by Claudy Conn
“Couldn’t say, but he did hire a post chaise. Hitched that fine piece of horseflesh of his to the boot, and off he went.”
“Did he mention where he intended to go?”
“London … aye, that’s it. Thanked me, like I said, paid his fare, and said he was off for London.”
“London! Well by God, we shall see!” Sky was too hot at hand to think how he sounded as he turned and stomped out of the inn.
~ Twenty-one ~
LADY ELTON RUSHED into the parlor, and Cherry looked up from the tea she was sipping as her stepmama clapped her hands together and then put out her arms. “Darling, you dreadful awful darling! Maria said you arrived last night—why did you not wake me?”
Cherry got up and ran right into them, and for a very long moment the two women hugged without saying a word. “Didn’t want to disturb you, Mama, and before I say another word, I do love you and I am terribly sorry…”
Lady Elton gave her stepdaughter a shake and said, “You are home! ’Tis all that matters.” She looked past Cherry to James and said, “Thank you, James … thank you for convincing her to come back to me.”
“It wasn’t me,” James said, his hands up in the air. “She decided suddenly that was what she had to do. She is mad, you know, completely and utterly mad.”
“Let me look at you.” Lady Elton held her at arm’s length. “Lovely choice, but oh, my dear, this gown just hangs on you—have you not been eating?” She hugged her again and then took Cherry’s hand and led her back to the sofa. “We’ll fix that right away, my girl, but now tell me, everything.”
“First, Mama … I am so very dreadfully sorry. I know you only wanted to see me safely settled. I should not have run away … but if I had not … well … at any rate, you do understand, I could not, would not marry a stranger.”
“You are a horrid, wicked girl, and I love you with all my heart. No, I see that now. I don’t know what I was thinking … but if you had just seen him … he was everything I want for you.”
“Yes, I agree … Lord Westbrooke is just the man for me.” Cherry peeped a look at her.
“You agree?” Lady Elton turned to James, who had resumed his seat and was plopping a custard tart into his mouth. “She agrees?”
“Told you,” he said with his mouth full. “Totally mad.”
“Cherry, I repeat, you must tell me everything.”
“Hmmm. My cue to take my leave,” James said brushing off the pastry crumbs from his waistcoat.
“You cannot go—of all the paltry things. You said that you would have dinner with us.”
“No, I didn’t. When I dropped you off last night, I said I would come round in the morning. Came … ate … saw you safely in the arms of your dear mama … and now leaving.”
“James, stay, do.”
“Can’t,” he said laconically.
“Why not?”
“Don’t want to,” he returned glibly and made for the door in time to duck the pillow being flung at his head.
“Cherry, dearest, you may not throw pillows at people,” Lady Elton objected.
“He isn’t people,” Cherry said, laughing.
“Besides, I have this queasy feeling that you are about to receive a guest. Don’t want to be here when you do …”
They watched him depart, and Cherry turned back to Lady Elton with a sigh. “Well then, Mama, you deserve the truth, and I shall sit with you and tell you all. Then we shall send for Mrs. Epson.”
“Mrs. Epson? Whatever for?”
“I find that I can solve an earlier dilemma with a new one. Put them together, and both shall end quite happily. Mrs. Epson will be perfect for the twins.” She patted the long-suffering Lady Elton’s hand and said soothingly, “There, sit back, and I shall confess things I know you don’t want to hear.”
* * *
Sky discovered that Dartford had lodgings in Kensington Square. He had been on the road for hours and was dusty, tired, hungry, and out of temper. But before he tended to bodily needs, he was going to confront James Dartford and find her …
As the door to James’ lodgings opened, Sky felt a certain fear grip his heart. What if she was already under Dartford’s protection as his mistress?
The notion made him feel sick to his stomach. Lost to him? No. That was unthinkable. Dartford’s man appeared at the door, and Westbrooke was advised that his lordship had set out for his club, White’s.
Sky could have killed the poor man staring worriedly up at him. He restrained himself, thanked the butler, and hurried down the steps to the urchin holding his horse. He flipped the child a coin, jumped easily into the saddle, and made his way to his own town house in Grovsnor. If James was at his club, then of course Cherry was not with him.
He went about the business of bathing, changed his clothes, and had a bite to eat. He would revisit Dartford at his lodgings later in the day, as he could not very well confront him at the gentlemen’s club.
That Dartford had taken Cherry to London, he was certain; however, he was also certain she was safely being housed and not yet touched. He knew her … and she didn’t give herself freely—he knew that much because he damn well loved her, with every fiber of his being!
He was going to find her … bloody hell, he was going to find her, and when he did, he would make her his own, because he knew he didn’t want to live without her.
* * *
James entered his lodgings and was given Westbrooke’s calling card. His brow went up. “Do you mean to tell me Lord Westbrooke was here … himself—and asking for me?”
His man nodded, but his words were never heard as the knocker sounded at the door behind him. James opened it himself to find Lord Sky Westbrooke.
Sky inclined his head. Not waiting for an invitation, he strode immediately inside and said, “Dartford—may I have a private conversation with you?”
