A Mistress To Remember (Birds of Paradise Book 3)
Page 22
“I traveled all the way to St. Petersburg to get you. I can certainly make the trip with you to Surrey.”
“But I might fail and then you will have to endure my tears for the return carriage ride. And possibly the rest of our lives together.”
“Klee deserves a proper set down, and I’m the man to do it. You know it does help to verbally thrash his character on occasion, yet you haven’t said a word against him.”
“Need I remind you what our mothers taught us as children? My silence should mean I have nothing good to say.”
“Oh, so you do have a few choice phrases you’d like to shout?”
“This conversation is foolish. Come along if you must, but you are not to interfere.”
“Upon my word. Unless Klee is unreasonable.”
“Which he will be, but I will insist. I can be quite forceful when I need to be.”
“Like you were last night?”
She heated. “Mark, we are not alone here.”
“Tch.” He clicked his tongue. “We are newlyweds and our servants have politely gone deaf and blind for the near future.”
Katrina took his hand and gripped hard. “Tell me everything will be all right.”
“No matter the outcome, you have sons who love you and always will. You have a husband who adores you.” He kissed her brow. “And no matter what it takes, or how long it takes, you will have your sons back.”
During the carriage ride, they rode mostly in silence. The heaviness in her chest made breathing difficult, let alone the talking. Mark held her hand, squeezing gently from time to time.
But her heart soared when they arrived at Peter Klee’s home and Sergei, who seemed to be out on his own, ran alongside the carriage before it came to a complete stop.
She waved out the carriage window and Sergei yelled, “Mama!”
Once they stopped, Mark jumped from the carriage and reached for her, setting her to her feet just in time for Sergei to come crashing into her. She hugged him, feeling as though he had grown inches and aged years.
“You are home! Uncle Peter said you were. He said you would come soon and here you are!”
“Let me look at you!”
“It’s just me! Did you see everything in Russia? Did you meet the tsar? And eat borscht?”
“No, I didn’t see everything and Tsar Nicolas was too busy to see me. And I ate borscht once a week with a healthy spoonful of smetana.”
“Did you bring me anything? When did you get back? Uncle Peter said you married.”
“He did? Oh, I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“I was surprised. Claud was surprised. But Ivan said he knew all along.”
“He did, did he? And where are Ivan and Claud?”
Peter walked up then. “They are off riding. They shouldn’t be much longer.” He leaned to press a kiss to her cheek. “Congratulations, Katrina. Lord Compton.”
He bowed, then shook Mark’s hand before putting an arm about Sergei’s shoulders. “Why don’t we go inside and wait? I’ll have some refreshments prepared.”
“Peter, you know why I am here,” Katrina said.
“Come inside anyway.” He steered Sergei away, who happily followed. Mark was there to escort her and she was never happier for his support. He hadn’t said anything, but he wore a serious frown.
Sergei looked over his shoulder and smiled at her, nearly breaking her heart with his openness. “Is he my father now?”
Katrina couldn’t stop staring at her son’s face, so familiar and so new. Still so innocent and trusting and loving. But changed. “Yes.”
“Keep walking, Sergei. We’ll get all the answers in good time,” Peter said.
Inside one of his sitting rooms, she took a seat on a couchette and Sergei plopped next to her and leaned against her shoulder. Naturally, she wrapped her arm about him in return, relieved that her little boy had not grown up too much in her absence. Mark stood beside her, a sentinel with only one purpose.
Tea and biscuits appeared along with a few glasses of hearty ale. The cool drink slid down her throat and eased her worry.
Peter wanted to know about the trip from London and the wedding, and then they settled into a discussion of Russia, which he could have asked about when she saw him several days ago. It was all too civil. And not at all what either of them had expected. She’d glanced at Mark once and he lifted a shoulder, evidently as confused as she was about Peter’s sociability.
She brushed at crumbs on Sergei’s shirtfront. “I’m glad you’re home, Mama,” he whispered.
“Me too.”
A clamor in the hallway caused Katrina to jump to her feet. Ivan burst through the door first. “Mama!”
Claud was right behind him. Suddenly, she had two boys in her arms and tears in her eyes. She kissed them quick, little pecks to their cheeks, nothing that would embarrass them.
After, a flurry of questions ensued, much like Sergei’s, until Ivan said. “Are we going home today? Should we pack our trunks?”
Katrina glanced at Peter. They’d had no discussion yet; she hadn’t said what she came to say and she couldn’t demur now. “Yes. Ivan, why don’t you request help from a servant? All of you now. Go on. We don’t have all day.”
