Her Protector's Pleasure (44 page)
"By the by," Marianne said, "I have something for you."
"I thought we agreed on no gifts for our anniversary," he said with faint alarm.
'Twas one of the few sticking points between them. Marianne enjoyed showering him with ...
things.
While he appreciated the thought, he felt wholly inadequate at returning the favor. When it came to trinkets, his wife had expensive tastes, and since he refused to touch her money, he was left with few options. He'd stuck with poesies and the like and though Marianne always had stars in her eyes when he bought her anything, privately he wished he might give her more.
Thank God for his mother's ring. 'Twas one thing he'd given Marianne that he knew she adored, for she never took it off. The emerald winked at him now as she handed him a box the size of a pack of cards.
"It's not a gift for our anniversary," she said. "Open it."
Resigned, he untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. An elegant silver calling card case gleamed in a nest of tissue. He took the case out, his thumb brushing over his engraved initials.
"It's very fine," he said. "Thank you."
"Look inside," she said.
The case contained thick ivory calling cards, with his name, the direction to his new office, and the words "Enquiries Welcome" embossed in black.
"I hope I had enough made. You're going to be such a smashing success," she said confidently.
Emotion tightened his chest. He didn't know what he'd done in his life to deserve such a woman. Putting the box down, he leaned over and kissed her with everything he had been, was, and hoped to become.
"You're very welcome," she said breathlessly, moments later.
He caressed her cheek. "You've given me so much, Marianne. It shames me to say that I haven't anything to offer in return."
"As a matter of fact, that is untrue."
"I mean any material thing," he clarified. "You must know that my heart and my soul are yours."
"That's comforting to know, of course," his wife replied, "but in addition you have recently given me a rather substantial and undoubtedly material gift."
He gave her a puzzled look. "My mother's ring? I gave that to you months ago."
"Guess again, darling."
"That volume of poetry I gave you last week was hardly substantial," he muttered.
She peered at him from beneath her lashes. "Do you need a hint, Mr. Kent?"
Perplexed, he nodded.
"Now this gift has not yet arrived, but I believe you made an initial deposit during our stay with the Hartefords. In the solarium?"
His mind raced back two months. They'd spent Christmas at the Hartefords' country estate, where Marianne had orchestrated the wedding of Black's daughter. And alone in the solarium one midnight, beneath the twinkling stars, they'd—
His jaw dropped. "You're …
increasing
?"
"Bull's-eye, Mr. Kent." Her eyes lit with laughter. "On all accounts."
With hands that shook slightly, he framed her face. "How are you feeling, love? Is there anything you need? Anything I should do—"
"Just love me, Ambrose," she said simply. "Love our family. That's all I need."
"To the end of my days," he said.
To seal his vow, he kissed her. She kissed him back. The wealth of their love flowed through him, and he knew that whatever their future held, it would be rich indeed.
THE END
Dear Reader,
Thank you for spending time in the world of Mayhem in Mayfair! I hope you had a lovely visit, and please consider leaving a review. I also love to hear from my readers, so feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. For updates on my books, prizes, and giveaways, please click on the link below to sign up for my newsletter.
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XOXO Grace
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OTHER BOOKS BY GRACE CALLAWAY
To purchase "Her Husband's Harlot" (Mayhem in Mayfair #1), please click
here
.
Not Quite a Wife
After a disastrous wedding night, proper Lady Helena Harteford fears for the fate of her new marriage. Disguised as a doxy, she tracks her husband down at a bawdy house to reason with him ... and instead discovers the thrill of forbidden passion. An innocent ruse turns into a risky deception; how far will this once-wallflower go to win her husband’s love?
Unfit to be a Husband
Orphaned at an early age, Nicholas Morgan escapes his violent beginnings to become a successful merchant—only to discover that he is the legitimate heir of the Marquess of Harteford. His transition to the
ton
is rocky and made rockier when he marries above him. Torn between guilt and lust, he tries to protect his sweet, innocent wife from the demons of his past. But can he safeguard her from his own raging desires?
Caught between Past and Present
When a dangerous nemesis rises from Nicholas' past, husband and wife must work together in order to survive. From the drawing rooms to the stews of Regency London, they find themselves caught in a game of passion and seduction. Will true love prevail? Or is Helena destined to remain ...
