The Bridal Contract (Darrington family Book 3) (15 page)

Sitting next to Oliver, her side smashed against his while Daniela reposed on his lap, asleep as soon as they’d settled, Eloisa finally got up enough courage to ask what had been on her mind since his exchange with Lord Everly. “I suppose since you intend to pay off Charles’ debt early our contract is rendered null and void?”

“It is.” He offered no other information, and the lapse didn’t set her mind at ease.

“And, um…” She bit the inside of one cheek. Worry churned through her veins. “What does this mean? Where do we go from here?” So much for her vow to win over her man no matter what. Perhaps she’d used up her courage when she shot the pistol.

“That largely depends on you, doesn’t it?” He turned his head. His grin loosed butterflies in her stomach and sent curls of heat into her core. “Dine with me tonight. Nine o’clock, unless you require rest after your ordeal?”

“No.” She gulped, hoping she didn’t look like a ninny. “I’d like to settle my future as soon as possible.”

“Right. I’ll put Susan and Carruthers on notice we’re not to be disturbed.” The mischief in his eyes spoke of kisses and caresses and all manner of delightful things. “We’ll discuss it then, once Daniela is tucked into bed and I’ve had a chance to clean up and attend to a few bits of business.”

“But, Oliver, there is a matter that I need to inform you of straightaway, and it might make a difference to you.”

“Tonight, love. Tonight.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to voice the hope in her heart. Instead, she relaxed into the squabs and watched Oliver cuddle his child close. Her heart ached in a way she never thought it could and the longing in her womb increased its call.

Were the beginnings of her dreams coming to fruition? She thought about Peter and the promise she’d made to him.
You have to let me go, Peter, as I do to you. Oliver means life and love and laughter. I need that so much, for I can never have it with only your memory.

Chapter Thirteen

Oliver gazed across the table at Eloisa. He couldn’t help but smile. The poor thing had hardly touched the meal Susan had lovingly made especially for this night. That afternoon, he’d told both his housekeeper and Carruthers of his plans to make an offer for his pretty neighbor. They had, of course, reacted as he’d suspected when he’d first given Eloisa the contract. They were as pleased and proud of him as if he’d been their own child. He’d waved away their felicitations with the promise that they keep well away from the proceedings the evening would bring.

When his love chased bits and pieces of her roast duck around her plate for the second time, he took pity on her. He needed to end her worry and relieve her anxiety. “Shall we talk about the real reason you’re here tonight instead of putting in the pretense of enjoying dinner, tasty though it may be?”

She raised wide eyes to his. “Yes, please.” Her relief was almost a palatable thing.

Struck anew at how arresting her features were, Oliver stood. Her brown-blonde hair had been caught up with pearl-encrusted combs. A few curls spilled over her temples and along her neck, and he couldn’t wait to remove those combs in order to bury his hands in those tresses as he’d wanted to do since he’d met her. “Come. Let’s adjourn to the parlor.” All too well he remembered how she’d felt in that carriage while on his lap, how soft her skin had been, how her little sounds of pleasure had fired his blood and tightened his groin. Oh yes, this night he’d claim her as his own and banish all thoughts of dear Peter from her heart. She could hold on to her memories, of course, but he wanted the whole of her heart. “There’s a particular question I need to ask you.” When he’d seen her bravely rescue his daughter then just as bravely hold a pistol on Everly, he’d lost his heart all over again. She’d come to his rescue in more ways than one since he’d met her and he was more decided than ever to make her his. However had he’d thought her a shrinking violet, incapable of standing up to adventure or danger?

Her hand trembled as he grabbed it and pulled her to her feet. The whisper of the mint green silk of her dress accompanied them down the hall. “Oliver, please, don’t keep me in suspense. I think I may know what you refer to, but I’d like to remain in ignorance lest I make a fool of myself with assumption.”

“The both of us have done a fair amount of assuming during our time together, haven’t we?”

“I suppose we have.” Her voice sounded so small and uncertain.