“Zounds, man, you look the very devil! What is wrong?” James was mildly amusing himself—he knew very well what was wrong and why Westbrooke had come to see him.
However, he led the way to his small study, stood aside, and allowed Sky to enter, saying, “May I pour you some brandy?”
“No, but you can give me some straight answers.”
“Can I?”
“Dartford, I am aware that you left with Miss Cherry … and I am here to bring her back to Bromley.”
“Are you?” James smiled kindly. “She doesn’t wish to go back at this time.”
“What does she wish? To remain in London … with you?” Sky felt his heart stop as he waited for the answer.
“Not precisely,” James answered evasively.
“Dartford, look … I … I care for her … a great deal. When she left it was because I led her to believe that … that I was only interested in making her my mistress.”
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes, no—damnation, man … I was, but now—”
“My Lord Westbrooke, I care for Cherry—and I’m telling you that you cannot make her anything while you are engaged to marry Miss Elton, who by the way is also a very dear friend.”
Sky was silenced for a moment as he ran his hand through his thick black hair and sighed. “I was forgetting that. Never mind it—I intend to withdraw my offer for the Elton chit. The arrangement was never concluded as she fell ill, the banns were never posted, the settlement never signed. Miss Elton and I have never met …”
“Good God! You were going to marry a woman you had never met? I can’t conceive of such a thing. Can’t conceive of marriage for that matter …” James mused out loud.
“Only tell me where I might find Miss Cherry. I must speak with her.”
“I will, but only after you have settled your affairs with Miss Elton,” James offered gently.
Sky noticed the twinkle in Dartford’s eye and wondered at it, but he dismissed it as he realized the man was right. “At this hour?” he said out loud. He felt as though he was somehow being manipulated and didn’t like it. “I don’t know that L
ady Elton will receive me at this hour.”
“It is Miss Elton you have to see, not her ladyship,” James said firmly.
“Yes, but she is ill …”
“No longer,” James answered.
“Devil you say! How do you happen to know this?” Sky studied James thoughtfully. Something very odd infused all this, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
“Because I paid her a morning visit, and she was quite well.”
“Right then. As you say, I will go and tidy up my affairs, but, Dartford, when I return—no more games. I will have Cherry’s direction.”
“As you say—after you visit Miss Elton, there should be no more games,” James replied, a soft smile curving his lips.
* * *
Cherry pushed away her tea and cake, for she felt restless. She took a tour of the room, swishing the skirts of her pretty yellow day gown. She went to the mirror and played with the dark curls bobbing about her face and wondered what Sky was doing. Did he miss her? Would he come for her as she had planned and hoped?
“Lord Skyler Westbrooke,” the butler announced at the parlor door. She caught her breath and composed herself. He was here. He was actually here.
Sky came in and stopped short. His hat was already off, and he dropped it and left it where it fell. He stuttered her name, took a step forward, then stopped, and said her name again. “Cherry … I don’t understand—not any of it.”
“No, of course you don’t. What are you doing here, my lord?” Cherry attempted sangfroid, but her heart was beating tremulously.
“I came here to see Miss Elton … to explain that I can’t marry her.” He frowned. “Cherry … love, are you related to Miss Elton?”
“You can’t marry Miss Elton?” Cherry clucked her tongue. “Oh dear, just when I was getting used to the idea. Hmmm, in fact, I rather thought I should enjoy being your wife.”
He went to her then and took her shoulders. “What is going on here? Cherry, explain!”
“What shall I explain—that I love you with all my heart?”
He kissed her, groaned, and then set her aside. “Cherry, you ran away from me … and came here—how are you connected to Elton House?”
“You wanted to make me your mistress. You were getting married and thought to have a piece of muslin on the side. How awful of you! That is no way to start married life, and I tell you frankly, if that is how you mean to go on … my answer is no.”
“No, I could not go through with it. I came here to make it all right.” He eyed her doubtfully and demanded, “My very own fancy piece, what are you doing here? Cherry. Explain, or I shall go mad.”
“Well, you say you came here to break it off with Miss Elton, whom you don’t even know and might like very well …”
“Cherry!” he nearly shouted with exasperation.
“As I was saying, I can’t be a fancy piece, nor do I want a husband who keeps a fancy piece,” she answered softly.
“I … I don’t want you to be a fancy piece … unless you are in my bed … then I want what we had … what we have to have again, what we will have always.” He stopped himself there and interjected, “What do you mean you were getting used to the idea of my marrying Miss Elton?”
“When my stepmama told me she had chosen a husband for me, I didn’t even wait to hear who he was. I just took off for my nanny’s in the middle of the night … and there you were.”
Dawning lit on his lordship’s face and in his eyes. He shook her shoulders. “Little devil, my own little devil! You—you are Miss Elton!”
“Yes. I was very wayward, but I shall try to curb such impulses in the future.” She went into his arms and held him. “But you are the devil, are you not—seducing an innocent young woman in your care?”
