by Lily Maxton
She shook herself out of her frozen state. “What are you asking of me? Do you want me as your mistress? Or do you want me as your wife?”
“I want you,” he said, low and vehement, “any way you’ll let me have you. I’d prefer marriage, as I’d like to bind you to me in every way known to man. But if you don’t want to marry again, I’ll gladly take you as my mistress. You should know, though, even then I’m never letting you go.”
Joy rushed through her. Lightness and relief. Her knees felt weak in the aftermath of his declaration.
But there was one thing marring the perfect moment. “I wouldn’t object to marriage,” she said, “but I don’t know if I can bear your children.”
“I’ll be happy as long as I have you. But if it pleases you, I know better than anyone there are plenty of orphans who need families.”
“But they wouldn’t legally be yours.”
“They would be ours,” he said softly. “In every way that mattered.”
She’d thought she had already shed her last tears over him, but she found herself blinking as her eyes blurred, and she struggled to speak through an aching throat. When she did, her voice was small and hoarse. “Do you really mean that?”
“Every word,” he said, finally reaching for her, finally cradling her face with warm, gentle hands. “I love you.”
“I know,” she said, laughing through her tears and wondering how a single human heart could possibly contain so many emotions. “I know you do.”
And she did. Nothing short of love would have made Cale Cameron, bookseller and rake, the man who plucked the highest fruit from the tree, and who, for most of his life, had lived heartbreakingly alone, propose marriage.
He laughed. “That’s all the response I’m to receive?”
She grabbed his cravat and pulled him down and kissed him with three months of pent-up frustration, longing, and love. She drew back only far enough to whisper, “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Another fierce kiss. “Yes, I love you.” And then she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her body to his. “Yes, to everything.”
His hand slid into her hair, ruining her chignon. His other arm wrapped around her waist. And he held her like that, like something infinitely precious, for a very long time.
“Much better,” he said.
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Cale didn’t have many memories of his parents or his brothers and sisters. Just the flash of an image—his parents reading with him by the fireplace, the laughter of a sibling, whispers of emotion…love and safety and joy. After his world had changed irrevocably, he’d worked tirelessly for years, doing all he could to bring back the feeling of safety.
Now, Elizabeth had reintroduced him to everything else he’d been missing in his life.
They made new memories, and he never took any of them for granted. He captured each one, soaked them all in like dry roots after a spring rain.
He was too protective of her, and their children, but she took it in stride. She would tell him when he was being an ass…albeit more nicely.
Right now was one of those moments when he struggled with protectiveness. Their youngest child, Violet, had decided to climb to the very top of one of the tallest trees surrounding the cottage, a pear tree laden with fruit. And had been too frightened to climb back down.
Cale had to fight the urge to climb up and retrieve her himself, but the limbs wouldn’t hold him.
“There, dear, you’re doing fine,” Elizabeth called up as Violet put a shaky foot on the branch below her. The pockets of her pinafore bulged with fruit, and Cale feared the weight would topple her.
He was amazed his wife could remain so composed. He wasn’t feeling anything close to calm.
She slipped her hand into his. “You’re doing fine, too,” she whispered.
He watched with his heart in his throat as Violet made her painstaking way back toward the earth. When she was on the lowest branch, he reached up and scooped her into a fierce hug. But before he could tell her never, ever, to scare him like that again, the sound of a dog barking caught their attention and she twisted in his arms.
“Look!” Violet shouted in his ear. “Lucas and Andrew brought home a puppy!”
She wiggled down, paused for a second to turn back and press two golden pears into his palm, then scampered down the hill toward her brothers.
Cale watched as a dog the size of a small pony nearly knocked her over with its exuberant licks. “A puppy,” he said, sending a disgruntled glance at his wife. “It’s a bloody mastiff.”
“Can we keep him?” Lucas yelled.
“Can we?” Elizabeth asked him, laughing. Her eyes matched the color of the cloudless sky.
“They’re going to overrun us with unwanted pets,” he pointed out, wanting desperately to be grumpy but was unable to muster the requisite displeasure. This wasn’t the first creature their sons had brought home. Secretly, he reveled in their tenderheartedness.
“We have room,” she pleaded.
“Hell,” he finally muttered, rubbing a thumb over the smooth, sun-warm pears he’d been gifted with by his intrepid little daughter, and hiding a smile. “The more the merrier.”
“He said yes!” Elizabeth called back to their brood.
