Read The Dowager's Daughter Online
Authors: Mona Prevel
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #Regency, #Historical Romance, #FICTION/Romance/Regency
The Dowager's Daughter (18 page)
“Found it. A lady should not receive an offer of marriage without wearing an absolutely heavenly scent. Thereafter, when she wears what she considers to be her special perfume, her husband remembers that night and the passion of his youth is rekindled.”
Althea felt the heat rise to her face. “Mama, must you always be so relendessly French?”
Celeste tweaked her nose. “Until the day I die,
chérie.
Now stand still while I dab it on you. Let me see, the ear lobes, your throat, your wrists, the backs of your knees.”
“The backs of my knees? Is that not a little excessive?”
Celeste smiled. “I rather expect so. Ah! That magical blend of roses and jasmine suits you perfectly.”
Celeste enveloped her in an embrace and kissed her on both cheeks. “Now put aside all doubt and fear, my darling, and go to John. With him by your side, you will have a good life.”
As Althea sped along the garden path, she could feel the gravel through the soles of her slippers. Her cloak flew open and she looked down and saw that the silk of her nigh trail flowed with the rhythm of each step and shimmered like liquid silver in the moonlight.
Without breaking a step, she pulled the cloak about her, wishing she had not paid attention to her mother’s assurances that John would be none the wiser.
I should have known better than to listen to Mama. She has no sense of propriety. If I am not careful, John will regard my shocking state of undress with disgust and loathing and go away in that little dory as fast as his arms can row. Perhaps I should turn around. He is bound to come calling in the morning. No. No. I want that lovely kiss Mama spoke of, here and now.
These thoughts played over and over in Althea’s mind. She was tempted to turn back several times, but the passion that comes with young love overrode her doubts.
Through a break in the shrubbery, she saw the glow of John’s lantern and, with an extra spurt, she was standing before him, her heart beating as fast as hummingbird wings.
He put an arm around her and shone the lantern in her face. “Just wanted to make sure it was you and not some faerie creature before I kissed you. I do not want to risk losing you ever again.”
She wrinkled her nose. “What would you have done if I had failed to see your signal? Sailed away never to return?”
He grinned. “It occurred to me that you might not see my signal. I planned on knocking on your door, but it would have been a complete anticlimax. But enough of that”
He put the lantern down and enveloped her in both arms and kissed her. It was soft and gentle. To Althea it was welcoming her into a place that was safe and warm, somewhere where she would be loved and cherished. So different from the nightmare world she had glimpsed the day before.
She entwined her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss of her own accord. John held her closer. She tasted his essence and instinctively knew that no other man’s kisses would taste like John’s. No other man’s kisses would ever suffice.
Suddenly he scooped her up into his arms and started to carry her toward the riverbank. Althea panicked. This was not the way her mother had said it would be.
“Stop!” she shrieked. “Put me down. What on earth do you think you are doing?”
“Taking you aboard
The Seafoam,
of course.” He stood her on her feet. “This can go no further until we do.”
Althea straightened her spine. “It was foolish of me to dash out here just because you waved a lamp at me. Even more so for not taking the time to get suitably dressed, but that does not mean that I will allow you to take liberties with my person.”
His face registered pure surprise. “I never thought it did. It is because of that that I was taking you to
The Seafoam.
The captain is waiting to marry us. Did I not mention it?”
“No. And whatever gave you the idea that I would consent to spend my wedding night in such close proximity to the captain and his crew?”
“Whatever gave you the idea I would want you to? By the time we have exchanged our vows,
The Seafoam
will have reached my house—I mean,
our
house. I hope you will consent to share it with me.’’
How strange. I have always thought that house cried out to be filled with children, but I cannot make it that easy for him.
“It is kind of you to offer, but I believe another little matter has slipped your mind.”
His brow knitted. “What might that be?”
“Just a trifle. You did not ask me to marry you, so you do not even know if I will.”
“But of course you will. You can do no other—we belong together. I knew that the moment I saw you. I would have married the little governess just as willingly as the difficult countess. Lord knows I haunted that house opposite the pier at every opportunity in the hope that I would see you again. Did you not feel the same way?”
“I took you for a very impudent rascal. No, that is not exactly true. You
were
a rascal. Still are, I am thinking. And yes, I probably do have a soft spot in my heart for such creatures. What I appreciated about you is the fact that you could look beyond the outward trappings to see beauty in someone you took to be a very dowdy little governess. But that does not give you the right to presume I will marry you without being given the chance to decide.”
John reached for her and pulled her close. “Darling, admit it. The minute you rushed into my arms, wearing that revealing nightrail and reeking of what I take to be French perfume, you were saying
yes
to something.”
Althea grimaced. “I knew it was a mistake to listen to my mother.”
“Do not believe that for a moment When it comes to matters of the heart, your mother is the wisest person I know.” He tied the ribbons on her cloak more securely. “So?”
“So?”
“Will you marry me?” He nibbled her ear. “I shall do my best to make you very happy.” He trailed butterfly kisses across her eyes. “Very, very happy.”
She sighed. “Your suit is most persuasive, sir.”
“May I presume that is a yes?”
“Oh, yes. A thousand times yes.”
“Good.”
And he sealed the bargain with the loveliest of kisses.
He taught her the ways of the world, and she taught him the ways of love.
Fated to be sold into a loveless marriage, Emily Walsingham runs away. But when she is rescued by dashing James Garwood, she fall desperately in love. Recognized by James’s mother, Emily is declared the perfect wife for him, despite the fact that he has yet to declare his love for her.
When James Garwood agrees to marry Emily, he never expected to be any more than a tolerable companion. But as she proves to be more caring and intelligent than he imagined, a man thought to be incapable of true devotion will learn more than he bargained for about falling in love.
Could the wrong woman be the right love?
Rescued from a life of hardship by her wealthy uncle, Lucy Garwood can’t escape the shadow of her elitist relatives. She longs to be loved and respected in her own right, but it seems that as an orphan, her place amongst her bluebood family is unlikely to improve—that is until a case of mistaken identity leads to a kiss from a dashing stranger…
Robert Renquist, Duke of Lindorough, is determined to win the heart of the lovely Maude. But in an attempt to sweep her off of her feet with a daring act of passion, it isn’t Maude he kisses, but her half-niece instead. Though conscious of his standing in society, Robert can’t deny his unmistakable attraction to Lucy, and he’ll soon discover there is only one thing more powerful than his noble lineage—love.
Their match was impossible, but their love was inevitable.
Too tall for a society woman, Clarissa has no potential suitors—not that she needs any. She only has eyes for Marcus, viscount of Fairfax. But as a steward’s daughter, Clarissa is hardly a suitable match for Marcus.
Marcus Ridley is far too appealing—and eligible—for his own good. Restlessly pursued by desperate maidens, his view of women and marriage is skewed. But then he meets Clarissa, who steals his heart with a single kiss.
Suddenly, Marcus can’t get Clarissa off of his mind, and the high-society lord finds himself desperate to make the steward’s daughter his wife.
Connect with us for information on new titles and authors from Diversion Books, free excerpts, special promotions, contests, and more:
