Tempting Bella (Entangled Scandalous) (28 page)

“You are everything.”

She kissed his forehead, each of his closed eyes, his nose with urgency. “I love you, Sebastian. Please don’t withdraw from me.”

Her admission stunned him. She loved him? Even now? “How can you love me?”

She stood and removed her dressing gown. She wore nothing underneath, baring pale, glistening skin to his anguished gaze. Full breasts quivering, their rosy centers pert, the soft slope of her belly, the exotic tangle of curls that guarded her femininity. His ache moved from his heart to much lower.

She climbed into the tub with him. “How can I not love you? You make the world a better place to be in. You fill a hole in my soul in a way no one else ever has.”

Opening his arms, he pulled her to him, flattening her warm, soft breasts against his chest, kissing her long and hard—hot, wet, and openmouthed. Slipping inside of her with a smooth, easy stroke, they moved together in a sensuous rhythm. Making love to his wife, with no secrets left between them, was almost agonizing in its intensity.

In the presence of her life force, the hole inside of him began to fill, revealing his true self: the blood son of Cyrus Stanhope and the woman called Maria Theresa Alvarez; son of Matilda Stanhope’s heart; rightful brother to Cam, Edward, Will, and Basil. Even—as improbable as it was—the Count of Vallado. But most of all, he was the beloved of this woman who infused his ordinary existence with exuberance and light.

Shed of the constraints and assumptions of the past, he felt curiously light, as if a lifelong burden had lifted. And the realization came to him that for the first time in his life, he was free to carve out a destiny of his making.

His own man at last.

Chapter Seventeen

“Count Vallado had no other heirs. You may be quite certain he intended for you to inherit.”

Sebastian eyed the Spanish solicitor, who’d taken it upon himself to travel all the way out to Traherne Abbey to speak with him. “How can you be certain of that,
Señor
Trevino?”

“He recorded proof of your birth and retained the papers of your identity.”

Examining the documents Trevino had brought with him, Bella listened to their exchange from behind her father’s enormous mahogany desk and resisted the urge to sneeze. The air in the study was musty from lack of use. Although Traherne Abbey was the duke’s countryseat, His Grace was rarely in residence. Bella hadn’t wanted to visit either. Being in the empty old mausoleum dredged up unwelcome feelings of loneliness and abandonment she’d felt as a child growing up here. But Sebastian had insisted, saying it was their duty to visit the vast property. What he hadn’t explained was why he’d also insisted she wear her finest day dress this afternoon.

He looked splendid as well, dressing for whatever occasion he had in mind. His silver, tailored tailcoat stretched snug across his expansive shoulders and his blue waistcoat had subtle silver designs threaded through it.

“If Vallado had wanted me to inherit, why did he send me away while telling people I had perished along with my mother in childbirth?”

“He hoped to sire a son of his own,” Trevino said. “When his second wife failed to provide an heir, it became obvious the blame lay with him.”

“I have no interest in claiming what is not rightfully mine. Surely, there is a worthy distant relation who can take the title and do justice to it.”

“There is no one but you. The count knew this. He watched from afar and was impressed with your progress.”

“Watched me?”

“Yes, when it became clear he would have no more children, he attempted to reclaim you as his legal son, but
Señor
Stanhope refused.”

Pausing from her examination of the paperwork, Bella looked up with interest at this latest revelation. “The count wanted him back?

“When was this?” Sebastian asked.

“You were perhaps eleven and a fine child who excelled in all he attempted,” the solicitor said. “The count saw this and felt you would do credit to his title.”

“And Cyrus refused to send me? Why?”

“He insisted you were his son and no one else’s. He was quite firm that your place was with your true family.”

“I’d have thought Cyrus would jump at the chance to be rid of me. The more I learn about the man, the less I understand him.” He shook his head. “None of this makes any sense. How could Vallado desire for me to inherit his title when his blood does not run through my veins?”

“Ah, but it does. The count and your mother were first cousins. So, you see, the blood of the late Count Vallado—and of all the counts before him—does indeed run through your veins.”

“I thought I wedded a mere mister,” Bella said, “yet it seems you are even more noble that I.”

“Nonsense.” Sebastian shook his head and exhaled loudly. “Very well. If there is no one to whom this title should truly belong, I suppose I should become acquainted with my new responsibilities.”

Relief glimmered in
Señor
Trevino’s eyes. “If it suits you, I shall arrange for the count’s…er…your man of business to come meet with you when you are back in Town, my lord. Unless, of course, you plan an extended visit here in the country?”

“Not at all. We have one very important matter to attend to and then we shall travel back to Town. I shall see your man of business there.”

After the man was gone, Bella said, “One very important matter to attend to?”

A mischievous glint lit his eyes. “Indeed.”

“Which is?”

“I will tell you shortly.” He gestured toward the documents in front of her on the desk. “What have you learned?”

“There don’t appear to be any problems with the estate.”

“I am assured it is quite profitable,” he said morosely.

She laughed. “Most men would be grateful to have an entire earldom dropped into their lap.”

“It is not something I’ve earned, and I am not the rightful heir.”

“Legally, you are.” She rose from her seat and walked over to him. “And Vallado wanted you to inherit, likely because you were as close to a blood son as he was ever going to have.”

“I already have my hands full with Traherne and my own holdings.”

“Then it is just as well that you’ve given me a desk in Town and forced me to attend to Traherne matters.”

“Forced you, did I?” he asked with amusement, taking her hand in his large, warm grasp and guiding her out the door.

“Where are we going?”

“To attend to that very important matter.”

Which apparently required she be blindfolded during the carriage ride to wherever they were going. “At least tell me our destination.”

