Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (188 page)

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'I didn't think everything would turn out so well. I thought I'd be publicly ruined and shunned, sent off to the country. I had planned for that in my own way. I rather thought it would all be simpler. I didn't bargain on all the, um.. .shall we say "adventure"? Perhaps for you, these past weeks have been quite ordinary, but for me.. . Well, I've got nothing to compare them to in my heretofore very common life. You've done well by me and you don't need to feel obligated to save me.' She turned her sad green eyes to him.

It occurred to him that she'd been contemplating this all week. While he had been contemplating how to propose, she'd been contemplating how to say goodbye, how to free him.

He went to her, putting his hands on her shoulders, ostensibly to steady her, but perhaps to also steady himself. He was not going to lose her. 'This is not about obligation, it's not about passion, although we have quite a lot of that, too. This is about love.

'I have fallen thoroughly in love with you, Julia. You have brought me peace for the

time in my life. I need

you and I want you and, at last, I have something to offer you in

I've got a desk at the bank now, a home that's not my brother's, a fortune for you to spend.' He laughed a little at that. 'I even have a title.' Paine pulled out the third item from the inner pocket of his jacket. He gave Julia the folded piece of paper. 'Read it, it's a letter from the king.'

Julia scanned it. 'Oh my, Paine, you're to be knighted. Sir Paine Ramsden.' She read further. 'For in-valuable service to the crown. Whatever did you do?'

Scott

'The crown needed to be aware of Oswalt's treach-ery against members of the peerage. There were many people, his Majesty included, who were glad to have certain issues, as it were, resolved. You'll be Lady Julia I am worthy of you now.'

Julia's eyes watered. Damn it. He hadn't meant to make her cry. She was supposed to jump with joy, preferably right into his arms.

'You were always worthy of me, Paine,' she whispered. 'When I started this, I was

for the most

dishonourable man in London. I never thought he'd turn out to be the most honourable.' She bit her lip and smiled through her tears. 'I don't suppose you have a ring in those pockets, do

seem to have everything else.'

Paine laughed. 'I most certainly do.' He pulled out the fourth item, a small velvet box from one of London's finest jewellers. He went swiftly down on one and

flipped open the box lid. 'Marry me, Julia.'

Julia feigned contemplation, tapping a finger against her chin. 'If I do, will I get to see what's behind the door?'

'Vixen!' Paine slipped the ring on her finger, a brilliant emerald surrounded by a band of tiny diamonds.

'It's from my own collection. I had it set especially for you.' Paine rose and reached for the door.

Julia laughed when she saw the room. 'You've been busy.'

Paine swept her up into his arms and carried her to the low bed. It had been restored, along with the cabinet.

It would take time to fix this room up to his expectations, but he couldn't imagine him and Julia sleeping in

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any other bed. The need to have her was suddenly swift and urgent as it coursed through him.

She read his need and reached her arms up to draw him down to her,

him deeply. 'Did you bring a

sheath?' Julia murmured, lifting against him.

'I brought something better,' Paine said next to her ear, nibbling and sucking at her earlobe.

'What could be better?' Julia said, on the brink of losing all reasoning.

'A special licence.'

She laughed softly, her breath warm against his neck.

She shifted her body to accommodate him, taking him between her thighs. 'You once said I was like the Sleeping Beauty-come awaken me with love's

He didn't have to be asked twice. Julia Prentiss was his happy ever after.

Epilogue

Champagne flowed freely in sparkling crystal glasses at the

wedding

a month later. Sur-

rounded by the

clan, Julia thought the wait had

been worth it. True, Paine had a licence that could have enabled them to marry sooner, but Aunt Lily had argued again on the platform of good form. In the end the argument had made sense. After

so hard to

erase the questions of Paine's past, it made little sense to scotch those efforts with a rushed wedding and all the speculation that would ensue.

Beside her at the head table, Paine drank yet another toast to their happiness, one hand surreptitiously under the table on her leg. Watching him recite his vows at St George's this morning, one would never have guessed that a mere three months ago he'd been a bachelor with no thoughts towards being redeemed.

Today, he was a man resolutely in love with his wife.

Julia knew the look on his face well because it was