Page 37 of Miss Hawthorne’s Unlikely Husband (The Troublemakers Trilogy #3)

Suddenly, he pulled back and took a deep, if unsteady, breath as he pressed his brow against hers.

When she opened her eyes, she found his still closed, his nostrils flaring, his bruised lips parted against desperate breaths, a slight flush painting his cheekbones.

Had she done that? Her hands moved from his shoulders up to his face, stroking his cheeks gently, and he nuzzled into her touch.

“I love when you do that,” he murmured.

“What, this?” she asked, caressing his face.

He nodded before opening his eyes. “No one has ever touched me like you do.” He sighed again and drew back, allowing her to slide down until her feet touched the floor. Clearly, he had more faith in her legs than she did at the moment.

“Ellie,” he began again, “I want to marry you and believe me, nothing about this is easy.”

“Then why can’t we—”

“Because I won’t have it said that I’m a thief. There is nothing to hide from, there is no reason for us to run. I won’t have our marriage made into some cautionary tale about the Chinese merchant who ran away with the viscount’s mixed-race daughter.”

She opened her mouth to speak and he shook his head.

“It is what they will say. Perhaps it is selfish of me to insist upon it but it matters to me. Whether you see it as important or not, it does mean something. It means something to post the banns and have it shouted for one and all to hear. For you to choose your trousseau and make the wedding dress you want. To stand in front of all of London and stake our claims on each other publicly in front of our family and friends. It matters that they see we have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of.” He stroked her cheek.

“I suppose.”

“There is the other matter as well. I know you don’t want to give in to him now but I don’t want you to do anything that you will regret.

HE is your father, Elodia and no matter how angry you are with him now, no matter how unreasonable he is being now, you will both regret not having him at your wedding.

It is not something that can be fixed later.

It is worth it to be a little patient now, not for his sake but for your own. ”

“I don’t care if he’s there.”

“Do you really not care or is it that you do not want to cede ground to your father?”

“He betrayed me. I’m angry with him, and I don’t see why we should have to spend so much effort to wait for his blessing which I know you want.”

Richard shook his head and pulled her close, sliding an arm around her waist. “I am not waiting for him. I’m taking my due.

I am only going to marry once in this lifetime, and my bride is the most beautiful, accomplished, warm hearted, clever, sweet natured woman in the world.

Both of us deserve the full experience from beginning to end.

He may be able to deny us his blessing, if that is indeed his choice in the end, but we will not deny you your full wedding.

You deserve that and so do I. I will not give that up any more than I will you. I love you, Ellie.”

“Do you really?” she asked. “You didn’t say before so—”

“—Yes, very much. You are everything I was afraid to want. I’m sorry I didn’t say so earlier.”

“I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“It’s not your fault, it was mine. But if you have doubts or desires, you should speak them, Ellie. Don’t hide from me. You will be my wife, you should speak your mind.”

“Papa always says I’m a bully.”

“You are,” he agreed with a smile. “But I’m not afraid of you.”

She couldn’t help but smile at that. “A gentleman would have denied that assertion.”

“Well, you’re marrying a tradesman, Miss Hawthorne.”

She rolled her eyes and laid her head on his chest, squeezing and slipping her arms around his waist. It was just like him to tease her even while whispering sweet nothings. “Post the banns then,” she murmured.

“Thank you, àirén.”

“Will you write to me?”

“You live ten minutes away.”

“Yes, but in a proper courtship, you would call on me.” She lifted her head and rested her chin on his chest. “You can’t really do that with my father there, so the next best thing is for you to write to me. So I can show the letters to our children when you are old and annoying.”

“As you wish,” he murmured, rubbing her nose with his. She could see it now, the love shining in his eyes.

“And I want a ball to celebrate our engagement.”

“Perhaps a private soiree?”

“Why not a ball?”

“I thought you wanted to get married within the month? A ball takes weeks to plan.”

She squinted at him threateningly, even as her heart swelled in her chest at the adoration on his face. “Are you going to be like this for our entire marriage?”

“If you are having second thoughts, àirén, now is the time to have them,” he teased with a smile. She dug her fingers into his ribs and he jerked, squirming away from her with a loud laugh.

That was how she realized Richard Thornfield was ticklish. Her eyes went wide at the sight of his body flinching away from her. “Well, now this is interesting.”

“Stay away from me.” He held up a warning finger. She wiggled her fingers and started forward.

