Page 50

L ate that night, after everyone else had retired, Mary sneaked out of her bedchamber, along the corridor, crossing to the other wing of the house where Kit’s room was located. They may have to wait another few weeks to wed, but she longed to be with him now.

Padding to the last door on the right, she stopped, took a breath, and opened it. Kit stood before a small writing desk reading a letter. She closed the door, and he turned, dropping the missive to the desk and hastily tying the cloth belt of his robe. He stared at her but didn’t utter a word.

Now that she was here, Mary wondered what she’d been thinking. Perhaps she should go back to her chamber. Yet they were betrothed. Everything she’d planned to say died on her lips.

In three steps, he was with her, and his arms were around her. “My love?”

Oh God! Now what? Her throat dried. She could see his chest again, but this time she knew how hard it was. “I—I wanted to be with you.”

Kit’s forehead creased, and when he spoke, his voice was full of regret. “I’d like nothing better, but we cannot.” Lifting her in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all, Kit carried Mary to a large, stuffed chair. He sat, holding her on his lap as he stroked her hair.

“I don’t understand. We are marrying.”

“More than anything, I want to make you mine in all ways tonight. You have no idea how often I’ve dreamed alternately of tearing your gown off or undressing you slowly, kissing every inch of you.

For weeks, I have fought taking you in my arms and making you mine.

You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. ”

Oh dear . Her breath shortened. She’d never expected him to say all that. How stupid she had been. “I thought you didn’t want to kiss me.”

Kit chuckled. “I was convinced you would slap my face.”

“To think of all the time we wasted, but why did you wait so long?”

“I vowed not to kiss you until we were betrothed. Then this evening when I saw Munro and how pale you were, my last coherent thought was getting him away from you.”

Mary touched her forehead to his. “I think my friends were right, I should have kissed you first.” Still, now they were engaged. He had always been proper, but . . . “We are to be married soon.” Warmth rose in her cheeks. “Many couples anticipate their vows.”

“They do, and by the birth dates of their children, some of our friends have as well.” He settled her more securely in his arms. “Yet I once promised I’d never be part of ruining a lady, and if by some strange occurrence, something were to happen to me before we wed, that is what you would be.

Mary, I love you too much to take the chance. ”

Her heart was in her throat. No one, she was certain, loved her as much as this man. She laid her head against his shoulder. Someone or some occurrence must have affected him deeply. “What happened?”

Kit groaned and kissed her hair. “I once had an older brother, half-brother actually. My father and his mother married when they were very young. Crispin was the only child they had before she died. A few years later my father married my mother. Crispin never forgave my father. He was ten years older than I and extremely wild. I shall never forget the pain he caused both my parents. Even though my mother had not given birth to him, she loved him as if he were her own.” Kit paused for several moments.

“Crispin died after seducing a young lady who was engaged to another.”

“Did he love her?” Mary asked, afraid of what the answer was likely to be.

“No.” Kit shook his head. “He did it for sport, because he didn’t like the other man, and he could.

The girl did not mean a thing to him. Her betrothed called him out, and Crispin died in the duel.

I was fifteen and vowed that I would never give my parents any cause to be ashamed or worry about me. ”

Oh God! And here Mary was tempting him to do just that. There was nothing for it, they’d have to wait. “Very well, I cannot argue with you. If only we could reason with my uncle.”

Surprisingly, the corners of his lips lifted in a smile. “We may not have to. The letter I was reading when you entered was from my father. Your trust has been ended. He sent along the court order and the settlement agreement he and Barham worked out.”

She tried to straighten in his arms, but he held her tightly. “You were sure of yourself.”

“No.” Kit kissed her lightly on the lips. “I was only hopeful. My father ended up going to Barham. You should read the documents. If there are any changes you’d like to make, we can have Lord Titus’s solicitor wait on us in the morning. Or you can send them to your solicitor.”

Mary wondered how much of what she’d included in her stipulations to Barham the settlement agreement entailed.

Though more than that, this was her chance to have what she wanted, and she refused to wait.

For the first time, her happiness was in her hands, and she would seize it.

“In that case, I’ll read the proposal now.

” She kissed him as she slid off his lap, setting her feet on the lush carpet covering the floor. “I wish to wed as soon as possible.”

He led her to the table, pulled out the chair, and lit a branch of candles.

