A Matchmaking Miss (21 page)

At first Matty was too stunned to fight, then she was too lost in delight. She returned his kiss with all the hunger and longing that burned in her, giving and taking all that she could in that one glorious moment. In the next second she was pushing him away, her face pale with loathing and hurt.

"You . . . you . . . how
could
you?" she stormed, tears filling her eyes. "You come into my room telling me you intend to marry another woman, and then you have the presumption to kiss me? I should kill you!"

Joss laughed at her threat, her kiss having given him the answer he so desperately sought. "I don't
intend
to marry my lady; I
will
marry her," he said, his voice certain. "As soon as a special license can be arranged, in fact."

"Well, I wish the poor creature joy of you,
for she is certainly getting the worse of the bargain shackling herself to an overbearing, pompous philanderer like you!" Matty cried, using her anger as a shield. "You don't deserve a sweet lady like Lady Sarah, and if I didn't think it would hurt her so much I'd tell her what you — "

"I'm not marrying Sarah," he calmly interrupted her tirade. "I'm marrying you."

" — did, and if you think for one minute she would countenance such behavior —
what?
"

Her incredulous expression was so comical he couldn't stop himself from laughing. The laughter only increased when she flung herself at him, hurling curses as she did her best to box his ears. He easily overpowered her, taking care not to hurt her as he pressed her down amongst the pillows. Ignoring her cries he pressed another kiss to her lips, drinking life and love from them before raising his head. He gazed down into her flushed face, his heart in his eyes as he said, "I love you, Matty. Say you will marry me."

"Joss, oh my darling, are you certain?" she asked, her voice trembling as she cupped his face in her hands. "I love you so much, I couldn't bear it if you were to change your mind."

"There is no chance of that, my love," he assured her, giving her another kiss. "I think I
loved you from the moment you kidnapped me. You are a managing, difficult, obstinate shrew, and you will make me the perfect marchioness."

Gazing up into his eyes Matty decided he was right, and her arms stole about his neck. "If you say so, sir," she said, her eyes sparkling with love. "Only be warned that I mean to keep you under the cat's paw."

Joss gave a rich laugh, knowing he had finally found his home. "That is quite all right, my love, for I can think of no place I would rather be." And he proved it with another burning kiss.

About the Author

A winner of The Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award for Best Regency for her very first novel, Joan Overfield has written 23 Regency Historical Romances. In addition, she has also written two time travel romances: the ground-breaking THE DOOR AJAR and its sequel, TIME'S TAPESTRY. In 2000 Romantic Times Magazine voted THE DOOR AJAR one of the top 100 Romances of all time. Joan has made several bestsellers lists and won numerous awards for her work, including A Career Achievement Award in Regency Romance from Romantic Times magazine.

A life-long Anglophile, Joan uses her degrees in History and English to conduct research in the fascinating and colorful Regency period and has compiled an impressive library. She has also taught numerous workshops on the period and the craft of writing, is a member of the Beau Monde writers group.

"Ms. Overfield's sense of romance is deliciously unerring." -- --
Romantic Times