“I wonder who seduced whom?” he said ruefully before setting her aside and saying, “The rest of the story, please?”
“Then James came, and when he saw you he told me who you really were—and I decided then that marrying you was just what I wanted, so I came back to be Miss Elton and hold you to your marriage proposal … and now, here you are wishing to break our engagement. That is not very nice.”
He was laughing and saying her name, and then he was bending and pressing her against him, whispering her name, as he closed his mouth over hers. When he came back up for air he softly asked in her ear, “Why did you not save us both a great deal of trouble and just tell me?”
“I thought I might do better to wake you up to what I thought you actually felt for me … I wanted you to break it off with poor Miss Elton and declare yourself. Otherwise, how could I ever be sure?”
“You miserable vixen!” he said and kissed her again. When he allowed her air, he murmured, “And the twins … they knew?”
“I told them almost everything—not quite—and mean to bring them an exceptional governess. So what I want to know, my handsome lord, is our marriage on—or off?”
He gave her his answer with action, sweet and ardent, and left her with no doubts … no doubts whatsoever.
~ Epilogue ~
HIS LORDSHIP WAS impatient and convinced his Miss Elton to set a date. As it turned out, she too, was anxious to be married and back in his arms.
Their wedding took place at the end of the month and was a simple ceremony with only their closest friends and family in attendance. Felix made an excellent ring bearer and Francine, a flower girl.
His lordship was only able to convince his Cherry to take a week for their honeymoon, as she was anxious to get back to the children and help along their new governess. She had already paved the way for this transition but needed to see for herself that all went well. Both Felix and Francine were well behaved (at least most of the time) for the new governess.
Before returning to the children, Sky took a detour, and they spent a night at his own estate, Westbrooke Towers.
“One day, Freddy will take a wife, and you and I shall live here. Will you like that?”
“Like that? I shall love it. Oh, Sky, I adore this house—so full of history … and the gardens …” Cherry sighed. “But for now … watching Felix and Francine grow up is all that I really want. And Freddy … what a change you have brought about in him!”
“Not I, you, my love.”
“It has always been you he looked up to. He just needed a push in the right direction.”
“My wise little darling. One day, you will be using that wisdom for our own children.”
Cherry gurgled, “Hmmm, which means … we have to get busy …”
“Busy?”
She eyed the huge four-poster bed just behind them, and he threw his head back with his laugh. “I love you, my lady—adore you and …” He lifted her cradle-like into his arms.
“Why, sir? What are you doing?” she asked saucily, though she knew full well.
“Whatever you want …” he answered on a husky note.
* * * * * * *
What would you do if you lost the love of your life?
After the Storm
After the Storm
She should have been afraid but was too astonished …
A pair of startlingly blue eyes glared angrily down into her own, and the voice said in a tone that made her open her eyes wide, “Well, well, at least it’s a pretty wench that’s detained me.”
He sounded as though he were some huge giant about to eat her, and without another word, and before she realized what he was doing, that was what he did.
Jenny found herself being ruthlessly kissed! In that moment, with this stranger’s lips on hers, she was almost too shocked to react, but she was just a bit aware of a tingling sensation that journeyed through her body.
At length her mind returned to her and she made an effort to resist by putting her hands to his chest and pushing hard. This, however, did not budge him. He seemed to hold her in a vice-like grip. She should have been afraid but was too astonished to consider that.
She was, however, furious at his daring, and when he pu
t his head back to look at her and laugh, she felt something of her old self return. The old, vibrant Jenny would never stand for such treatment!
As he got into position, obviously meaning to kiss her again, she reacted and, feeling both outrage and anger, formulated a quick plan.
She immediately relaxed in his arms and allowed the scoundrel to believe he had conquered her. As she expected, his grip eased up.
Jenny had just enough time to bring her booted foot into position and then thrust it hard and forcefully into his shin.
She felt a great deal of satisfaction as he cried out in pain and paused only briefly to wag her finger and tell him, “Fie, sir—fie!” Then she ran. She held her skirts in hand and put the road behind her as fast as she could, only stopping when she sighted the green lawns of her home, Ashley Grange.
Once on her own estate, she leaned up against a tree and, breathing hard, hurriedly glanced behind her. Thanking providence her assailant had not deemed it worth his trouble to pursue, she sucked in a long, delicious breath of air and then proceeded to the house. Oddly enough, her anger abated and just a touch of amusement tickled her senses as she thought of the way he’d reached for his injured leg. Ha, served him right.
What happens when your father is a warlock and he wants to marry
you to a man you despise?
What happens when your mother wants to save you by sending you into the past?
Lady X
~ Prelude ~
“There is darkness in light, there is pain in joy, and there are thorns on the rose.”
by Cate Tiernan
EXERILLA RADLEY SHIVERED from her dip in the ocean as she stood in the wet sand. She took a few steps further up the deep white sandy slope to where she had dropped her colorful beach towel. She snapped it in the wind and began drying herself off.
She squeezed water out of her long black hair and tossed it around herself as she looked up at the only home she had ever known.