“That would negate the purpose of the blindfold, now wouldn’t it,” Sebastian’s voice answered from where he sat beside her in the forward-facing seat. “I told you it’s a surprise. Stop being so impatient.”

“The last time someone surprised me I ended up married.”

His chuckle sounded close to her ear. “And look how well that turned out.”

“Yes.” She smiled. “I doubt this surprise could surpass that.”

“We shall see.”

Impatient, she fidgeted with her blindfold. “Why must I wear my finest day dress if I’m not even to be allowed to know where we are going?”

His voice—low and full of intent—brushed against her ear. “You will know when you are meant to.”

Suppressing a shiver at the warm puff of his breath, she maintained a purposely petulant tone. “What if I don’t like it?”

“You will like it. I do know what appeals to you.” The carriage lurched to a stop. “We are here.”

She fingered the sides of the coach. “Am I supposed to step out of this carriage blindfolded?”

“Not at all.” She felt his fingers removing her blindfold and then he helped her alight. Squinting against the sudden infusion of light, she focused on the strong lines of Sebastian’s face.

Looking beyond him, she realized they stood in front of Traherne’s white stone chapel. A chill stole across her heart. This was the place where they had been married all of those years ago, before he had abandoned her. She had avoided it ever since.

She shot him a wary look. “What are we doing here?”

He grinned, a flash of white against his warm skin tones, that lone dimple creasing high on his right cheek. Swooping her off her feet, he carried Bella into the small structure with long, purposeful strides, not setting her down until they were inside the tiny vestibule.

Stepping forward into the chapel, Bella saw it was not at all as she remembered it. It had seemed so forbidding all those years ago, full of cold wood and hard edges. Now she saw the quaintness of its whitewashed stone walls and the solid wooden benches, which held so much of Traherne’s history within their sturdy confines.

She’d never seen so many flowers. Primroses, daffodils, cowslip, and cuckoo flowers—in every color—adorned the aisle, while an enormous arrangement graced the altar. Their scent, the lightly fragrant layered with darker spicier varieties, filled the air.

Tabby and Monty—Edgemont as they all knew now—had recently reached an understanding of their own, and stood at the altar with expectant smiles on their faces. “What are they doing here?” She turned to Sebastian. “What are
we
doing here?”

Her last words melted in her throat as Sebastian knelt on one knee and took her hand. “Miss Wentworth, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

A surge of tears tightened her chest. “Has it escaped your memory that we are already married?”

“I would like to do it properly this time, with Lady Tabitha and Edgemont as our witnesses. You would make me the most fortunate man alive if you’d consent to be my wife. Of your own accord.”

“Oh, do get up you silly man,” she cried, her heart exultant. Pulling him to his feet, she threw her arms around him and smattered kisses all over his face. “Yes, yes, of course I will marry you.”

Cupping her face with large strong hands, he gently brought his lips to hers. He kissed her long and slow, infusing it with all of his love and tenderness. She savored his sweet, masculine taste with its ever-present tanginess. She would never again partake of lemon without thinking of him.

Breaking the kiss, he spoke in a roughened voice that belied his emotion. “Come then, my love.”

Placing her hand on the solid curve of his forearm, he led her down the aisle to their friends, the waiting vicar, and the ceremony that would seal their fate together once and forever.

“I do,” she whispered as they neared the altar. “And I always will.”

Acknowledgments

I have to give special thanks to my friend, Megann Yaqub, for reading every possible version of this book through numerous edits and revisions. Although it is invisible to the reader, her influence is on many of these pages.

I’m grateful for the support and camaraderie I enjoy in the writing community, especially among my talented author friends at The Dashing Duchesses and Violet Femmes romance blogs.

An abundance of gratitude goes to the best editor in the business, Alethea Spiridon-Hopson, for her guidance and expertise, and also to the premier agent in publishing, Kevan Lyon, for her patience, business savvy and sound professional advice.

I’m fortunate to have a husband who picks up the slack (without being asked) when I’m facing a writing deadline and that my sons, Laith and Zach, don’t complain too much about Mom’s lack of attentiveness when she’s obsessively tapping away at her keyboard. I love you guys.

About the Author

Diana Quincy is an award-winning former television journalist who decided she’d rather make up stories where a happy ending is always guaranteed.

Her books revolve around the Regency world of dashing dukes, irresistible rogues and the headstrong women who capture their hearts. New York Times bestselling author Grace Burrowes called Diana’s debut novel,
Seducing Charlotte
, “Sweet, steamy, and thoroughly enjoyable.”

Growing up as a foreign-service brat, Diana lived in many countries and is now settled in Virginia with her husband and two sons. When not bent over her laptop or trying to keep up with laundry, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and dreams of traveling much more than her current schedule (and budget) allows.

Diana loves to hear from readers. You can keep up with her on Twitter, Facebook, and by visiting her website.

Tempting Bella
is the second book in Diana Quincy’s Accidental Peers series. Book 1, Cam and Charlotte’s story, is
Seducing Charlotte
:
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/seducing-charlotte/

Turn the page for a preview of the next book in the series,
Compromising Willa
, coming December 2013 from Scandalous.

Chapter One

Augustus Manning sat by the sickbed waiting for his father to die.

The air was humid with the rancid scents of illness and impending death. Closed velvet curtains rebuffed the afternoon light, cloaking the chamber in long shadows. The earl’s labored breathing punctured the silence. He sucked in gasping breaths, as though determined to fight off the inevitable for as long as possible. Stubborn to the end.

Suppressing an impatient sigh, Augustus wondered how much longer his father would linger. He’d waited four interminable years for the old man’s frail heart to stutter to its final beat.