Sari Robins - [Andersen Hall Orphanage] (31 page)

“He wanted to return it to me.” His hands clenched and his face appeared stricken. “An apology of sorts…I almost can’t believe it…It’s I who owe him the apology.” Blinking back tears, he bowed his head. “If only I’d understood him better…If only he knew…I never got to tell him how much…I loved him.”

“He knew you loved him, Marcus.” She squeezed his hand. “He knew it deep in his heart. Don’t ever doubt it.” Laying her head against his shoulder, she pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “He knew without you ever needing to say it.”

“I’m not exactly a poet when it comes to expressing how I feel.” Marcus sniffed, rubbing his eyes.

“Yes, and ‘
love is like the wind
,’” she quoted her sappy self.

He chuckled. Then a rich laugh rumbled through him, reverberating deep in her soul. Shaking his head, he declared, “Oh, how you make me laugh, Cat Miller. You lighten my heart when I fear it turns to black.”

“And you’re no poet?” she teased.

“I suppose I am when you are near.” His dear azure gaze met hers, sincere and filled with tenderness. “I love you, Catherine.”

“I love you, too, Marcus.” She smiled joyously, feeling
so jubilant she thought she might truly fly. Reaching up, she threw her arms around his shoulders and hugged him close.

“The world will have to find out about your being a Caddyhorn, you realize. For our marriage license to be legal, we must use your real name.” He pulled back, his gaze searching hers. “You will marry me, won’t you?”

She probed her heart, looking for that familiar apprehension. “I feel like everything I’ve done for the last ten years has been a reaction to the Caddyhorns, or my fears one way or another. Even refusing to marry.” Deep inside of her, happiness welled. “But I’m not afraid anymore, Marcus,” she marveled, beaming. “Yes, I’ll marry you! Nothing would make me happier!”

His lips met hers, so sweetly and with such ardor, she melted into his embrace. This felt so perfect, so amazingly
right
, that her heart sang.

Realization struck and she pulled back, exclaiming, “Once we marry, Dickey Caddyhorn will cease to have legal guardianship over me.”

“He’s not going to be able to touch you, your brother or anyone else from his prison cell, I assure you.”

“You really think he’ll pay?”

“Oh, you can bet money on it, darling.”

She bit her lip. “Do you think that Jared can come with us?”

Splaying gentle kisses along her jaw, he murmured, “To where?”

“The Peninsula.”

He pulled back. “I’m not returning to duty, Cat. I’m going to sell my commission to my friend Luke Hayes.”

“But the war, your efforts…”

“Seven years is enough, Cat. I’m done chasing traitors. I’m tired of the treachery, the lies. I’ve served my time, no
one can dispute that.” Leaning over, he pressed his lips to her crown. “And I’m tired of running away. I just want to be home.”

“But you’ve always hated Andersen Hall—”

“Home is not the four walls. But here.” He laid his hand over her heart. “This is my home. With you.” His gaze met hers, filled with all the love that she imagined her own gaze reflected. “My father once told me that I’d come to cherish family. And he was right. What you have with Jared, the children, your friends…it’s a beautiful thing and I want to be a part of it. I want to belong to your family. Here, with you.”

A lump formed in her throat as tears burned the back of her eyes. “I love you, Marcus, and I’m so glad that you’re mine.”

“Not half as happy as I am,” he murmured. “Now how about another kiss?”

“Only one?”

Their clothes were off in minutes.

This is the woman I love
, Marcus marveled as he gently molded her naked breasts in his palms. “You were made for me,” he murmured as he splayed kisses down her neck, inhaling the sweet scents of orange blossom interlaced with her desire. “As if crafted by the gods simply for my pleasure.”

“For my pleasure, too,” she breathed, opening her legs to receive him. “Please take me now, Marcus. I want you inside of me.”

He needed no further urging.

Thrusting deep into her tight, hot core, he thought he might just expire from the ecstasy.

“So wet,” he groaned. “So ready for me.”

Trailing her hands over his shoulders, she hugged him
close, making made him feel cherished. “I love how you fill me, Marcus. Nothing…nothing compares…”

Slowly he eased out of her. “Even climbing rooftops?” he teased.

Her luscious lips spread into a wicked smile. “It comes close…but this beats it…by a nose.”

He plunged deep into her wet core. “A nose, you say?”

Her breath hitched and her eyes widened. “Dear Lord in heaven!”

Drawing almost completely out of her, he murmured, “Care to reassess?”

“Marcus!” It was a command, a plea and a surrender.

Smiling, he drove into her again and again, relishing how her hips lifted to meet his, thrust for thrust. He couldn’t imagine any other woman suiting him as well as Cat. She truly was his mate.

She grasped his face, drawing his lips down to hers and kissing him with a passion that left him breathless. She moaned into his mouth. Her inner muscles clenched around him, her breath hitched and her body tensed. Increasing his pace, he sent off a prayer of thanks, then flew with the woman he loved.

“A
re you ready, my lovely wife of fifty-eight hours?” Marcus asked.

Catherine gave him a shaky smile. “Still counting?”

“Yes.” He nodded sagely. “I like to think of it as coin in the bank.”

“I hope you don’t intend to make any withdrawals—”

“Never! I value my good fortune too much. Besides”—he kissed her white-gloved hand—“the credit is out of this world.”

Catherine appreciated how he was trying to take her mind off the crowd waiting downstairs, but butterflies still fluttered in her middle and her mouth was dry as dust. “Perhaps I could have another lemonade?”

