An Extraordinary Flirtation (27 page)

Her hair had escaped its pins to tangle on her shoulders. He wound a ringlet around his finger. “I don’t want you to think. That’s what got us in trouble before. Just trust your feelings. Trust me.”

Cara leaned away just a little bit, so she could look into his eyes. “There was a note delivered earlier today. From Lucasta Clitheroe. Or Lady Fenton, I suppose I should say. She heard I’d returned to town, and she wanted me to know—Oh, Nicky, she admitted that she’d lied."

Damned right her ladyship had lied, although she’d been reluctant to confess until Nick pointed out that Lord Fenton might not be best pleased to learn about their one-time affair. Let alone the other affairs she had enjoyed during the course of her marriage. “I am, of course, far too much the gentleman to say I told you so.”

“You’re not a gentleman at all.” However, Cara made no attempt to move the hand that was stroking up her calf. “I married Norwood because I was afraid, Nicky.” She took a deep breath. “I still am.”

His hand on her calf stilled. “Of me? Don’t be. Cara, I love you.”

He loved her? Well, of course he loved her. Tears filled her eyes. “No, of myself. I
hit
you, Nicky. Twice.”

“Perhaps I deserved it.” He tugged on her ringlet. “I have not behaved especially well.”

And she had? Cara shook her head. “You didn’t deserve it, and I knew it.
And
I bloodied Paul Anderley’s nose as well, even though I don’t care about him one little bit.”

Nick wondered where this was going. “Are you telling me you wish to bloody my nose?”

“I’m trying to tell you that I
don’t.
Nicky, if we were truly together, and some other woman caught your eye, I might well murder you!”

Nick caught an errant teardrop on his fingertip. “You may murder me with my blessing,
cara,
if some other woman ever takes my eye.”

Cara regarded him dubiously. “Gentlemen are known to have their mistresses. Look at Beau.”

She had relaxed a little bit. Nick’s hand continued its lazy journey toward her knee. “Loversalls have mistresses. I am not a Loversall. The shoe should be on the other foot. I should be worrying about you.”

“As if I would ever—” She leaned her forehead against his. “I take your point. I am being a ninny, am I not?”

“You are being adorable.” Past the knee now, to the thigh. “What
do
you want, Cara?”

The blasted man knew what she wanted. Her skin trembled beneath his touch. Trembled and twitched and grew prodigiously warm. That the marquess was suffering similar symptoms was apparent. She
was
sitting on his lap.

Cara leaned forward, and loosened his neck-cloth. “I want all I’ve ever wanted. Just to be with you.” She brushed her lips across his. “And it occurs to me that you are no longer betrothed.”

First his neck-cloth, then his waistcoat. Now Cara was making quick work of the buttons on his shirt. “Not that I would want to stop you, but the others are just outside in the garden,” Nick murmured.

“The devil with the others!” retorted Cara. “As everyone keeps reminding me, I am a Loversall.” Then her fingers moved to the fastenings of his breeches, and Nick decided he didn’t care if they had the entire British Navy with them in the room. He slid his hand up past Cara’s thigh to clasp her fine
derrière.

Cara shifted her weight until she was straddling him. He caught her by the waist and held her there. “Much as I dislike to admit it,” he murmured, “Zoe did have a good idea.”

“What idea?” Cara’s hands moved to the buttons of her bodice. “Ravishment, perhaps?”

How the devil could she think he’d ever want another woman? Cantalope. Grapefruit. Plump casaba melons topped with luscious berries. “Um. That, too. But I meant the special license. We might retire to the country for a time until another scandal takes the place of ours.” He lowered her, just a little bit. “I have several gardens that you might like to tend.”

She wriggled, she pouted, she nibbled at his ear. He refused to release her. “Are you blackmailing me, my lord?”

“I am.” And damned hard it was on a man. “Marry me, my love.”

“I suppose I must if you are going to be so cruel. I do love you, Nicky. Madly. Passionately. With all my soul. And—mercy, you’re killing me! No, no, don’t ever stop!”

Lord Mannering and Lady Norwood were married soon thereafter, by means of a special license, which his lordship obtained, through his considerable influence, in an amazingly short time. Although some spiteful comments were made about the marquess’s recent betrothal to his marchioness’s niece, this minor detail was largely overlooked in light of the family to which both ladies belonged, in no time at all Lord and Lady Mannering’s gardening efforts produced not one heir but two, putting to rest any question of his lordship’s virility, despite his advanced age, and causing his nephew Colin considerable relief.

Following the wedding ceremony, Colin returned gratefully to his studies; Baron Fitzrichard escorted Ianthe and her Cousin Wilhelmina to Brighton, where he set a trend for colored cravats and matching scented handkerchiefs, and Ianthe soon became a favorite of the Prince Regent’s set, most especially a pair of dashing Georgian dukes; and Beau set out with his daughter and three of his favorite mistresses on an extended inspection of the war-torn Continent, which they all enjoyed very much.

The Sophora japonica, despite all expectations, thrived, and in time grew to be a most impressive seventy-five feet tall.

And yes, it
is
possible to make love on horseback, though not advisable to attempt the business in Hyde Park.

Copyright © 2004 by Maggie MacKeever

Originally published by Zebra Regency (ISBN 0821771900)

Electronically published in 2007 by Belgrave House

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

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.