A clumsy stampede ensued, and then quiet again.
“They look happy, Peter. Thank you for caring for them.”
He said nothing for a moment, then bit at his lip. “Well, it wasn’t the best circumstance, but how can I continue to argue what is best for them when you have obviously improved your situation? And the boys’. Again, congratulations on your marriage. If you will excuse me, I will make sure things are moving along.”
He bowed again and closed the door behind him when he left.
Katrina took a deep breath. “What just happened?”
“Either you are the most persuasive woman alive or he’s had a change of heart.”
“I did nothing. I didn’t even ask.”
“That is a letdown. I was aching for an old-fashion brawl,” Mark said.
She laughed. “And all you get is three stepsons.”
“I’m happy for you.”
Such a weight had been lifted. She hadn’t known she’d felt so burdened by Peter’s demands.
“So, what do you think about Dane’s offer? A honeymoon at Longford? The boys will not be in the way, I promise.” She wagged her brows.
“You are quite a woman, Lady Compton. A marvelous lover. A mistress no man could ever forget.”
“I should think not. Wait until you see what I can do as a wife.” There was a tussle coming from the staircase. She jerked her head in that direction. “They are going to come barging through the door any moment with some monumental problem that only a mother can solve.”
“Then they are going to see me kissing their mother with much abandon.”
“Shocking, sir.”
“It will teach them to knock before entering.”
“Hm, that might be a good lesson. Now, you said something about a kiss?” She wrapped her arms about his neck; his went around her waist and he lifted her to her toes. He pressed his lips to hers then they joined in an open-mouth kissed that seared every nerve in her body. The noise outside receded; the kiss strengthened in its intensity until they had to pull away to catch their breath.
Mark ran a finger along her lips. “Don’t be afraid to share them with me, Katrina. I’ve always wanted sons.”
“I’m not, but I have an idea how we might get you one of your own, if you’ll allow me.”
“Allow? I will encourage this pursuit with all my heart.”
Within the hour, the carriage was loaded with trunks and boys, along with much happy chatter.
Katrina’s heart was ready to burst. “I should not be so happy,” she whispered to Mark.
“We are a family now. You will never have to choose between us again.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her brow. The coachman yelled, cracked the whip and the horses jerked the carriage int
o motion, toward their new life together.
Epilogue
Mark and Katrina took the boys to their country estate the following summer. One afternoon, the boys had collected their fishing poles along with a very smelly bucket of something and waited on the front stoop for Mark and Ivan to appear.
The dogs, three staffies, one for each of the boys, ran circles around the group, sensing an upcoming adventure.
“What is it?” Katrina asked Sergei, glancing down at the unknown ingredients. She had worried about Mark’s ability to be a father to her sons, but he had taken to the challenge. The hunting and fishing had won the respect of Ivan and Claud, but Sergei required more intellectual pursuits. They played chess every Sunday afternoon. Mark gave no quarter, and Sergei had glowed the first time he’d beaten his stepfather.
“Bait paste.”
“But what’s in it?”
“Squished worms, fish guts, moldy bread, raw liver, bugs and grasshoppers. And some other stuff,” Sergei finished, straight-faced.
“I think it’s missing something,” she said.
“No, that’s it. That’s what Claud said.”
“I think it needs some spit, too. So, you can roll the paste into balls.”
“Oh, maybe.”
Claud started laughing. “You dolt! It’s just bran and clay mixed together.”
The dogs started baying at the sound of approaching visitors.
A carriage and four came flying up the limestone lane and came to an abrupt stop at the front door, causing the three of them to step back. The conveyance door was emblazoned with the shield of the Marquess of Dane, Mark’s brother-in-law.
Lord Dane was the only one to step from the carriage and without preamble asked, “Is Lord Compton available? I am sorry for the interruption but it is urgent,” he said to Katrina, before pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.
“Yes, he’s in the house. What is it?”
Mark stepped from the door, Ivan tall beside him.
“My lords,” Dane said. Ivan’s chest expanded in pride and he glanced toward Katrina. She winked at him and could only imagine the thrill of being acknowledge by a duke for the first time.
Lord Dane and Mark had an odd but developing friendship. Katrina thought she understood it, but she was not going to attempt an intervention so that they had one big happy family. Christina had told Mark about Dane’s visit to Peter Klee some months ago. Dane had handled it beautifully. And now Katrina felt indebted to him. Who better to help than family members, though?
