by Wolf, Bree
Her face lit up. “The best friend there ever was!” She heaved a deep breath. “I wish there was something we could do to help her. Perhaps...Perhaps Grandma knows a way.” Placing the letter upon the small table by the window, she stepped toward him, a hesitant smile upon her face. “She is awfully meddlesome, if you haven’t noticed yet; however, her plans usually work out. Perhaps...she’ll be able to think of something.”
Gritting his teeth, Thorne breathed in slowly, bracing himself for what was to come. Would she be furious with him once he told her the truth?
A slight frown came to his wife’s face as she looked at him, her eyes watchful—not unlike her grandmother’s. “I cannot help but think that there’s something on your mind and has been for days.” Her blue eyes searched his. “Tell me.”
Thorne heaved a deep sigh and then once again reached for her hands. “It is true,” he said, pulling her closer to him. “There’s something you don’t know. Something I promised not to tell you.”
A frown came to her face. “Promised whom?”
Thorne could not help the smile that spread over his face. “Your grandmother.”
Christina closed her eyes and laughed. “Why am I not surprised?” Her eyes searched his. “What did she do? What did she persuade you to do?”
Thorne held his breath. “She persuaded me to compromise you in the library that day.”
The look upon his wife’s face told him loud and clear that his answer was not what she had expected. “What?” Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him in disbelief. “Why would she—?” She pulled her hands from his and took a step back. “What are you saying?”
Thorne ran a hand through his hair. He hated the renewed distance between them; yet he knew that he deserved it. He had lied to her. He had kept something vital from her, and she had every right to be angry with him.
“Did she make a deal with you?” Christina asked all of a sudden, anger darkening her voice. “You needed a wife with connections, and everyone knows how much she loves to meddle and match-make. I’ve seen it with my sisters and with my cousin even. Of course, she meant well. She always means well. But…” Her voice trailed off as she shook her head, staring at him in a way that broke his heart. “You took away my choice,” she whispered with a trembling voice. “I know how much it means to you to help those who cannot help themselves. However, I never thought you would go that far.”
“That is not what happened nor is it why I agreed to marry you.”
Christina scoffed. “Agreed to marry me? To compromise me is more like it.”
Thorne clenched his teeth, reminding himself of what the dowager had said to him the day she had sought him out and made this rather astounding proposal. “Yes, I compromised you.” He stepped toward her, his gaze seeking hers. “But you let me.”
Her eyes widened. “I—?”
“You let me!” Thorne stressed, refusing to release her gaze. “You could have walked away, but you did not. You chose not to.”
Clamping her lips shut, his wife stared at him.
Thorne took her reaction as an invitation to continue on and explain himself further. “Your grandmother came to me and said that she had taken note of the way I kept looking at you. Somehow, she knew how I felt about you even then.” A shuddering breath brushed past his wife’s lips. “She said that she believed us to be a good match, not with regards to title and fortune, but in the one way that truly matters.”
Watching his wife most carefully, Thorne slowly reached out his hands and once more grasped hers. At first, he thought she would pull them away. He could feel the urge to do so in the slight twitch of her muscles. Yet she did not. She allowed him to touch her, to hold onto her.
“She told me of her plan,” Thorne continued, “and ensured that I would receive an invitation to your sister’s wedding reception.”
Christina closed her eyes. “I never honestly thought it could have been her. I always wondered who had invited you.”
Thorne inhaled a deep breath, his fingers tightening upon hers. “She never meant to force your hand, but merely to force you to make a decision.”
Her eyes opened and looked up into his. “A decision? About what?”
Thorne gave her a small smile. “About me.”
Frowning, Christina shook her head. “About you? But why would she think—?”
Thorne shrugged. “I’m not certain. She said you would know.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
How It All Began
Christina was still staring up at her husband as her mind drifted to something her grandmother had once said to her. Hatred does not stem from nothing.
Swallowing hard, Christina then drew in a slow breath. She remembered well how furious she had always been the moment her gaze had fallen upon Mr. Sharpe. She had thought herself furious because of his intentions toward her friend, yet recently, she had come to realize that perhaps it had been more than that.
Blinking, her gaze focused. “She knew that I cared for you even before I did,” Christina whispered, overcome by the thought that if her grandmother had not interfered, she might never have found herself married to the man she loved.
A soft smile played over Thorne’s face. “She said it was to be your decision,” he told her gently, his warm hands holding hers. “She said that if you truly did not care for me, you would leave upon finding yourself alone with me in the library. You would know that you would be compromised if you did not.” He pulled her closer, and one arm slipped around her middle. “She said even if you did not, your heart would know what to do.”
Christina sighed. “She was right. I suppose my heart did know. I do remember thinking that I needed to leave, and yet I could not. Something kept me there.” She smiled up at him. “You.”
Her husband’s arm tightened around her as his other hand slipped into her hair, and then he was suddenly kissing her. Kissing her the way she had wanted him to even on that day in the library.
“You cared for me even then?” Christina whispered, searching his eyes, needing to know if it was the truth. “Truly?”
