“It was far better if the murderer believed I had no interest in you beyond your skills at organizing the household,” Thayne continued. “I should have explained, I realize that now. But frankly it never occurred to me. It’s the way I was brought up. A man protects his woman, he does not confide in her. I was wrong—”
“Stop!” I held up my hand, as I studied the shadowed planes of his craggy face, not more than a foot away. “Did you actually say you knew I could not love you as you loved me?”
“I believe I did,” he returned cautiously.
“Did you mean it? You actually loved me through the eleven years before you invited me here?”
“I did.” The words were a vow, without a quaver of uncertainty.
“Then we are both fools,” I told him, “for I have loved you just as long. “And,” I added, “just as painfully.”
Thayne found my hands and clasped them tight. He bent his forehead to mine. Wherever he touched, I burned.
“Will you accept such a terrible sinner as your husband?”
“A moot point, is it not?”
A chuckle came out of the darkness, his breath warm against my lips. “How very fortunate I was to snabble you up before you discovered what a reprobate I am.”
I let silence stretch between us, warm and wonderful, filling the emptiness inside me. Banishing doubts, loneliness, despair.
“Thayne,” I said at last, “is March nine months from Mid-summer’s Eve?”
He nibbled behind my ear. “Yes,” he responded absently as he placed little kisses down the side of my neck. “Why?”
“Oh, good. Less than eight months until Ross can be relieved of his secret burden.”
Thayne’s lips abandoned my neck. “Serena?”
“The Solstice might have been a belated wedding night, but it was–ah–rather thorough, I believe.”
“You minx!” he chortled and gathered me into his arms. “Madly desirable, skilled in housewifery, and fertile. What more could a man want?”
I’d settle for madly desirable. And told him so.
For the next several hours the Lord of Falconfell proceeded to demonstrate his newfound enthusiasm for marriage.
As predawn lit the Northumberland sky, I glowed in the certainty that I would be the last bride of Falconfell until the time came for our son—Thayne’s and mine—to choose the next.
~ * * * ~
About the Author:
Believing variety is the spice of life, I also write Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Steampunk, and Futuristic. (Below is a list of my books currently available. My Futuristic Paranormal series, Blue Moon Rising, will debut in 2014.)
The Golden Beach (GB)books are not a classic series. Some have connected characters; others, only a connected setting, a very real Florida Gulfcoast resort and retirement community whose name has been changed because the residents would like to keep its uniqueness a deep, dark secret.
I am always delighted to hear from my readers. I can be contacted at blairbancroft@aol.com. My website is http://www.blairbancroft.com/. My blog: http://mosaicmoments.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @blairbancroft
Blair’s books currently online:
The Regency Warrior Series (in order)
The Sometime Bride
Tarleton’s Wife
O’Rourke’s Heiress
Other Regencies & Historicals
Brides of Falconfell
Lady of the Lock
The Last Surprise
Airborne - The Hanover Restoration
Mistletoe Moment
The Captive Heiress (medieval)
The Courtesan’s Letters
The Temporary Earl
The Harem Bride
A Season for Love
A Gamble on Love
Lady Silence
Steeplechase
Romantic Suspense, Thrillers & Mystery
Florida Wild (January 2014)
The Art of Evil (coming soon)
Death by Marriage (GB)
Limbo Man
Orange Blossoms & Mayhem (GB)
Paradise Burning (GB)
Shadowed Paradise (GB)
Contemporary Romance
Florida Knight (GB)
Love At Your Own Risk