Page 56 of A Duchess of Mystery (The Mismatched Lovers #3)

His fingers caressed her face, sending shock waves down her body. She couldn’t think. Her whole self was twisted up with the feel of his touch, only able to think of his hands on her, wanting him to touch her all over.

Could she say the words? Words she’d never used before. She licked her lips. “Diccon… of course I will marry you.” The words came tumbling out. “Of course I love you.”

The answer to that was another kiss, long and deep, that made the world spin under her and time stand still.

All too soon, though, it came to an end.

He chuckled. “I suppose that wasn’t a very good proposal as proposals go.

I love you, Bella.” His brows met in a worried frown.

“But I must be sure you’re not just saying yes to please me.

I won’t force you into anything you don’t want to do.

If you don’t love me enough, or prefer to remain as friends, and don’t wish to marry me, you won’t have to.

I don’t want you to feel you’re under any obligation.

You have the power to say no to me if you wish it. ”

She licked her lips, a tiny doubt resurrecting itself.

Might he turn out to be like Marcus? Her experience of marriage had not been good, and that was a gross underestimation.

She’d only known Richard a little over a week.

Was she feeling all this for him out of gratefulness that he’d saved her?

He clearly thought she might be. Was her body responding to his only as a reaction to the long years of loneliness she’d suffered?

“I-I do love you,” she whispered. “But I’m afraid.”

His hand slid down from her cheek to her throat, his touch electric. Oh, how she was aching for him. “What are you afraid of, my love?”

“That love might not be enough. I-I’m damaged goods, Diccon. I always will be.” There, it was out.

He stroked her neck. “I have enough love for the two of us.”

“So I’ve noticed.”

He burst out laughing, the tension between them vanishing. “Damn it, Bella, but I’m hot for you. Right now, with only our horses as witnesses. I could take you now, here on the grass under the sun with no one around for miles. But I won’t. We shall be married in the estate chapel, before God.”

She joined in his laughter, her fear melting. “A feeble excuse. I fear with your recent fall you are too unwell to perform anyway.”

He swore under his breath. “Temptress. You are playing with me now. I find my headache has cleared away entirely. Your kiss has quite recovered me.”

He made to try and rise but she pushed him back, her old determination returned. “Then let us see how much this one reinvigorates you.” And she kissed him again.

His lips were indeed hot. Demanding too, and against her body she felt his hard arousal pressing against her until she was panting with a desire she’d never felt before.

But he was right. They had to wait. Instead of giving in to hot temptation, she would do it properly this time, when she married the man she loved. She would be a proper duchess.

She sat back on her heels, the breeze ruffling her curls, her cheeks warm. Sultan and Mercury were grazing close by still, as though nothing untoward had just occurred. “I can wait, so long as it is not for too long.”

Richard sat up, none the worse for his fall, it seemed.

He put up a hand to caress her cheek. “I’ll get a special license, have no fear.

We’ll be married within the week if I can manage it.

But you’re right, it will be hard to have to wait for both of us, but when we’re married, the wait will be worth it. ”

She had the distinct feeling he was speaking the truth.

He scrambled to his feet and helped her up. “And now I think we’d better catch our horses and head for home. I’m not even sure Mercury is rideable, as I think he’s broken his bridle. The reins, at least. It’s a long walk, but the sooner we’re back, the better, as we have a wedding to prepare for.”

His words snatched Bella back to normality. “But what about Dora? How can we help her?”

“I’ve already thought of that. We’ll make it a double wedding.

She will marry the man she loves, and he will keep her safe.

We’ll have to tell him your secret, but I’m certain he’ll be ready to help her.

I have the feeling he’s already guessed Marcus’s death wasn’t as it seemed—I’m sure he knows about the gun being in the wrong hand but has kept it to himself.

And perhaps marriage and becoming a mother will chase away the guilt Dora feels about her brother.

I hope she’ll be able to come to terms with her conscience.

We have to convince her it was the only thing she could have done. ”

Isabella nodded. “If anyone can bring her back and make her happy once again, Philip will. He’s loved her for years, but they had to keep it secret from Marcus, who would have given him his marching orders had he found out.

” She smoothed down her skirts. “I have more than once suggested to her that she should elope with him, but she wouldn’t leave me alone with Marcus. ”

Richard brushed the grass off his clothes. “We don’t want anyone to guess what we’ve been doing, now do we?” He chuckled. “But I feel these two weddings had best be very soon, because I won’t be able to wait long to have you in my bed.” And he folded her into his arms once again.

“Oh, Diccon.” She let herself relax, her whole body weak with relief that this was finally over.

That she wasn’t locked up in a cell or on her way to London to stand trial, that only Richard knew their secret, that Dora could be helped, and she could allow herself to love Richard.

She lifted her face to his, and their mouths met in another kiss.

THE END