Keepsake (The Distinguished Rogues Book 5)

by Heather Boyd

  Miranda laughed softly and raked her nails down the sides of his chest the way he liked. “You’ve made a plan already.”

  Kit grunted and rolled her onto her back once more. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and licked and nipped at her skin until she was gasping. “One tries to make the most of every opportunity when one is in love.”

  Miranda stilled as Kit rose over her.

  “I love you, Miranda Reed, so very deeply, and yet I never understood the true reason I waited for you all this time. Don’t say anything in return, I don’t expect it after all we’ve been through, but I wanted you to know that you have me. You’ve always had me.”

  Miranda bit her lip as tears filled her eyes. She had waited her whole marriage to know how he felt about her, but she didn’t know how to respond to him now. There was so much to talk about and set straight, and their relationship was fragile still. She was afraid to say the words and risk greater disappointment later. Giving in to desire was easy, but she’d never recover from losing him again.

  She cuddled against Kit instead, and when he disappeared beneath the sheets to make good on his promised amended plan, she couldn’t think of much else but him and the wicked flick of his tongue against her sensitive flesh.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Kit rolled Miranda under him and lightly nibbled her neck. The room was filled with the light of a new day and Miranda was warm and unbelievably inviting. “I could get used to this,” he whispered.

  Despite making love four times during the night, he was hard as stone this morning. He flexed his hips against her leg so she would notice that desire filled his mind and smiled as her hand shifted to grasp his length.

  “So I see.”

  “I’ve always missed you in the morning. I’m looking forward to starting our day with kisses.”

  She released him suddenly. The tiny lines around her eyes deepened in amusement as she cupped his face, smiling. “Kit, I don’t think our morning will go quite the way you hoped today.”

  “Oh? Why not?”

  “Good morning, sleepyheads.”

  Christopher’s piping voice cut through Kit’s skull, and he threw himself off Miranda to sit bolt upright in bed. He glanced around in panic.

  Christopher grinned at him from the foot of the bed. “I thought you’d never wake up.”

  “I was ah…” Kit glanced at the space beside him in the bed. Gods, he’d almost been caught making love to Miranda by their son. Miranda stifled a laugh, and then she shifted to sit up in bed, pushing pillows behind her back, drawing the sheets high up her chest over her nightgown. “Good morning to you, too.”

  When had Miranda had time to dress, and why hadn’t she warned him sooner that the boy was in the room? He glanced down in horror and then jerked the sheet higher over his lap to cover his cooling ardor. The one thing he hadn’t expected was ever being caught in a state of undress by his own son. Was any man prepared for that shock when his passions were high?

  Christopher glanced toward the door, frowning. “You have callers. Addison wasn’t sure what to do.”

  Kit blinked sleep from his eyes. “Why the devil not?”

  “It’s Lord Acton and Lady Brighthurst. Acton was going to come up, but Addison managed to delay him. But then he wasn’t sure whether to disturb you, so I had to come in.” Christopher stared at the door, his expression growing puzzled.

  Kit glanced at Miranda and saw her expression change to wariness. “At least I don’t have to send for them to clear things up,” he reassured her quickly.

  Miranda worried at her ring and he caught her hand tightly in his.

  He winked at Christopher. “Have Addison say we will be down in half an hour. Have him also send in a tea tray for Lady Brighthurst and an ale for Lord Acton.”

  Christopher walked to the door, spoke to someone just out of sight, and then said quite grumpily, “It’s perfectly normal. Lord and Lady Carrington always wake up in the same bed and it takes ages to get them out in the mornings.”

  Miranda stifled a laugh. Kit grinned at her, thinking he quite liked the way their son viewed a normal married couple’s morning rituals. He could never remember his own parents sharing the same bed, but he’d never wanted the sort of marriage they had anyway. He’d happily start his own traditions with Miranda.

