Never a Bride (26 page)

Archer hesitated for a moment but backed away. “Very well. I’ve had enough of London anyway. Perhaps Paris is more suited to my taste.”

Mirabella didn’t wait to hear more. She was shaking so badly she could hardly stand. She turned and walked out of the house and straight into the arms of Camden. He hugged her tight to him for a moment before setting her away from him.

“Mirabella, never leave our bed without waking me. I’ve been worried about you. You’re trembling. Are you all right?”

She took a deep breath and looked into Camden’s eyes. She saw the same concern she’d seen that first night they met and her heart warmed toward him. He had always worried about her reputation. Even now he wouldn’t hold her in public for fear of causing a scandal.

“Yes, I am. I’m going to be fine now.”

“Have you seen Mr. Hornbeck? Your father said he wasn’t home earlier.”

“Yes, I’ve seen him.” She looked back at the house and asked, “How did you know I was here? When did you talk to my father?”

“He came to my house looking for you when you didn’t come home this morning.”

Apprehension gripped her. “You didn’t tell him about us, did you?”

He smiled at her and slowly tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Of course not, but I did have a difficult time explaining what your mask was doing on my foyer table.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. You saved my reputation once again.”

“Mirabella, I know who has the scar. Your father told me Mr. Hornbeck has one on his neck. I believe he is the man you seek.”

Mirabella moistened her lips and exhaled deeply. A carriage passed by, but she didn’t bother to look at it. “You are right. Why did you tell Papa about Sarah?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t betray your confidence in me, my love. I only asked about a scar when I realized we saw everyone last night but Hornbeck. Obviously you figured it out before I did.”

She liked the sound of the praise and admiration she heard in his voice. “No, I saw the scar by accident. His neckcloth was hanging loose, and I saw it just now while I was talking to him.”

“Please tell me you have not confronted him.”

“I have.”

“It was dangerous for you to come to face him with this by yourself.”

“I didn’t come to confront him about Sarah. I had something else on my mind, and I saw the scar by accident. I would have never thought of Uncle—Mr. Hornbeck.”

Camden’s brow furrowed. He took hold of her upper arms and pulled her close. She allowed herself to melt against him and enjoy a moment of his warmth before she backed away from him.

“Did he try to harm you?” Camden asked.

“No, nothing like that.” Mirabella paused while a young lady and her companion walked past them on the street in front of the house. When they were a safe distance away, she continued, “All things considered, our conversation was civil. He’s going to leave Town and go to Paris.”

Camden’s eyes brightened with approval. “Good. You took care of everything. I’m impressed by your fortitude.”

“Thankfully, I had to say very little. He said he was tired of London anyway.”

“Why did you come to see him before going home?”

Mirabella didn’t want any more secrets between them. She reached into the pocket of his coat and said, “Because of this.” She handed him the paper. “I thought I wanted to talk to Uncle—Mr. Hornbeck about it, but when I got here I realized I didn’t. You are the only one who can explain this.”

Camden looked down at the paper only long enough to see what it was. His eyes met Mirabella’s and didn’t waver. “You have always known my family is in need of money, and I am trying to raise cash to help them.”

“I know, but until this morning we only talked of staying engaged, not marrying. I hate to admit to any weakness, but I think I was suddenly conflicted.”

“About marrying me?”

She didn’t hesitate to tell him the truth. “Thinking you only wanted to marry me to obtain money quickly.”

“I don’t need money from you, Mirabella. I have handled my parents’ finances, and we will be fine until I receive the money from America. Didn’t you believe me when I told you I loved you?”

“Yes, at the time. Then I saw this in your coat pocket, and I wondered if you only told me those things so that I would marry you immediately.”

His eyes narrowed and searched her face. “After what we shared, did you really have so little faith in me?”

“Only for a short time. I do believe you love me as I am in love with you. I want to marry you, Camden, and be a good and devoted wife to you.”

He stepped very close to her. “Hear me well, Mirabella. I love you today. I loved you yesterday, and I will love you tomorrow. I would never marry you for money. My family will have money as soon as my stake in the Maryland company is sold.”

