Haunted Hearts (23 page)

 A distant scream echoed off the Thames. Quinn shook his head as if annoyed. “I feel I must be sure the creature doesn’t bleed to death before she faces judgment, so I would consult with the surgeon. Ewald, will you take Lady Stratton home?”

“Of course.” Ian offered Quinn a deep bow, which was returned in kind before the man headed down the dock to the ship’s gangplank, leaving the lamp at Ian and Olivia’s feet.

Douzain came forward then, his bag of belongings in his left hand to free him to use his right in a quick bow. “
Mon cher vicomte
, I zank you again, but now I flee to my ship.”

“Yes, you must go, and may good fortune travel with you. I wish I could say I’m sorry I didn’t meet you at the masquerade, but,” he looked down at Olivia, “I’m not.”

“
Oui
, my lord,” Douzain replied. “I suppose I can understand zis.” He made a flourish of a bow as an additional thank you before he hurried away.

***

As the soon-to-be former Frenchman made his way toward freedom, Olivia gave a hiccupy kind of laugh, perhaps as much from released nerves as from relief no one beyond Lisette was harmed. Still holding her to his side, Ian let the blood-stained kerchief he’d wiped her face with drop to the ground. He began to lower his head, as though to claim a kiss, but she pulled back a little.

“And here we are again, kissing in the dark.”

He seemed to consider for a moment. “I cannot think of a more pleasurable pastime, unless of course it is kissing you in the light of day.”

He did kiss her then, regardless of the time.

When Ian pulled his mouth away at last, a cheer from staring seamen greeted them, causing them both to flush and laugh. “It seems I’ve compromised you,” he said.

Olivia’s eyes darkened and a shadow of doubt crossed her features. “I compromised you first. That night. You need not feel beholden to…to anything just because I was such a terrible flirt and--”

“No,” he said firmly.

“No?” she repeated. She began to pull away, her face coloring, but he caught her hands, pulling her up fast against his chest.

“Olivia, I’ll have no more holding back. I weary of you feeling you must make apologies for meeting with me in the dark that night. It started everything.”

Caution left her face, and she almost smiled. “In the dark. Where we kiss.” She got no further, for he kissed her again, melting any lasting doubts away.

When at last he pulled away, he said, “My dear lady, I know it is a rushed thing…but I think we both know we’ve found something with each other. I know it’s far too early. I know it’s impossible. But say you’ll agree to marry me anyway.”

She’d wanted to be daring, to be alive and experiencing what that meant. However, some would say she’d be a fool to give up what she’d dreamed of for so long, and all for too-new kisses and unfounded hopes. It
was
too soon, too impossible.

But she didn’t hesitate a moment longer. “Oh yes,” she breathed, and accepted the pledging kiss she’d hoped to gain by her answer.

When he let her go, she laughed. “I’m afraid my answer has one small contingency attached, though.”

He lifted a brow.

“My maid is my guardian dragon. You will have to pass muster with Mary Kate. Only then am I free to marry you.”

He looked astonished for a moment, but then he managed a half-bow without ever letting her go. “I will even answer to servants, if that is your requirement, my lady,” he said, perhaps not realizing she maybe meant it more than one could expect. But Mary Kate would want her mistress to wed soon, in order that her lady might settle down to proper domesticity--and with anyone but the highly questionable Lord Quinn.

Suddenly Olivia was laughing, and Ian with her, until he pulled her even closer and kissed her all over again.

“Really now, that’s quite enough of that,” Hargood’s voice floated to their ears as he and Lord Quinn approached, their evening clothes spotted with Lisette’s blood. Ian turned toward them, reluctantly at last releasing her.

“How is
Mademoiselle
Lyons?” Ian asked.

“Seems likely to survive,” Lord Quinn said, mouth turning down. “She’s tied to the surgeon’s table, guarded by a Marine, and a constable has been sent for.” He changed the subject abruptly. “Ewald, I insist on being best man.” A resigned smile hovered near his mouth.

“He’s offered? You’ve accepted Ewald?” Hargood said to his sister, eyes going wide.

She colored prettily. “Yes.”

Ian replied to Quinn. “I’m afraid that duty falls to my brother, if we can arrange it around his duty. But I would be honored if you’d stand up with us as well.”

Quinn did his best to look pleased, nodded acceptance, then took Hargood by the upper arm. “Come, fellow, me must let these two remove from this sorry scene.”

“But I can’t leave my sister alone--”

Quinn spoke in a stage whisper. “Can’t you feel the magic going on here? I sensed some of it on All Hallow’s Eve, but I’m afraid I misinterpreted it in my favor. Alas, we’ve no part of it, you or I.”

He led a yet reluctant Hargood back toward the ship.

“He’s very odd, but I like him very much,” Olivia said, smiling up as Ian handed her up into the coach, on the forward-facing seat not covered in blood.

“Surprisingly, so do I.”

“He seems to believe we started some magic at the masquerade.”

He grinned. “I believe it, too. So you see you’ve no choice. You had to answer yes to me this night. It was fate.”

“For England’s sake,” she nodded sagely, then grinned.

“Yes, for England’s sake,” he smiled into her eyes, which softened at the tender look in his as he added in a whispered voice, “but mostly for my own.”

He closed the coach door as she smiled radiantly at him, the evening rapping around a woman just reborn to a reason for living, loving, and laughing, and a man who’d at last found a home for his heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teresa DesJardien lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, grown children, and growing grandkids. She’s been a financial and a file clerk, a mommy, a page, a bookseller, a very young and hot grandma, and an author.

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