by Nicole Byrd
“The hell with expeditious,” he exploded. “I love you, Psyche! I cannot live without you. I tried, but–”
She lifted her lips, and he kissed her with a zeal and a passion that left them both breathless. When finally he raised his head, he had remembered another problem.
“Psyche, the Ton thinks that I am the Marquis of Tarrington. How shall we account for that?”
She fit in his arms as if she belonged there, had always belonged there. She touched his cheek with one finger, tracing the line of his jaw. “Oh, I have already explained to Sally, in the strictest confidence, that you assumed a fictitious title to escape the ruffians who were trying to kill you.”
“Which means?”
“Which means that by now, all of London will know the story and think it terribly romantic.” Psyche laughed.
He kissed her again. “I don’t suppose, along with the lumber and paint and new paper for the walls, that you brought along a special license?”
“You are impatient for the wedding?” She raised her brows, an impish gleam in her eyes.
“For the wedding night,” he explained, kissing her temple and then the tip of her ear. Psyche shivered with delight.
“I’m afraid not. Circe absolutely forbad us to marry before returning to London; she is determined to be a bridesmaid. She was conferring with the dressmaker when I left, trying to design a gown that will give her the appearance of a bosom.”
It was his turn to laugh. “You are all so confident. How were you so sure that I would return? Was my lack of resolve so obvious?”
Psyche looked thoughtful. “I found a collection of tracts in my library–on up-to-date methods of agriculture.”
Gabriel hoped he was not turning red. “Umm, I just wanted to be a good landlord,” he tried to explain.
She gazed up at him, her glance full of trust. “It gave me hope that you wanted to settle down at last and put down roots, hope that one woman might, indeed, be enough to make you happy.”
“Oh, my dearest Psyche,” he protested. “Since the day I first saw you, I have known there was no one else in the world that I could ever desire.”
“Even when I’m old and wrinkled?”
“I shall love–and frequently kiss–every wrinkle.”
“When I grow round with child?”
He stilled for a moment, awed at the thought. “I shall count myself the most blessed of men. And besides, I shall grow old, too, you know. An old weathered landowner, worrying about the health of his cows and whether the fields have had enough rain. Will you fault me for that, my dear Miss Hill?”
“Never.” She touched his cheek, knowing his handsome face would only grow more impressive with the years, but he would not want to hear that. She put her hand lightly to his lips, and he kissed her fingers. “I’m afraid we really must marry, Lord Gabriel Sinclair,” she said, laughter bubbling again. “We have no choice.”
Suddenly arrested, he paused, a question in his eyes.
She was annoyed to find herself blushing. “No, no, not–I mean, it seems to be the only way I can stop you from calling me, ‘My dear Miss Hill,’ every other breath. I must change my name. I shall be ‘Lady Gabriel Sinclair,’ you know, after we are wed.”
“I am only too pleased to oblige,” he agreed, although his voice sounded off-key; he felt almost dizzy with pure joy. “I could always call you my Queen of Hearts after your fateful winning draw.”
Her eyes suddenly twinkled with mischievous humor. “Oh, in that case, I would be your Deuce of Clubs.”
Confusion wrinkled his brow for a moment. Then understanding spread a grin across his travel-weary but triumphant face. “Do you mean to confess that my very correct, very decorous Miss Hi—” he stopped at her warning glance, “that is—future Lady Gabriel Sinclair, cheated?”
“Of course, I did,” she agreed. “The moment your back was turned.”
“Most improper,” declared Gabriel in a dire tone.
Psyche rose up on her toes and flung her arms around his strong neck. “Oh, darling, I knew you’d be proud.”
The kiss he gave her then could never have been termed “proper.” And that, she decided, was just the way she liked it.
___
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