Once in the parlor, he made sure to turn the key in the lock. Not that he didn’t trust his servants to obey his command, but he wanted no surprises. Then he crossed the room and turned the key in that door as well before coming back to her side. “Let me come straight to the point.” He faced her and lost his heart all over again at the vulnerability lurking in the mossy depths of her eyes. He wanted to be the man to protect her, guide her, nurture her and support her through everything she’d encounter in life.

“That would be preferable.”

Illumination from a lit trio of candles on an armoire provided shadows and a romantic ambiance. “The bridal contract I offered you was a mistake. I did you no favors there, yet it was the catalyst for bringing us together.” He took a few steps toward her. A sense of power and exciting conquest rose in his chest. He very much stalked his prey and he would win her.

“Oh?” Eloisa retreated, step for step. “It was a mistake?”

“Absolutely, for it bound me to you without the benefit of marriage.” One more step then another he took.

“But we both fulfilled the arrangements. Helen is free and your mother has been routed.” Two more retreating steps brought her to a settee. She narrowly avoided a low table as the backs of her legs hit the furniture. “Mistakes don’t usually end so well.”

“On that count, you’re correct. However, I want that marriage—a real engagement that will end in us bonded for years to come.” Oliver captured her hands in his. “I want to wed you, Eloisa. I want to be a family with Daniela.” He peered deep into her eyes, hoping she understood, imploring her silently not to misunderstand. “I’ve learned after these days with you that my life has been woefully incomplete.”

“It has?” A pretty pink blush stained her cheeks. When she attempted to pull away, he held on tighter. “How?”

“I thought I wanted nothing more than to return to the sea and my ship. I stupidly thought I didn’t need anyone in my life to give it meaning.” Oh, how wrong he’d been. “But meeting you, having Daniela thrust into my life, I’ve realized I’m nothing without my girls.” With a tiny bit of encouragement, he settled her onto the settee then sat beside her. “The love of a child restored the holes my soul had taken on from the cynicism of life, but your love has repaired my heart and given me hope.”

“Hope for what?” She scooted away from him down the short length of the sofa, but he followed and was only too glad to pin her against the curving arm and his body.

“The future, for us.” Not willing to keep his hands from her any longer, Oliver plucked first one comb from her hair then the other. He dropped them both to the Aubusson carpet. “All of these bothersome words mean this: I want you, Eloisa. No, it’s more than that. I need you.” With one flick of his wrist, he tugged at the emerald green ribbon that was woven through the delicate bodice of her dress. It only took little pulls for the fabric halves to separate and show the lacy edge of her shift beneath. “I fell in love with you and don’t know when or how. I just know that I am. I don’t want an arrangement for funds or parental deflection; I want to marry you in front of God and my family, for better or for worse, but…”

“Yes?” Her breathless question and the rapid flutter of her pulse in her throat gave him all the encouragement he needed.

“It all depends on you. Can you forget about your promise to a dead lover from years ago and pledge your body, heart and soul to me, the vital man, not of your past but of your future?” He hadn’t realized until this very moment that she could very well say no. A tremor wormed its way through his gut. “Well?” Urgency propelled the question out.

“Will you remain in England?”

His stomach clenched. Would this be the fly in the ointment? “I’m not suited for life on land, Eloisa. The sea is as fundamental to me as breathing. At the end of June, I’ll take Daniela with me and sail for ports unknown, and I’d hoped…” His voice broke and he stumbled. It was unfathomable his plan would unravel now. He cleared his throat. “I’d hoped you would come along on the adventure as well.” Was that really his heart racing as he waited for her benediction or judgment? Was this what every man felt when attempting to win the heart of his lady?

“You don’t intend to return here any time soon?” She kept her big eyes focused on his face. Nothing in her expression betrayed her feelings.

“No.” With nothing to do except wait, he traced her gaping bodice with a finger. When she shuddered, he tamped a grin but repeated the gesture with his lips, teasing her with light nips and nibbles. The floral scent of her wrapped around him and fueled his need. “England, though dear because of my family, doesn’t inspire excitement in my soul.”