“Dane, what can I do for you?” Mark asked. He had set his hand over Sergei’s shoulder and Katrina’s heart warmed to see two of her sons draw close to Mark. Claud had picked up a yard cat and was teasing it with a piece of grass.
“Your uncle is still the governor in Barbados?”
“Yes, Henry Warde. Why?” Mark’s brows furrowed.
“My cousin Olivia. She was married a year ago and moved to the island. Her husband has return to England without her, claiming she has died.”
“I don’t mean to be unsympathetic, but people die.”
“Her husband is a shite, and I wouldn’t believe him if he said the sky was blue.”
“Warde is the man to find out what has happened. I’ll send a missive this afternoon.” They exchanged a few details. Ivan had drawn close to Mark to listen.
“It is all I can ask,” Dane said at the end of the conversation.
“Anything to help.”
“You understand the urgency? She is family.”
Mark nodded then shook Dane’s hand.
Katrina watched as Dane jumped in the carriage and, just as quickly as he came, he departed, probably going to Longford, his primary country estate. His wife Christina had delivered a healthy baby boy a few months ago and they had retired from London for some needed peace and quiet.
“Boys, I need to take care of something quick. I’ll meet you at the lake.” He hurried inside to fulfill his promise to Dane.
Katrina saw the boys off then followed Mark to the library. He sat at the mahogany desk, already busy with the requested letter. She leaned against the door jamb, watching her husband, who she knew to be a man of his word. He’d proven himself to her time and time again.
“Oh, Katrina. May I help you?” He’d glanced up and smiled. “Lord help me if I ever have a daughter to worry about.” He sanded the letter, folded it then heated the wax before pressing his seal into it. “I hope Dane’s concerns are ill-founded.”
“Knowing Dane, I would wager on his instincts.”
Katrina strolled into the room and stood next to Mark. She rubbed her hand across his shoulders.
He leaned back. “Why don’t you go fishing with us? We could lounge on a blanket beneath the trees and enjoy the birds singing.”
“Sounds romantic but Dr. Jakes will be here this afternoon.”
“Oh, is someone ill?”
“Not yet. Are you sure you wouldn’t want a daughter? They love their papas in a way that sons never can.”
Mark held his breath for a moment. She thought his eyes grew misty. “Are you sure?”
“I’m fairly certain. I just want to talk with Dr. Jakes about my symptoms.”
“When?”
“Before Christmastide, I think.”
He placed his palm against her stomach. “Are you happy about it?”
She slid into his lap and wrapped her arms about his neck. “Oh yes. I was happy but I’m happier still, thanks to you.”
“The Russians don’t have some saying about virile husbands and happy wives?”
“Oh yes, they do. It says something about the virile husband providing the fertile wife with new jewels. And lots of them.”
“I remember you being a lot less demanding as my mistress.”
“You remember wrongly. I was the perfect mistress.”
He kissed her quick. “Yes, you were a mistress to remember. And now, the wife of my dreams.”
A Mistress To Remember
Copyright © 2017 Eliza Lloyd
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead or places, events or locations is coincidental.
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Cover art by Dar Albert
Electronic book publication 2017
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Book List by Series
by Eliza Lloyd
Historical
Wicked Affairs Series
Wicked Desires
Wicked Temptation
Wicked Lord
Wicked Secrets
Wicked Indiscretions
Wicked Siren
Wicked Scandal (TBA)
Birds of Paradise Series
Another Lover
The Darkness in the Marquess of Dane
A Mistress To Remember
His High Seas’ Temptress (TBA)
Mad Duchesses (series complete)
One Last Night
From Now On
Age of Innocence
The Day After
Mad Duchesses Anthology (ebook and print)
The Curse of the Weatherby Ball
An Occasion to Sin
An Inadvisable Wager (TBA)
The Infamous Forresters
All A Mistress Wants (al
so part of the Wanton Christmas Wishes anthology)
My Dear Lord Forrester (also part of the Seven Nights of Sin anthology)
Imogene Farrell series
Imogene
Jack’s Hellion
The Frenchman’s Widow
Lady Prescott’s Confidential Matter
Imogene Farrell series (all four books)
Body of Knowledge series
The Timeless Earl
The All-Seeing Eye
The Trouble With Scots
A Sleight of Hand
Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Cold Play series
Best Served Cold
On Thin Ice
Play It Cool
Contemporary
Far From Home series
Lessons in Mountain Climbing
Lessons in Fly Fishing
Lessons in Horse Whispering (TBA)