Thorne nodded. “I could’ve accepted a marriage without love so long as both parties were willing, were not bound by love elsewhere.” He shook his head, a hint of disbelief coming to his eyes. “Then I saw you, and everything changed in that moment. I don’t think I realized it then, but it did.”
Christina rested her forehead against his chest and breathed in deeply. Then she lifted her eyes to his. “I wish she had simply come to me! Why didn’t she simply come to me? She could have told me what she suspected, what she thought instead of—”
“Would you have listened to her? Believed her?”
“No! Of course not!” The words left her lips without thought.
Thorne grinned, his brows rising meaningfully. “I know it feels awful to be manipulated even if it was done for one’s own good. Still, I am grateful for what she did. You must admit if she had not, you would never have agreed to marry me, would you?”
Slowly, Christina shook her head, knowing her husband’s words to be true. “I would not.” The thought was frightening.
Devastating.
“Will you forgive me then?” Thorne asked, regret mingling with the knowledge that he had done right in his green eyes. “I never meant to deceive you, but I’m glad I did nonetheless.”
Christina could not help but smile. “Very well. I forgive you, but only this one time. Do not make it a habit to deceive me for I will not stand for it.” She chuckled.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Thorne whispered, then lowered his head to hers. He brushed a soft kiss onto her lips. “I promise.”
Christina reached up to touch his face, feeling the soft stubbles upon his chin after a day of upheaval. “I know I should not be angry with her, but I am.”
Thorne smiled at her, gently running his knuckles along the line of her jaw. “I don’t think she’d mind. She does what she deems right, unafraid to suffer the consequences.”
<
br /> Christina laughed. “She knows that I’ll not be angry with her for long. I simply cannot.”
“She’s a hard woman to be furious with, is she not?” he asked chuckling.
“You have no idea,” Christina replied. “Perhaps she simply does so because life is not adventurous enough for her.” She frowned. “I wonder what she might be planning next.”
“While I don’t think she dislikes adventure, I do believe she does what she does out of love for you. You and your siblings.”
Christina rolled her eyes as a sense of foreboding came over her. “I still have three siblings, who are yet unmarried.” She cocked an eyebrow at her husband. “Do you think we should warn them?”
Thorne laughed. “I’m afraid it wouldn’t make a difference.”
“You’re probably right.”
Leaning down, her husband rested his forehead against hers. “Do we need to speak of your grandmother any further?” He grinned at her in a temptingly wicked way.
A tingle chased itself down Christina’s spine at the suggestive tone in her husband’s voice. “What other topic did you have in mind?” she replied teasingly.
Claiming her lips, he kissed her deeply. “Something rather unspeakable.”
“Unspeakable, you say,” Christina murmured as she pushed herself up on her toes to return his kiss. “That does sound intriguing.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Thorne whispered against her lips before he suddenly swept her into his arms.
Christina shrieked as her feet left the floor, then clamped a hand over her mouth, afraid her family might overhear.
Thorne chuckled. “They’re asleep,” he told her, carrying her to the bed.
“As we should be.”
Again, a wicked grin came to his face. “Later.”
Christina could not argue with that. After all, she would be a fool to do so.
Epilogue
A few weeks later
“Open it! Open it!” Samantha squealed as she clapped her hands together excitedly, hopping up and down. Her eyes remained fixed upon her father as he did his utmost to pry open the wooden box.
Christina felt her teeth dig into her lower lip, feeling the same sense of impatience bubbling under her skin.
Thorne groaned as the lid refused to yield. “One would think treasure lies within.” He gritted his teeth and tried again.
“It is treasure!” Samantha exclaimed, and Christina wanted to hug her little girl for her unfailing devotion.
Then the lid sprang open, and Samantha jumped forward, climbed upon her father’s desk and peered into the box.
Inside, cushioned by a bed of straw, lay a handful of leather-bound copies of Christina’s first book.
Her heart jumped at the sight!
“May I have one?” Samantha exclaimed, looking up at Christina with wide, glowing eyes. “Please!” Her little hands reached for the topmost book, then paused as she waited for an answer.
Christina smiled at her. “Of course. Choose whichever one you like.” She watched as Samantha gently lifted a book from the crate, all but cradling it in her arms, her little eyes sweeping over the gold lettering on the cover.
A Fairy’s Tale.
Without removing her eyes from the book, Samantha headed toward the door. “I need to show this to my dolls. They will love it. I’m certain. And Owen, too.” Awe swung in her voice, reminding Christina of the bond that had developed between them in no small parts because of this story.
Indeed, that which she had once thought to be a hindrance to her happiness had now proven to be a beautiful connection between her and her family.
Christina was proud.
Proud of herself.
Proud to find herself part of a family who supported one another without hesitation, without doubt. And her husband was now one of them. He had proven himself to be worthy of her trust, and she no longer worried that he was the one now in possession of her heart.
