright?”

  He smiled at her and nodded. “He would love that.”

  Just then Frances came running into the room, her curls bouncing as she jumped for joy. “The baby is here.”

  “There are two babies,” Emily said.

  Miss Quinn peeked into the room. “My darling Frances, let’s go downstairs and give the new parents some time alone.”

  “Thank you, Miss Quinn,”

  “Congratulations,” the governess said.

  After congratulating the couple and making sure Frances was back in her room with her sisters to retire for the night, the governess went outside to get a breath of fresh air. It was a beautiful night. It hadn’t rain in days and it was clear. Indeed, it was a perfect night. Everyone was celebrating the arrival of the twins, and while it was a joyous occasion, she couldn’t help but think of her own troubles.

  Wrapping herself in a cotton shawl, she looked up at the bright stars, wondering where her little brother might be right now. When the sound of crunching gravel and a brisk gait caught her attention, she turned and saw a man approach.

  “Miss Quinn,” a very familiar voice said. She looked at the man in front of her and recognized him—a man who had lived a life of crime in the deep underworld of London.

  “Mr. O?” she said. It was Charles Emsworth, the bastard son of the Duke of Amerston, who went by the name of Mr. O in his underground business dealings. “I thought we agreed to stay away from each other.”

  “As we agreed,” Mr. O said.

  “Then why are you here?”

  He frowned and said, “Why don’t you ask your damn brother about that?”

  I hope you enjoyed Sinful Seduction

  Want More?

  Sinful Thoughts

  Sinful Ladies of London, Book Four

  Coming Soon...

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  Happy Reading!

  Kristi

  About the Author

  Kristi Jun lives in Southern California with her infinitely patient husband, beautiful quirky son, a needy sphynx cat, and two goofy Australian Labradoodles. If she isn’t conjuring up another happily-ever-after, she can be found searching the web for all things English, watching reruns of Star Trek, The Last Kingdom, and Dr. Who.

 

 

 
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