She gave a jerky nod. “Of course. It is unfortunate that we must wait until the grandduchess is gone from England before I might safely jilt you, but—”
“Caro, I have been the greatest of fools these six years.”
Her started gaze flew to his face. “My lord?”
He smiled somewhat twistedly. “I do not wish to be jilted, my lady.”
“Do you not?”
The earl lifted one hand to touch her face. His fingers trembled. “When I think of the wasted years, Caro . . . Sinjin was right: someone should have married you years ago.”
Lady Caroline was held by the expression in the earl’s eyes, and the tightness about her heart began to loosen. Suddenly she felt herself to be winging back in time to her first Season. Her pulses tumbled erratically. “Yes, someone really should have.”
The earl slowly narrowed the distance between them. His lips touched hers tentatively. He drew back a little. “I have grown attached to our engagement, Lady Caroline.”
“Have you indeed, my lord?” she asked breathlessly.
Suddenly she was crushed in his arms. He kissed her thoroughly, with a hunger that had been denied for too long. Lady Caroline returned the earl’s passion with fervor, laughing and crying at once.
When he at last released her, her eyes glowed with the blaze of a thousand candles. “What means this ungentlemanly display, my lord?”
Lord Trilby slanted a brow. “I should have known you would demand your pound, my lady.” She but laughed and shook her head.
Lady Caroline would have returned to his arms then, but he held her away a bit longer. His voice deep and somber, he said, “I love you most earnestly and with all my heart, my lady. I have used you abominably, I know, and I am unforgivably behindtimes. But despite it all, will you accept my suit?”
“What of your fears, my lord?”
“I fear more your rejection, Caro.”
“I could not possibly spurn you, my lord, for I have loved you quite hopelessly for too many years. It is a wretched habit that I shall never be free of, I fear.”
The Earl of Walmesley directed a heart-stopping glance at her and caught her up in his arms at last.
Copyright © 1992 by Gayle Buck
Originally published by Signet (ISBN 0451172353)
Electronically published in 2009 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228
http://www.RegencyReads.com
Electronic sales: ebooks@regencyreads.com
This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.
Table of Contents
THE HIDDEN HEART
Gayle Buck
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine