At the memory of that horrific fight, the knowledge she’d come so close to losing either or both of them, the tears came harder, so hard, in fact, that she never heard the quiet click and whoosh of the front door being opened, never heard the footfalls of two men coming into the entrance hall, didn’t feel the cold draft of air that preceded them.
Beside her, Andrew had gone still.
Even the tabby cat sleeping in Nerissa’s lap suddenly raised its head.
“Dear me. Gone only a few days and the world just falls apart,” said a smooth, urbane voice. A familiar voice.
A beloved voice.
Nerissa’s head jerked up, and through her tears she saw her brother, that adored and infuriating face, not-quite-as-self-assured as he was trying to appear, standing just within the door. Ruaidri was just behind him, smiling.
“L-Lucien?”
He stretched out his arms in invitation, his eyes begging forgiveness, and before the cat could even flee her lap, Nerissa was running across the room and throwing herself into his embrace.
“You came back,” she sobbed, burying her face against his coat, feeling his arms going around her. “I’m so sorry for what I said, I didn’t mean any of it, I was angry and scared and upset—”
“I know.” He hugged her close. “And you had good reason to be. I’m sorry, too. I was a beast.”
“Why did you come back?”
“I couldn’t leave America without saying goodbye,” he said. “And, begging your forgiveness.”
“It’s me who should be begging yours,” she said brokenly, and pulling back, looked up into his face. “Why did you come back, Lucien? Truly?”
“Ah, well, seems a certain Irishman with more sense than you and I put together decided to take matters into his own hands,” Lucien murmured, with a grateful glance over his shoulder.
“Ruaidri?” She stared at him. “But I thought you were with John Adams…you mean, you went down to New York and brought Lucien back?”
“Wasn’t easy, lass. I don’t know who’s more stubborn, you or him.”
Ruaidri crossed his arms and leaned against the door jamb. Over Nerissa’s shoulder, past the duke’s tall, imposing form, he caught the eye of Lord Andrew sitting on the settee, the cat that had been in Nerissa’s lap just moments before, now nestled happily in his.
The young inventor grinned.
And Ruaidri, gazing in satisfaction as the oldest and youngest de Montforte siblings embraced and forgave, grinned back.
* * *
It was a cold and biting wind that twisted the hem of her heavy petticoats and clawed at her hair as Nerissa, her body sheltered by her husband’s big, protective one, stood on the Ashton pier and watched two of Brendan’s sailors make fast the little boat that would take Andrew and Lucien out to Kestrel. The turning tide had swung the schooner’s bows to face them, and soon her long, jaunty jib-boom would pivot around all the more until she faced the distant mouth of the river and the short journey down to New York that awaited her.
Her captain stood a little distance away, his blue coat edged with red and a heavy woolen scarf around his neck to try and beat the cold. His wife, her hair in a long braid down her back and covered by a knit cap, insinuated herself under his arm and watched as the farewells were said.
“We should probably get a move on, Brendan, if we want to get them down to New York. The way this parting’s going, they’ll be saying goodbye to each other well into next week.”
“Let’s give them another minute, Stóirín….”
“Now you make sure you write,” Nerissa was saying, gripping Andrew’s hands in her own and looking up into his eyes. “I want to know all about the next invention you take it upon yourself to create. No flying machines. No explosives.”
“I will, Nerissa.”
“And please make sure Celsie feeds you. You’ve grown thin, and I’m worried about you.”
“I’m sure I’ll survive just fine.”
Nerissa hugged him fiercely, and managed to hold her tears in check as he walked down the ramp and into the waiting boat, now bumping impatiently against the pier. She took a deep and steadying breath, and then turned, wondering if this would be the last time she would ever see her brothers.
“Lucien,” she said. “I won’t say goodbye.”
“It’s not goodbye,” he returned. “It’s farewell for now. Farewell for a while.”
“Yes,” she said, the lump rising in her throat as she saw Brendan Merrick discreetly consulting his watch a little distance away. It was time to go.
“You’ll write to me when the baby’s born,” Lucien said to her, but his gaze went to Ruaidri, enacting a silent promise.
“We’ll write,” he said, knowing his wife was choking up. “Her time will be here before ye know it.”
Lucien de Montforte wrapped his arms around his little sister and hugged her deeply for a long, loving moment. Maybe he’d find a way to get back here when the time came. Maybe he’d find a way to bring his whole family. The future held both hope and surprises. At last, he pulled himself up, discreetly knuckled his eye, and turned a gaze full of black menace on his new brother-in-law. “I’m counting on you to take care of her,” he said solemnly. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to come back here and kick the living daylights out of you.”
Ruaidri laughed and stuck out his hand as Lucien set himself away from his sister. The duke took it in his own and the two men, both so different and yet both so alike, shook warmly.
“Take care of yourself, Ruaidri O’ Devir.”