“Ellie.” The door opened and Ada entered. At the sight of her alarmed brother, she turned to Ellie. “Is everything alright?” she asked Ellie.

“Yes, of course,” Ellie replied, dropping her hands and clasping them behind her back.

“Take your friend mèimei,” he replied, retreating to the other side of the desk. “I have very important work to do, apparently.” He gave Elodia a pointed look. She stuck out her tongue at him.

“Very well, I’ll leave you for now. But I want it noted for the record that I won this round.”

He nodded and waved her off before sitting in his chair.

*

“Well, it is unsporting to say but,” Basil shrugged, “we told you so.”

Richard rolled his eyes and wagged his finger. “Yes, yes. Move along.” They had invited Richard to their club to celebrate his upcoming nuptials. It was strange, considering how little time it had taken for all of them to march down the aisle. But Richard wasn’t going to complain about the results.

Leo raised his glass in a toast. “Congratulations, old man, on securing the most terrifying one of them all.”

“Indeed, it took you a minute to catch on, but you got there in the end.” Basil winked and Richard pulled a face.

“Thank you, although I still maintain you are both cowards.”

“You only say that because she likes you,” Basil said.

“No, she loves me,” he replied, gloating. “You are the ones who have to worry about her, not I.”

“Look at him,” Leo shook his head, “Look at this smug bastard.”

“For once I can’t seem to begrudge him.”

Leo nudged Basil. “He wasn’t this smug when my Gigi nearly pulled her pistol.”

Richard’s mouth fell open with outrage, as if his little terrorist wasn’t something to be afraid of. “Because it’s very tricky to defend oneself against a pregnant woman. Especially when she has the aim of a fucking sharpshooter.”

Leo laughed but didn’t refute the assertion. “My mother is coming for your wedding by the by.”

“Is she?” Richard sat up a little straighter. That was a reunion he would look forward to. “I haven’t seen her in so long.”

“Yes, I’ve heard as much,” Leo replied, shaking his head. “How are things with Lord Melbroke?”

“As expected.” He shrugged. “He is currently mulling over his options.”

“Will he make things difficult for you?”

“Not as difficult as Elodia will make it for him.”

Basil laughed, “She is not easily deterred, that one.”

“She’s never heard the word ‘no’,”

“Oh, she hears it but she doesn’t really listen,” Richard replied with a chuckle. Unless, of course, he was saying it.

Leo’s amused expression shifted into something more guarded, and Richard’s hands tightened on the armrest of his chair.

“Nephew,” Uncle Simon’s voice came from behind him.

Fuck. “Uncle.” He turned his head and waited, unwilling to stand for him.

He walked around Richard’s chair until his shoes were in sight. “I didn’t realize you still attended this club. I haven’t seen you here in some time.”

“I’ve been busy of late,” Richard replied.

“Yes, so I’ve heard. Could I trouble you for a moment of your time?”

Richard glanced up at his uncle. He seemed almost panicked and unfocused instead of his usual sulking nonsense. This was new. He rose to his feet and turned to face him expectantly. “After you,”

He followed his uncle into a small alcove and waited with folded arms for his uncle to begin.

“I have heard that you have been circulating rumors of a most presumptuous connection.”

It was an interesting way to begin a conversation. “Have you?”

“Yes. Is it true?”

“Would you like to be more specific?”

“Lord Melbroke’s daughter,” he snapped. “It is said that you are to marry her.”

So the reports had been fully circulated. He had to credit Regina with the network she had set up. “I am.”

“By what right, sir? The man has refuted it.”

So Melbroke was simply making his dissent known. Interesting. “That is to be expected.”

“You do not have his blessing, then?”

Now Richard was doubly curious as to what his uncle’s intention was in pulling him aside. “Were you concerned that I was courting Melbroke’s disfavor by marrying his daughter or were you concerned that I was being misled?”

“You cannot marry her if her father does not agree,” Simon insisted.

“Yes, I can.”

Simon shook his head, his lip curling in disgust, his eyes burning with contempt. “I always knew you would be the ruin of our family.”

“Did you? Is that why you attempted to have me disappeared?”

He hissed and glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone else had heard it. “Keep your voice down.”

“So you admit it now?” Richard asked more out of curiosity. He had a bet with himself going now, as to how long it would take for Simon to admit to it.

“I admit nothing, boy .”

Time to go. “Well. I believe you have received more than a moment of my time. I will leave you now, Mr. Thornfield.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” he hissed.