“Off to the nursery we go,” he decided. “You are incorrigible, Lady Sidmouth.”
“And insatiable,” she teased, a huskiness creeping into her contralto that made his blood sizzle.
“Let us make haste, shall we?” He had already mastered the art of carrying Grace to her nursery without waking her.
Never let it be said Tom was not a swift study. And never let it be said that his wife and his daughter did not own his heart in unison. He had never supposed that one heartache would ultimately lead here, to this brilliant, dazzling future he could not have fathomed.
Where happiness was no longer an elusive mystery forever out of his reach. Where the sun rose on every dark night. And where nothing—however seemingly impossible—was out of reach. Including love.
Especially love.
“Haste sounds like utter perfection,” Hyacinth said.
Together, his small family made their way into Somerton House.
As Tom led his wife away from the nursery to their chamber a few minutes later, he stopped and kissed her senseless as he had that long-ago moment in the moon-drenched gardens. And just as he had that evening, he fell under Hyacinth’s spell again.
The End
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Tom and Hyacinth’s story! I hope you enjoyed this sixth book in my Wicked Husbands series. Very special thank you to the readers who requested Tom’s happily ever after following Her Missing Marquess. I hope Tom’s second chance at love touched your heart!
Please consider leaving an honest review of Her Virtuous Viscount. Reviews are greatly appreciated! If you’d like to keep up to date with my latest releases and series news, sign up for my newsletter here or follow me on Amazon or BookBub. Join my reader’s group on Facebook for bonus content, early excerpts, giveaways, and more.
I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Lottie and the Duke of Brandon, so stay tuned. For now, I’ve included a bonus excerpt from Wooed in Winter, Book Seven in my bestselling The Wicked Winters series, re-releasing in September of 2020 with bonus content.
P.S. If you’re looking for Nell’s love story, you can find it in Her Missing Marquess.
Until next time,
Scarlett
Wooed in Winter
The Wicked Winters Book Seven
By
Scarlett Scott
The Marquess of Haven has finally decided to do his duty and settle upon a bride, preferably before the new year begins. What better place to find her than a country house party? There’s just one problem. The beautiful widow who once owned his heart is also in attendance. Surely there’s no harm in indulging in one night of passion with her, just to get her out of his mind. But Haven is about to discover old habits are hard to break, especially when the consequences last forever…
Chapter One
Now
Oxfordshire, 1813
The Marquess of Haven could tie leaden weights about his ankles and go swimming in the Serpentine for all she cared.
At least, that was what Hannah thought when she saw him again for the first time since he had broken her heart.
The second thing was…
“What in the name of heaven is he doing here?” one of her sisters whispered.
“I was wondering precisely the same thing myself,” Hannah told her. “You must not look at him, Evie.”
“You are looking at him,” Evie pointed out wryly.
Yes, drat it all. She was. And she had to stop. At once.
But before she could, his gaze slammed into hers. They were on opposite ends of the massive Abingdon House ballroom. And still, she felt the shock of his stare as if he had touched her. As if time had never intervened. She inhaled against a sharp surge of memory, anguish, resentment.
Above all, anger.
Yet somehow also, the glimmers of foolish yearning still burned alongside those other flames, like hot coals about to rekindle into flame.
No. She must not think that. Nor must she think of him. Graham. He had not always been Lord Haven. Once, he had been hers. Or so she had so recklessly believed…
Hannah jerked her eyes from him, turning her attention to her sisters as she struggled to maintain her composure. She was far wiser than she had been the last time she had seen the marquess. She was more experienced. More worldly.
Bitter and widowed.
She chased the unwanted acknowledgment from her mind. For yes, she was those things as well. The first thanks to Haven and her former husband both, and the last thanks only to her former husband. If Fawkesbury had not already been buried in his family plot, she would have urged him to accompany Haven in his swimming endeavors. Complete