Page 41 of Lady Farah Creates a Scandal (The Season of Secrets #2)

When he drew back, she giggled. “I suppose marriage to you won’t be all bad.” His answering laugh was light and breathless, warming her from the inside out.

His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip, his eyes darkening with possession. “I’ll have to rename you spicy vixen. The timid mouse is long gone.”

She laughed delightedly. “I wouldn’t mind that name. And I’ll only ever be spicy with you.”

“God help me,” he groaned, his forehead dropping to rest against hers. The sandalwood scent made her head spin. “I wish we were married already. I want to take you to bed and do all manner of wicked things to you.”

She felt heat bloom on her cheeks, but her eyes held his boldly. “I’d like that too. How long before we wed?”

“My eager little vixen,” he murmured, his hands tightening possessively at her waist. “Haven’t you changed their tune?” At her embarrassed squirm, he added, “I will get a special license and we can marry as soon as it is arranged, perhaps in your brother’s drawing room?”

She traced idle patterns on his lapel and loved how he shivered. “Where will we live?”

“With Wolf and Tiffany for now, and you can help me purchase a London town home for us. Then we could take a few weeks and visit my estate in Suffolk.”

Her fingers stilled against his chest. “What estate?”

“I bought the Spencer’s estate in Suffolk, mainly to help the family who found themselves in financial difficulty.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, though her lips twitched with amusement coupled with surprise. “What are you doing with an estate if you are sailing away?”

He captured her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, seemingly delighted in her sharp intake of breath.

“Didn’t I say sometimes the adventure you had planned changes?

” His voice dropped lower, intimate. “Do you remember my investment in Armley Mills? Well, someone approached me about starting a Merino wool breeding program. I can’t breed sheep without an estate.

The land runs right down to the coast. It would mean settling on my estate in Suffolk, working to revolutionize the textile industry.

It’s a chance to make a real difference to the economy of England, to build something lasting. ”

She couldn’t hide the wonder from her face as her heart stuttered deep in her chest. Gosh, that was a change. He used the word settling . He must be serious. “I can’t wait to see it—with you.”

Still carrying her, cradling her precious weight against his chest, he opened the door. “Do you want to say goodbye to Courtney?”

They looked up the stairs and saw Courtney standing there, her face glowing with vicarious joy. “I gather it’s to be a wedding.”

“She said yes,” Rockwell replied, his voice rough with emotion and pride.

Farah squirmed in his arms. But she really didn’t want to escape.

“You can put me down. You can’t carry me home, that would be scandalous.

” Turning to Courtney, her eyes bright with unshed tears of happiness, she said, “Thank you for letting me invade your house. I won’t forget your kindness.

If you need anything, please let me know. ”

When Rockwell finally put her down, she walked over and hugged her friend, whispering in Courtney’s ear, “Is Lucien worth fighting for? That’s the question only you can answer.”

As they prepared to leave, Rockwell’s arm remained firmly around her waist, as if he feared she might still slip away. But Farah leaned into his touch, her heart too full of joy to care about propriety.

It was like a dream. Shortly she’d be Lady Farah Ware.

As they walked back towards her family home, she said to her husband-to-be, “You do know I’ll have to tell Tiffany about your plans with Armley Mills.

This could really increase the profit in our challenge if news of your venture got out.

Don’t you dare tell anyone else. Wolf already knows who my brother and Fane are being challenged by, but they don’t. Please help us win.”

He slipped her arm through his. “I’ve known from the beginning that the sisterhood were the ones challenging the men.

Wolf needed my help with stopping Sprat.

He confessed all about Tiffany’s skills and that her stockjobber, Sprat had stolen the money.

But as for Fane and Blackstone, they both could do with being taken down a peg or too, so your secret is safe with me.

” He paused, then squeezed her hand. “You’re safe with me. I’ll never do anything to hurt you.”

She merely nodded. He probably meant that, but when you love someone who doesn’t love you back, the opportunities for being hurt are endless.

“If you don’t wish to see me hurt, then I hope you know how to handle my brother. He may very well kill me when we arrive home.”

Rockwell laughed. “I suspect he’ll be so pleased to hear of the engagement that all else will be forgotten.”

Blackstone came bounding down the stairs at their entrance and what he saw made him slow down and smile. “I see you’ve come to your senses, Farah. Good girl.”

“I’m not a dog, brother dear,” she replied tartly.

“It’s me that has come to my senses. I suddenly realized I can’t see her marry anyone else,” Rockwell said.

Farah tried to ignore the brief stab of doubt at Rockwell’s words. What she really wanted him to say was he realized he loved her. One day—perhaps.

“Regardless, I’m pleased to see you together. I think you’ll have a wonderful life as man and wife.” Blackstone reached out his hand. “Welcome to the family, Lord Ware.”

Rockwell turned to Farah. “I’ll be on my way. I have a special license to organize and I think you’d like to summon the ladies to go over your wedding dress and things. Shall we marry the day after tomorrow? Will that give you enough time?”