Her Husband's Harlot
?
To purchase "Her Wanton Wager" (Mayhem in Mayfair #2), please click
here
.
A Wager She Can't Afford to Lose
When her brother falls into the clutches of gamester Gavin Hunt, feisty heiress Persephone Fines will do whatever it takes to save him. Hunt offers her an outrageous proposition: he will release her brother …
if
she can resist six nights of seduction. Can she withstand the scoundrel's wicked charm—and the shocking desire he rouses with each touch?
A Bet He's Determined to Win
A product of London’s violent stews, Gavin Hunt has clawed his way to success and power. Now he will stop at nothing to achieve his life-long goal: revenge upon the man who betrayed him. He plans to seduce his enemy’s sister … but doesn't count on losing his heart. Will he give up his need for vengeance—or risk forsaking the only woman he’s ever loved?
From Six Nights ... to Forever
As the battle of the sexes rages on and seduction flares into uncontrollable passion, Gavin and Percy must also fight a hidden enemy. Only by trusting one another can they defeat the threats of past and present. In this high-stakes game of love versus sin, what will be the outcome of …
Her Wanton Wager
?
To purchase "Abigail Jones" (Chronicles of Abigail Jones #1), please click
here
.
A Maid with a Secret
Shy housemaid Abigail Jones hides a terrible affliction: visions of depravity haunt her. In desperate need of a refuge, Abby seeks a position at Hope End, a gothic English estate. Instead of solace, however, she discovers pieces of a mystery: a portrait of a malevolent beauty, a housekeeper who knows too much, and a powerful man torn between revenge and desire …
A Lord with a Past
Enigma swirls around Earl Huxton, a rich and rakish widower. Yet beneath Hux’s devil-may-care façade lies hidden torment—and a secret crusade to destroy evil. Nothing compromises his quest for vengeance until he meets Abby, whose innocent eyes seem to see into the dark corners of his soul and whose touch entices him to relinquish the past for an infinitely sweeter obsession ...
A Love for All Time
Together, Hux and Abby hunt a deadly supernatural foe through the gothic countryside and the erotic underworld of Victorian London. As passion flares between master and maid, dangerous secrets begin to unravel. With the battle against evil looming, a stunning link between Hux’s past and Abby’s secret comes to light. Will their demons destroy their future ... or will their love vanquish the darkness once and for all?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Callaway pens steamy historical romances set in the Regency and Victorian eras. Her debut manuscript, Her Husband's Harlot, was a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and a #1 National Regency Bestseller and International Bestseller.
Outside of writing, she holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan and practices clinical psychology in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she isn't busy juggling the delightful chaos of family, work, and writing, she loves to escape outdoors. Her other favorite obsessions include coffee, orchids, and all things BBC.
For more about Grace:
http://www.facebook.com/GraceCallawayAuthor
Twitter: @Grace_Callaway
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my readers and fans: a huge THANK YOU for all your support! I'm so grateful to be able to share the world in my head with you. Like that first cup of coffee in the morning, your lovely emails and reviews get me up and going at my keyboard.
My appreciation also goes out to Rob Jeffries and Joz Joslin at the Thames River Police Museum. Thank you both for taking the time to share your extensive knowledge with me. Any historical inaccuracies in the work are entirely mine.
My creative duo, Jenn Le Blanc and Carrie Divine: you gals are a dream team! Books are definitely judged by their covers, so thank you for making mine absolutely gorgeous.
To my writing posse: Tina Folsom, you're an endless fount of energy, wisdom, and inspiration. Thanks for being there through thick and thin. Love you, girl. Virna De Paul, thank you for your insights on my work and for being a companion on this wild ride. And Diane Pershing: you always find the weaknesses and know exactly how to fix them. Bravo!
To my family, who puts up with a scribbling maniac: hugs and kisses to you all. To my husband, Brian: thank you for providing the real-life inspiration for my romances. And for copyediting until the wee hours of the night. And for cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry ... the list goes on. Smooches! And to our l'il buddy: you are our guiding star. Love you forever.
Last, but not least, this book is dedicated to my sister, who recognized the potential between Marianne and Kent before I did. Thanks, C., for being the best sibling anyone could ask for. Love you!
COPYRIGHT
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
License Notes
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