The Marquess’s Ward (3 page)

‘Victoria, I do not think you are asking for too much, but I don’t want you to leave either!’

‘But don’t you understand? I cannot stay here with you, not with what I promised myself so long ago!’ Victoria tried to hold back her tears.

Nicholas went to embrace her in his arms and Victoria let him, not having the willpower to push him away again.

‘Please, my wonderful, beautiful Victoria, do not cry. I do not want you to be my mistress. I will not force you.’

‘Thank you, ‘Victoria sniffed, but pain still remained within her heart.

‘But I want you to be my wife!’

Victoria stared up at him in shock. ‘No, Nicholas, I am not asking for that. You are a Marquess! You cannot marry me!’

‘Yes, I am a Marquess, but it is I who chose whom I marry. And, in any case, I will have no one else; for there is no one else I can and will love as much as I do love you.’

Victoria looked at him with wonder and pure joy showing in her eyes. ‘I love you too, Nicholas, with all my heart,’ she said, making her feelings clear to him, ‘but I fear that I am not lady enough for you.’

‘Don’t worry. With all your lessons and instructions, you are more than lady enough. You could sit at the King’s table and no one would know any different. But, in any case, who said I was just looking for a lady to be by my side? The other part of you that you show only to me I find very alluring and fascinating indeed, and I crave that part of you every night.’ Nicholas smiled as he brought her to him and bent down to kiss her.

Victoria went all giddy and warm inside, knowing that if Nicholas kept up his arduous attention towards her, he would be very much in luck and bring out the side of her that he was so eagerly waiting to appear!

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Did you love
The Marquess’s Ward
? Then you should read
The Viscount's Gamble
by Elizabeth Reed!

This is a steamy historical romance short story (word count 6,028)

We are first introduced to Julian when his future is looking very bleak. He has just lost all his estate and worldly possessions to a Mr Carter through several very poor games of cards on his part. Unable to repay all his debts, he fears that he will be punished and sent away to debtor’s jail.

But his day takes on another twist! Mr Carter is prepared to write off all of Julian’s debts to him: all Julian will have to do is marry his daughter, so she as well as his future grandchildren can benefit from the Viscount title.

Julian is very reluctant to fulfil Mr Carter request: the last thing he wants to do is get married to anyone! Unable to find a solution to his predicament, he agrees to meet Mr Carter’s daughter, Helen, but as soon as he sets eyes on her, he is left stunned and captivated by whom he discovers. Could he now be having a change of heart, as Helen shows him that she matches all his desires in more ways than one?

Warning: Sexual content included within the story.