Her Beguiling Butler (20 page)
Read Her Beguiling Butler Online
Authors: Cerise Deland
She could not speak for the delirious expectation rushing through her blood.
He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad the workmen could not begin sooner. It gives me a chance to show you what it might become. In flux as it is, the house could be anything you want.”
Anything I want.
“Alicia, I’ve never lived in a house built on love. But I’d like to build this one into a home with you.” He searched her eyes. “I love you, darling. I have from the first minute I saw you and I was to be your servant, your underling, unworthy of your consideration. But somehow you saw past that. You are visionary, darling. And yes, I love you. Impetuous, impatient you. I love you and I want to live my life with you here. If you’ll have me, I promise to be prompt with my answers, tender in my devotion and easy to love. Will you marry me?”
She swallowed hard and hugged him, then threw back her head to grin at him. “Could you doubt it?”
His brows shot high. “Yes, actually, I could.”
She kissed him quickly, madly, her hands in his hair. “Might I choose the architect?”
“I hope so.”
“The furniture?”
“Please do.”
“The paint? The rugs. The sconces.”
“Wallpaper from Macao. You’ll like it. I ordered it down from my warehouse in London yesterday.”
She licked her lips. “Marvelous. Gas light, too, I think, don’t you?”
He chuckled and picked her up and swung her around. “Light the place up. Do it, please, with the best so as not to burn it down again.”
“No. Never. And running water. Drains. Cisterns on the roof for every bathing room.”
“A large porcelain tub for the master suite,” he said with hot intent in his gaze.
She kissed him again. And whirled around toward the garden. “I see the roses over there.”
He settled her back against him and nuzzled the curve of her throat.
“And a conservatory for flowers in the winter.”
He pressed her against him, and his desire rose, apparent to her so that she grew light headed in his embrace. “I love you.”
“And do you consider my proposal a good one?”
“I do.” She flung her arms around him and rose on her toes. “My Finn, Finnley, Wallace, Beaumont. My lover. My husband.”
He kissed her then as if she were made of glass and then as if she were made of molten iron.
She giggled. “Might you have a license?”
“I can have the footman run to acquire one this very afternoon.”
She surged close to him and whispered, “I want to marry you soon. Tomorrow.”
He chuckled. “I will arrange that.”
“We could have Lady Snaggle and Lord Lullaby witness the event.”
He roared in laughter. “Snaggle and Lullaby?”
She was sheepish at her criticism. “I shouldn’t.”
“But you are with me and when you are, you must be natural. Spontaneous.”
“I promise.” She kissed him again, delirious with happiness. “And so must you be with me.”
“Always.”
She snuggled close to him, her head against his massive chest listening to his drumming heartbeat. But then she pulled back to grin at him. “When do you think the house might be ready for us?”
“As quickly as you make up your mind about décor,” he said.
“Hmm. Yes, because such a large house will require a number of excellent servants.”
He stared at her. “Bring yours.”
“I could. They are excellent and will need employment. But sadly—“ She toyed with a button on his waistcoat.
He barked in laughter. “What?”
“We’ll need a butler. Do you know of anyone we might hire?”
He pressed her to the wall, a hand braced above her and kissed her with a passion she had so long missed. “No.”
THE END
His Tempting Governess, Book 2
Delightful Doings in Dudley Crescent
At Number 18, Baldwin Summers, the Earl of Cartwell, deals with three problems in his house. At thirty-six, he’s changed. He recently pensioned off his two mistresses. He’s tired of gambling as well. He’s won land and houses and fortunes far too often, and to be frank, the thrill is gone. He’s oddly enticed now by the lure of managing them.
Then too, he’s had thrust upon him quite suddenly his best friend’s eight-year-old daughter. The child is a terror and needs a firm hand. With no idea how to mold her into a socially acceptable creature, he hires a governess.
However, that woman presents his most pressing problem. She enchants his ward. But she’s beguiling him as well. And it’s a wonder because she’s so very…odd. She recites Latin like Cicero, defeats him every time at chess—and dances. Nightly. In his drawing room. Alone.
He cannot ignore her. He cannot control her. Worse, he cannot quell his mad desire to kiss her.
But can he offend the
ton
and do what he really wants?
Can he make her more than his governess?
And would such a bluestocking deign to become his countess?
Coming soon afterward~
His Naughty Maid, Book 3
Delightful Doings in Dudley Crescent
A Note to Readers about Dudley Crescent!
Dear Readers,
You won’t find Dudley Crescent on any London map. The place, the delightful doings are only in my mind. For those perambulations, I do hope you return for more and more. And if you wish to see how I make my historical novels accurate—and more intriguing than your old high school history class, do visit my blog where I give you tidbits about my travels and my research into fashion and food, real life to-die-for heroes of old and ladies worthy of passionate lovers!
Happy adventures in reading,
Cerise
Regencies
THE STANHOPE CHALLENGE, Regency Quartet, box set
4 Brothers, 4 Love Affairs, 1 Family Curse!
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Regency Romp Series:
Lady Varney’s Risquè Business, #1
Rendezvous with a Duke, #2
Masquerade with a Marquess, #3
Interlude with a Baron, #4
Erotic Regencies:
Lady Starling’s Stockings
His Delectable Cook
Sense and Sensibility
Cerise DeLand is #1 Bestselling Regency author of spicy romances starring dashing heroes and the sassy women they adore. And when she creates modern men, she does wild cowboys, cool SEALs and alpha CEOs who melt your heart.
Delightful Doings in Dudley Crescent, Book #1
by Cerise DeLand
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