  Christopher disappeared, and Kit could hear him berating someone outside the door for not doing as he asked. When he returned, he carried a teacup and saucer very carefully across the room toward Miranda. The door was slowly closed behind him. “You have silly servants, Papa. Anyone would think you were shocking them by still being in bed at this hour.”

  Papa? Kit couldn’t keep the grin off his face. Until today he’d been only Father and had occasionally felt like his son was speaking to a stranger. He much preferred the informality of papa. He made to stand and then remembered he had nothing on beneath the sheet. Christopher handed the cup to his mother and sighed with relief. “Nothing spilled.”

  Miranda winked at him and took a sip. “Thank you, darling.”

  Kit fidgeted, unsure of how to escape the room without revealing his privates. “I should get dressed.”

  “Pierce is already waiting,” Christopher told him.

  Kit looked around, hoping to find a garment, any garment, that he might cover himself with. Where had he tossed their clothes last night? There was nothing but a pillow close by, or the sheet covering Miranda. He couldn’t exactly take the sheet out from around her. “I see you’re running the house well in my stead.”

  “Yes, sir. Mama told me that you’d expect me to take charge.”

  He smiled softly because it was true, yet he didn’t want his son to miss playing at being a child too much. “Ask Pierce for a robe and bring it to me.”

  When Christopher left, Miranda began to laugh, so hard he feared she’d spill her tea. “That expression on your face was priceless.”

  Kit laughed too. “That was one thing I’d never planned for.”

  “You cannot plan for every eventuality. Children are unpredictable but very simple. They always turn up when you don’t want them to interrupt.”

  Kit smiled and leaned across the bed. “Then I’ll remember to lock the door before we go to bed each night so we are not interrupted.”

  Her smile slipped a little. “Don’t keep him at an arm’s length. I couldn’t bear not to see him in the mornings.”

  Kit kissed her softly. “Some mornings he will have to wait a bit, especially when we want each other as much as we clearly do. We’re newly wed, after all.”

  Her expression turned shy. “I suppose we are.”

  He drew back reluctantly. “We will see them together,” he said, thinking of Acton and Emily waiting downstairs.

  “All right. Then you should go so April can assist me. She won’t come in while you’re here.”

  Kit kissed her cheek and then slid out of bed. Christopher hadn’t returned and Pierce had seen him without clothing many times. Since he usually slept nude, Christopher would have to expect that on some mornings his papa didn’t look at all proper when leaving his mother’s bed.

  He dressed quickly and then loitered near the adjoining doorway to Miranda’s room while she finished having her hair dressed. He talked quietly to Christopher about everything and nothing at all. Every now and then, he caught Christopher smiling for no reason, watching them both with a transparent joy. Kit leaned forward and for the first time in his life, he kissed his son’s head.

  Christopher wrapped his arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly. “Is this all right?” His query was hesitant.

  Kit hugged him. “It will always be all right with me.”

  They went down together, his arm about Miranda’s waist as they descended the stairs, Christopher holding his hand.

  Lord Acton and Emily had been shown to the library, and Miranda paused a moment, her gaze wary as she looked up at him. “I love you too,” she said softly and then strode forward without the
aid of his support.

  Kit trailed after, his joy in the day soaring to incredible heights at her confession. Miranda loved him? Christopher squeezed his hand. “Everything will be all right now, Papa.”

  Kit smiled. “It certainly will be.”

  “I say.” Acton was on his feet in an instant, ignoring Miranda’s greeting to come peer into Christopher’s face.

  Christopher smiled at Lord Acton, but his grip tightened in the face of so much intense scrutiny.

  Kit moved around Acton and sat him and Christopher both down beside Miranda on a long leather chaise facing Emily. “Do sit down, Acton.”

  Acton resumed his seat, his gaze boring into Christopher. Christopher moved close to Kit, whose eyes narrowed on the pair across from him. He put his arm about Christopher’s shoulders and squeezed. “Christopher, this is Lord Acton and Lady Brighthurst if you’ve not been introduced before. They are our nearest neighbor to Twilit Hill. His property abuts the southern border and you will see a great deal of them in the coming years, I expect.”

