by Eva Devon
Kathryn took a step forward and stumbled on the hem of her gown.
Imogen grabbed her elbow. “Here now, how much have you had to drink?”
“Shh,” she shushed quickly, smoothing down the front of her bodice. “A woman in love should not be expected to move with complete grace.” Kate waved her cousin away, her breath light and her head giddy. “He looks—”
Imogen cocked her head, the massive set of lilies in her hair tilting. “Beautiful. I know.”
“Imogen!”
“Heavenly,” Imogen further supplied, nodding in clear agreement with herself. “Bloody marvelous.”
Oh, yes and yes to all of the above.
Ryder looked transformed. The black that had formed his identity was gone—completely. Everyone, even those who were dancing, stared at him. His usual glower had even seemed to disappear, leaving him with a decidedly boyish, though weathered, expression.
And she simply could not tear her eyes from him. At last, he turned, the candlelight glinting off his jet black hair and their eyes met.
The air slipped away and everyone in the room vanished save them.
Kate bit down on her lip, tears stinging her eyes at the sight. It was there in his eyes. A lightness that had never been before. He had not only physically shed the trappings of mourning, but dare she hope he had also done so in his heart?
Kate grabbed hold of Imogen, suddenly determined. Determined that she would never let this man go again. No matter what it took.
A slow smile curved his sensual lips, lighting a fire in his gaze. He strode forward cutting through the crowd, his gaze never leaving her face.
Just a few weeks ago, she walked out of his life sure they would never speak amiably again. Here he was crossing a crowded room towards her, absolute certainty on his strong face.
“What do I do?” Kate demanded, her mind a sudden blank.
“What else do you do with a man like that?” Imogen shrugged. “Drag him into the hallway and have your way with him.”
“That isn’t helpful,” Kate hissed, still unable to take her eyes off his approaching, muscular form.
“Hear what he has to say then. Then have your way with him.”
Kate swallowed, for a moment unsure. Unsure that they could ever find the friendship they had lost. “What if—”
“Kate,” Imogen said quietly. “He’s here for you, you know. Look at him. This change, ’tis for you.” She squeezed Kate’s hand. “He is here for you.”
Lord, she hoped Imogen was right, but with Ryder she could never be sure. He was a man of mysterious ways. He had ripped her heart up and done it without even truly intending to hurt her. She knew that. But he’d still done it.
And he might do it again.
“Don’t let him beg forgiveness too easily,” Imogen said. “Make him take you on a trip for his ill behavior. To Italy, I think.”
Kate was tempted to reply she’d never been further from Shropshire than London, let alone the continent, but before she could answer, Ryder stood above her. His broad frame towered over her.
Her hands ached to reach out to him. To touch his face, to hold him in her arms. But it would be foolish to pretend as if nothing had happened.
Despite herself, she glanced at his wrist. She couldn’t see if the ribbon was there, his sleeve ever slightly too long.
Wordlessly, he lifted his arm and gently pulled back the ivory fabric, exposing his bare wrist.
Kathryn blinked, her gaze snapping up from his wrist to his face. “I—”
Ryder held out his arm to her. “Would you care to walk with me, Kathryn?”
Kate stared up, hanging on the gentle purr in his voice. Had the beast within truly been tamed? She slowly placed her hand on his arm. The gentle touch sent a shock through her and even she felt the way his muscles tensed beneath her hand.
Together, they made their way through the crowd.
Kate risked a glance up at Ryder. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a secret,” he replied.
She contemplated him from the corner of her eye. He seemed nervous, yet oddly relaxed. A slight tension played at his shoulders, but his strong face was more peaceful than she could ever recall seeing it.
They walked through the crowd, then into a side hall, then down a barely lit narrow hall. Finally, they came to a tall, whitewashed door. Ryder twisted the latch and the balmy night air, full of the smell of hyacinth wafted towards them.
“Come,” Ryder whispered. He took her fingers in his strong grasp and led her out onto the stone path that wound into the small garden.
