Lady of Desire (42 page)

Drawing a deep breath of the bracing salt air, she turned to go down the rickety wooden steps to the beach when she saw Rackford walking toward her across the green. She waited for him, her gaze softening as she took in his expression of haggard exhaustion. His strides were long but weary. His hair was tousled, his clothes a rumpled mess. The serene sadness in his eyes as he approached told her without a word that his father had died.

She put her arms around him as he joined her near the edge. They held each other for a long time, saying nothing.

“He’s gone?” she whispered, just to be sure.

He nodded.

“I’m so sorry, darling.” She caressed his hair and cradled his head on her shoulder, offering up a mental prayer for her father-in-law.

After several moments, he drew a long, shaky breath and straightened up to his full height, his gaze cast pensively far out to sea. She turned, as well, to stare again at the ocean. He stood behind her, holding her around her waist. She stroked his hands where they rested on her belly.

After a while, he lowered his lips to her ear. “Thank you, Jacinda.” His whisper paused. “That never would have happened if not for you. He wouldn’t have budged, and I would have left yesterday evening. Hell, I never would have come in the first place if it weren’t for you. You have given me… an extraordinary gift.”

“You are an extraordinary man.” She smiled and laid her head back against his warm, strong chest. “Most people would not have been able to forgive him.”

“Well,” he said slowly, as though carefully choosing each word, “I know now why everything happened as it did. I was bitter for many years, but now I can see the good that came of it—my running away. Our family ‘curse,' as he put it, has been broken. As for me, I saw a side of life in the rookery that most men in my position never see, and now I have a chance to do something about it. But in the meantime, I just wanted you to know that I couldn’t have gotten through that without you.“ Gently, he turned her to face him.

She looked up lovingly into his sea-green eyes. His tender words had inspired her all of a sudden. “Might we stay here for a while, Rackford? Cornwall is such a beautiful place.”

He grazed his knuckle along the curve of her cheek. “I don’t see why not, if you wish. After all, this is your home now. Our home,” he added softly, nodding toward Torcarrow standing proudly in the distance.

The morning mist softened its dove-gray ramparts. The sea shimmered beneath it, reflecting the breathtaking sunrise in glorious swirls of teal and gold and pink.

She glanced at the castle, then at him, startled by the reminder that he was the marquess of Truro and St. Austell now; she had just become the marchioness, rightful lady of the manor. But in the next moment, she noticed the dark circles under his eyes and cupped his cheek fondly.

“Come now, to bed with you before you fall asleep on your feet.”

“Always taking care of me,” he remarked in wry amusement as they started back to the house, their arms twined around each other.

“Oh, I know you don’t really need it,” she assured him with a wifely twinkle in her eyes, “but it makes me happy, looking after you.”

“Don’t I?” he countered softly.

She looked up at him in surprise, for his stubborn refusal of all aid was strongly etched on her mind. He gave her a knowing, rueful smile and an affectionate squeeze around her shoulders, leaning on her just a little as they walked back to the house.

Dear Reader,

Those familiar with the real-life history of the Countess of Oxford will no doubt recognize this grande dame of the Regency era as the model for my scandalous Duchess of Hawkscliffe and her variously-sired brood. Most of the ton knew that Lady Oxford’s numerous children had been sired by her many lovers; however, her husband, the Earl of Oxford (famous for his contributions to the Bodleian Library) acknowledged them all as his own. When I came across their story in my research, I was electrified by the notion of modeling a family series after them. I have always adored both reading and writing books in family series, but giving the grown siblings different fathers from widely different backgrounds has given this sprawling project a deliciously unique twist for me as a writer, and, I hope, for you, as well. Not only does it provide me with greater variety in the types of characters I get to write about in each tale, but also, as you’ve probably noticed if you’ve been following the series so far, Georgiana’s amorous adventuring has left each of her grown children a bit wary and cynical when it comes to love. The greatest joy for me is bringing each of them together with a strong, worthy “opponent” who will challenge that cynicism, overcome their wariness, and awaken their guarded ability to love. Once that happens, each of the Knight brothers (and their sister!) are one-hundred percent devoted and tenaciously determined to make it last forever.

If this is your first taste of the Knight Miscellany and you wish to read the other siblings’ books which have so far been completed, they are:

The Duke
(Robert and Bel)
Lord of Fire
(Lucien and Alice)
Lord of Ice
(Damien and Miranda)

Happily, I am only halfway through the series at this point. There are still two brothers left to torture (Jack and Alec) and possibly the impeccably polite lost soul whom Jacinda terms her “extra” brother, Ian Prescott, the Marquess of Griffith.

Next, however, I am going to be writing about Lizzie Carlisle, Jacinda’s “bluestocking” companion. Having grown up with the family, I consider Lizzie a nominal Knight sibling. Look for her story sometime near the end of ‘02 or in early ’03. If you wish to receive a reminder about my new releases, please visit my Web site at www.gaelenfoley.com and sign up for my e-mail newsletter.

I hope you enjoyed
Lady of Desire
… and thanks again for reading.

With warmest wishes,

Gaelen