  Christopher nodded. “I know who they are. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Acton.”

  Kit glanced down when Christopher failed to offer a greeting to Emily. The boy stared at her, his lips pressed tightly together. If Christopher knew who Emily was, then why did he not greet her? With a start, he discovered Christopher was shaking.

  Miranda caught Christopher’s other hand. “I’m here, darling.”

  The boy nodded and he clutched at them both very tightly.

  Acton frowned. “What’s going on? Is he simple?”

  “I am not,” Christopher hissed.

  Miranda eased closer to their son. “Surely you can understand that my son might be afraid of the people who tried to hurt him.”

  Acton’s countenance changed to one of barely concealed hostility. “Madam, you insult me.”

  She leaned forward, intense and angry. “Then explain why he’s afraid of you.”

  “He’s no reason to be afraid of me.” Acton glared at Kit. “What is this nonsense? Are you sure the boy is yours and not some halfling?”

  Kit watched his friends with dismay. “He’s mine, but I’d dearly like to know what’s going on myself.”

  “I’m not afraid of him,” Christopher whispered. “She wanted the fire lit.”

  Kit froze. “The fire that almost killed you?”

  Christopher pressed closer and Emily smiled, saying, “Come now. What a fanciful suggestion. Why, I’ve never seen the boy before this very moment.”

  “But you knew about him,” Kit interrupted. “Mother confirmed that before she left.”

  Emily wrinkled her nose. “Perhaps I did.”

  “And you said nothing to me. Why is that?”

  “I had my reasons.” She tossed her head. “The child could have been anyone’s.”

  Christopher squirmed in his seat, drawing Kit’s attention immediately.

  “Go and find Landry now,” Kit told him softly. The boy should be spared the rest of this conversation. He’d been frightened enough and Kit had learned all he needed to know. Emily was not on Kit’s side at all, she was selfishly on her own. When his son was safely out of the way, Kit glared at Emily. “He is my son.”

  Acton sat forward, his posture hostile and unconvinced. “So she says.”

  Acton did not even deign to look Miranda’s way when he spoke and Kit’s temper soared to new levels. He cast a glance at Emily’s face and saw her nodding to her brother in complete agreement. When she glared daggers at Miranda, Kit placed Miranda’s hand in his. “For the last time, Christopher is our son, conceived before we married.”

  Emily looked down at her hands. “You know what they say about her. She’s utterly wanton. She’s misleading you all over again.”

  He hadn’t counted on their stubbornness. He’d thought they would take his word. “But I suspected Miranda was with child when we married.”

  Emily fidgeted. “We should have known she’d seduced you. Of course you would have married her because of that.”

  “I offered for Miranda because it was what I wanted. It was me climbing into her bed before we married, not the other way round. I wanted her so badly. I wanted our child very badly. Christopher will inherit Twilit Hill from me one day, and I will never let him out of my sight again. Believe me, if anyone tries to hurt him again, they will live to regret it. I will bring the full weight of my influence to bear to punish the culprit and anyone else that conspires against us.”

  Emily’s face turned a furious shade of red. “You’re throwing away your life’s work.”

  “My life’s work was for him. Enough of this. I cannot believe we are even having this discussion. Will you also doubt the words of Applebee, Sorenson, and Watts? They’ve all written to support the boy’s claim. Even my mother has accepted her grandson with less fuss than you pair have managed today.”

  At that, Emily glanced away and seemed to shrink in place.

  Acton sat forward. “Then it’s all true.”

  “You owe my wife an apology,” he told Acton without any hesitation.

  Emily stiffened and said nothing, and Kit accepted that she might never offer one or accept that his heart had been committed to Miranda long ago.

  Acton frowned. “I’ll not. She should not have left you as she did and made you look a fool. You could have married for love, and all you got was this mess.”