For her life, she couldn’t understand exactly why she was following him or not demanding they speak of what passed between them. But she couldn’t find the words. Nor at this moment did she care to. Instead, she savored the closeness of him allowing herself to not be bullheaded just this once.
Kate breathed in a deep sigh of relief at the wonderful feel of the cool evening. She tilted her face up to the full moon beaming down on them. The sky was scattered with endless glittering stars. All meant for their wonderment.
Her thin slippers gripped the stones along the path as he led her forward. Fruit trees lined the little lane and rose bushes were artfully planted beneath them. As they walked in silence, Kate fought back her own nerves. A woman who was less foolish, one who had learned her lessons, would never have come out of the house. She would have stayed firm and protected her heart from further pain. But she’d learned a new lesson in the last weeks.
One could not control the heart and it was just as foolish to control it as to give it freely.
The path finally led out into a small open area with a stone bench and a sparkling fountain. Trees, their leaves rustling ever so slightly in the breeze, circled the quiet spot.
“You know this place well,” she teased.
Ryder squeezed her hand. “I know a vast many things well. But it is you I wish to know the most.”
Kate’s heart slammed in her chest.
“Kathryn, you have every right to doubt my love for you.”
My love? She knew she should tell herself she was dreaming this. That at any moment she would awake alone in bed, her eyes wet. Lord, he sounded so blissfully beautiful she was certain hyacinth dust was clouding her ears.
He turned to face her, his fingers lacing with hers. “I have treated you most ill.”
She opened her mouth to assure him then stopped. He had treated her ill, but. . . “I never should have allowed it.”
He raised his brows, surprise written across his features. “Allowed, madam?”
“I was afraid of losing what we had, so I didn’t tell you how much you were hurting me or how I saw it hurting you. That was my weakness. I should have out and out told you that you were an ass, not sat waiting for the thunder clouds to roll by.”
He blinked several times, then shook his head, lines of remorse pulling at his mouth. “I—”
She lifted a finger to his lips. “No. I promised myself I wouldn’t live in fear when I came to London.” She smiled ruefully. “But I did. I was afraid of caring for you, of angering you, but most of all, of loving you. Hardly the actions of a fearless woman.”
He kissed the pad of her finger then slipped her hand down to rest on his chest. “And yet?”
“And yet, I have realized that no matter what you do, whether you accept my love or return it, my heart will want what it wants. I should never be afraid of that.”
He gazed down on her with what appeared to be wonder. “Oh, Kathryn. I don’t think you have ever truly been afraid. When you desire something you go after it. Fiercely. Beautifully.”
Kathryn had to swallow her heart back at such loving words. So she arched a brow in mock warning. “Nor should I be a mat for you to trod upon with your brusque moods,” she pointed out, not wanting him to forget.
“Never. You will always have only my highest esteem.” He let out a sigh, then brushed a loose curl from her temple. “Kathryn, I am the on
e who has been afraid. Afraid to let go of the past. Afraid to make myself vulnerable again. And afraid to love you. I know what loss is. I don’t want to feel that way again. And by pushing you away, I lost. I lost the most important thing in my life. The woman I love.” Ryder pulled her to him, caressing his hands down her back. “I love you, Kathryn. I love you.”
Tears sprung to Kathryn’s eyes. “And what has brought this about? Why?”
“You showed me I had chosen to live only a semblance of existence. And you made me want so much more. I won’t live with the past anymore.”
Kate fingered his ivory coat. “You have shed your demons?”
“You slayed them.”
She beamed up at him. “I rather like that idea.”
He smiled back at her, his face full of happiness. “What?”
“That I am your knight in shining armor.”
He cupped her chin, his eyes dark with love. “You are the protector of my heart. It is yours to do with as you will.”
“Then I shall take it and keep it safely for you, with my heart where it shall always be loved.”
Lowering his hand, he let out a rushed breath. The tension in his shoulders eased. “You have no idea how sure I was you would send me away.”
