The Desires of a Countess (36 page)

She gave him a relieved smile. If Noah could
complain, he was fine. “You’re out of practice.”

He shot her a look that assured her he wasn’t
appeased as he brought a hand up to the lump in his head. “I was a
very good spy.”

Ginny took him in her arms and hugged him with all
her might. “And an even better brother. Thank you, Noah. Thank you
for coming after me even after my horrible letter.”

Noah squeezed her back. “None of us intended to give
up on you. No matter what you said to try to protect us.” Releasing
her, he turned her around to face Simon and gave her a little
shove. “None of us. Now I’m going to go throw up and see if that
innkeeper’s wife has an icehouse.” As he hobbled to the door, he
added, “I’ll also make the explanations about why there’s a dead
man in the stable.”

But Ginny hardly heard him as she stepped up to
Simon and touched his face. He bent his head to take her lips with
his, but she pushed him away slightly.

“Before you kiss me, before we say all the things we
want to say with our bodies, I have to apologize.” He shook his
head, but she covered his lips with her fingertips. “No, I need to
say this.”

Simon kissed her fingers with a nod and the
sensation shot up her arm and filled her with a warmth that made it
hard to concentrate.

“I told you the things I did a few nights ago
because Robert was blackmailing me.”

“I know,” Simon whispered as he tried to draw her
closer. She knew she’d be lost if he kissed her and pulled
back.

“He had manufactured evidence and said he would
implicate you in Henry’s murder. Worse, that he’d make sure Jack
ended up being raised by Cordelia. I believed I had no choice but
to do as he ordered and push you away. But as soon as I realized I
might be carrying your child, I knew I had to find you. I would
never have kept you from the baby, Simon. Ever. I promised you that
before and I meant it.” She drew in a short breath at the way his
eyes softened with love and understanding. “And I lied that night.
I do love you with all my heart.”

“I wanted to die when you told me you didn’t want
anything to do with me,” Simon said as he drew her against his
chest. “But when your brother and I discovered the truth, I knew
that what I’d felt from you was real.”

With a quick dip of his head, Simon caught her lips
in a fiery kiss. One that possessed her as much as any vows they
would make in the future. It told her without a doubt that he loved
her and would continue to love and protect her no matter what
obstacles were thrown in their way.

When he drew back, she made a murmur of
disappointment.

“You must promise me something,” he said on a short
breath. He slid her arm into the crook of his own and led her from
the stable and away from the past.

“Anything.” She nodded.

“Promise me you won’t keep the truth from me ever
again. No matter what Dennison was threatening, I would have
protected you. And your family would have, too.”

Ginny smiled. “I shall never lie to you again. I
promise you that.”

As they came out into the sun, Jack ran down the
path toward him with a few stable hands and the innkeeper and his
wife close behind. As the adults hurried past them to the stable to
take care of Robert and the mess he’d made, Jack launched himself
into her arms and she swung him up into a tight hug. He was safe.
They all were.

“Well, you can say one thing for Henry, he gave you
a beautiful son,” Simon said as he grinned at the little boy.

She smiled at her boy and then her love. “And he
brought you to me, so I’ll find a way to forgive him for all he
took away.”

Simon put his arm around her shoulders and drew her
and her son close. “I’m so proud of you. So proud you protected
yourself and your son that night.”

She blinked back tears. “Thank you. I was never
sorry, even when I thought I’d killed Henry.”

He nodded as he set Jack down and tilted her face up
to his.

“I never would have blamed you.” He smiled and his
beautiful eyes were full of love. “I’ll give you the life you
always deserved.”

She turned her lips up and met his for a gentle
kiss. “No, Simon. We’ll give each other the life we’ve both dreamed
of. Forever.”

Check out these other books
by Jenna Petersen:

Scandalous
From London With Love (Lady Spies Book 1)
Desire Never Dies (Lady Spies Book 2)
Seduction is Forever (Lady Spies Book 3)
Lessons From a Courtesan
Her Notorious Viscount
What the Duke Desires (Billingham Bastards Book 1)
The Unclaimed Duchess (Billingham Bastards Book 2)

 
A Scoundrel’s
Surrender (Billingham Bastards Book 3)

Rogue for a Night

Almost a Spinster

Undeniable

The Secrets of a Lady (Jordans
1)

The Temptation of a Gentleman (Jordans
2)