“May the saints and the good Lord himself bless and keep ye, Blackheath.”
“I think you’ve earned the right to call me Lucien.” The duke smiled, and it was a long moment before he released Ruaidri’s hand. “I’ll be back. You can depend on it.”
He turned and nodded his readiness to Captain Merrick, and a moment later, had joined Andrew in the little boat.
I’ll be back. You can depend on it.
Nerissa pushed closer to her husband, and felt his arm go around her to pull her close, steadying her as Brendan and Mira, both of them already planning their next cruise against British shipping off the coast of New York after they delivered their aristocratic passengers back into the hands of the English, joined them in the boat. A moment later, a sailor was loosening the ropes that tied it to the pier and the little craft was cutting through the cold, swirling waters of the Merrimack.
I’ll be back. You can depend on it.
“You all right, Sunshine?”
She looked up and into the beautiful, long-lashed eyes that she held so dear, the strong Celtic face with the bold black brows and wild, unruly hair that had enchanted her from the moment she’d first met him.
“I’m all right,” she said. “But it’s time to go.”
“Aye, lass. ’Twill only hurt all the more, standin’ here watchin’ ’til ye can’t see them any longer.” He bent his head and dropped a kiss against her hair. “Besides, I’ve got somethin’ to show ye.”
“Show me?”
He turned her gently, and began to walk her off the pier and back toward the street.
“Show you.”
“What is it?”
He waited until they reached the street, and then he pointed off to their left, to a gentle, wooded rise a half mile away.
“I see trees,” she said, her mind still on her brothers in that little boat behind them, and Kestrel beyond, waiting to take them home.
“Ye see land,” he said quietly. “Land that’s for sale. Land that I thought might look nice with a fine brick house on it overlookin’ the river and the sea beyond. Land where we’ll build our home and raise our family, Nerissa.” He smiled as she gave a little exclamation of surprise and delight. “Should we walk there and have a look at it, together?”
“Oh, Ruaidri… I would love that.”
“Let’s go, then.”
He offered her elbow and she linked her arm in his, and together, they wal
ked away from the waterfront.
And just before they turned the corner from Fish Street onto High, Nerissa paused and looked over her shoulder, back toward the river….
At the beautiful Kestrel, the jib now blooming on her nose and her tall, raked masts already beginning to move as she carried her new family, and her old, toward the next chapters in their lives.
Another day for Brendan and Mira.
A new day for her brothers.
The rest of her life, for her and Ruaidri.
I’ll be back. You can depend on it.
the end
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About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Danelle Harmon has written fifteen critically acclaimed and award-winning books, with many being published all over the world and translated into numerous languages. A Massachusetts native, she has lived in Great Britain, though these days she and her English husband make their home in New England with their daughter Emma and numerous animals including four dogs, an Egyptian Arabian horse, and a flock of pet chickens. Danelle enjoys reading, spending time with family, friends and her pets, and sailing her Melonseed skiff, Kestrel II. She welcomes email from her readers and can be reached at [email protected] or through any of the means listed below:
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More Books from Danelle Harmon!
Introducing:
the internationally bestselling, award-winning, critically acclaimed
DE MONTFORTE BROTHERS SERIES
“The bluest of blood; the boldest of hearts;
the de Montforte brothers will take your breath away.”
Meet the dashing and aristocratic De Montforte Brothers by Danelle Harmon (best read in order):
# 1 Kindle Store download:
THE WILD ONE
Lord Gareth de Montforte’s story
(free on Kindle!)
read below for an excerpt!
____________
THE BELOVED ONE
Book 2 – Captain Lord Charles de Montforte’s story
____________
THE DEFIANT ONE
Book 3 – Lord Andrew de Montforte’s story
____________
THE WICKED ONE
Book 4 – the Duke of Blackheath’s story
– all available as audiobooks, too! –
and:
from Danelle Harmon’s popular and bestselling
HEROES OF THE SEA SERIES
MASTER OF MY DREAMS
Heroes of the Sea Series – Book 1
Sweeping from the shores of England to Boston on the eve of the American Revolution, this is the emotional and unforgettable story of a tough Royal Navy captain and the beautiful Irish stowaway who teaches him how to love once again.
An Amazon KINDLE Top Ten Bestselling Historical Romance!
An Amazon KINDLE #1 Bestseller (Sea Adventures)!
____________
CAPTAIN OF MY HEART
Heroes of the Sea Series – Book 2
Thrilling romantic adventures aboard the 1778 Yankee privateer schooner Kestrel, captained by dashing Irishman Brendan Merrick—who meets his match in the outrageous shipbuilder’s daughter, Mira Ashton!
An Amazon KINDLE Top Ten Bestselling Historical Romance!
An Amazon KINDLE #1 Bestseller in Sea Adventures!