“Camden, I didn’t want to doubt you. I must have been too tired and overwrought about the party and Prince Charming to think properly.”

“And you still are. I see you are dead on your feet. Come, and let’s get you home to rest and see your father. He’s worried about you.”

“Oh, I know I need to tell Papa everything.”

“No. I don’t think it’s necessary to tell him any more than we must. Mirabella, I’m glad you found Prince Charming and have avenged Sarah by forcing Hornbeck to leave London. I’ve said it before, but I mean it more now. You are a woman of rare courage to take on the task you did.”

“Thank you for all your help, Camden. I would not have found him without your help.”

“Me?” He frowned. “I did nothing. And I arrived too late to help today.”

“You believed in me. You didn’t forsake me when I went beyond the pale. I love you,” she whispered with all the love in her heart.

He smiled at her. “You are my true love, Mirabella, and, as soon as I get you in the privacy of my carriage, I’m going to show you how much I love you.”

Marriage for The Viscount And Scandal for The Earl

Hmm. Where to begin? There was an elegant madness to the night. Delicious tales continue to trickle in from the masked ball of the year. Most assuredly nothing can top the fact that the very day after the toga ball, the hostess’s father applied for a special license and Miss Mirabella Whittingham is now Viscountess Stonehurst. Hmm. One has to wonder what happened to cause their haste to wed, when both bride and groom had declared they would not marry before next spring. Could it be that her daringly low-cut toga slipped off her other shoulder? Hmm.

But the latest delicious morsel of a tale involves Albert Farebrother, the Earl of Glenbrighton. It seems his mistress took it upon herself to defy a strict unwritten protocol and attend the masked ball. No doubt she expected to go unnoticed. All was well until someone, we won’t give away our secret sources, mentioned her presence to the Countess. The Countess marched up to the paramour, who was talking to the Earl at the time, and threw a glass of champagne into the mistress’s face. Having not a drop of champagne left to fling at her husband, the quick thinking Countess quickly dipped her glass into a nearby birdbath and splashed his face with the drink of birds. One has to admire the Countess’s aplomb during the unfortunate incident. But which one will be the first to show their face in Society again? Hmm. One has to wonder what was said in that house later that evening. Do tell if you hear anything.

—
Lord Truefitt,
Society’s Daily Column

“You
are beautiful, Mirabella, but never more so than by candlelight.”

Mirabella looked up from the scandal sheet she had been reading to see her husband walking into the bedroom of the small town house they had rented. She laid the newsprint on the table.

She smiled at him and said, “Good evening, my lord husband.”

“And to you, my lady. I’m sorry to be later than I said I would, but I made a trip by Hornbeck’s house. It’s been cleaned out. He’s gone.”

A sad relief washed over her. “It’s for the best. I didn’t relish what I would have had to do to him.”

“But I have no doubt you would have accomplished it. That’s why I made sure he was gone.”

“Thank you, Camden. I can finally put Sarah and Archer Hornbeck behind me.”

“I’m very happy about that. I see you are already dressed for bed. How very nice.” He pulled on the white ribbon that held the neckline of her night rail together and let the bodice fall open. He bent his head and kissed the swell of her breasts.

Mirabella wound her arms around his neck. “I’m glad you are home.”

He smiled at her and said, “You are an eager wife.”

“I have reason to be, my lord. You do know just how to please me.”

He laughed against her skin. “I’m a fortunate man to have such a willing lady waiting at home for me.”

He placed his hands to each side of her face and lowered his face to hers for a deep kiss. When he raised his head, he said, “Is that a wrinkle of worry I see on your brow?”

“I must have read that paper five times already. I can’t help but concern myself about the countess. I’ve met her, and she seemed such a warm and caring person. This was an absolutely dreadful thing to happen to her.”

He pulled Mirabella into his arms and held her tightly against him. “Don’t worry about her. She and Albert might have a spot of trouble now, but all will be well by the time the new babe arrives. I would hope Albert would pick a more discreet mistress next time.”

