His Courtesan Bride (Brides of Mayfair 3) (37 page)

Darius stood over her, then dropped slowly to his knees beside the bed. His eyes burned with emotion as he tenderly cupped her face in his hands. “Be quiet,” he whispered.

Then he kissed her.

And oh, what a kiss.

Like a changing sky at sunset bursting with indescribable color, it contained a myriad of emotions that burned within her heart. Joy, relief, happiness, regret, passion. The sensations danced between Serena and Darius like fireflies in the dark of night. All that they were, all they they’d ever be, existed in that one, solitary kiss.

Serena had no idea how long they stayed like that—touching, kissing, gazing into each other’s eyes, each other’s souls. This time, they held nothing back. The intensity of such feeling shone brighter than the sun, moon and stars put together. Their love would resemble those heavenly bodies, lighting their way through the light of day and the dark of night, at times obscured by cloud cover, at times no more than a sliver or a pinprick, but always constant, always there.

Darius turned his head toward the door as he and Serena heard someone clearing his throat quite conspicuously behind them.

“The patient is much improved, I see,” Dr. Tomlinson said, looking pleased as he came into the room. “My apologies, my lord, but I must ask you to leave so that I may examine Miss Ransom.”

Darius stood, but still held Serena’s hand in his. “You are asking quite a bit, doctor. But we must have her hale and hearty as soon as possible. You see, Miss Ransom and I are going on a little trip.”

“Are we, indeed?” Serena remarked. “Where are we going, Darius? Back to Manning Park?”

He grinned down at her. “Eventually, my love. But first we must visit a little town in Scotland by the name of Gretna Green. That is, if you are agreeable to marrying me as quickly as possible.”

Serena’s heart swelled with emotion for the man she had resisted loving so long. “I am most agreeable, my lord. But what will your poor mother say when you bring your scandalous bride home to the family seat?”

“I have no idea, nor do I care,” Darius said, chuckling. “I daresay Lady Devlyn and the Courtesan Club will be equally scandalized when they discover that one of their number has committed the ultimate sin—that of marrying her protector.”

Serena rolled her eyes in mock horror. “Thanks to you, I shall be the most scandalous woman of the year.
Again
.”

He laughed. “You can be anything you wish to be, Serena, as long as you stay forever by my side,” he said with emotion.

As Serena gazed up at her husband-to-be, she realized she wanted nothing more from life than to do exactly that.

Epilogue

They were married three weeks later, in the Blacksmith’s Cottage in Gretna Green. A hand-fast marriage, the Scots called it. For herself, Serena thought the ceremony very touching and symbolic—two hands clasped, hearts forever united, partners who would face the blessings and trials of life as one.

Serena had made a full recovery from her head injury, though Darius still doted upon her. Instead of arguing with him and insisting that he allow her some independence, she smiled as he gathered her into his strong arms, thrilled as he kissed her, and sighed as he showed his devotion in a multitude of ways.

Serena was impressed by the fact that Darius was an even better husband than he had been a protector, for he’d been extraordinarily competent in the latter role, as well.

Much as Darius had predicted, the Courtesan Club had been duly shocked at learning of Serena’s surprise marriage to Lord Kane. Her promising career as a courtesan had been dealt a fatal blow. The papers could not get enough of the scandalous story. Serena had thanked Lady Devlyn for all she’d done in the past, and hoped she would forgive her protégée for abandoning her profession.

Lady D had immediately quelled Serena’s fears, assuring her that if Serena was happy in her new life with the earl, then Lady Devlyn was happy as well. Bliss and Felicity—after shedding a few heartfelt tears—had congratulated her and wished her and Darius the best in their marriage.

The remaining members of the Courtesan Club, along with Lady Devlyn, had joined Darius and Serena at Manning Park for Christmas and New Year’s. Now, weeks later, they were all still there, enjoying games and amusements and wonderful food. In truth, Serena wished they could stay like that forever.

Major Price had recently arrived as well, entertaining them with amusing stories about his family Christmas in Wiltshire. Caro and the children had been overjoyed to see Serena on Darius’s arm when they’d returned from Scotland, and even more excited when they learned that Serena was now the Countess of Kane.

The Dowager Countess, however, had been horrified at her son’s choice of new bride. After a heated discussion with Darius in the library one evening, the Dowager had decided she must remove herself from Manning Park immediately. She would make an extended visit to her sister, Lady Rathbone, in Dorset. Darius and Caro postulated that it might be the last they ever saw of their opinionated mother. Sadly, it seemed to be a relief for both of them.

It was after another lovely dinner, and while snow fell softly outside the manor house, that the men stood from the table.

Darius nudged his friend toward the door. “Come on, Hav. Let’s have a game of billiards and smoke a cigar, and leave the ladies to their claret.”

“As long as you keep those billiard balls on the table and not swinging about your head like a flail,” Havelock said. “I know how dangerous you can be, Dare….”

The two men made their exit while Serena and her friends retired to the salon. Serena’s new sister-in-law, Caro, was absent. As was her habit, she had retired directly after dinner. Apparently, her lively twins had a way of tiring their mother out.

Life at Manning Hall had been better than Serena could have ever imagined. The presence of Caro and her children made it all the sweeter. In truth, Serena dreaded the day Caro’s husband, Sir Christopher Ware, would return from the West Indies and the family would move back to London. She would be much happier if they stayed at Manning Hall indefinitely.

