Lady of Desire
Page 33
She began walking with no particular destination in mind, but it was not long before she stood once more on the promontory overlooking the sea. Behind her in the east, the sun had edged up over the horizon. Its pink light turned the cliff-top turf a soft golden green, the water a celestial shade of pale turquoise. The sea was calm.
The gentle surf laved the gleaming rocks, casting nets of sea foam over them. Even the gulls were subdued, hovering lazily on the currents of air, some floating in the waves. The wind was stronger here on the edge of the sea, but it did not scare her; rushing up the cliff face, it blew her long hair over her shoulders and stirred her skirts, but she closed her eyes, standing on the very western edge of England, and enjoyed its mildly bracing caress. Perhaps it was the discovery of a whole new depth to her life, or the close look she had just had at death—perhaps it was merely the lack of sleep—but she had never felt so gloriously alive.
Drawing a deep breath of the bracing salt air, she turned to go down the rickety wooden steps to the beach when she saw Rackford walking toward her across the green. She waited for him, her gaze softening as she took in his expression of haggard exhaustion. His strides were long but weary. His hair was tousled, his clothes a rumpled mess. The serene sadness in his eyes as he approached told her without a word that his father had died.
She put her arms around him as he joined her near the edge. They held each other for a long time, saying nothing.
“He’s gone?” she whispered, just to be sure.
He nodded.
“I’m so sorry, darling.” She caressed his hair and cradled his head on her shoulder, offering up a mental prayer for her father-in-law.
After several moments, he drew a long, shaky breath and straightened up to his full height, his gaze cast pensively far out to sea. She turned, as well, to stare again at the ocean. He stood behind her, holding her around her waist. She stroked his hands where they rested on her belly.
After a while, he lowered his lips to her ear. “Thank you, Jacinda.” His whisper paused. “That never would have happened if not for you. He wouldn’t have budged, and I would have left yesterday evening. Hell, I never would have come in the first place if it weren’t for you. You have given me…an extraordinary gift.”
“You are an extraordinary man.” She smiled and laid her head back against his warm, strong chest. “Most people would not have been able to forgive him.”
“Well,” he said slowly, as though carefully choosing each word, “I know now why everything happened as it did. I was bitter for many years, but now I can see the good that came of it—my running away. Our family ‘curse,’ as he put it, has been broken. As for me, I saw a side of life in the rookery that most men in my position never see, and now I have a chance to do something about it. But in the meantime, I just wanted you to know that I couldn’t have gotten through that without you.” Gently, he turned her to face him.
She looked up lovingly into his sea-green eyes. His tender words had inspired her all of a sudden. “Might we stay here for a while, Rackford? Cornwall is such a beautiful place.”
He grazed his knuckle along the curve of her cheek. “I don’t see why not, if you wish. After all, this is your home now. Our home,” he added softly, nodding toward Torcarrow standing proudly in the distance.
The morning mist softened its dove-gray ramparts. The sea shimmered beneath it, reflecting the breathtaking sunrise in glorious swirls of teal and gold and pink.
She glanced at the castle, then at him, startled by the reminder that he was the marquess of Truro and St. Austell now; she had just become the marchioness, rightful lady of the manor. But in the next moment, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes and cupped his cheek fondly.
“Come now, to bed with you before you fall asleep on your feet.”
“Always taking care of me,” he remarked in wry amusement as they started back to the house, their arms twined around each other.
“Oh, I know you don’t really need it,” she assured him with a wifely twinkle in her eyes, “but it makes me happy, looking after you.”
“Don’t I?” he countered softly.
She looked up at him in surprise, for his stubborn refusal of all aid was strongly etched on her mind. He gave her a knowing, rueful smile and an affectionate squeeze around her shoulders, leaning on her just a little as they walked back to the house.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
Those familiar with the real-life history of the Countess of Oxford will no doubt recognize this grande dame of the Regency era as the model for my scandalous Duchess of Hawkscliffe and her variously-sired brood. Most of the ton knew that Lady Oxford’s numerous children had been sired by her many lovers; however, her husband, the Earl of Oxford (famous for his contributions to the Bodleian Library) acknowledged them all as his own. When I came across their story in my research, I was electrified by the notion of modeling a family series after them. I have always adored both reading and writing books in family series, but giving the grown siblings different fathers from widely different backgrounds has given this sprawling project a deliciously unique twist for me as a writer, and, I hope, for you, as well. Not only does it provide me with greater variety in the types of characters I get to write about in each tale, but also, as you’ve probably noticed if you’ve been following the series so far, Georgiana’s amorous adventuring has left each of her grown children a bit wary and cynical when it comes to love. The greatest joy for me is bringing each of them together with a strong, worthy “opponent” who will challenge that cynicism, overcome their wariness, and awaken their guarded ability to love. Once that happens, each of the Knight brothers (and their sister!) are one-hundred percent devoted and tenaciously determined to make it last forever.
If this is your first taste of the Knight Miscellany and you wish to read the other siblings’ books which have so far been completed, they are:
The Duke (Robert and Bel)
Lord of Fire (Lucien and Alice)
Lord of Ice (Damien and Miranda)
Happily, I am only halfway through the series at this point. There are still two brothers left to torture (Jack and Alec) and possibly the impeccably polite lost soul whom Jacinda terms her “extra” brother, Ian Prescott, the Marquess of Griffith.
