I Shall Love the Earl
Page 16
He pulled Dallis to the side and kissed her tears away. No words needed to be spoken. Except for the only ones that mattered.
“I love you, Dallis.”
“And I love you, Rory.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dallis and Rory came down the stairs much later in the day—almost early evening. A blush spread across her cheeks when they sat at the dining room table to eat dinner with his mother and Kathleen. Lady Beckwith bestowed Dallis with the smile of a woman who had experienced, and recognized, the joy of a husband who doted on her. Kathleen made a quip which caused Rory to pinch her. They sat and enjoyed the meal as a family.
“Mama, Dallis has decided the house needs refurbishing and wishes your help in redecorating,” Rory announced.
“I would love to assist, Dallis. It looks a bit drab, does it not?” she said, glancing at the curtains, sending a wink in Dallis’s direction.
Dallis smiled and returned her wink. The previous evening they discussed Dallis’s wishes. She could see Lady Beckwith enjoyed that Dallis won the fight on using her money.
“Perhaps, Kathleen, you would like to join me tomorrow for a visit to the seamstress? And you too, Mama.”
“I am sorry, Dallis, but no. I hold no coin for new dresses.”
“You do now, sister,” Rory told her.
“How?”
“Do not worry how. Please show your gratitude and accept Dallis’s invitation.”
Kathleen smiled with glee at being able to purchase new gowns for the season. Even though the season was half over, there remained enough time to make a certain gentleman take notice. Enough notice, she hoped, to pull him into her trap.
“Yes, Dallis. I would enjoy receiving some new dresses.”
“Excellent, we shall make a day tomorrow of shopping, ladies. I hope you can part from me for a few hours, Rory.”
“I believe I shall join you. It is not every day a gentleman can take pleasure with his family.”
Dallis smiled across the table at Rory with love as his mother and sister chatted gaily of what they should change first in the house. Kathleen shared with them about a dress she saw in a shop window, and the perfect bonnet to match. Rory returned Dallis’s smile with the corner of his mouth twitching in laughter. All along he had been a fool to let pride stand in his way. When, if he would have trusted in the love he held for Dallis to prosper, he could have enjoyed this sooner. Rory had wasted precious time. Not anymore though. No longer would he let his pride rule any decisions he would make for their family.
Dallis never thought she'd have the love she shared with Rory. Throughout her life, her parents left her alone and feeling unwanted. Rory made her feel whole. She knew in her heart that their love would only grow as the years passed them by. To have held onto her love and not tell Rory would have been selfish in its own right. Now, a day would never go by that she wouldn’t share her love with him. Even if she had to tell him all day long, so he would never hold a doubt to her true affections.
Rory sent her a wink and nodded toward the door. Dallis shook her head and blushed the beautiful shade of red she always did when he suggested something inappropriate. He caught his mother’s eye, and she smiled her approval at his choice in a bride. When she lifted her hand and shushed him away with a wink, Rory knew his mother understood what he tried to suggest to his wife. With a laugh he strolled to the doorway and stopped. When his wife frowned at him, Rory crooked his finger. She remained in her seat, and Rory chuckled, walking to her side. Lifting Dallis from the chair he kissed her, letting everybody know his intentions. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him in return.
Before Dallis could feign further protest, Rory had climbed the stairs and entered their bedroom. With slow steady kisses he made love to her throughout the night and well into the next morning.
The shopping trip the ladies planned was postponed for another day.
Epilogue
Rory's eyes drifted across the ballroom until he located his sister dancing with another suitor. He smiled, watching the enjoyment grace Kathleen’s face. Finally, their family had settled into happiness. He wrapped his arm around Dallis tighter, drawing her closer. His hand rested across her stomach. If it wasn’t for her love, Rory didn’t know how he would have kept enduring his father’s shame. Because of her, Rory rose above the mistakes he'd claimed as his own. He lightly traced a path back and forth across Dallis’s stomach.
Dallis shifted her attention away from their friends when Rory’s touch changed. His gentle caress across her stomach caused her to raise her eyes to Rory's. Rory’s secretive smile revealed that he'd guessed. She'd hoped to tell him after the ball.
Rory whispered in her ear, “Would you like to dance, Lady Beckwith?”
“I would love to, Lord Beckwith.”
Dallis placed her gloved hand in his as he led them onto the ballroom floor. Ever since they'd married, he made sure they danced at every ball. Rory claimed he had a lot of dances to catch up on. Every dance held a special place in her heart. This one would hold the most precious of memories.
“Have I told you how much I love you this evening?” Rory asked.
“You have, my dear. But I never tire of hearing your sweet words.”
“Do you have any news you would like to share with me?”
“Mmm. I have already told you of my love for you earlier. So that is not it. Let me see. You are not so vain as to have me speak of your handsomeness.”
