Page 25 of Lady Isla and the Lord of Rogue (Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues #6)

“You overcame those ruffians single-handedly,” Isla said. “It is true you have been training with Gentleman Jackson.”

He flexed his fingers and shot her a quick grin. “Indeed, I have. That’s a formidable weapon you have there.” He pointed at her umbrella, which now rested next to his walking stick. He’d set it aside immediately after they’d entered the carriage.

Isla picked up his stick and turned it in her hands.

“As is this?”

“Those men were the most discourteous customers. Really. The shopkeeper must do something about it.”

“Teddy…” Isla stared at the silver head adorning his stick, her heart racing. Teddy was watching her, a faint smile curving his lips.

“Who can say how many customers they have driven away?”

“Tell me, Teddy.” She was surprised that her voice remained steady. “Are you fond of wolves?”

She raised the stick, showing the gleaming visage of the snarling wolf at the handle .

“Not particularly,” Teddy replied with easy composure, settling back in his seat. “You refer to the wolf’s head?”

She nodded.

“‘Tis merely decorative. There was a choice between a lion, an elephant, and a wolf. In silver or gold. I selected the silver wolf.”

“For no reason other than that you liked it.”

“Precisely.”

Surely many walking sticks bore wolf-shaped handles. It did not have to mean anything. Algie had said as much that such things were quite fashionable these days. Any gentleman might possess such a stick.

And Teddy had admitted he boxed with Gentleman Jackson himself, no less. That would explain how he had dispatched those ruffians in the shop with such speed and precision.

Boxing, too, was much in vogue among gentlemen. Perfectly unremarkable.

Isla found herself on the verge of asking whether that was also the reason he bore a wolf’s head tattooed between his shoulder blades, but that would land her in a rather awkward position, since it would require admitting she had seen him in a state of undress.

She remembered the warmth of his skin, the way his muscles had shifted as he moved. A wave of heat rose to her cheeks.

Isla set the stick aside. “I see.”

She clasped her hands to keep them still. They had grown quite cold.

“Shall we stop for some refreshments at Gunter’s? I vow I could benefit from a strong dose of sugar after all this excitement.”

Isla shook her head. “I am feeling rather fatigued. Let us return home.”

Teddy handed her down in front of her residence, concern on his brow. “I hope you’re not falling ill. Last evening, as well, you mentioned feeling out of sorts.”

“All I need is a little rest.” She attempted a smile, but it came out rather wanly.

She turned to go, but he caught her hand, halting her.

“Open your umbrella,” he said quietly.

“Why? It isn’t raining…” The sudden intensity in his eyes made her pause. She obeyed.

In the next moment, he drew her against him, so swiftly the air rushed from her lungs, and then his lips found hers—urgent, unrelenting—as the umbrella shielded them from curious eyes.

They might have kissed for an eternity. The world had fallen away. No sound, no time, no place—only Teddy, and the joy of it, the sheer rightness of it, as if everything had been leading to this moment.

His mouth moved to her ear. “I wish… I wish…”

“What?” Her voice was breathless, rough with emotion.

“So very much…”

He drew her into a fierce embrace, her head pressed against his chest, where his heartbeat as wildly as her own. One hand stroked her hair, slow and steady.

She had never felt so completely held. So safe. As though nothing could reach her; not fear, not doubt, not the past .

He felt like home.

He lifted his hand to her cheek, his touch unbearably tender. His eyes searched hers, full of unspoken questions.

“I wish you would trust me more,” he whispered.

The words were so soft, she almost thought she’d imagined them.

She parted her lips. “I do.”

The truth of it struck her the moment the words left her mouth.

It sounded like a vow.

It felt like a vow.

Teddy felt it too. His eyes lit with a fierce, unguarded joy that stole her breath.

He opened his mouth to reply?—

But the front door creaked open, and Falks, the butler, appeared on the threshold. “My lord. My lady.” He cleared his throat delicately. “If you require more time?—”

Teddy and Isla looked at each other, eyes brimming with suppressed laughter.

“He has undoubtedly been watching us through the window this entire time,” Teddy observed. “The rascal.” He let her go, though with evident reluctance.

Isla coloured, a bloom of happiness and embarrassment warming her cheeks. “Will you be joining us for supper this evening?”

“Naturally.” His gaze softened. “This evening and every evening.”

She climbed the steps to her door, where Falks waited with his usual patient dignity. But just before she crossed the threshold, Isla glanced over her shoulder.

There was Teddy, alone on the pavement, executing a small, joyful jig.

A laugh bubbled up and escaped her, light and bright as springtime.

Meggie was chatting about this and that, but Isla didn’t hear a word of it.

After she disappeared, and Isla was clad in her nightgown, she draped a warm, woollen shawl over her shoulders and curled up in the armchair.

She felt as though she were floating on a cloud.

Teddy had come to supper, indeed, and sat next to her, and they’d held hands the entire time, while trying to eat their way through several courses.

This presented certain challenges, as cutting the meat on her plate with only one hand proved difficult.

Yet under no circumstances would she release Teddy’s hand.

He had caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, sending delightful sparks through her entire being, and she’d barely been able to focus on the conversation.

Every time their gazes met, Teddy winked surreptitiously, causing bubbles of laughter to rise within her, and it was difficult to suppress while at the same time eating.

Finally, when the pudding was served, Algie released a big sigh and shook his head. “There is nothing more tiresome than dining with two besotted lovebirds,” he declared with disgust. “Watching you two fairly destroys my appetite.” He pushed his plate away.

“Why?” Isla looked at him with innocent eyes. “We have merely been eating as usual, Teddy and I. Have we not?”

Teddy’s eyes were equally innocent. “Indeed. It has been a most delicious meal of, er, lamb.”

“Veal,” Algie growled. “We ate veal.” He pointed a finger at him. “You’re so besotted with my sister that you don’t even know what you’re putting into your mouth.”

Their eyes met once more, and the look of guilt on Teddy’s face was so endearing that Isla’s shoulders shook with suppressed mirth.

They had been unable to converse properly afterwards, occupied as they were with gazing into each other’s eyes and giggling.

Algie threw up his hands in exasperation and withdrew, and Teddy, too, departed after an extended farewell. Reaching the front door had never required so much time, with stolen kisses, eye gazing and even more kisses.

Isla had fairly floated up the stairs afterward.

The smile she’d given Teddy when he finally left was still on her face.

So this was what love felt like?

She’d always assumed it would be fireworks and excitement and sizzling.

And while she’d experienced that, too, this feeling, with Teddy, was more grounded, as though he anchored her, as though he truly perceived her essence, which was nothing like she’d ever experienced before. It was calmer, more stable, safer.

It felt like coming home.

And they would wed.

Isla counted the days.

In less than a fortnight.

She sighed contentedly.

In less than a fortnight, they would belong to each other forever.