Lady Guinevere and the Rogue with a Brogue - Julie Johnstone Page 0,115
our lifetime?” she asked, finding it hard to concentrate with the heavenly friction he was creating within her.
“I do,” he replied, increasing his pace so that she had to clench her teeth not to scream with pleasure. “And I welcome every one of them if they are settled like this.”
That, she decided, was a most excellent way to look at things.
Epilogue
One Month Later
“Ladies!” Guinevere said, having to raise her voice over the chatter of women in her husband’s study. When no one responded, she rapped a book upon Asher’s desk, which elicited an amused smile from her husband, who stood quietly by his closed study door. She had to smack the book against the wood once more to get everyone’s attention. Once all eyes were turned to her, she said, “Let us bring the meeting of the Society of Ladies Against Rogues to order.”
Nods were the collective returning answer.
“The first order of business,” Lilias, who was Guinevere’s second-in-command, read, “is the introduction of our newest member. Please stand, Lady Constantine, and tell us all who you are.”
“We all already know her,” Guinevere chided Lilias, who was awfully distracted tonight.
“That’s quite all right,” Lady Constantine murmured and stood.
Frederica raised her hand, and before Guinevere could stop her often well-meaning but nosy sister, Frederica said, “Do you have experience with rogues?”
“Heaps,” Lady Constantine said. “With one.”
“With whom?” Frederica demanded.
“That’s enough, Freddy,” Vivian said, slanting Lady Constantine a look of apology.
“Fine,” their younger sister grumbled. “I shall move on. I have spotted a long absent dangerous rogue in Town that we will need to keep an eye on, if his past is any indication.”
Everyone looked questioningly at one another.
“Who?” Guinevere asked.
“The new Duke of Greybourne!” Frederica exclaimed. “I saw him in Town earlier today in a kilt!”
Guinevere glanced at Lilias, who looked awfully pale. Lilias rose slowly and said, “I just recalled that my mother wanted me home early.” Without waiting for anyone to reply, Lilias was out the door and gone.
Guinevere bit her lip with worry for Lilias. No doubt, the news of Greybourne’s return had put her friend in instant turmoil. Before her mind could delve deeper into those thoughts, Asher cocked an eyebrow at her, reminding her of the business she had yet to bring up.
“Ladies,” she shouted over the uproar Lilias’s sudden departure had caused. “I have one more order of new business.”
“What is that?” Vivian asked.
Guinevere caught Asher’s eyes and smiled. “I’d like to propose Carrington as an honorary member for when circumstances are desperate.”
“He is not a lady!” Frederica bellowed.
Asher chuckled at that. Thank goodness he was already used to Frederica’s blunt ways and did not take offense.
“Nay,” Asher said, stepping forward. “But my wife tells me I am a reformed rogue, and she thinks yer society might have need of me if the situation could put yer reputations in danger. Let me help protect each of ye.”
Guinevere beamed at him. It had been his strong suggestion, and they’d had quite a row over his needless worry, but when he put it so gallantly, she was no longer feeling so disagreeable. He had quite bamboozled her, she decided, listening to him chat with the now-eager women, and he was now bamboozling them. It was the brogue, she concluded. It was entirely impossible to resist this particular rogue with a brogue.
Once the meeting was over, she did not even have to turn to him. He took her hand, and when he had her out of the room and in the corridor, he said, “Close yer eyes.”
She could not imagine what he was about, but she did as she was told. He led her through the main parlor, or so she thought by the way her shoes clacked against the floor, and then outside. She gave a little gasp of surprise when he swept her off her feet, climbed some stairs, by the feel of it, and deposited her on a seat that creaked like a carriage.
“Are we leaving?” she asked.
“Aye.”
“But I did not say goodbye.”
His lips pressed against hers. “It’s all right, mo chridhe. I told them my plans before ye came into the room earlier.”
“Oh, you devil!”
“Aye.”
“Can I open my eyes now?”
“Nay.”
And then his hands came to her face, and she felt the slide of silk over her eyes. “Are you blindfolding me?”
“Aye. We have not gotten to the club to fulfill my fantasy, and this seemed a good alternative.”
The thrill grew stronger. “You don’t mean to say you want to—”