“Dallis,” Rory growled.
Dallis laughed. This brought the eyes of the other dancers onto them. His mischievous minx was tormenting him by withholding what he desired to hear.
“I would tell you our wonderful news, but it seems you have already guessed.”
“Do you not think that I don’t know every inch of you, or how your body reacts to my touch? You are the other half my soul, my love. Every change in you is a change in myself. Are you ...?”
Rory brought their dance to a halt. He cupped Dallis’s face and lowered his forehead to hers. When tears of happiness filled her eyes, and she whispered yes, his heart filled with even more tenderness. He brushed his lips across her, kissing her yes into his soul. Looking up, he found them the center of attention. He laughed and twirled Dallis around, her laughter mingling with his. It would seem they were still on the tongues of the ton’s gossipers. Rory no longer cared as long as Dallis remained at his side.
Dallis’s love for Rory kept growing. His excitement at becoming a father was endearing. As he twirled her around, her eyes never left his. The love that shone there completed her. All her life she'd dreamed of love and now shared it every day with Rory. Dallis treasured Rory with her heart and soul.
Rory told her, “You have made me the happiest man, my dear.”
“I love you, Roderick Beckwith.”
“And I love you, Dallis.”
Their friends and family surrounded them. Their news had spread and the well-wishers offered their congratulations.
All except for one man.
IT WAS TIME TO PLAY his marker. He had waited long enough. She was his, and he would stake his claim before the week ended. For weeks now, he'd observed her charming every eligible bachelor night after night. Well, no longer. When he stated his intentions, he realized the drama that could unfold. She had been his since the moment he became aware that she was no longer a little girl, but a woman meant for his desires. He'd fought to gain her, before her father traded her for a chance at a win. The old man lost more than a card game. He lost all. Every ounce of self-respect.
His old friend, Rory, misunderstood his intentions, however Holdenburg no longer cared. He'd tried to explain his reasons, but all he ended up with was a black eye and busted fingers. Rory had crushed his hand, thinking that would change the course of the card game. But it only brought about the loss of a friendship. Lady Beckwith knew the consequences of that night and understood his reason. She had watched him enough around Kathleen to realize his true feelings for
her daughter. Lady Beckwith encouraged Holdenburg to pursue Kathleen, but she rebuffed him at every effort. Well, now she no longer could. Soon. It was only a matter of time.
Kathleen saw him out of the corner of her eye. As she stood with her family enjoying Rory and Dallis’s wonderful news, her pull toward Holdenburg never wavered. In turn, Lord Holdenburg’s eyes never strayed from her throughout the evening. Why did he regard her with such intent? He'd not danced with anybody at the ball, only watching her from the balcony. He nursed one drink all evening, not conversing with a soul. Kathleen had sensed the first shiver of his attention and the hair rose on the back of her neck. When she glanced around, Kathleen found him regarding her with an air of possessiveness. Each dance around the floor brought her within inches of him and his intent. Even now, as Kathleen stared back at him, Holdenburg intrigued her like never before. She didn’t understand. Over the last few years, the only emotion Lord Holdenburg invoked in Kathleen was hatred. When it changed, she didn’t know. It was only when Mama urged him to court Dallis did Kathleen feel the small tug of jealously. Which was ridiculous.
When her gaze entangled with his, his smile took on a predatory grin. Holdenburg lifted his glass to Kathleen. In an acknowledgement of what, she held no clue.
The End
Discover Kathleen & Holdenburg’s story in The Scoundrel’s Wager coming May 12, 2020
The Scoundrel’s Wager
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Author Laura A. Barnes
International selling author Laura A. Barnes fell in love with writing in the second grade. After her first creative writing assignment, she knew what she wanted to become. Many years went by with Laura filling her head full of story ideas and some funny fish songs she wrote while fishing with her family. Thirty-seven years later, she made her dreams a reality. With her debut novel Rescued By the Captain, she has set out on the path she always dreamed about.
When not writing, Laura can be found devouring her favorite romance books. Laura is married to her own Prince Charming (who for some reason or another thinks the heroes in her books are about him) and they have three wonderful children and two sweet grandbabies. Besides her love of reading and writing, Laura loves to travel. With her passport stamped in England, Scotland, and Ireland; she hopes to add more countries to her list soon.
While Laura isn’t very good on the social media front, she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on the following platforms:
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Desire other books to read by Laura A. Barnes
Enjoy these historical romances:
TRICKING THE SCOUNDRELS Series:
Whom Shall I Kiss... An Earl, A Marquess, or A Duke?
Whom Shall I Marry... An Earl or A Duke?
I Shall Love the Earl
The Scoundrel’s Wager
ROMANCING THE SPIES Series:
Rescued By the Captain
Rescued By the Spy
Rescued By the Scot
Romancing the Spies Collection Box Set