The look in his eyes riveted her. It was sombre yet emotional and it betrayed this strong, proud man’s silent struggle to conceal the hurts he had endured years ago. She felt overwhelmed with admiration for him, and pity and love.
Also—desire. Oh, yes, delicious, tormenting desire that was rippling up through her bloodstream and licking at every fibre of her body. She moved away from him just a little to begin rolling off her silk stockings, and when she had finished, she handed him two pink-ribboned garters.
‘For your collection,’ she said mischievously.
He laughed. He took them and kissed them, and then he began to kiss her, absolutely everywhere.
Sometime later, warm and sated and lying in his strong arms, she heard him murmur, ‘Kate.’
‘What?’ she said sleepily, rubbing herself against his naked body.
He heaved himself away a little. ‘Stop using your wicked ways to distract me and listen. You haven’t given me your answer yet.’
She eased herself up against the pillows, sweeping her hair back from her face and pretending to frown. ‘No, I haven’t,’ she answered. ‘But Dan, if I marry you—’
‘If?’
He sounded worried and she pressed one finger to his deliciously soft lips. ‘IfI marry you,’ she repeated, ‘then I shall be a Countess, shan’t I? My sister might become unbearable!’
‘Probably. But should your abominable sister and brother-in-law turn up too often to bother us, I shall ask our butler to bar the doors.’
‘Oh, that would be cruel! We would have to receive them at least occasionally!’
‘Perhaps once a year. At Christmas, I suppose.’
‘You never know. Those children of Monica’smightimprove with time. But listen, Dan. Do you really think I shall be able to cope as a Society hostess?’
‘You will cope admirably, for you are a baronet’s daughter, after all. More importantly, you are both intelligent and beautiful and, since the Prince is already an admirer of yours, there will be a stampede to attend any event we hold. I was thinking, too, that when we are in London I shall teach you to drive a curricle around the park, so you can wave to your friends and cut dead anyone who has ever been rude to you.’
A mischievous smile lit up her face. ‘Oh, that would be fun. But are you quite sure that this will all work out?’
‘Absolutely,’ he said. ‘Oh, absolutely. My darling Kate, I guarantee that you will be a great success. But Society’s opinion, you know, doesn’t really matter.’ He suddenly looked serious. ‘What matters to me is how you feel about the two of us, together. Whether you think you can be happy with me, share your life with me. Love me, even.’
She saw the doubt in his eyes and thought again of his lonely childhood and his life thereafter, burdened with the responsibility of his title, his wealth and Society’s expectations. Yes, burdened—never knowing who to trust, or who were his true friends. Never knowing love, except from his faithful younger brother.
She stroked his cheek with tender fingertips. ‘Dan, I’ve been thinking. Do you know, I don’t really think you are a rake at heart, are you? Oh, I know you like to give the impression of one, with your clothes and your parties and all the rest of it. But I believe it’s all been for show, a form of defence even, and that actually, you are courageous and honourable. Your brother hinted as much, and my aunt clearly saw it too. I think you’ve adopted that pose to put up barriers around yourself and to keep any kind of intimacy at a distance throughout your life.’
She saw a multitude of expressions pass across his face, then he took her hand, kissed it and placed it against his steadily beating heart. ‘So you saw right through me,’ he said lightly. ‘My efforts to play the scoundrel were in vain. Do you want me to discard my colourful wardrobe? Because I tell you, my valet Hamley would be in hearty agreement.’
‘No! Never! How very dull that would be. If I do marry you, though, I shall be most competitive and will try to outshine you in my attire on every outing we make together. People will see us coming from miles away.’
She was laughing and his heart soared too. ‘What an excellent notion. But I think it’s time, Kate Summerby, that you ended this suspense and put me out of my misery. Can you, or can you not agree to be my wife? More importantly still, do you think that you can grow to love me?’
She curled up even closer to him then. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips to his brow, his cheek, his lips. Then she said, ‘I knew that I’d fallen in love with you when you took me out to dance in the moonlit garden of your friend’s house that night Hopelessly and forever. Didn’t you realise?’
He was almost breathless with emotion. ‘Does this mean, darling Kate, that you will you marry me?’
‘Of course,’ she said, her eyes glittering with mischief as her hand stole downwards to caress his muscled chest and taut abdomen then explored even lower. ‘I shan’t reveal any more of my reasons, or I’ll make you even more vain. Perhaps all I can say is—’ and she drew close to whisper in his ear ‘—that I cannot wait for more. So, will I marry you? The answer is yes—please.’
EPILOGUE
Summer—four years later. Brighton
Just as they did every time they made the journey from London, the Earl of Rivington and his Countess walked out into the garden to enjoy the early evening sunshine. With them were their three-year-old son, Tom, and their baby daughter, Jemima.
Dan carried Jemima, and Kate had teased him for the care with which he had wrapped her in a lacy shawl before venturing out. ‘You know,’ she said, ‘we could have left her inside with her nursemaid, who is quite devoted to her.’
Dan had shaken his head. ‘I want her with me,’ he said. ‘I want you all with me.’
