Page 52 of Much Ado about a Widow

“Because here I am king of the castle, and I would make you my queen.” He lowered his lips to hers, the sweet taste of him flooding her senses.

Overcome with the need to claim him, she grasped his head and pressed her lips against his, licking the seam with a soft dart of her tongue. Seeking to invade him.

A small sound of surprise, then his mouth opened wide, allowing her entry to plunder. Oh yes, she would be the pirate here, taking him prisoner. She swept in, exploring him inch by inch, until he captured her tongue, making her squeal as her body went up in flames.

She no longer had any doubt. This was the man she had been waiting for, the one she burned for with an intensity like none other. The man she wanted to share her life with for all the rest of time. The one she could trust with her life and with the lives of those she loved.

If only she could have him.

Reluctantly, she pulled herself out of Rob’s arms and caught his startled look.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” His puzzled frown cut her heart to its core.

“I can’t . . . We can’t . . . I am still legally betrothed to Lord Travers, Rob.” Curse her father for ever persuading her to throw her life away like that. “I am bound by the contracts to marry him.”

“Such things can be got around, my love.” He came toward her, but she backed away.

“I don’t think so. It’s a binding contract that only my father can break.” She ducked her head. “Which I am absolutely certain he will not do.”

“There are other possibilities, Georgie.” Rob inched toward her. “Perhaps I could persuade Lord Travers to rescind his offer.”

“Huh. As soon persuade the moon down from the sky.” She pulled the collar of her pelisse higher. “The wind is getting brisk. We should go back inside.”

“We can last another moment.” He had succeeded in getting close enough to her to catch hold of her arm. “I wish to have this settled, my dear.” With a piercing gaze he stared into her eyes, compelling her to listen. “I declare to you, Georgina Kirkpatrick, I will not let you marry that cur. If it comes to it, I will challenge him to a duel and put a bullet in his black heart before I let that happen.”

“You cannot do that, Rob.” Panic rose in her, like a bird flushed out of a field.

“If I have to make a choice between allowing him to marry you or calling him out, I will meet him without hesitation.” Grasping her shoulders, Rob kissed her again, an all-consuming possession of her mouth that left her knees weak. “You are mine, and by God, no one will take you from me.”

Bewildered by that declaration, Georgie stared at him, unsure if she’d truly heard him aright.

“Georgie!”

The faint call brought her out of her reverie, and she shook her head. “Did you hear someone call my name?”

“Georgina!”

“Who in God’s name is that?” Rob peered over the edge and swore.

“What is it?” Georgie inched over to the side of the parapet that looked out on the driveway to the front steps and gasped. “Oh, no.”

Down on the graveled driveway, looking up at her with varying degrees of consternation, shock, or dismay, were Jemmy, Elizabeth, and Lord Travers.

Chapter Seventeen

Stunned to see her brother and Elizabeth so soon, and completely dumbfounded by Lord Travers’s presence, Georgie could only stand for some moments, peering over the parapet and gripping Rob’s arm. The dizzying sense of falling that usually overcame her when she looked down from any height had come upon her with a vengeance. Clutching Rob as though he were her only anchor, which at the moment he absolutely was, she straightened, trying her best to control the dread rising in her. “I didn’t expect Jemmy to arrive so soon.”

“When I wrote to him at Hunter’s Cross, I suggested he sail from Portsmouth.” Frowning, Rob led her from the edge of the parapet to the staircase door. “My only thought then was that it would be quicker for him to come and take you off my hands. I had no idea he would be here this quickly.” Rob took Georgie’s arm and turned her to face him. “I would never have done so had I any inkling—”

“I know you wouldn’t have. At that moment I was simply a bit of trouble and bother you would have preferred not to have to deal with.” Putting on what she hoped was a brave face, Georgie smiled. “In your place I might have done the exact same thing, hoping to get rid of me as soon as could be.”

“Nothing could be farther from the truth now.” That truth shone in his furrowed brow. “I had no idea Brack would bring Travers with him. According to the letter he sent me last month, he quite opposed the match.”

“As he did just a week ago in Buckinghamshire.” Shaking her head, Georgie patted his arm. “I believe there is something else afoot here, although I am quite at a loss to say what. Let us go down and beard them in their den. Or your den, rather. This is your property, after all.”

Rob dropped a kiss on her brow, making her whole being warm despite the circumstances and the chilly late afternoon wind. “Once more unto the breach.”

They descended the staircase at a much slower pace than they had ascended, for which Georgie was terribly grateful. She did not wish to take a tumble down the stone steps. Neither did she wish to greet her brother so quickly, and she was positively loathe to meet with Lord Travers. The only person awaiting her below who she was truly glad to see was Elizabeth. Her friend had always been so supportive of her; it would be good to have an ally at such a trying time.