Tact would be required to suggest new furnishings, but not now. All she could think of was him.
A bottle of champagne and crystal glasses waited on a table, and an urn of lilacs decorated the mantel and perfumed the air.
“I have another present for you.” Giles opened his portmanteau and drew out a parcel. He handed it to Selina.
“But what is this?”
Opening it, she drew out an emerald silk gown. “Oh, Giles, it’s beautiful!” She held the elegant gown up against her before the cheval mirror. A narrow cream ribbon sash tied in a bow under the bust; the neckline was a low scoop, the dainty sleeves gathered into puffs with the same cream ribbon. “It’s the loveliest gown I ever saw.”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “I was passing a shop in Paris, and it was in the window. I trust it will fit you.”
“It will. Why didn’t you give it to me when you came home the first time?”
“I was so sick I forgot all about it.”
She smiled. “Shall I try it on?”
“Yes, but first the emeralds.” With a smoldering glance, Giles sat on the bed. “Will you disrobe for me?”
****
Selina giggled. She turned to allow him to untie the strings of her dress. He tamped down the rampant desire to pull her onto his lap, to take her fiercely, and claim her as his. But even as he considered it, Selina had spun gracefully away from him and shrugged out of her dress. The fabric pooled at her feet.
She slipped off her shoes. In her chemise, petticoats and corset, a foot on a chair, she slowly rolled a stocking down her slim leg. Giles gave a hoot of approval. She laughed, shed the other stocking, and, warming to the task, tossed it to him. Giles caught the length of silk without taking his gaze from her. The rest of her clothes followed, each piece given due attention, until she stood in her chemise.
Giles drew in a breath, the dark areolas of her nipples pressed against the thin cotton. He wanted to take them in his mouth. What was hidden was incredibly erotic. The dark “v” at the base of her stomach, the curve of her bottom. His pulled the chemise over her head, revealing her lovely body.
He dressed her décolletage with emeralds, feeling her tremble, as he fastened the clasp. “During those weeks I couldn’t be with you, I dreamed of doing this.” He freed her hair and enjoyed how a lock curled around her raspberry-tipped breast while the rest flooded down her back almost to her pert bottom. His desire for her made his voice gruff. “Aphrodite emerging from the sea.”
“Oh Giles, I’m not a goddess.” She put her arms around his neck and pressed her soft body against his. “I’m merely a mortal woman who loves you.”
“Mortal perhaps, but you have rescued me, sweetheart, just as efficiently as you’ve rescued Halcrow Hall.” He swept her up in his arms and laid her on the bed.
He quickly stripped, scattering garments over the floor. Naked, he joined her, leaning into her warm body and discovering, with surprise, emotions, that hadn’t previously been familiar to him. He was happy and optimistic for the future.
“I love you, Selina.”
“I’ve always loved you, darling Giles.” She stroked his jaw. “We have our whole lives to enjoy each other and develop Halcrow Hall.”
“And the family tree, which we shall do our very best to proliferate,” he said, lowering his mouth to hers.
Epilogue
The house was in uproar in preparation for guests arriving on Saturday for a hunt ball. No corner of the house was spared from the busy servants, except Giles’ office, which remained sacrosanct. At the sound of laughter, Giles raised his head from his ledgers, winked at his secretary, and rose to look out the window. Below on the lawn, a small blond boy chased after a puppy. Running after them, gathering her skirts to her knees, was his beloved wife. The gown did little to hide the curve of her belly. A daughter this time, he hoped, with green eyes and black hair like her mother. Even now a marchioness, Selina refused to bow to convention, but the ton had taken her to their hearts and flocked to listen to her humorous and gentle mockery of some of society’s absurdities.
Giles could not look at her without pleasure and desire. She was his everything.
MAGGI ANDERSEN
Maggi Andersen lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. She wrote her first book at the age of eight, an adventure story. Maggi still writes adventure stories, but they are now sensual romances. An Amazon bestselling author, Maggi writes in several genres, contemporary and historical romance and young adult novels. Maggi loves to hear from readers.
You can contact Maggi through her website and join her news only newsletter to learn of her new releases: www.maggiandersenauthor.com
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Twitter: @maggiandersen
New Releases for 2015!
LADY HOPE AND THE DUKE OF DARKNESS
Book 3 in The Baxendale Sisters Series
and
HOW TO TAME A RAKE
Excerpt from
How to Tame a Rake
Refreshed
England
Northumberland
Summer, 1850
Willy threw the ball back to the tow-haired boy. “I declare you have finally exhausted me, Andrew,” she called. “I beg you allow me retire to rest. I am not as young as I once was, you know.”
This remark drew a laugh and a shake of the head from the gardener pruning the shrubbery. Eight-year old Andrew caught the ball and ran back to the neighboring house through a well-worn hole in the hedge.
Willy walked across the lawns toward the two-story farmhouse where late-blooming pink roses climbed a trellis on its creamy walls. She heard her father call her name and gathered up muslin skirts, running along the path, her bonnet bouncing on her shoulders by its green ribbon.
Her father stood in the doorway, raking his hands through his greying, fair hair.
Willy put a hand to her chest and gasped. “What is it, Papa?”
“Come into the library, Wilhelmina.” He held a letter in his hand. “I have news for you.”
“My, you look so grave. I hope no one has died?”
He stood aside for her to pass. “It’s wonderful news, Willy.”
She searched his grey eyes. “Then why don’t you look pleased?”
“Come, I wish to talk to you alone. When your inquisitive sisters get wind of it, I won’t get a word in.”
Willy raised her brows. When he offered no more information, she hurried into the library.
At his desk, when he turned to face her, Willy struggled to read his expression. She thought he looked sad.
“You are to be married.”
Table of Contents
AT THE EARL’S CONVENIENCE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
About the Author
Excerpt from HOW TO TAME A RAKE
At the Earl's Convenience Page 12