# 8 on the New York Times Bestseller list as part of FOUR IRRESISTIBLE ROGUES!
# 11 on the USA TODAY Bestseller list as part of FOUR IRRESISTIBLE ROGUES!
Also available as an audiobook!
____________
MY LADY PIRATE
Heroes of the Sea Series – Book 3
The sexy, swashbuckling tale of Pirate Queen of the Caribbean Maeve Merrick (daughter of Captain Brendan and Mira Merrick from Captain Of My Heart) and the powerful English hero who is determined to win her heart at all costs. Continuing the schooner Kestrel saga!
Winner of Romantic Times Magazine’s Reviewers Choice Certificate of Excellence!
Winner of Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Hero Award!
An Amazon KINDLE Bestseller!
____________
TAKEN BY STORM
Heroes of the Sea Series – Book 4
Disgraced naval hero Colin Lord wants only to pursue his new career as a London veterinarian and put his tragic past behind him. But when fugitive heiress Lady Ariadne St. Aubyn convinces him to help get her prized racehorse to Norfolk before every reward hunter in England can catch her, Colin finds himself swept up into an adventure he could never have imagined. A treat for animal lovers everywhere!
An Amazon Kindle Regency Bestseller!
____________
WICKED AT HEART
Heroes of the Sea Series – Book 5
A Beauty-and-the-Beast tale of love and redemption between a dark and brooding marquess and the woman who is determined to heal his tortured heart. Continuing the schooner Kestrel saga!
Winner of Romantic Times Magazine K.I.S.S. Hero Award!
Nominated for Romantic Times Magazine’s K.I.S.S. Hero of the Year!
An Amazon KINDLE Bestseller in Historical Romance!
____________
LORD OF THE SEA
Heroes of the Sea Series – Book 6
Love, adventure and heartbreak abound in this fast-paced historical romance set in Barbados during the War of 1812 between reckless and daring American privateer Captain Connor Merrick and beautiful Rhiannon Evans, whose charms he cannot resist. Bringing back beloved characters from previous books, this is the fourth and final book in the schooner Kestrel saga.
Original Publishing Date: December 23, 2013
Finalist – RT 2014 Best Digital First/Indie Historical Romance
RT TOP PICK – 4.5 stars
An Amazon KINDLE bestseller in Regency Romance
____________
THE ADMIRAL’S HEART
A sweet and sexy short story/novella about second chances, with appearances by Lucien, the Duke of Blackheath and the De Montforte Brothers!
An Amazon KINDLE bestseller in Short Stories!
An Amazon KINDLE bestseller in Anthologies!
____________
THE FOX AND THE ANGEL
A heartwarming Christmas novella set in the de Montforte world of England in 1779. The scheming, matchmaking Duke of Blackheath is back to his old tricks!
An Amazon Kindle Bestseller in Anthologies
Also available in audiobook!
____________
Want to know when the next new title from DANELLE HARMON is released?
Click here!
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And now, for a special excerpt from the first book in Danelle Harmon’s bestselling De Montforte series!
** The Number One Kindle Store Download **
THE WILD ONE!
Excerpt from
THE WILD ONE
Book 1 of the De Montforte Brothers Series
by Danelle Harmon
Prologue
Newman House, 18 April, 1775
My dear brother, Lucien,
It has just gone dark and as I pen these words to you, an air of rising tension hangs above this troubled town. Tonight, several regiments—including mine, the King’s Own—have been ordered by General Gage, commander in chief of our forces here in Boston, out to Concord to seize and destroy a significant store of arms and munitions that the rebels have secreted there. Due to the clandestine nature of this assignment, I have ordered my batman, Billingshurst, to withhold the posting of this letter until the morrow, whe
n the mission will have been completed and secrecy will no longer be of concern.
Although it is my most ardent hope that no blood will be shed on either side during this endeavour, I find that my heart, in these final moments before I must leave, is restless and uneasy. It is not for myself that I am afraid, but another. As you know from my previous letters home, I have met a young woman here with whom I have become attached in a warm friendship. I suspect you do not approve of my becoming so enamoured of a storekeeper’s daughter, but things are different in this place, and when a fellow is three thousand miles away from home, love makes a far more desirable companion than loneliness. My dear Miss Paige has made me happy, Lucien, and earlier tonight, she accepted my plea for her hand in marriage; I beg you to understand, and forgive, for I know that someday when you meet her, you will love her as I do.
My brother, I have but one thing to ask of you, and knowing that you will see to my wishes is the only thing that calms my troubled soul during these last few moments before we depart. If anything should happen to me—tonight, tomorrow, or at any time whilst I am here in Boston—I beg of you to find it in your heart to show charity and kindness to my angel, my Juliet, for she means the world to me. I know you will take care of her if ever I cannot. Do this for me and I shall be happy, Lucien.
The Wayward One (The De Montforte Brothers Book 5) Page 35
