Karla Darcy - [Sweet Deception Regency 04] (23 page)

"Why do you want me to promise, Pax?" Leslie questioned. "I thought you had decided to divorce me."

"No!" Pax's voice was fierce as he gripped her shoulders, his fingers bruising in their strength. He pulled her against his body, his arms a gentle prison. His breath was warm on her forehead as he whispered raggedly into her hair. "I'll never let you go, Leslie. I love you too much!"

"No. You can't mean it," Leslie said, unwilling to hope, yet unable to believe in the miracle.

"I've been such a fool!" He stood up, still holding her and placed her back in the chair. He knelt before her, his face pinched in the flickering shadows of the firelight. "Please listen to me, Leslie. Hear me out before you give me an answer. I love you so much."

Leslie was spellbound, still hearing his words in her head. For so long she had dreamed that he might grow to love her and yet now when he told her, she was afraid to believe. Hurt before, she was unable to trust. Her eyes sought his. She stared intently, wanting to see inside his mind, his heart, his very soul. Her concentration was so total, she jumped when he touched her hands. Warm fingers intertwined as though the contact could bridge the gap in their feelings.

"I love you, Leslie," Pax repeated, his face so serious that for a moment Leslie could find no joy in his words. "I think now that I have always loved you. First as a young boy, reveling in the sharing of summer delights. Then as a young girl, finding pride in your success in society. But now I love you for the woman you are and the one you will be when you've grown old."

Slowly the meaning of Pax's words seeped into Leslie's heart. Her pulse quickened and she could feel the swelling of her chest as though her skin were expanding with an excess of joy. Warmth flooded her body; she was feverish with happiness. She held her face expressionless, still afraid to believe but she could feel her eyes widening, stretching toward him like her other senses. She tried to speak but her mouth was too dry, and only a strangled cry issued from her lips.

Pax leaned forward. He raised her hands to his lips, but only pressed them against his mouth. Afraid he would find rejection written on Leslie's face, he closed his eyes and bowed his head, the agony of his thoughts threatening to overwhelm him. Then lightly kissing the knuckles of Leslie's hands he raised his head, his eyes ablaze with his love for her.

"Don't cry, sweetheart," Pax crooned. He reached out and wiped away the tears on her cheeks, his own eyes narrowed at the pain he thought she was feeling. "I promise I'll make you happy. Please believe me. I know I've made a sad muddle of everything. I was angry in the beginning. Blind to who and what you were. I never thought of what it must have been like for you. And even when I discovered my love for you, I withheld that love."

His fingers shaking, Pax reached out to stroke Leslie's cheek with the back of his hand. He wished that he could see some sign of encouragement in the still little figure before him. Behind the tears, her clear blue eyes were alive against the startling white of her face, but she had not spoken or moved since he began talking. He had always been so glib before but at the most important moment in his life he felt his words were flat, conveying little of the intensity of his feelings. Moistening his lips he asked the question that would convey him to heaven or condemn him to a life of hell. "Will you stay? Do you think you could ever grow to love me?"

The silence in the room was absolute. Even the fire seemed frozen in time, waiting for the spell to be broken. Leslie raised her hands to Pax cheeks, the soft pads of her fingertips making featherlight circles on his skin.

"But I already do love you, Pax," Leslie stated quietly, her voice trembling in her joy.

"What?" Pax asked, his brows lowered in confusion.

"I love you," she repeated. "I think I have loved you from the first moment that I arrived at Windhaven." She shook her head at the wonder of it all. "I can still remember standing in front of your desk that first day. I wanted to stay. With all my heart I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life."

"Oh, my dearest love!"

Pax's voice broke with the upswell of happiness, and he threw his arms around her pulling her to her feet where he could feel her body against his own. He placed his hands against her cheeks, tipping her head so that he could stare down into her beautiful face. His breath caught in his throat as he beheld the transformation of the girl. Love shone out of her blue eyes, touching him with such a burning gaze that he felt unmanned by the strength of her emotion. If Pax still had doubts, one glimpse of her radiant face convinced him that Leslie truly loved him. He bent his head and kissed her.

