Scandal (22 page)
Authors: Pamela Britton
“You’re a bit of a fool, ain’t you?” the maiden asked the prince. “Only a fool for love,” he answered, taking her hand and leading her away. “One who believes in happily ever afters.”
Three years later the duke of Wroxly paced the length of his study like a stallion in a stall, at least that’s what Anna thought, having recently seen one of her cousin-in-law’s horses do that very thing.
“Rein, settle down.”
“I cannot help myself,” he said, turning on the yellow and off-white carpet to head back in the other direction.
“He will be done when he is done,” she said.
“Yes, but what is taking so long?”
“These things take time.”
“Too much time,” she thought she heard him mumble.
Anna bit back a smile. Since the moment she’d suggested summoning their visitor, Rein had been like this—floating between fear and fits as he waited for the man to arrive, and then to do his interview.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come,” Rein answered.
Anna turned from her position on a settee to see James, their butler, bow in their direction. After all these years she still found it odd that she had a butler. Lord above, when Molly Stills and her husband came for visits, they laughed themselves silly over it all.
“Mr. Dench,” James announced.
Anna reclined back in the chair, certain what the renowned Mr. Dench would say. She’d always been certain. It was why she’d summoned him—for Rein’s sake she’d wanted the man to confirm what she already knew.
“Well?” Rein asked the bald-headed man.
There came to the man’s face a wide smile. “I’ve no idea what made you think your child might lack intelligence, Your Grace. He is easily months ahead of those his age.”
Anna looked at Rein just in time to see his shoulders relax, to see him turn away. Only those who knew him well would know what it was he tried to conceal—relief, and, when he looked at her, gratitude.
“I have always said Connor was bright,” she said with a small smile.
“Very bright, Your Grace,” the man said. “Were I you, I would start him early at his studies.” The man launched into lesson plans, work schedules and the like. Rein kept his back turned the whole time. Anna knew it wasn’t disinterest that made him do so. He didn’t want the professor to see the tears in his eyes as one of his worst fears—that his child would be slow to learn and thus persecuted as Rein had been as a child—began to fade away at last. Only when Mr. Dench left did he turn toward her, Anna’s lips tilting into a wide smile as she spied the relief in his eyes.
“Do you feel better now?” she asked, walking toward him.
He didn’t move.
“Rein?”
He turned. There were, indeed, tears in his eyes.
“Oh, Rein.”
He opened his arms. She went into them, resting her head against his chest. Those arms had sheltered her through so many storms: her first, frightening year of living among the
ton,
her grandfather’s illness, though that was easier to bear now that she had help.
“You know I’d love Connor no matter what his intelligence,” Rein said.
And he did love Connor. Rein was so wonderful with his son that Anna blessed her good fortune in finding such a man every day of her life.
“But this has made me realize how blessed we are,” he continued. “Truly blessed.”
“Aye,” she said, using the word from her past with ease. She did that at the drop of a hat, and Rein marveled at her ability to keep her two halves straight. Society had never learned the secret of her past, and they had taken great pains to ensure that Anna’s life as a market maid was well concealed. No one would ever know the truth.
He squeezed her one last time, then pulled back, staring into her beautiful eyes. He’d been called by more than one of his fellow noblemen a lucky bastard for winning Anna’s heart, no one the wiser that they’d been secretly engaged since the very first night she’d burst upon the London
ton
like a rare and dazzling gem, untouchable by all but one.
He was that one. He would always be her one.
“I love you,” she said.
“As do I,” he answered back, tipping his head down to kiss her lightly on the lips, and as he did, he marveled at how the way each time felt the same as the first time. Perfect. Amazing. Special.
She pulled back, resting her head against his heart. “We must depart soon,” she said on a disappointed sigh.
“What? Does not the thought of seeing a ship launched that is based upon a design
you
drew, hoisting sails you invented, fill you with anticipation?”
She tipped her head back, the expression on her face one of absolute seriousness. “Not as much anticipation as the thought of taking my pleasure with you.”
He lifted his brows, murmuring, “Indeed?”
“Right here, in this drawing room.” And now her lips lifted in a sultry smile. “Unless, of course, you worry about scandalizing our staff.”
“My dear duchess, have you not learned I live for a good scandal?”
“Ach, now, gov,” she teased in her St. Giles accent. “I’m thinkin’ I might know a thing or two that may still scandalize the likes o’ you.”
“Indeed?” he asked again.
Anna nodded, loving the way his eyes began to slant down in that heavy-lidded look she knew meant her words aroused him. “I believe I should like to see you try,” he said softly.