“It is a remarkable achievement,” he whispered beside her, one arm moving to wrap around her shoulders as they stood gazing down into the crate. “I always knew I would do well, but to have found a wife of such literary talent…” He looked at her and grinned. “Only an extraordinary man like myself could have procured her hand in marriage.”
Christina laughed, then slapped him on the arm. “You’re impossible! Are you never serious?”
Thorne turned to look at her, pulling her closer. “I find life much more interesting when I’m not.” He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “However, I’ve come to realize that there is one key ingredient to my happiness.”
Christina lifted her brows. “Do I dare ask what that is? Your ego perhaps? Or—?”
“You,” he interrupted with a grin before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her once more. “You and Samantha and even that somewhat unusual family of yours.” He cleared his throat and turned to look at the desk. “Speaking of which, there’s a letter here for you.” He handed her the sealed envelope, and Christina immediately recognized her sister’s handwriting.
“Juliet?” She frowned, then broke the seal. “I must admit I did not expect to hear from her. As far as I know, she accompanied Grandma Edie to a friend’s estate for the remainder of the summer.” She unfolded the letter, and her eyes dropped to the page.
Dearest Christina,
I’m writing in haste for I need your help as I do not know what to do. It may be nothing, nothing more than a rumor, or it may be a grave situation indeed.
Grandma Edie and I are still at Rosemere Hall. Only this morning a visitor arrived from London, who brought with him a most disconcerting rumor. Apparently, people are whispering that our youngest sister has run off to Gretna Green with Lord Burnham. Is she not with you at Pinewood Manor?
Christina felt her fingers tense upon the parchment. “Oh, Harry,” she mumbled under her breath as a cold chill raced down her spine. After all, Harriet was not at Pinewood Manor and had not been for some time.
“Are you all right?” came her husband’s voice. “You look pale.” He moved closer, and Christina gestured for him to read the letter along with her.
Please write back with the utmost haste. I do not wish to alert our parents to the situation if there is nothing to be concerned about if this is truly nothing more than a vicious rumor.
Nevertheless, I am concerned. Although Harriet has always been unpredictable, this does not seem like something she would do. Has she not always proclaimed she would never marry?
I pray that she is with you safe and sound at Pinewood Manor. However, if she is not, Grandma Edie insists that you inform the Duke of Clements of the situation immediately although she refuses to tell me why.
Your devoted and most anxious sister,
Juliet
“Lord Burnham?” Thorne asked, turning to look at her, a deep frown upon his face. “The name does not sound familiar. Who is he?”
Christina shook her head, still staring at the letter, her mind racing to make sense of everything. “A mere acquaintance, nothing more.” She turned to look at her husband. “I do not understand. Why would Juliet think Harriet to be here? She left for Whickerton Grove a fortnight ago.”
“Perhaps it is nothing more than a mere misunderstanding,” Thorne counseled, placing his hands upon her shoulders. “You should write to your parents and ask about Harriet’s whereabouts.”
Still feeling somewhat dazed, Christina nodded.
“Odd,” Thorne remarked as his gaze once more shifted to the parchment in her hands. He sighed. “Honestly, I’d begun to think that perhaps she and the duke…”
Looking up at him, Christina nodded. “I did as well. I was surprised when she left so abruptly.” She shook her head, hating the confusion that seemed to linger in every corner.
“Do you believe they quarreled?”
Christina shrugged. “I suppose it’s possible. Still…”
“Harriet is rather the impulsive sort,” Thorne stated carefully. “
Do you think that perhaps she fell head over heels in love with Burnham?”
Christina could not help the grimace that came to her face. “I can’t imagine it to be so. She never seemed partial to Lord Burnham, no matter how hard he tried to impress her.” Again, she shook her head. “No, Harriet would not run off and get married. Not her!” She lifted her eyes to her husband’s. “Something is wrong. Something is very wrong.”
Taking her hands, Thorne nodded. “Sit down and write a letter to your parents as well as the duke. We’ll see them delivered within the day.” He squeezed her hands gently. “Then we shall know more.”
Nodding, Christina sat down at his desk and quickly reached for parchment and quill. “Oh, Harry, what did you do?” Yes, Harriet had always been daring, but she had never been foolish. If she truly wished to run off to be married, she would leave a note. She would not disappear without a word and put them all through hell.
Christina was certain of it.
Then what had happened?
THE END
Thank you for reading Once Upon an Irritatingly Magical Kiss!
Be on the lookout for the next story about Harriet and her duke!
If you want to read more about the Whickerton family, make sure to check out Once Upon a Devilishly Enchanting Kiss (Louisa’s story), Once Upon a Temptingly Ruinous Kiss (Leonora’s story) and Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong (Anne’s story).
While waiting for Harriet’s story to be released, you might want to check out my Love’s Second Chance Series. Dive into an excerpt of Despised & Desired -The Marquess’ Passionate Wife, a heart-warming and sigh-worthy romance.
After suffering a tragedy, she suddenly finds herself married to Frederick, a man she’s loved almost all her life. Will Ellie be able to claim his heart?
