She was breathing heavily and still in a daze. He wasn’t sure she’d understand him even if he told her to let him go.
And why would he want to?
He would forever be grateful for the day he and the Earl of Ridgeway stopped at Lord Clayton’s home just before Christmas, which is where Victor had met his wife to be. He never would have dreamed that someone like Maude would fall in love with him. Could see past the scars that ravaged half his face and torso.
But she had. And he thanked God for it every day.
Even now, he hesitated baring his scarred skin to her, but she would have none of it. She’d prepared a special salve for him to help regain his mobility and she faithfully applied it twice a day. At night, those massages ended in their making love. Introducing her to the pleasures of the marriage bed had been a delight. One that was mutually advantageous to them both. He’d begun a leisurely exploration of her body on the first night they’d made love and he was continuing the voyage each night.
He would never tire of finding new ways to give her pleasure.
He finally had the presence of mind to roll over, so that she lay on top of him. Their bed in the butler’s quarters was comfortable but not too large. It necessitated that they were always touching, regardless of their relative positions.
It was the perfect bed.
“Are you happy, my love?” he asked, as he kissed the top of her head.
She grinned and looked up at him. “I daresay no one has ever been happier. What of you, dearest?”
“I wouldn’t think you’d have to ask that question. My life changed forever when you walked in here that wonderful night and begged me to make love to you.”
Maude swatted at him playfully, even as she blushed a deep red visible even in the candlelight. “You must stop reminding me of my wantonness.”
“Your ‘wantonness’ – both then and all the nights since – is one of the things I love most about you. And there are any number of things I love about you.”
“I wouldn’t have had to come in here if you’d simply declared yourself.”
“You know I couldn’t have done that,” he said softly. “I never imagined you could be mine.”
“Then you were foolish,” she said, as she reached up to kiss his lips. They were thusly engaged for a few moments, until she resumed her position with her head on his chest. “Do you really think Lord James will return to America with Anna?”
“I hope not. I know it would make the family sad. And I don’t believe it would make him and Anna happy, either.”
“Perhaps Miss Wallace can convince him to stay.”
“She is in an awkward position, as the sister of the scoundrel who stole from his lordship.”
“Aye, but she’s also in love with him, as he is with her.”
“Why are you so sure of that?”
“Oh, Victor, sometimes you are hopelessly naïve. A lady wouldn’t risk her reputation for her brother’s business affairs.”
“I’m not sure I follow your reasoning.”
“Victor Stemple, the sooner you learn that I am always right in affairs of the heart, the happier we will be.”
“I cannot argue with that.”
“Nor should you. It’s obvious he’s in love with her because of the way he looks at her. And if you need more proof – which you shouldn’t – Lord James is very protective of Anna. He’d never allow anyone near her if he didn’t trust that person.”
“He does appear to be a man in love. A subject I know something about, having succumbed myself and watched the earl do the same. But why are you so certain Miss Wallace will be able to keep him in England?”
“Because, my heart, you should never underestimate a woman in love.”
With that, Maude pressed herself against him. He took the hint quickly and they once more lost themselves in each other.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, my heartfelt thanks to the amazing Melanie Friedman at Bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com for being the first to believe in me and for giving me the encouragement to keep going. She has been incredibly helpful in bringing the Emersons and the Kellingtons to life. Janice Minsberg doesn’t even like romance novels, but she always reads mine and makes them better. And a big thanks for the ongoing support from Amal Chaaban, Anabel Vazquez, Terree Nelson Lyman and Linda Thurmond DeCristofaro.
Jennifer Omner at Allpublications.com did another amazing cover and makes this so much fun.
As always, thank you to my mom, who made me a reader and a writer. She has given me a lifetime of love and encouragement.
I hope you liked the second installment of the Emerson series. Win’s story is next and, if you read the sneak peek, you know you’ll see some familiar faces in her book in addition to the Emersons.
Thank you to all of you for being so supportive. Please take the time to pursue your own dreams. They are within reach. You just have to keep moving forward.
Copyright © 2014, by Maureen Driscoll
Cover design by Jennifer Omner, Allpublications.com
Author photo by JBC Images, JBCimages.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
It is also a violation of copyright law to place any copyrighted document on a file sharing service without express permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales are strictly coincidental.
Always True to Her (Emerson Book 2) Page 22