“We have both made mistakes.” She reached up and touched the side of his face. “I’m certain we shall make more. We have a lifetime to make them. I know.”
A laugh filled with pure joy bubbled form his throat. “Indeed.” His face grew more serious. “But now. . .”
Kate bit her lip, unsure what he was about to do.
The Duke of Darkwell, one of the most powerful men in the realm, pulled slightly away from her and lowered himself to one knee.
Kate gasped. He couldn’t. It was—well, it was—for goodness sake, they were already married! She clasped a hand to her cheek, a smile tugging at her lips. “What are you doing?” she whispered.
“My dearest Kathryn, I am on my knees asking you to be my wife. Not because of scandal, nor duty, nor fortune but because I love you and because you have given me my happiness again. There is nothing better I should like than to spend the rest of my days in your company, your bed, but most of all in your heart.”
Tears sprung to her eyes and she could barely breathe she was so overwhelmed. “Oh, Ryder. Yes. I’ll marry you today, tomorrow, forever.”
Ryder jumped to his feet, grabbed her waist and yanked her against him. “Forever, darling. We have forever.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her ever so slowly as if they had all the time in the world.
And to Kate’s delight, she realized they did. They absolutely did.
The End
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A Preview of The Dukes’ Club
Book 2
Dreaming of The Duke
Available Now
Slowly, Cordelia opened her eyes and realized he was staring down at her. His gaze was half-closed with desire. “I want you,” he whispered. “Without reservations. Once. Just once.”
And oh how she wanted him. Her husband. It was such a cruel twist of fate that the man she suddenly desired more than any other man she’d ever met before was the very man who she should hate above all others. He had abandoned her, after all. Yet, her body refused to hate him. She said nothing, but lifted her hand and traced the side of his face, wishing he wasn’t so handsome, wishing that he didn’t make her feel so utterly alive in his embrace.
He swept her up in his arms and carried her to the striped pink silk chaise and lowered her so that she sat facing him. Easing her down, he knelt directly before her on the soft rug. His fingers flicked at the hem of her skirt as he held her gaze, his eyes ablaze with dangerous passion.
“I have thought of nothing else since last night,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Nothing else but you.”
“I am not going to bed you and. . .” Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at him. His words were pure torture to her conflicted soul. It was imperative she remember it was her body he wanted and nothing else. And, in fact, it was only his body she longed for. For she knew him not at all. “I do not believe such drivel, my lord.”
“Jack,” he said softly as if she hadn’t just made her position plain. “You must call me Jack. And it is not drivel. It’s the truth.”
Good God, his gaze was powerful, she wanted to tear her own away, but couldn’t. Not when his eyes seemed to speak more volumes about what he would do to her just awakened body than any words could ever do. In fact, his eyes seemed to have a direct connection to her soul and the wild heat spinning within her. “Truth though it may be, calling you by your given name seems. . . unwise.”
“But you must,” he tilted his head slightly, his dark hair brushing his forehead. “Because we are going to be intimate. Very, very intimate.”
His hands traced over her slippers then he clasped her ankles, massaging his thumbs over her silk stockings. She gulped. “Are we?” she asked feeling most uncommonly stupefied.
In reply, he tugged her skirts up, sliding them over her knees, pressing them back to her hips, exposing her stockinged legs and her lace undergarments.
Shock and a most alarming anticipation held her frozen. She should move. She really should, and yet her damnable curiosity held her still. Yes. Curiosity should always be explored and she’d often wondered about the mating rituals of. . . She sucked in a shaking gasp as she realized that she was, indeed, going to see what he might do next.
Don’t Miss the Other Books
in
The Dukes’ Club Series!
Available at all online retailers!
Dreaming of The Duke
A duchess who desires her freedom.
