A Daring Passion (44 page)

“I have something for you. Actually, I have two gifts.”

Her brief bemusement was shattered with a flare of annoyance.

“Good God, Philippe. Do you still think I can be purchased like a piece of goods?”

“No, you will want these gifts, I assure you,” he interrupted, reaching beneath his greatcoat to pull out a folded piece of parchment.

Raine stiffened, painfully reminded of her last day on Madeira. If this parchment held another three thousand pounds she swore that she would blacken his eye. And perhaps break that perfect nose.

With shaking fingers she unfolded the paper, her brows drawing together as realized there were no unpleasant surprises.

“A letter?” she muttered, her eyes widening as her gaze drifted over the elaborate, sprawling handwriting at the bottom of the page. “Good heavens, it is signed by the king of England.”

Still on his knees, Philippe flashed a heart-rending smile. “I requested that he assure you that Seurat has been released.”

Raine sucked in deep breaths of the hay-scented air. She was accustomed to Philippe charging into her life and creating chaos, but this made no sense.

“You have had him released?” She gave a shake of her head. “But why?”

“Because it was what you desired,” he said simply. “And from this day forward I intend to prove that I will do whatever necessary to make you happy.”

She licked her dry lips as she struggled to accept that he truly had made such a sacrifice for her. And it was a sacrifice. Seurat had threatened his family, and for Philippe there could be no greater sin. His need to punish the man was an overwhelming force in his life.

And he had given it up. For her.

“I…I do not know what to say,” she whispered.

With elegant ease Philippe rose to his feet, once again reaching beneath his coat.

“Here is my other gift,” he said softly.

Glancing down, Raine watched as Philippe pressed the golden necklace into her hand. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of the precious locket. She knew it meant more to this man than all the jewels in Europe.

Slowly her eyes lifted to meet his searching gaze. “Your mother's locket.”

A slow smile curved his lips. “She would want you to have it. You are the only female I have ever met that is worthy of her.”

She became lost in his smoldering gaze. “But I am not, Philippe. I am nothing more than a sailor's daughter.”

“You are Raine Wimbourne.” He carefully reached to pull her into his arms, as if he feared she might recoil from his touch. “A woman of honor and dignity. A woman with a sweet, generous nature who brings happiness to all those whom she encounters. A woman who would rather live in poverty than to accept the blundering proposal of a man who is undeserving of her.”

Raine leaned back to regard him in startled horror. “I have never thought you undeserving, Philippe.”

“Then you should have.” He pulled her tightly to his body, his expression dark with regret. “I wanted you to love me. I wanted to you to offer me your very soul without having to risk returning that precious gift. I was a fool. And I have paid a dear price.” He leaned forward to press his lips to her forehead. “I love you, Raine. Please tell me that I am not too late. Tell me that you can forgive me.”

Raine felt a small smile begin to tug at her lips. Philippe had swallowed his pride to follow her to Knightsbridge. Even more he had released Seurat simply because he knew it would make her happy.

And he had said the magic words.

I love you.

Her heart sang with joy as she lifted her hand to lightly touch his cheek.

“I will forgive you if you make me one promise.”

Pulling back, he regarded her with a desperate gaze. “Anything. Anything at all.”

“From this day forward you must promise that you will stop your appalling habit of kidnapping poor, unsuspecting females.”

There was a moment's pause, and then, giving a loud shout of laughter, Philippe swept her off her feet and held her tightly against his chest.

“Oh,
meu amor,
I can safely promise that the only woman I will ever bother to kidnap will be my beautiful, daring, passionate wife.” His eyes darkened with a smoldering heat. “And I intend to hold her hostage for all eternity.”

Madeira, One Year Later

A
S WAS HER HABIT
, R
AINE SPENT
the morning enjoying her breakfast in the beauty of the garden. It not only offered a few moments of solitude before her busy day of overseeing the household and meeting with the numerous villagers who now turned to her for assistance, but over the past weeks she had discovered that the crisp air helped to counter the morning sickness that plagued her.

Rising to her feet, Raine absently touched the faint swell of her stomach that was the only indication she would soon have an addition to her family.

Philippe was delighted, of course. At least when he was not worrying himself into a state of near panic. Since their wedding he had proved to be an astonishingly protective husband. He was forever fussing over her to ensure that she did not overtire herself, or take the slightest risk. Now that she was pregnant he was nearly insufferable. If he had his way she would remain tucked in her bed with a dozen servants hovering about to tend to her every need.