Her head was spinning. In two days, she’d be Lady Ware.

Gosh, that sounded so soon. Was she really doing this?

But she hid her thoughts and smiled up at her fiancé.

“When you get to Wolf’s, could you ask Tiffany, Ashley and Ivy to attend me?

I’ll send notes to Lauren, Courtney, Claire, Serena, and Valora.

” And before her brother could utter a sound, she rounded on him.

“Yes, Lady Ashley too. She will be my sister-in-law, and I insist she be present.”

Blackstone held up his hands in defense. “I’m not saying anything.”

“Very wise, brother dear.” She turned and pressed a kiss to Rockwell’s lips.

“Will you dine with us tonight?” she asked Rockwell.

Her head swam with doubts, but her heart sang loudly.

Thankfully, she had a lot to organize because she would leave her brother’s house after the wedding breakfast. She would only take what she needed for the immediate future and then collect the rest at her leisure.

“I’d like that,” he replied. “Until dinner then.”

“And bring the rest of the Ware family,” she called after him. She’d finally have sisters—Ashley and Ivy.

As she watched him leave, she couldn’t help feeling like this was all a dream.

*

Later that evening, after enduring Wolf’s knowing smirks and Tiffany’s tearful embraces, they announced their engagement to a relieved household. The family’s exuberant celebration had left Farah’s cheeks aching from smiling and Rockwell’s hand warm from countless congratulatory handshakes.

The garden welcomed them like a secret sanctuary. At last, they were alone. Night-blooming jasmine perfumed the air, its sweet fragrance mingling with the earthy dampness of the evening.

Rockwell settled onto a stone bench, drawing Farah between his legs until she melted against his chest. The steady thrum of his heartbeat against her back anchored her to this perfect moment.

They gazed up at the stars, diamond-bright against the velvet sky.

“I still can’t quite believe this is real,” she murmured, her fingers intertwining with his where they rested at her waist.

He nuzzled the sensitive spot behind her ear, his breath warming her skin. “Which part? The engagement or the fact that I located you so quickly?”

She shifted against him, delighting in his sharp intake of breath. “Both, I suppose. Though I should have known better than to think I could outwit you for long.”

“Mmm, I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said, his chest rumbling with appreciation against her back. “You’re far cleverer than I am, my dear. I simply had the advantage of being utterly desperate to find you.”

Farah twisted in his embrace, studying the play of moonlight across his beloved features. “You really were worried, weren’t you?”

“Terrified,” he confessed, his arms tightening possessively around her. “The thought of something happening to you… it was unbearable.”

She traced the worried line between his brows with gentle fingers. “I’m sorry for putting you through that. I just felt so trapped, so powerless. I needed to prove to myself that I could make my own choices.”

Rockwell caught her wandering hand and pressed a kiss to each fingertip, sending shivers down her spine. “I understand. And I admire your strength, your determination to chart your own course. It’s one of the many things I respect about you.”

“Even when it leads me to do foolish things?” she asked, her lips quirking.

His chuckle vibrated through her body. “Especially then. Though perhaps in the future, we could face our challenges together? I rather like the idea of being your partner in crime.”

Farah’s eyes sparkled with mischief in the starlight. “I think I’d like that too.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the distant chorus of crickets and the whisper of leaves in the evening breeze. Then Farah spoke again, her voice carrying the weight of dreams finally within reach. “Tell me more about this life you envision for us. I want to hear everything.”

Rockwell’s hand drew idle patterns on her waist as he spoke, his arm secure around her.

“It’s a grand old place with bones as strong as its history—in need of some care, like all precious things, but with endless possibility stretching before us.

I thought we might split our time between there and London, at least initially, while we get the breeding program off the ground. ”

“We’d need to buy a London town home,” she said, already picturing their life together.

“I’ve already started looking. I want to be close to Wolf and Tiffany.”

Farah turned fully in his arms, her eyes bright with purpose.

“I’d like that. And I’ve been thinking… Perhaps we could set up a school on the estate?

For the tenants’ children, and maybe even some from the nearby village.

Education is so important, and it could make such a difference in their lives. ”

“God, you’re magnificent,” Rockwell whispered against her hair, looking at her with such intensity, it stole her breath. “See? This is exactly why I need you by my side. You think of things I never would have considered.”

She preened under his praise, warmth blooming in her chest. “We will make a good team, don’t you think?”

“The best,” he agreed, his voice rough with emotion. “And speaking of teams… I hope you know I’m serious about wanting children with you, Farah. Not right away, of course—not unless you want to. But someday…”

Farah’s eyes softened. “I want that, too. A little boy with your curls and mischievous smile. A girl with your sense of adventure.”

Rockwell’s eyes welled with emotion. “They’ll have your intelligence, your compassion. Your ability to see the best in people.”

“And your courage,” Farah added. “Your integrity.”

A small frown briefly creased his forehead before he smiled once again. “How did I get so lucky?”

Farah stretched up to kiss him softly. “I think we both got lucky.”