Authors: A Dissembler
‘I would have come before, sweetheart, but first you were too ill and then I had unfinished business to attend to.’
Her lips parted and the love in her eyes consumed him. ‘You are here now. I do not care about the past.’
‘Are you well? You have lost weight—you look as ethereal as a fairy.’
‘And so have you. And you look like Prince Charming.’
He almost tripped over his feet. ‘Do I by God? Then you are most definitely my princess.’
He held her so tight they were touching from chest to thigh, which did not go unnoticed by the occupants of the little gilt chairs. Theo rested his chin on her curls and closed his eyes.
‘Are you enjoying your first ball, my love?’
‘I would be happy anywhere you are, Theo. I love you so much it hurts.’
Theo stopped. A second ripple of anticipation ran round the spectators. ‘If that is the case I would rather be anywhere but here. I want to be alone with you, finish what we started all those weeks ago.’
She gazed up at him, her face transparent, her answer written clearly there. He grasped her hand and together they ran, laughing at people’s shocked expressions, from the floor and headed for the exit.
‘My carriage is outside. I told it to wait.’
Theo lifted her easily into the coach and before the vehicle was moving he had pulled her onto his lap. She tilted her head to meet his eager lips and as his mouth covered hers. They were lost to everything but the joy of their reunion.
When the carriage arrived at Bentley Hall he didn’t wait for the steps but jumped out, then reaching back, he snatched her up.
‘I should really be carrying you over my threshold, not yours.’
She giggled. ‘I care little whose it is, as long as you take me inside.’ She rested her head against his shoulder. Then he felt her stiffen slightly and pull away. He continued to his bedchamber where he set her down on her feet.
‘What is it, little one? Are you not ready to become my wife?’
Her eyes dropped, and she flushed. ‘I am… I am still a maiden, Theo. I wanted you to know.’
He crushed her to his heart. ‘It would make no difference to me if you were not. But I will not hurt you tonight, I promise you. My darling, you are my life, my love, my very breath…’
She reached up and tugged at his cravat. ‘Do you intend to stand there talking all night, my darling, or are you going to show me just how much you love me?’
Copyright © 2006 by Fenella Miller
Originally published by Robert Hale Ltd. [UK] [9780709081319]
Electronically published in 2012 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads
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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.