And so she did, and Anna was to think a long while later that she had likely succeeded. And then later that day, as she watched the launching of a ship that she had designed, she was to think life could not get much better. And then later that year, as she held their second child in her arms, she was to think that, incredibly, life
could
get better.
There was nothing to fear, was there, my darling daughter?
Anna tipped her head back and looked into a starry sky, her newborn daughter held in her own arms, a daughter she’d named in honor of her mother.
No, Mama, there wasn’t.
Three-sided sails first came into use in 1824. Unfortunately, they never caught on with the Navy. They did, however, find favor with merchant service. And while I never did discover who first came up with the idea, I’d like to think it might well have been a woman.
For those of you interested in ships and their rigging,
Seamanship in the Age of Sail
by John Harland has been invaluable to me while writing two of my books,
My Fallen Angel
and now
Scandal
. And while the idea of a naval competition was strictly my own, its roots are based in having watched and enjoyed
Longitude
on PBS.
Pamela Britton
was born to tell stories as evidenced by her ability to convince her three-year-old daughter that she is the singing voice of Ariel from
The Little Mermaid,
and that King Triton is her very best friend.
When she’s not tormenting her family with her voice, Pamela creates caffeine-induced stories that have won her numerous accolades over the years, including a nomination from
Romance Writers of America
for their Golden Heart and the title of Best Paranormal romance of 2000 from
Affaire de Coeur
magazine. Recently, Pamela’s first book for Warner,
Seduced,
was voted as one of the top ten best romances of 2003 by the staff of BarnesandNoble.com and The Oakland Press.
Seduced
also won a Reviewer’s Choice award from
Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine.
Pamela feels privileged to write full-time from her ranch in Northern California. She enjoys riding, hiking and singing along to Disney tunes (very big grin). Alas, one day her daughter will reason out that she is
not
the voice of Ariel. Until then she plans on milking it for all it’s worth.
You may contact Pamela c/o P.O. Box 1281, Anderson, CA 96007, or on her web site at
www.pamelabritton.com
Dear Reader,
Everyone needs a little help from their friends—just ask the Beatles. But what happens when your innocent gesture gets you into more delicious trouble than you ever could have dreamed? Jump into SCANDAL and CHARMED AND DANGEROUS, our two Warner Forever titles this July.
Amanda Quick raves, “
Pamela Britton
writes the kind of wonderfully romantic, sexy, witty historical romance that readers dream of discovering.” Well, open your eyes Sleeping Beauty—your dreams are about to get even better! Rein Montgomery, the Duke of Wroxly, is being held prisoner of his late uncle’s will. He must survive without his wealth or title in the meanest of London streets for one month or lose his entire fortune. Confident that he can charm any woman into doing his bidding, Rein sets his sights on Anna, a captivating market girl… but he never expected such a struggle. Though she offers him shelter for a night, Anna has no intention of letting this dashing stranger into her bed. After all, she may not be a well-bred lady, but she’s hardly going to fall over with her muslin skirts in the air. But as Rein’s defenses come down, Anna can’t help but succumb to him. She knows better than to think he’ll stay forever… but when he does leave, will he take her heart?
Journeying from the desire and deceit of securing an inheritance to the intrigue and exhaustion of trailing a thief, we present
Lori Wilde
’s
CHARMED AND DANGEROUS
.
Romantic Times
calls Lori’s last book “sexy and a hoot” so grab your passport—her next book is out and you’re in for the ride of your life! Dependable Maddie Cooper has spent her life cleaning up the messes left in her twin sister, Cassie’s wake. So when FBI agent David Marshall pops into her life, she can’t help but sigh—Cassie’s done it again. But little does Maddie know that her calm life is about to hit turbulence. Hot on the trail of an international art thief who just happens to be Cassie’s newest boyfriend, David enlisted Cassie’s help to catch him. But Cassie has disappeared, a painting is missing and Maddie is madder than hell. Determined to find her sister, Maddie is sticking to David like a bad suit. From the Caribbean to Paris, Madrid to Venice, Maddie and David search high and low for Cassie… and find love along the way.
To find out more about Warner Forever, these July titles, and the author, visit us at
www.warnerforever.com
.
With warmest wishes,
Karen Kosztolnyik, Senior Editor
P.S. The dog days of summer are here so why go outside? Crank up your A.C. and curl up with these two reasons to hope for a heat wave:
Susan Crandall
pens the poign-ant story of a man who’s haunted by the death of an army buddy… only to find himself falling in love with his friend’s wife in
MAGNOLIA SKY
; and
Julie Anne Long
delivers the touching story of a woman who’s so desperate to escape her impending wedding that she runs for the countryside with the family groomsman in
THE RUNAWAY DUKE
.