The kiss was feathersoft, an obeisance filled with reverence not passion. Leslie's lips trembled beneath his firm mouth. She felt no fear, only a mind-searing fusion of faith, adoration and contentment. In her happiness she sighed and he caught her breath, blending it with his own. The kiss ended, but their eyes continued the lovemaking, caressing and stroking in a contact more sensual than mere touching. Then Leslie sighed again, her arms circling Pax's waist. She laid her head against his chest, content to rest in the circle of his arms.

It was Pax who pushed her away, setting her back in the chair. Unwilling to be separated from her, he pulled a low stool up to the foot of her chair, once more taking possession of her hands. His eyebrows were bunched, his forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. "If you loved me, Leslie, why did you refuse to marry me?"

"I had only just discovered that I loved you. Perhaps before that I would have agreed to a marriage. But once I knew how much I loved you I could not accept your offer." Then, remembering his arrogant proposal, her eyes sparked with fire. "Besides, it was hardly a flattering offer!"

"Don't remind me, my dear," Pax said. "It still shames me to recall my behavior. Pompous, arrogant and full of myself." Then he grinned boyishly. "Have I forgotten anything?"

"Pigheaded comes to mind," Leslie said sweetly, her eyes thoughtful in contemplation. "I'm sure I could think of other qualities a good wife should help to point out."

"Pray don't, my love." Pax's expression was horrified at the mere thought. "I wish I could start over. You have never been wooed properly. A tryst in a garden under a black velvet night. Sweet words, caresses and gentle kisses."

Leslie's throaty chuckle brought a frown of confusion to Pax's face. In surprise he watched as a blush of hot color washed up her throat and across her cheeks. He waited until she could control her laughter, wanting to share the joke and yet slightly offended that she should find his sincere words so amusing.

"Forgive me, my darling husband," Leslie said contritely as she wiped the laugh-tears from her eyes. "Although you are not aware of it, you did woo me quite successfully on just such an occasion. Unfortunately it was not a velvety night, more like a maelstrom. You see, my dear, I was the gypsy in the gazebo."

Leslie had little doubt that Pax would remember the night. She suspected now that he had behaved so passionately because something in her had called out to him. However she could see by the far away look in his eyes that it was a moment before her words penetrated. She waited patiently for the explosion and was not disappointed.

"That's impossible!"

Quietly Leslie continued, "I was angry because you wouldn't let me go to the masquerade ball. I had to find a way to keep Cecily Cleavon from forcing you into marrying her. When I found the gypsy costume, I decided that I would try to interest you in another woman. Then you would forget all about Cecily. But you kissed me," Leslie finished softly, "and I discovered I loved you."

Speechless with amazement, Pax stared at his wife. What a wild unpredictable baggage the girl was. He could see he would never find her boring. His eyes roamed her face and figure, searching for the little gypsy he had kissed one stormy night. She must have dyed her hair, he thought, remembering the sooty curls partially covered by the satin mask.

Suddenly Pax jumped up and rushed across the room to his bureau. To Leslie's total confusion, he rummaged in the drawers until he uttered a cry of satisfaction. "I have a present for you," he announced triumphantly.

Curious despite herself, Leslie stood up, her forehead wrinkled in puzzlement

"I think this is yours," Pax said, placing a cloth in her hand.

Her eyes were stars as she unwound the black satin mask and stared down at the stickpin in her hand.

"The Magdelena," she whispered. "You found it."

"The beautiful gypsy is a memory I hold dear. Since the night in the gazebo I have kept it. I wanted to be reminded of a stormy rendezvous and the first kisses of an untutored maiden." Pax's voice deepened as he took Leslie into his arms. "But it seems, my love, the fledgling temptress has grown up."

THE END

AUTHOR’S NOTE

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About the Author:

Karla Darcy lives with her husband, several tame geckos and an occasional friendly snake on the Treasure Coast on the east side of Florida. She has always felt she lived in the Regency period in a past life. Her early writings were musical comedies and humor columns so it was an easy transition to the romantic and humorous style of Regencies. Lovely dresses, masked balls and witty conversations which contained saucy double entendres were the perfect cup of tea for this author.

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Enjoy these other Karla Darcy Sweet Deception Regency Romances

(Click to buy or download a sample)

The Five Kisses

The Masked Heart

The Marriage Wager