The Captive Duke, page 34
Her consternation at this realization was immeasurable, a complete departure from what she’d believed herself to be, and yet, she’d take up that whip against Marcus in the next instant if given the chance again.
“You took a few swats with a horsewhip at a man who deserved far worse. While I understand you are uncomfortable with having done violence to Marcus’s person, don’t you think his instructions to his solicitors were left in such a way as to cast the gravest suspicion on you when Greendale died? You prevailed, Gilly. Against Greendale, against his heir, and against all the demons haunting me, and even those haunting my daughter. You won.” He scooped her into his lap and held her close. “My duchess must be proud of her victories, as I am proud of her.”
“I almost do feel p-proud,” she said. “Marcus would have killed you. He nearly did, and I was almost too late, and, oh, God, he killed Helene, and all for a stupid t-title. I love you. I love you so, and Marcus has been trying to have you killed for so l-long.”
She sobbed into his neck, holding on to him as if she were drowning, wetting his shirt and telling him over and over she loved him. When he carried her to the bed, she tore his clothes from him and had him naked on his back in moments.
A lady who will fight for her love will fight for her pleasure, too.
Then his will prevailed, by degrees, until they were savoring each other and speaking in whispers and sighs between the times when their bodies spoke in silence.
She wanted a quiet wedding; he wanted St. George’s with all the trimmings.
She wanted to wait until spring out of respect for Helene and Evan. He wanted their vows said the day after the banns had been cried for the third time.
She wanted to remove to Severn immediately; he wanted to flaunt her on his arm before every hostess and title in Town.
They did not argue, though. They talked, they listened, they even tussled a time or two, though into the dawn and for the rest of their lives, most of all, they loved.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes hit the bestseller lists with her debut, The Heir, followed by The Soldier, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, and Lady Eve’s Indiscretion. The Heir was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a Publishers Weekly Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid, the first in her trilogy of Scotland-set Victorian romances, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2012. All of her Regency and Victorian romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Darius, the first in her groundbreaking Regency series The Lonely Lords, was named one of iBookstores Best Romances of 2013.
Grace is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached through her website at graceburrowes.com.
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Grace Burrowes, The Captive Duke