Having the Courtesan Club and Major Price as guests over the holidays had been an incomparable treat as well.

Following her husband’s suggestion, Serena poured each of the ladies a glass of claret and took a seat on the sofa next to Bliss.

Lady Devlyn sipped her wine and appeared pleased with the vintage. “I see that the
Times
is reporting a most distinguished appointment for His Grace, the Duke of Balfour. King George has named him an Administrator in the West Indies. Apparently, he is being sent to a charming little place called Salt Island, off Tortola.”

“Sounds quite rustic,” Felicity mused.

“Positively colonial,” Bliss added.

“I’ve never even heard of it,” Serena said.

Lady Devlyn smiled. “Neither has anyone else.”

The quartet erupted in contagious laughter.

Serena wiped her eyes, and said, “I hope his willie rots off!”

“I hope a giant crustacean latches onto it with its claws and won’t let go,” Felicity giggled.

Bliss almost fell over on the sofa for laughing, and said, “I hope it gets malaria!”

Lady Devlyn watched in amusement. “You hope ‘it’ gets malaria? The duke’s sexual organ?”

Bliss nodded emphatically. “Malaria is transmitted by the bite of an insect—a mosquito, to be precise.”

“Then I hope a whole swarm of them bites him right there,” Serena said, dryly.

That made them all laugh anew.

Felicity sipped her claret. “I daresay Balfour deserves far worse a fate than we four could ever design. He might well get it, where he’s going.”

“If there is a God, he will,” Lady Devlyn said, darkly. “It is a shame, Serena, what that man put you through. That is one of the unfortunate risks we take in this vocation. You never really get to know a man until you are alone with him.”

Serena nodded, silently. She had found that to be true of both Balfour and Darius. Alone with the duke, he had revealed the depth of his darkness and depravity. With Darius, he had revealed the depth of his emotion, his character, and his love for her.

“Oh, do let us change the subject,” Bliss insisted. “The duke deserves no more of our time, nor anyone else’s.”

Serena reached for her friend’s hand and gave it a squeeze. She looked about at the other two women who had become so precious to her during her time as a member of the Courtesan Club. Somehow, she knew that though life would lead them in different directions, they would always be as close as this. Nothing could change that. They would always be there for each other—sisters to the end.

Felicity studied Serena, and said, “There is one thing that you haven’t shared with us, Serena, dear. I think we are all dying to know the answer to this question.”

“What is it?” Serena asked.

Felicity paused a moment. “What is it like to be loved?”

Serena regarded her friend, saw the vulnerability in her eyes. She saw Bliss exhibiting the same innocent emotion. Lady Devlyn became quiet, and looked away.

She knows, as well
, Serena thought.
She had that kind of love once, and lost it somehow.

“I think we all know what it is to love another,” Felicity continued, “but to have that love returned to us fully and completely…it must be indescribable.”

Serena’s thoughts went to her husband, who at this moment played at billiards with Major Price in the game room. Yet it felt as if he were right there with her, for they were always connected in their hearts.

She took a breath and said, “How does it feel to truly be loved? There are not enough words in any language to correctly describe such a gift. It is wondrous…humbling…frightening…miraculous. It is all of those things and thousands more, burning as bright as the colors of a sunset. With Darius, I discovered the most wonderful thing of all—that when you are wrapped in the arms of love, you have finally come home.”

She saw her friends’ eyes glistening. Bliss of course, Felicity, even Lady Devlyn wiped away a tear.

Serena blinked back her own tears as her heart swelled with happiness. “And that, ladies, is what I wish for each of you in this life.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading HIS COURTESAN BRIDE, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

There are currently two other books available in the
Brides of Mayfair
series: SEDUCING THE BRIDE and TAMING THE BRIDE. Read on for more information about those novels, and if you would like to be informed about future books in this series, please visit my website at
www.michellemcmaster.com
and sign up for my newsletter mailing list. I would love to let you know when the next book will be available.

If you enjoy Regency romance, you might also like to try my short story collections in my
Seasons of Love Series
. More information about those books is included here. Currently available are SUMMER PASSIONS and AUTUMN DESIRES, with WINTER FIRE soon on its way to bookstores. To conclude the series, SPRING SEDUCTION will be a full length novella. I’m not sure of the exact release date yet, but if you sign up for my mailing list, I will certainly let you know. I also encourage you to
follow me on my Amazon Author Page
if you would like to be notified of new releases from me.

Thanks again for spending your reading time with me.

Best wishes,

Michelle

Other Books in the
Brides of Mayfair Series

SEDUCING THE BRIDE

Brides of Mayfair Series – Book 1

Lord Beckett Thornby is in need of a wife. In order to claim his inheritance, the confirmed bachelor must marry. Yet the last place he expects to find a bride is in the backstreets of London in a rubbish heap.

Isobel Hampton is running from a painful past…and a dangerous man who will stop at nothing until he finds her. A marriage of convenience with a sinfully handsome lord seems like the perfect solution, until Isobel realizes her husband wants much more from her than she is willing to give.

Soon, the marriage that was supposed to be “all business” turns into a dangerous dance of seduction that could leave one or both of them with a broken heart.

(Originally published under the title
The Marriage Bargain
in 2000 –
Seducing The Bride
is a newly revised and updated edition.)