Lucas decided he liked Charlotte’s cousin immensely. “Butler, with your permission, I’d like to marry your cousin and ward.”
Butler grinned. “Don’t be an ass. Charlotte is her own woman and soon to be yours. I relinquish any rights.” He smiled at Charlotte gently. “I’m sorry my arrival and inheritance caused such panic and grief. I’m pleased you will have a happy ending.”
She smiled and squeezed Lucas’ hand. “We were so afraid you’d throw us out or be an overbearing lout.”
Butler’s smile flickered. “I’m afraid your sister Elizabeth may find cause to call me that in the next few weeks.”
Lucas frowned as he saw worry cross Charlotte’s face. Would he need to revise his opinion of Butler so soon?
“You see, I have no intention of allowing her to remain here. I will bring her back home and teach her some discipline,” Butler said.
If Lucas hadn’t seen the glimmer of relief pass through Charlotte’s face he’d never allowed Butler access to Elizabeth. But in all honestly, having Butler take Elizabeth in hand solved several problems. He’d have time to marry Charlotte with a special license then time to keep her locked in their bedroom until they both were sated.
“I think that may be for the best,” Charlotte said slowly. “Please be kind, Phillip.”
Phillip smiled grimly. “Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, a lesson your sister hasn’t learned yet, I’m guessing.”
Charlotte shook her head. “No, she’s always been a bit headstrong and selfish.” She turned to Lucas. “Speak to Madame Bella and procure a bed for your brother. I wish to leave here and never return.”
He planted a quick kiss on her lips. “Done.” Quickly he and Butler took charge dispersing the crowd, sending Bellamy off with Alyce, and he was traveling home with Charlotte faster than he’d dared hoped at the beginning of the evening.
They’d bid farewell to Butler with promises to travel to the estate to marry as soon as they procured a special license. In turn, Charlotte’s cousin vowed to take care of Elizabeth and return to Clifton Park to comfort Anne and Meggie with news that all would be well.
Once Sebastian was settled, Lucas escorted Charlotte to his carriage, never daring to release her hand fearing his happiness could fly away if he lost physical contact with her.
As he lifted her into the carriage she smiled back at him. “I cannot believe you proposed. Men don’t marry their mistresses.”
He sprung up and hoisted himself in the seat opposite her. “You are correct. Men don’t marry their mistresses. I may need more convincing.”
She arched a brow. “Oh? What would it take?”
He looked pointedly at the floor of the carriage. “I seem to recall a certain mistress trying to convince me to keep her a few weeks ago. She had very persuasive methods.”
Charlotte laughed with a low, sultry tone as she kneeled on the floor and reached for the buttons of his trousers.
“I’m convinced,” he said with a laugh and tugged her up to his lap to kiss her deeply and whisper the words of love that he’d locked away but vowed to share every day henceforth.
About the Author
Award-winning author Lynne Silver lives the life of a suburban soccer mom, volunteering with the PTA, doing laundry and working. By night she enters the sensuous world of alpha males and passionate heroines.
She lives in an old fixer-upper with her husband and their two sons. When not writing romance, she reads it. Lots of it. Over and over and over again, preferably with a bag of M&Ms in hand.
Lynne welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her
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