Mary perused the letter from his father, one from her brother, and the agreement.

She couldn’t believe what she was reading: Other than funds set aside for any daughters, all her money was exactly as she’d told her brother she wanted, and Kit had given her Rose Hill.

Tears started in her eyes again, and this time she couldn’t hold them back.

“Mary.” Kit’s voice was full of love and concern. “Are you all right? As I said, if there is anything you wish to change . . .”

She chuckled wetly. “It is perfect. Just as you are.” She rose, nestling her head in his shoulder as his arms came around her.

“Happy tears?”

“Yes. Immensely joyous tears.”

“My love, the only thing in the world I want is to be your husband.”

She sniffed, wishing she’d brought a handkerchief, then one was pressed into her hand and she wiped her nose. “In the morning you shall be. ”

Kit pulled her up, kissing her as he did. “As much as I hate for you to leave . . .”

“I know.” She sighed. “I must return to my bedchamber.”

She nuzzled his neck, then kissed him, not wanting to let him go. Kit groaned as he returned her caresses.

Later she crept back the way she’d come.

After sliding between the now cool sheets, she lay awake, making plans for the morning.

Finally she would have everything she had always wanted: a husband who so truly loved her, he cared not at all about her dowry or anything but her, and he thought she was beautiful.

One more night, and she would be with him for the rest of her life.

Rosebury, Northumberland

“Brian, wake up.” He fought the gentle tugging on his shoulder until he could no longer ignore it. He rolled so he could look at Eunice. “What is it?”

“Mama is getting ready to leave.”

Damn! “Can the woman not listen to reason? Kit and Mary are better off figuring this out on their own.”

“The only thing I can tell you is she is not listening to me.”

Blasted old woman. “And you think I can change her mind?”

Eunice shrugged. “I have no clue, but you can try.”

“Keep her here until I get down.”

She nodded, and it was then he realized his wife was completely dressed.

“I shall.” She climbed off the bed. A moment later, the door opened and shut.

Brian rubbed a hand over his face. How much would the Lord punish him for locking the dowager up until Kit and Mary returned? A better question might be how much his wife would punish him. This was the reason God gave man woman: to earn their keep on earth.

Heaving himself from his nice warm bed, he saw the wash water set up. His valet had laid out his shaving gear. In less than fifteen minutes, he was in the hall.

“I must leave,” the Dowager Duchess of Bridgewater said to Eunice.

“Mama, I thought you agreed to wait until we heard from Mary. ”

“No, that was what Lucinda agreed to.”

“Really, dear,” the Dowager Vicountess Featherton said. “I think we should wait, but if you do have a feeling . . .”

“I do. Otherwise I’d not drag you out again.”

Brian drew Eunice aside. “My love, I’ve dealt with enough old ladies to accept that when they get a feeling , nothing will keep them from their purpose.”

Lips pressed together, she nodded. “You’re most likely correct. I just hope they don’t ruin everything.”

She had a point there. “Kiss your mother farewell. Something tells me we’ve not seen the last of her.”

Finally, Eunice smiled. “You’re right, again.” She turned back to her mother. “We want you to come for a longer visit on your return trip.”

The dowager hugged her fiercely. “We shall.”

“At least we know we will be welcome here,” Lady Featherton said.

Eunice would love to be in Edinburgh to see how Mary and Kit responded to seeing their grandmothers. Eunice glanced at Brian. He shook his head and mouthed, “No.”

She’d better attempt to warn them in any event. A few minutes later, she and Brian waved as the coaches left, then she went to her parlor.

Dearest Mary,

I hope this letter finds you well. I thought I’d warn you that Mama and the Dowager Lady Featherton are traveling to you. Please do not be too hard on them.

Best regards to all,

Eunice

She sealed the letter and handed it to her maid. “Please see that this goes out immediately. I can only pray it will reach Edinburgh in time.”

On his second day in Alnwick, Gawain was eating luncheon when his groom entered the inn’s common room. “Any news on when the wheel will be ready?”

“Another hour or so, the wheelwright said. ”

He kicked out a chair, indicating Whitely should sit. “We’ll leave as soon as we can. It’s still one hundred and forty miles to Edinburgh.”

The groom pulled a face. “Four days unless we can afford to have the horses changed.”