A Woman of Love

by Marlow Kelly

  He put a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet, then silently, carried Beth up to the bedroom.

  Annabel followed, watching him settle her little girl into the cot. She kissed Beth’s head, and stood watching her sleep.

  James slipped his hand in hers, leaned in close and whispered, “We need to talk. Are you well enough to walk back to the library, or would you like me to carry you?”

  Tingles of excitement spread through her at the feel of his breath on her neck. “I can walk.”

  His gaze narrowed, assessing her, and then he nodded.

  They strolled hand in hand down the stairs. Her body quivered, and she wasn’t sure if her reaction was because of her physical weakness, or because she dreaded hearing what he had to say. She had to be strong. She would offer to leave before he told her to. At least in that way she could hold on to what little was left of her dignity.

  “You’re feeling better today?” He patted the settee beside him signaling her to sit.

  She joined him, glancing around the library, with its shelves of musty books. Then inhaled, and exhaled a rush of words before she could change her mind.

  “We’ve imposed upon you for too long. Beth and I will be leaving once I can arrange passage to the Americas.”

  “Why do you want to leave?” His nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply, his lips pressed together and jaw twitched as if he were grinding his teeth.

  She didn’t look at him. She didn’t want to see his anger. “I have to. You know what I am.”

  “Yes, you’re a woman who sacrificed herself to protect her daughter. Everything you did was out of love. How can anyone condemn you?”

  “There’s more at stake here than my reputation. I have to think about Beth and her life. Can you imagine how people will treat the daughter of a harlot?”

  “Do not say that. You are not a har—”

  “I have to do what’s best for her. You won’t be able to stop people talking.” She stood, and walked to the mantel, wanting to put some distance between them.

  “And you think you will have a better life in America, just the two of you?” In a few strides he shortened the gap. This wasn’t what she expected. Wasn’t he relieved to be rid of her? She didn’t want to go, but it was the only solution she could think of. She looked into his eyes, pleading, hoping he would understand, “We need to make a fresh start.”

  “You have no money, you’re injured, and you have a daughter—”

  “I know it will be difficult, but what else can I do? What would you do if she were your child?”

  His dark eyes burned with an expression that was impossible to read. She wanted him to wrap his arms around her, and shield her from the world, but she couldn’t ask that of him.

  “We’ll leave for the Americas when you’re ready to travel,” he announced.

  “You can’t—”

  “I’m not letting you go alone. What would happen if you came across another man like Peters?”

  A glimmer of hope blossomed causing her heart to beat a little faster.

  “I know you deserve better than an animal like me,” he continued, “but I swear I’ll try to make you happy, and do everything in my power to protect you.”

  She managed a small weak smile. “You’re not an animal, and I was thinking you deserve better than a woman like me.”

  “Are you ashamed of our night together?” He drew her against his chest into his embrace.

  The question gave her pause. Did she regret bedding James? No, she regretted Elliott, and the nightmare that had been her life with him. In fact she would like to forget the last two months, but without him she would never have met James, and she couldn’t and wouldn’t be sorry for that.

  Finally, she said, “No, I’m not sorry, but it’s not about what I think. What will society think of a woman who made love to you within minutes of meeting you? You gave me a choice. You were a gentleman, but I was not a lady.”

  “Why did you agree to come to my bed?” His eyes narrowed, watching her, looking for any hint of a lie.

  This man had saved her and her daughter; the least she could do was tell him the truth. “It was your kiss. When you kissed me I was drawn to you. I felt I was coming home and set afire at the same time. I feel I’ve loved you forever, even though I’ve only known you a short while. It seemed perfectly natural to go to bed with you. It still does. I think I love you.”

  “I feel the same. I love you, Annabel.”

  He kissed her, a small kiss that was in no way satisfying.

  He held her face in his hands. “Marry me.”

  Tears stung her eyes. This was what she wanted, a life with him, but all the reasons for leaving were still there. How could she say she loved him and then cause him pain?

  “I can’t. I have to do what’s best for Beth. We’ll never be accepted, not after everything that’s happened. We’ll be shunned, and if you marry me you will be too. I can’t do that to you or Beth.”

  “We’ll make a new life in America.”

  “You would leave all this?” She made a sweeping gesture with her good arm.