Next, however, I am going to be writing about Lizzie Carlisle, Jacinda’s “bluestocking” companion. Having grown up with the family, I consider Lizzie a nominal Knight sibling. Look for her story sometime near the end of ’02 or in early ’03. If you wish to receive a reminder about my new releases, please visit my Web site at www.gaelenfoley.com and sign up for my e-mail newsletter.
I hope you enjoyed Lady of Desire…and thanks again for reading.
With warmest wishes,
By Gaelen Foley
Published by The Random House Publishing Group:
THE PIRATE PRINCE
PRINCESS
PRINCE CHARMING
THE DUKE
LORD OF FIRE
LORD OF ICE
LADY OF DESIRE
Also by Gaelen Foley
LORD OF FIRE
Proclaimed a war-hero and made an earl for his years of brilliant military service, Damien Knight is a tormented soul, driven to avenge a fallen friend, but when his path crosses that of a beautiful heiress on the run, he agrees to use his deadly skills to protect her from her ruthless enemies—for a price…
LORD OF ICE
Keen-witted, arrogant, and mesmerizing, former spy Lucien Knight is drawn to the dark side when he inherits his mysterious father’s legacy of vast fortune and power. But the defiant beauty who is forced to marry him must risk her very soul to learn the secrets of his hidden heart, if she is to save him from the shadows….
Also by Gaelen Foley
THE PIRATE PRINCE
Taken captive by a fearsome and infuriating pirate captain come to plunder her island home of Ascension, the beautiful Allegra Monteverdi struggles to deny her growing passion for her intriguin
g captor. Lazar di Fiore is a rogue with no honor and has nothing in common with the man of her dreams—the honorable and courageous crown prince of Ascension, who is presumed murdered with the rest of the royal family by treacherous enemies of the throne.
PRINCESS
Darius Santiago is the king’s most trusted man, a master spy and assassin. He is handsome, charming, and ruthless, and he has one weakness—the stunning Princess Serafina. Serafina has worshiped Darius from afar her whole life, knowing that deep in the reaches of her soul, she belongs to him. Unable to suppress their desire any longer, they are swept into a daring dance of passion until a deadly enemy threatens to destroy their love.
PRINCE CHARMING
Destiny casts its hand when Ascension’s most elusive highwayman, the Masked Rider, chooses the wrong coach to rob. For inside is Rafael, the prince of the kingdom. The failed raid leaves the Masked Rider wounded and facing a hangman’s noose. Then Rafe realizes his captive is Lady Daniela Chiaramonte, a defiant beauty who torments him, awakening his senses and his heart as no woman has before.
Also by Gaelen Foley
THE DUKE
London’s most provocative courtesan, Belinda Hamilton, has used her intelligence and wit to charm the city’s titled gentlemen, while struggling to put the pieces of her life back together. She needs a protector, so she accepts the Duke of Hawkscliffe’s invitation to become his mistress in name only. He asks nothing of her body, but seeks her help in snaring the man who may have murdered his ladylove—a man who also shattered Bel’s virtue. Together they tempt the unforgiving wrath of society—until their risky charade turns into a dangerous attraction, and Bel must make a devastating decision that could ruin her last chance at love….
“Sizzling and sexy, The Duke kicks off what promises to be an exciting new Regency historical series.”
—MARY JO PUTNEY
“You are such a bad influence on me,” she whispered. “Give me my necklace, you rogue.” Stifling a giggle, she reached into his coat pocket, but he captured her hand, whirling her around gently so that she found herself backed up against the closed door. She narrowed her eyes at him, fighting a smile. “What are you up to?”
Lean and tall, his body packed with compact muscle beneath his formal black evening clothes, he braced one hand on the door by her head and leaned toward her, dangling the necklace before her eyes. “Want it? Come and get it.”
She tried to snatch it out of his grasp, but he lifted it higher with a taunting smile.
“Billy!”
“Don’t you want this fine bit o’sparkle?” He bent his head closer, the moonlight behind the window casting a silvery glow along his finely chiseled profile and narrow plane of his cheek. “Give me a kiss and it’s yours.”
“It already is mine.”
“No, no, my lady, you gave it to me.” His emerald eyes gleamed as he slung the diamond strand around his fingers and swung it before her face, mesmerizing her. “But if you kiss me, I will give it back to you again.”
“But Lord Rackford, we have agreed that we are only friends.”
“A friendly kiss,” he whispered, moving closer, tilting his head slightly.
She felt herself weakening under the potency of his charm. “Perhaps…one.”
His lips skimmed hers, back and forth, in a slow, tantalizing caress that made her quiver. She was grateful for the solid door behind her, steadying her weak-kneed response…
An Ivy Book
Published by The Random House Publishing Group
Copyright © 2003 by Gaelen Foley
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Ivy Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.
Ivy Books and colophon are trademarks of Random House, Inc.
www.ballantinebooks.com
eISBN: 978-0-345-49411-5
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