Mirabella raised her head and looked at her husband. “Camden, do you plan to employ a mistress? I realize it is all the rage and—”

He silenced her by placing his thumb over her lips. “Listen to me, my love. I have no need of a mistress in my life. I have a bride who is almost”—he stopped and smiled—“but thankfully not more woman than I can handle. You need have no fear in that direction.” He kissed her sweetly on the mouth, and gently moved his lips down her neck and back to the crest of her breasts.

“Thank you, Camden.” She ran her hands over his strong shoulders. “I have no wish to share you with another woman.”

“Why don’t you invite the Countess to tea?”

“Do you think she would come?”

He continued to graze her neck and chest with his lips, leaving little raindrop kisses on her skin. “You won’t know unless you ask. But I’m thinking she probably needs a friend right now.”

“I think I will. I can call on her tomorrow after my visit with Papa.”

“How did your father look today when you saw him?”

“He’s still quite tired from all that has gone on with the ball and the wedding, but I believe he had a little more color to his cheeks today.”

“Good. And what did he say of Hornbeck leaving Town?”

“Only that he wished Mr. Hornbeck wasn’t going. And perhaps he could find another friend to visit as often as Mr. Hornbeck had.”

“Did your father mention grandchildren again?”

She laughed lightly and planted a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. “What do you think, my lord?”

“I suspect he will mention them every day until you are with child.”

She slid her hand down the front of his pantaloons and felt his hardness beneath the clothing. “We would not want to disappoint him, would we?”

“Absolutely not. Help me undress, my love.”

“First, I have something for you.” She left his arms and walked back over to the table and picked up a sheet of paper. She handed it to Camden.

He glanced at it and looked back to Mirabella. “What is this?”

“It is the list of suspects I made from Sarah’s dance cards. You wanted to know how many men I had kissed.” She took a deep breath. “They are there for you to count. The ones with an
X
by the names are the ones I allowed to kiss me.”

His eyes searched hers, but he never looked back at the paper. “I do not need to see this. It no longer matters to me.”

“Are you sure, my lord? It was once very important to you.” He walked over to the candle and stuck the sheet into the flame. It caught fire with a swoosh. He watched it burn to only a small piece before throwing it into the fireplace to become ash.

“I don’t know why I thought it was important. I think I was jealous that other men’s lips had touched yours, and I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want you to know that I wanted you the moment I saw you standing on the street. I didn’t know how to handle those feelings because I never wanted to fall in love.”

“Camden, I found no joy in any of those kisses. You are the first and only man I have kissed because I wanted to. The night you were so angry with me and you kissed me, I felt I was on fire—and that flame has not gone out.”

“I’ll see it doesn’t.” He scooped her up and laid her on the bed. He leaned over her and placed a hand on her breast over her heart. “Believe me when I say it does not matter how many men you have kissed. There is no reason to ever speak of it again. I love you.”

Mirabella placed her fingertips to his lips and smiled gently at him. “And I love you with all my heart, my husband.”

“You are my bride, my wife, and my lover.”

She raised her eyebrows. “And if you should ever have need of a mistress?”

He laughed. “I know where to find you.”

“Yes. I do not intend to share you.”

“Have no fear, my darling. You are all I need in a woman, Mirabella. Wife, lover, and companion for all my life.”

“I am so very happy, my lord.”

“So am I.”

Camden lowered his lips to hers, and Mirabella thrilled to his touch.

The End

I hope you enjoyed Mirabella and Camden’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Never a Bride
is a special book to me because it was my first book set in the Regency time period, and it started my love affair with sexy, titled gentlemen.

I’m currently putting the finishing touches on my ninth Regency Romance, titled
A Gentleman Never Tells,
which will be published in Spring of 2011. And if you haven’t had the chance to pick up
A Duke to Die For, A Marquis to Marry,
or
An Earl to Enchant
, all three books are still available at your favorite local bookseller or any online bookstore.

I look forward to hearing from my readers so please visit me at ameliagrey.com or email me at [email protected].

Happy reading,

Amelia Grey