  “All what? I live in an empty house with no servants, no furniture, and no family. It’s not a home, it’s a place to lay my head. I want to make a home with you, and I don’t care where that is. I know I belong with you. We could be happy.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and then winced at the pain which stabbed at her shoulder. Before she knew what was happening she was sitting on his lap, on the settee, with her legs in front of her, and her good shoulder resting against his chest. He tugged at the collar of her nightshirt to reveal her scar.

  “We need to be married soon,” he whispered and laid small kisses on the wound.

  “Why?” She let her body relax against him.

  “Because if you’re not with child, you soon will be.”

  The thought that their night together had left her pregnant hadn’t occurred to her. Without thinking her good hand went to her stomach. Did she want children with James? Yes, she did. “Do you want children?” she asked.

  “Yes, at least five.”

  “What?” She had been busy with one child. She couldn’t imagine having another five.

  “Beth told me she would like us to have another daughter for her to play with and four brothers, so she can have her own army for protection. She thinks four is enough people to make an army. She also said we had to get busy because she wants them right away. I would like to ‘get busy’ once you’re feeling better.”

  Heat ran through her as she imagined them lying in bed, making love. “You do realize that when we have six children we won’t have any time to ‘get busy.’”

  He laughed. A beautiful, smooth throaty sound that warmed her heart.

  He touched his lips to hers. She, however, had other ideas. She placed a hand on the nape of his neck urging him closer, showing him exactly what she wanted. Soon she would have a new life with James, a life that included a family. And she couldn’t be happier.

  Epilogue

  James sat in an armchair near the fireplace in Nicholas’ study. Even in the half-light of dusk he could tell the over-packed room was a mess. The desk was crammed with papers, and the small patch of blotter he could see was covered with a large ink spot. A gun case sat open on the hearth, and tall stacks of old newspapers lined the walls.

  The door to the study creaked open a fraction, enough to allow the barrel of a pistol to point through.

  “You can put the gun away. It’s only me,” James barked.

  Nicholas threw the door open. “What the hell are you doing here? We said goodbye yesterday.”

  “You didn’t think I would let you off that easily did you?” He was pleased to see Nicholas’ face flush.

  “When did you know?”

  “Shortly after I met her. Annabel could never have been part of Peters’ scheme, and you, being an excellent investigator, must have known. You have a gift for reading people. You can look at a man a
nd know if he’ll stab you in the back. That little gift saved us in Russia. So I have to ask myself how you could have misread Annabel.”

  “You know the answer,” Nicholas said, finally raising his head to look James in the eye.

  “How long was it from when you found out until the night she arrived at my house?”

  “A week.”

  “A week? Goddammit man, you could have saved her. Annabel and Beth spent an extra week in hell because you wanted to concoct some scheme.”

  “No, it’s not like that. I had Peters watched very closely. In that week he never went near the house. I suspected he was looking for a way to do away with them, so I gave him one.”

  “She was shot.”

  “I know. I didn’t—”

  James jumped to his feet, his hands fisted. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t break your nose right now.”

  “I can’t, but there is something else you should know.”

  “What?”

  “You said I can read people.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, when I first saw her I knew she would save you. All I had to do was introduce the two of you and I knew you would find yourself again.”

  James looked into his brother’s dark eyes. And for the first time he understood how worried Nicholas had been for his sanity. He was right. Annabel had saved him, but then so had Nicholas.

  He unclenched his hand, and walked to the door. He touched the brass doorknob, and then hesitated. He couldn’t leave this way, not without saying goodbye. “We leave for Boston tomorrow. Annabel and Beth will miss you. I will too.”

  “Do they know?”

  “No, and I won’t tell them, but promise me one thing, brother.”

  “Anything.”

  “You must never play games with a woman’s safety again, and don’t plan schemes thinking you’re clever. Just save them. Do you promise?”

  “I promise.”

  “You’re always welcome for a visit. I’ll write when we’re settled.” James closed the door behind him hoping his brother would heed his warning.

  He walked to the stable where he had left his horse. He was beginning a new life with Annabel, a new start, and he couldn’t wait.

  A word about the author...

  After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada, where she found love, a home, and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children, and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. Her need to write about strong women in crisis drives her stories, and her curiosity regarding the lives and loves of historical figures is the inspiration for her characters.

  ~*~

  www.marlowkelly.com

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.