  Kit leaned forward. “I did marry for love, Acton. I chose Miranda for the feelings she stirred in me. Her dowry was important, but there were other women with similar fortunes that I didn’t look at again once I met her.”

  Acton’s eyes widened and then he glanced at his sister. “But I thought…” He swallowed. “I thought you loved Emily but couldn’t marry her because her dowry was insufficient for your needs. She cried for weeks and only grudgingly agreed with me that she had no choice but to wed Brighthurst since you could not offer for her.”

  Kit shook his head sadly. “You’ve been misled and saw what you were told to see. As misled as Miranda was when a certain person’s words and another’s behavior convinced her that was the case too. That was why Miranda left me. She thought I loved another when I never did. I love her so much that I couldn’t forget her. I couldn’t move past the hope that she’d come back to me one day. You know that.”

  Acton’s jaw clenched as he stared hard at his sister. “It seems I was misinformed on quite a few occasions then.”

  He was tense and silent for a long time and then he faced Miranda, his brow furrowed with deep lines. “You have my deepest regret, my lady, for the discomfort and suffering I must have caused with my words today and in the past. There is no excuse I can offer that will ever make up for my mistake. Congratulations on the birth of your son. I wish you and Taverham all the happiness that’s been denied you these years.”

  When Miranda nodded, Acton glanced at his sister, eyes hard and unforgiving. “Lady Brighthurst, since you have nothing to say against the accusations leveled at you, I can only believe you guilty. We should take our leave as I’m sure the family has much to do together without us getting in the way. Unless, of course, Lord Taverham wishes to call for the magistrate to investigate the threats against his son.”

  Kit looked to Miranda for her decision.

  She shook her head quickly. “Please, just keep her away from us.”

  Emily was slow to stand and Acton jerked her to her feet. “Little fool,” he hissed and hurried her for the door. “You don’t know how fortunate you are.”

  Emily cried out to Kit, but he wasn’t going to pretend everything could be all right again. She had kept the truth from him and, even worse, might have tried to kill his son. He could not forgive that and bowed his head so he didn’t have to see her again.

  “Lord Acton,” Miranda called before the siblings crossed the threshold. “My husband will still expect to see you. Hyde Park is where you usually meet while in London, yes?”

  Acton stopped, his
eyes widening in surprise at her question. “Yes, most days.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure you don’t need me to organize your amusements. I’m not one for riding these days, so I’ll leave you two gentlemen to your own devices there.”

  “Thank you.” Acton swayed, appearing amazed by Miranda’s olive branch, but then shook his head and dragged his sister from the house so fast she scrambled to remain upright.

  When the door was closed, Kit turned to Miranda. “It was not necessary to be so kind to him.”

  “I think Acton was deceived by his sister, too, as to who loved whom.” She folded her hands in her lap. “Besides, I don’t ride and I am sure when Christopher wakes you as the sun rises each day, you will be wanting to escape the house from time to time.”

  “Emily always could convince him she told the truth even when as a girl she was fibbing. But that doesn’t excuse him for hurting you.” Kit swept Miranda onto his lap. He curled his arms about her hips tightly. “Now, where were we this morning?”

  She leaned into him, head settling against his. “You were going to make love to me.”

  He kissed her cheek and sighed as Miranda’s warm arms wrapped around his shoulders tightly. “For all the days that remain of our lives. I promise you’ll never get away from me again.”

  EPILOGUE

  Sunshine after weeks of rain at Twilit Hill made the perfect accompaniment for a family outing. Across the field, Chris was chasing butterflies with Lord Carrington’s children following along like devoted puppies at his heels. Around them their guests chatted gaily, lapping up the sunshine and each other’s company. There had been so much merriment during their first house party that even his mother was pleased by the new event.

  More than one couple had strolled away from the group with sly looks for each other, which Kit knew to be anticipation. There were more married couples visiting Twilit Hill this year than at any other time in his memory and he was pleased. So many of his friends had married for love, and it seemed to him to be a sensible decision for all involved.