Not that she truly minded, she acknowledged as she entered the sprawling villa. It seemed unbelievable, but over the past year, Raine had tumbled even more deeply in love with her husband. Her marriage was not always easy; they were both far too stubborn not to have their occasional spats. But over the passing days they had developed a relationship that offered far more than mere passion. They were friends, and companions and partners as they worked side by side to keep Philippe's numerous companies profitable, and to oversee the charities that Raine had already established.

It was a hectic, wonderful life that Raine could never have dreamed possible.

As she was climbing the stairs, Raine's happy musings were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of Philippe's low cursing coming from his study.

Startled as much by the realization that her husband had returned so swiftly from his daily inspection of his vineyards as by his obviously foul mood, Raine altered her path and entered the study.

As always her heart gave a tiny leap at the sight of the man who had changed her life. Even casually attired in buff breeches and a worn jade jacket he appeared more a god than a mere human.

For a moment she simply allowed herself the pleasure of watching him pace across the room with short, jerky steps. A warm, delicious desire swirled in the pit of her stomach. Good heavens. She would never, ever tire of walking into a room and finding Philippe awaiting her.

With a happy sigh, she forced herself to move forward. She hoped whatever was troubling her husband would not take long to soothe. They had a few hours to spare before the local children would arrive for their English lessons. Hours that could be nicely spent upstairs in their private chambers.

“Good Lord, Philippe, whatever is the matter?” she teased.

Philippe held up the sheet of paper he had gripped in his hand.

“I have just received word from Mr. Boland. That ridiculous buffoon has the audacity to refuse my request to come to the estate and remain until the baby is born.”

Raine gave a shake of her head. She had been adamantly against Philippe's determination to bring London's most celebrated surgeon to the island. She far preferred the local doctor, who was not only a sensible man, but one who had delivered hundreds of babies over the years.

“I did warn you that a doctor of his reputation would hardly be willing to give up his practice for weeks merely to have the honor of bringing your child into the world,” she said.

“
Our
child,” he corrected as he moved to stand directly before her, his hand reaching out to lightly touch her stomach. It was a habit he had developed from the moment he had discovered she had conceived. “And, as I offered him a bloody fortune, he should damn well be grateful.”

Gently she lay her hand over his. “Obviously he is not nearly so intelligent as you thought him to be.”

He offered a sour grimace. “Obviously not.”

“Do not fret, love. I have told you over and over I am perfectly satisfied with our local doctor.”

His expression darkened, his eyes shimmering with concern. “Perhaps we should return to London until after the babe is born.”

Raine stiffened in alarm. It would take a bloody battalion to force her from her home.

“Absolutely not,” she said in a tone that defied argument. “I would be miserable waddling about in that cold, damp air. Besides, I want our baby to be born here. This is our home. The place where we will raise our family, surrounded by people we love.”

“But if something were to go wrong…” His features softened with the adoration he now revealed without hesitation. “I could not bear to lose you, Raine.”

She reached up to lay her hand on his cheek, her heart nearly bursting with happiness. “Nothing will go wrong, but even if it should, I would trust someone I know rather than a stranger. I will not budge on this, Philippe.”

Her tone was soft, but Philippe knew her well enough to realize when he had been beaten. Heaving a sigh, he wrapped his arms about her waist.

“Have I ever told you just how remarkably stubborn you are?”

“At least once every day.” She sent him a coy glance. “But, I shall forgive you as long as you also tell me you love me every day.”

An intelligent man, Philippe was not slow in responding to her subtle hint.

“Every day? You are a greedy little thing. Still, I suppose for the sake of our children I can be forced to give in to your demands.” With a smooth motion he had her swept off her feet and was carrying her swiftly toward the door. “Of course, I do have a few demands of my own.”

Raine chuckled as her body readily melted with need. “It was your demands that made this situation, if you will recall.”

“Hmm.” His head lowered to nuzzle at her neck. “I am not certain if I entirely recall. I think perhaps you should remind me.”

She wrapped her arms about his neck. “Do you know, Philippe, I truly do believe this must be paradise.”

He smiled with a tender warmth. “Until you arrived it was merely another house on a pretty island. You have made my home a paradise,
meu amor.
And you are my very own angel.”