Cordelia Eversleigh, Duchess of Hunt, has spent her entire life in Egypt, sifting through the sands, cavorting with the local tribes, and uncovering the tombs of glorified ancient Egyptian accountants. Now, all she wishes is to go to Paris and study the mysteries of the hieroglyph. There’s only one problem. She needs to annul her marriage to the husband she has never met. But when she comes face to face with the infamous duke, he stirs a wicked desire in her nature that shocks her to the tips of her oh so practical toes.
A duke longing to be tamed.
Born the second son, Jack Eversleigh, now the Duke of Hunt, has accepted he is going to be a terrible duke. Loving wine, women, and song, he knows there’s only one thing to do. Live up to his debauched reputation. But when a young woman tracks him down in a London pub, prim, proper, and with a tongue that would make the devil envious, he is captivated. . . Until he discovers that she is his wife.
Can these two embrace an arranged marriage á la mode or will their stubborn minds conquer their passionate hearts?
Buy now!
Wish Upon A Duke
A Widow Who Knows What She Wants:
Lady Imogen Cavendish loves making merry. After surviving years of marriage to an old man, having seized her freedom seems the only intelligent thing to have done. Even so, years of dancing her way through parties has lost its’ luster and all she wants now is to spend most of the year on the small estate she’s purchased in Scotland. There’s just one thing. Her neighbor is an infuriating, superior, and exceptionally handsome duke!
An Arrogant Duke Who Knows It All:
Duncan Hamish Fergus, Tenth Duke of Blackburn, does everything right. Duty might as well be his middle name. After his father very nearly ruined his mother and sister’s life, Duncan is determined to never let the family name be tarnished again. Sacrificing his own pleasure seems a small price to pay until he meets the mad capped English woman, Lady Cavendish. In all his years on the path of righteous, no woman has ever tempted him to stray into sin, but no woman has ever been as mischievous or voluptuous as his saucy sassenach neighbor.
Can Imogen teach the oh so proper duke how to have a little fun or will two hearts be broken by propriety?
Buy now!
&n
bsp; All About the Duke
A Lady Who Vows Never to Wed:
Lady Allegra Portmund knows the cost of marriage. After the death of her dearest and only sister, Allegra swears she will never suffer the same fate. She will not become a possession shaped and destroyed by a husband. So, when her parents insist she marry the man of their choosing, there is only one thing for Allegra to do. Run. But when she runs, determined to be free, she meets the Duke of Roth, a singular man who sees her unique and vital spirit. Now that her heart is awakened to the most dangerous longings for love, how will she resist the temptation to break her vow?
A Duke Ruled By Honor:
Nicholas Andrew Edward Forth, Duke of Roth, values family above everything else. Despite his wild reputation, having lost both of his parents when he was a child, his most secret wish is to have a family again. When he meets a young lady in disguise, Nicholas quickly realizes that she is unlike any woman he’s ever met and is also the only woman for him. But when he discovers how quickly she has abandoned her own family, he doubts whether she is the exceptional woman he believed her to be. Now, that he knows the truth about Allegra’s past, will his own sense of honor destroy his only chance at happiness?
Buy now!
Duke Ever After
A Duke With A Scandalous Secret:
The Duke of Aston has always been the talk of the ton. Wild, passionate, and eccentric, women fall at his feet and gentlemen won’t dare to meet him on the dueling ground. But the duke has a secret. A secret that could destroy his family. While the world sees him as a prince of the realm, he knows that in truth, he’s worthless. So, when Lady Rosamund enters his life demanding he teach her the artful ways of seduction, he’s happy to oblige until he realizes she is the best woman he has ever known and therefore a woman he can never have.
A Lady Who Won’t Be Intimidated:
Lady Rosamund, only sibling of the Duke of Blackburn, is lonely. Raised in the remote glens of the Western Highlands, Rosamund has lived a sheltered life where only books and long walks have relieved her isolation. When she meets the Duke of Aston near her home, a man as delicious as the heroes she’s read about, the passion that sparks between them in undeniable. Adventurous spirit that the duke is, Rosamund knows he’s the man for her. But as she grows closer to the duke, opening her heart to him, his own heart closes.