“You look beautiful, you know,” was his only response. His gloved hand caressed her cheek. “That lavender gown makes your eyes shimmer. You’ll be the belle of the ball.”

Her hand slid over the sheer silk gown that had cost so much Lady Huntington had refused to allow her to know the price. “You really like it? It seems somewhat…
snug.” For the hundredth time she adjusted the fichu of muslin at her breast.

“I’ll confess that when I first saw it, I wasn’t well pleased that so many men will have the benefit of such a view. But then Lady Huntington made me see the light.”

“What light is that?”

“Every man in London will know just how very lucky I am.”

His lips lifted into that charming smile that she adored and some of the tension inside of her loosened.

Sounds of a minuet drifted in through the closed door and Catherine’s heart began to race. Not being afraid anymore was one thing, but a bit of nervousness at being launched into Society after ten years of a closed existence in an orphanage was another.

“Will you get a new uniform, do you think?” she dallied.

“What, you don’t like my attire?” He waved to his costume.

“No, you are quite elegant, as a matter of fact.” He was resplendent in his black coat, crisp white shirt, blue waistcoat, black breeches and shiny black-buckled shoes. She was particularly fond of how his coat was perfectly cut to show off his broad shoulders and lean waist. She sighed, hoping that she’d be able to get him out of the costume again before too long. “It’s just that I like how dashing you look in a uniform.”

“My superiors do not wish for me to make my connection with the Foreign Office too public. Napoleon’s spies don’t need to know that I am still on their trail. Besides, it’s your night tonight, not mine.” He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

Catherine took his proffered arm and together they stepped toward the door. “It was kind of Lady Huntington to host this ball for us.”

“Kind? The lady is wallowing in her victory. Now she gets to show the world how she’s been right all along about the wretched Caddyhorns. Besides”—he pressed a kiss to her cheek as if he couldn’t help himself—“she’s just glad to have some decent relations. She’s had to live with the Caddyhorns for all of these years.”

“She is quite taken with Jared.” Catherine nodded.

“And he suffers her attention with good humor.”

“Yes, well, she can be quite effusive,” Catherine agreed, thinking fondly of the spirited matron who’d taken them all, including Andersen Hall, under her wing.

“I’m sure, in time, he will grow quite accustomed to all of the attention,” Marcus assured.

The entry loomed large before them.

She bit her lip. “It’s just so much change.”

Marcus reached for the handle. “Come, darling, let us show polite Society all that they’ve missed.” He threw open the door and the sounds of the minuet greeted them along with the buzz of many voices. Glasses tinkled, laughter chimed and the scent of many perfumes filled the air. Rose, lily, musk and thankfully, the beloved scent of sandalwood.

They stepped to the top of the stairs and a hush fell over the ballroom. Holding court in the far corner, Lady Huntington beamed.

Hundreds of faces looked up at them expectantly. Women in gold and diamonds and colorful gowns whose cost could feed ten children for a month. Men, mostly in black formal attire, just waiting to judge the lady who’d lived penniless in an orphanage for ten years. No amount of inheritance would ever make her feel like one of them, she knew. Jared probably felt the same, which is why she’d given him most of their legacy. She had a home, had Marcus by her side, and needed very little. Jared was go
ing to have a difficult time ahead of him and would need every resource to fit into this very different world.

The voices began to hum. Fans wagged, monocles stared. People began to shift and mutter as the crowd grew restless.

Catherine fought the urge to turn and run.

Marcus leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Just think of all of those weighty purses down there, just waiting for us to lighten them.”

“I thought we agreed,” she muttered under her breath, “no more rooftops.”

“For Andersen Hall, darling. We take from the rich and give to the poor. But now we’re going to
ask for it first
.”

Catherine blinked, as realization dawned. Her nervousness washed away like mud after the rain. She was an emissary, working for Andersen Hall, serving the needy children. Her uncommon story would be like a beacon inviting comment. Then she would have the opening to share the importance of the orphanage and its distinctive role in serving London’s disadvantaged. It was a brilliant opportunity to draw supporters to the institution.

Catherine smiled up at her husband. “You always know exactly the right thing to say.”

“I’ll remember you said that.”

“Are you with me, my partner in crime?”

Marcus lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on her palm. “Always.”

I will be eternally grateful to my family and friends, especially my mother, sister, and brother, who continue to enthusiastically champion my efforts. I want to specially acknowledge the following people for their wonderful support:

Dorothy Rece

Bill Eubanks

Deb Brink

Marilyn Simes and Digitalinstincts.com

Joahnna Barron of Athena’s Salon and Spa

Willa Cline

Barb and everyone at Romance and Friends

Emily Cotler and the Waxcreative Design Team

Julia Quinn whose graciousness knows no bounds

Frances Drouin

The Paradies Shops

Lowenstein Yost and Associates

Susan Grimshaw

The incomparable Avon Books team, including but not limited to: Brian and the entire Merch Sales Team; Mike, Carla and the rest of the Field Sales Team; International Sales; Darlene Delillo; Adrienne, Nicole
and Julia in Marketing; Pam in Publicity; Lara and Laurie in Foreign Rights/Subrights; Tom and Gayle; Managing Editorial; Carrie, May, and most especially, Lyssa—so glad you’re back!

Finally, my husband and children, who gave me the opportunity to follow my passions and meet my deadlines.