“If I agree, I’d not see
my
family for years. They’d have to learn how to get on without me.” She arched her neck and he gladly pressed kisses along the silky column of her throat.

“This is true. Only you can decide if that’s something you can endure.” He pulled at both her bodice and shift until the laces came undone and her glorious breasts popped free from the fabric. Oh, to have hours to acquaint himself with the pert, pink tips and creamy mounds. “In order to seek adventure, one must travel with everything valuable and leave the rest behind. Could you do that?”

“I…” The rest of her answer was lost on the heels of a moan when he brushed the pad of his thumb over her nipple and rubbed until it grew into a hard bud.

How he adored that sound. “I’ll give you the world and all of my love, but if that’s not enough for you…”

“It is! Oh, Oliver, it is! But I can’t.”

He died a thousand deaths in that one word. “What? Why?” He felt as petulant in that one moment as Daniela at being told no.

Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I gave myself to Peter. I cannot come to you as a bride should—clean and pure. You deserve that at least.”

Oh, his poor, suffering love. “Is that what’s been plaguing you?” When she nodded, he pressed a feather-weighted kiss to her mouth. “I don’t care that you’ve given away your virtue. That was your gift to Peter. The man gave his life for his king, country, and you. It’s a fair trade for the young woman’s heart you had then.” He kissed away the tears on her cheeks. “I’m interested in the woman you are now. Lost virtue has no value when I’m after your heart, the very soul of the woman I’ve fallen in love with.”

“Oliver, you devil, you clever boy, my love. You wonderful man.” She took his head between her palms, pulled him to her then proceeded to kiss every inch of his face. When she finally kissed his lips, he groaned and spent the next several minutes applying himself to bossing her tongue with his. Eventually, she broke the embrace simply to breathe. “I love you. Watching you care for Daniela so tenderly without thought or recourse to your future, knowing you intended to save Helen without ever having met her showed me the mettle you’re made of, learning how you’d fight for me, care for me despite everything.”

“Ah, and here I’d hoped you found me pleasing to look at, since you’ll be waking up with me at your side for the next forty years or so, God willing,” he joked, but it wasn’t the time for levity. He kissed away the last of her tears. He wanted her more than life itself. She’d be his greatest adventure. His member hardened. It throbbed against the front of his trousers. “There is only one answer I want to hear, love. To date, you haven’t said it.”

“Yes, I will marry you.” Her eyes were bright and shimmered with unshed tears. “I’m perfectly content to stay away from England and everything here. It’s past time for my family to forge their own paths. As long as I have you by my side, I need nothing else.”

He slid to the floor, and kneeling between her legs, slowly pushed up her skirting until it bunched at her waist. He dropped kisses on both knees. “You’ve made me the happiest of men, dearest. Though, there is one thing more.” Gently, he eased her thighs apart, and when he gazed upon her curl-shrouded folds, his breath shuddered from him. How had he won such a woman? He’d try all the days he had remaining to please her and keep her happy.

“Yes?” She half sat, half lounged on the settee, her face flushed, her legs splayed with her breasts free, and she was easily the most gorgeous creature he’d seen in all his life.

And she was his.

“Can you love me and only me? Please tell me you’ve set Peter’s memory and promise free, and that you come to my bed unfettered by the past.” After all, he couldn’t compete with a ghost and he didn’t care to try. If she couldn’t love him without reservation or whole of heart then—

“I let him go in the carriage ride following your routing of Lord Everly.” She sighed when he kissed a path up the inside of one thigh. “Although I’ll never forget Peter, he belongs in my past. I want to walk into my future by the side of the man I desire above all others—you.”

That was all he needed to hear. The sweet words broke the last of the chains keeping him from her. “Oh, darling, we’ll have such fun together!” When his lips brushed her curls that were already damp with her arousal, her body trembled, and he grinned against her sex. Eloisa was his match in every way. Though petite and delicate, there was no doubt she was a force to be reckoned with.