He wanted to kiss her and tell her how deeply he loved her, but not here. Uncertain if she would even come with him, he scooped her into his arms, strode to the opened door, and left Wentworth House. His long stride swiftly covered some fifty feet to the waiting Aldridge coach.
The coachman leapt down and opened the door for them. Once Philip set her inside, he knelt before her, his hands lifting to reverently cup her face. "You cannot know how deeply I have come to love you. You and only you. I have come to realize the day you made the mistake of entering my bedchamber—the mistake that made you consent to become my duchess—is the luckiest day in my life."
Her sobs commenced again. What the devil? Was she crying because his words had made her unhappy? He sat next to her. Once again he drew her into his arms.
Her arms closing around him affected him more profoundly than any previous physical contact ever had. Through this mind-numbing haze of pleasure, he remembered earlier when she told him she was crying tears of happiness for her brother and his wife. "Please tell me those are tears of happiness."
"Oh, my dearest love, they are! Do you truly love me?"
"More than I have ever loved anyone. I would jeopardize my family, my king, my countrymen for you."
She wept even more wrenchingly. "But you won my heart a very long time ago," she finally managed.
Now it was his turn to be incredulous. He drew in a breath as his hands traced sultry circles upon her back. "What about Captain Smythe?"
She drew away and regarded him with a puzzled look. "Who told you about him?"
"Your brother let something slip some time ago."
"I may once have fancied myself in love with him, but when I saw him again recently, I found him repugnant."
Philip smiled. "I am very happy to hear that."
It was her right now to ask him about the Contessa. Even though he had once vowed to Sarah never to disclose her transgression, to save his marriage he must. "There is something I will now tell you. A family's dark secret that I'd vow to never disclose. It explains the hold the Contessa Savatini had over me for I assure you, I have no love for the woman."
He proceeded to tell her about Sarah's secret and the Contessa's threats. When he finished, Elizabeth's eyes were still misty. "Oh, my darling, I had no notion what a terribly wrenching position your were placed in." She sniffed. "We cannot let that evil woman destroy Sarah and her children."
Suddenly, as if a thunderbolt had cleared his foggy brain, a solution presented itself. "We're going to the Pulteney."
"We?"
"Indeed. I won't have it be said that I've gone to see my mistress." He lowered his voice to a husky growl. "You are the only mistress I ever want."
* * *
How had her husband known that the Contessa, humiliated after he had stormed away from her on the Wentworths’ ballroom floor, would rush back to her hotel chambers? He pounded upon her door, and she opened it herself. Her hostile glance flicked to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was struck by how much this beautiful woman looked like Anna. Both women were possessed of butterscotch complexion, rich dark brown hair, large brown eyes, and flawless faces. But where Anna was nearly saint-like in her goodness, this woman reeked of evil.
"I suggest you let us in," he said.
Still wearing the black lace, the Contessa's eyes rounded, but she swept open the door. "Why have you come?"
Even though it was only a hotel parlor, there was something decidedly palatial about the chamber that was lighted by ornate gold and crystal wall sconces, furnished with opulent French pieces, and draped in silks. Even the surround of the fireplace was of costly marble.
"Because I have a deal to make with you."
"Sit down." Anger flared in her dark eyes.
"You are aware," Philip began, "how I don't know—but you know that I have duties in the War Office?"
The dark-haired beauty nodded.
"You have been identified as the French spy who's responsible for murdering a British courier in Dover. The penalty is death."
Her eyes widened. "I am not a French spy! And I never killed anyone!"
"We have several statements describing a well-dressed, beautiful Italian woman who seduced our officer prior to killing him." Philip glared at her. "I can produce witnesses who will swear you're the murderess."
"I see what you are doing. If I remain silent about your sister's sin, you will remain silent about this so-called crime you have framed me for."
"You understand correctly."
"I have a no desire to remain in this cold a country. I came a here because I hoped to win you back." Her gaze arrowed to Elizabeth. "I did not know you had fallen in love with your wife."
Philip took Elizabeth's hand.
The Contessa stood. "I leave a tomorrow."
Elizabeth and Philip stood and moved to the door.
"Do not worry about your sister. I have never told anyone, and I never will."
* * *
As soon as they returned to his coach, he hauled his beloved wife into his arms. "God, I've missed holding you."
"I have longed for you to hold me."
"Why did you stop riding in the park with Rothcomb-Smedley?"
Her fingers slid into his dark hair. "I asked myself how I would feel if you were riding in the park each day with a female cousin."
"And how would that make you feel?"
"Like a murderess."
He brushed back her ermine-lined cape and nibbled at her neck. "I will own, I contemplated killing the Honorable Richard Rothcomb-Smedley."
She giggled. "I love it when you speak so romantically."
"From now on, I will be the one to take you to the park, to take you to the theatre, to take you . . . to bed."
Then he kissed her greedily.
The End
Win a $50 Gift Certificate
I hope you enjoyed
Duchess by Mistake.
If you did, would you please consider posting a review by the book's listing at Kobo or another a site where you might have read it? If you do, please send me an email at
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Thank you from Cheryl Bolen
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The House of Haverstock series
If you enjoyed reading
Duchess by Mistake
, you may also enjoy reading
Lady by Chance
, the first book in the House of Haverstock series. (
Available at Kobo
.)
Look for Book 3,
Countess by Coincidence
, later in 2015.
The Brides of Bath Series
If you like books set in Regency England, I hope you'll try my award-winning Brides of Bath series. You can get the first book, The
Bride Wore Blue
,
free
.
Follow the life and loves of Viscount George Sedgewick, his sisters, and all their friends in this six-book series of stand-alone novels. Here's the order in which they were published:
The Bride Wore Blue
(
Kobo
)
With His Ring
(
Kobo
)
The Bride's Secret
(formerly titled
A Fallen Woman
) (
Kobo
)
To Take This Lord
(formerly titled
An Improper Proposal
) (
Kobo
)
Love in the Library
(
Kobo
)
A Christmas in Bath
- a novella which offers a brand new romance, along with visits with all the previous characters (
Kobo
)