His wife sidled closer to him, pressing against his arm. When she kissed his cheek, he turned to catch her lips, brief but fervent. “Tell the children to look away,” he murmured, only half in jest.
She slipped out of his grasp, stealing one of his pears and taking a bite. She cast him a teasing wink over her shoulder before heading down the hill, her hips swaying provocatively in her poppy-red gown. His very favorite color.
“You’ll pay for this later,” Cale said, glancing up hopefully, checking for signs of rain.
“Is that a promise, Mr. Cameron?” she asked huskily, making him laugh.
“Count on it,” he murmured softly.
She knelt down by the children and their newest pet. The unruly animal doused her face with slobbery kisses until she had to push its massive head away.
“Are you coming, Papa?” Violet called to him.
They all turned to look at him expectantly—his family.
He followed Elizabeth’s path to where they were waiting, biting into the sweet, spicy fruit as he went.
Life didn’t get any better than this.
Acknowledgements
Much thanks to my editor Nina Bruhns and everyone at Entangled.
About the Author
Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to good use and embark on a career as a writer.
When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.
Are you feeling…
Scandalous?
Our readers know that historical doesn’t mean antiquated, that’s why they choose Scandalous—an Entangled Publishing imprint—for love stories from eras gone by.
Our romances are bold and sexy and passionate. After all, torrid love affairs are even more illicit when forbidden by social mores. Take a little time for yourself, escape to another era, and discover a timeless romance. There’s never been a better time to fall in love.
Never miss a release by subscribing to our newsletter, and join us on our social media pages to keep up with our specials, giveaways, prizes, and what is new with scandalous authors.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter
Discover Victorian Love with these Scandalous Titles...
A new series by award winning author Robyn DeHart…
No Ordinary Mistress
A Masquerading Mistresses Novella
London, 1814
Remington Hawthorne has spent his life protecting the Crown. When he’s assigned to play the part of lover to Emma Masterson, he’ll have to risk his heart as well as his life.
Perpetually tasked with proving she is as valuable as any man in her profession, the last thing Emma needs is to be reunited with the one man who makes her want to forget her duties and get lost in passion. It will take every ounce of strength not to give in to him…
Daring love and timeless romance…
The Duke’s Quandary
Book Two of the Marriage Mart Mayhem Series by Callie Hutton
London, 1814
Drake, Duke of Manchester, has everything planned. This season he’ll marry a woman who will be the perfect duchess and a docile wife. Then he’s introduced to Penelope Clayton, the socially awkward houseguest his family has tasked him to prepare for the ton. Each lesson draws them closer, and he finds himself unable to resist her. But society can be cruel, and social expectations have a way of making decisions for you.
Discover more Scandalous romance...
Enjoy reading about lovers in a dangerous time?
An Unexpected Sin
Book Two of the Sins of Salem series by Sarah Ballance
Colonial Salem
The moment the stranger’s dark eyes meet hers, Anne Scudder’s world is immediately overthrown by chaos. That single flare of desire is immediate, driving away all notions of propriety. Instead, Anne is consumed with sinful thoughts—ones that no unmarried girl should ever have for a man who isn’t her husband…
But Josiah Cromwell is no stranger.
It’s been six years since Josiah stole kisses from Anne, his best friend’s younger sister. Six years since Josiah left after his best friend’s death, burdened by the knowledge that he was responsible for destroying Anne’s family. Now he’s returned to claim the woman he can’t live without. But even as their desire threatens to consume them both—body and soul—the dark workings of suspicion and witchcraft are afoot.
Because in Salem, too much passion can lead a woman to ruin… and condemned to death.
If you like your heroes dark and broody...
The Duke’s Shotgun Wedding
By debut author Stacy Reid
Victorian Era England
As far as rash decisions go, it was formidable. But Lady Jocelyn Rathbourne’s will remains strong. If the only way to save her family’s estate and reputation is by aiming a small pistol at the Duke of Calydon, then so be it. For Lady Jocelyn demands satisfaction—and she will have it at any cost. Even if it means demanding the hand of the intense and foreboding Duke himself...
But she’s made the first move against a very dangerous opponent...
For Sebastian Thornton is no stripling to be trifled with. The lady has played her hand. Now it’s his turn. For Sebastian is in need of a wife. And to find a wife with spirit and fire—even if she means to only marry for his money—would be a great prize indeed. And he intends to thoroughly take his pleasure with her... and demand his own satisfaction in return.
