The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,90
kissed him with all the love she felt, all the joy she now allowed and all the hope she could finally let in after everything they’d gone through. And as he pulled her closer, she knew that would be the rest of her days. No matter what came.
Epilogue
The ring, when Nicholas later produced it, was the most beautiful thing Aurora had ever seen. She couldn’t help but keep looking at it as they gathered with their friends in Robert and Katherine’s parlor. It was a joyful party, for not only were they celebrating the engagement, but that the case involving Imogen was solved.
“She’ll be free to return to her life within a few days,” Willowby said. “I know she is anxious to see you.”
“And I her,” Aurora said, finally able to look away from that sparkling ring. “Thank you for all your help when it came to her.”
“It was our distinct pleasure,” Diana said. “And congratulations on your engagement.”
The couple smiled and then peeled away to join Robert and Katherine, who stood with Aurora’s brother, her beaming mother and Bertrand Gillingham. While Nicholas’s father didn’t look entirely comfortable being included as a guest at this gathering, she could tell he was as pleased as any of the rest for his son’s joy.
“They look happy for us,” Nicholas said when they were alone and she realized his gaze had followed hers.
“They are,” she said. “My father may have been a cruel arse, but my mother and my brother approve of us.” Her smile faltered. “Even though the scandal I created and the one furthered by what happened at Fitzhugh’s club has made their own situation all the harder.”
“I’ll help them,” Nicholas said. “I promise.”
She glanced at him. “I know you will.”
“I’m probably the only Roseford bastard who actually invested their settlement,” Nicholas said with a laugh. “And I am happy to share it with your family.”
“Our family.” She smiled up at him and found him watching her as he always watched her, with deep and abiding love. With protection and respect. With everything she had ever dreamed of, and more than she ever could have hoped for.
“Only a few more weeks until the wedding.” he said.
She nodded. “It’s been a very long time coming.”
He smiled, that bright smile that took years and pain from his countenance. The smile she wished to keep on his face every day for the rest of their days. “It was,” he agreed. “But our future starts today. And the next and the next.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, and then leaned up to kiss him.
The Duke’s By-Blows
Enjoy and Excerpt of Book 4, The Redemption of a Rogue
Excerpt of The Redemption of a Rogue
The Duke’s By-Blows Book 4
“Wait here,” Oscar said.
“Yes, Mr. Fitzhugh,” Bentley said softly, his gaze darting away with something suspiciously like pity.
Oscar’s stomach clenched at the sight. No one fucking pitied him. Even when he was pitiable. He stepped forward, ready to sneak through the unlocked back door to the place. He’d been banned from official entrance months ago. But this entrance allowed him to sneak in and blend in. Another faceless man in a sea of faceless men there to take their pleasure. Take advantage.
But before he could open the door, it flew out toward him. He stepped back, just barely missing being cracked in the face and opened his arms to regain his balance. Which allowed the woman who had thrown the door wide and now raced from the darkened, smoky hall to collide directly into his chest.
Oscar closed his arms around her, a natural reaction to keep them both from depositing themselves on the dirty ground. The moment he did so, she began to thrash, tugging to escape him.
He was about to release her when she cried out, “No, please! Don’t! They’ll kill me! Don’t!!”
He froze at those words. How many months had he come here, searching for some proof that nefarious things were happening within these walls? Dark and desperate things like murder.
And now this slender reed of a woman all but shouted that proof in his face. The extremely beautiful and terrified face that now turned up toward his. His heart stuttered at the abject terror reflected in a remarkable pair of amber eyes. Almost like a cat or a bird, they were so lovely.
“What is going on, miss?” he snapped out, perhaps more harshly than he intended thanks to the shock of her crash into his chest, her pointed words and her lovely eyes.