The Seduction (58 page)

Trevor threw back his head and laughed with joy and relief. Then he told her over and over and over again, until even Margaret's romantic heart was satisfied.

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Dr. Travers arrived at Ashton Park for the second time that day and was immediately taken to Margaret's room. He cleaned and dressed the wound, then stepped out into the hall to talk with her waiting family. "She's lost some blood and she's weak, but it's only a flesh wound. It looks worse that it is. There's always a chance of infection, of course, but I think she's going to be fine. I'll leave instructions with you, Lady Kettering, on what to do next, but the most important thing is bed rest. I'll be back to check on her tomorrow."

Henry arrived a few hours later, looking at Trevor as if he wanted to strangle him with his bare hands. But when he came back downstairs after seeing his daughter, his expression was much more benign. Whatever Maggie had said to him during their brief visit must have reassured him. Trevor knew he deserved all the other man's wrath, but he was relieved just the same. Henry's wrath was never pleasant.

By the following evening, Margaret was strong enough to sit up in bed, and the whole family gathered in her room for after-dinner drinks and a visit. She sipped a cup of tea and held Trevor's hand as they told her the latest news.

"Lucci, his brother, and the other two men are safely behind bars," Edward was glad to report. "They've been charged with kidnapping and attempted murder. Shelton says the trial will be in about two weeks."

"I'll see that they all hang," Henry muttered. "That woman, Isabella would hang, too, if I had my way. Unfortunately, lying to your husband isn't against the law."

"She'll pay for what she's done," Edward assured
him. "In response to my inquiries this morning, the British Embassy wired back that the Egyptian authorities are doing a full investigation of
Lucci's
antiquities business. It appears that there are many illegal transactions, and my contact at the embassy says they are preparing to confiscate all his assets. Isabella will have nothing."

Trevor turned to his wife. Low enough that only she could hear, he murmured, "I'm sorry you had to find out about my tryst with Isabella. It was a brief and rather sordid experience. I never wanted you to know about it."

She whispered back, "It doesn't matter. That was before we met, and I would never hold anything in your past against you, Trevor."

"Thank God for that," he muttered.

Conversation went on all around them, but Margaret and Trevor said nothing, too wrapped up in each other to participate. Cornelia looked at them and rose to her feet. "Everyone, I would like to propose a toast," she said, as she lifted her glass of Madeira. "Here's to true love."

"Hear, hear," Edward and Henry said simultaneously and raised their glasses. Trevor raised his glass, as well. Touching it to his wife's cup of tea, he smiled at her. "I'll drink to that," he said softly. "Without true love, what else is there?"

Margaret smiled radiantly back at him, completely in agreement with that sentiment.

Capri was beautiful,
especially at night, when the moon glistened on the ocean and illuminated the ancient Roman ruins. Margaret shifted restlessly against the hard marble column where she was posing and earned a rebuke from her husband.

"Don't move." Trevor looked at her over the top of his easel. "I'm almost finished."

"Good thing," she answered cheerfully. "I'm getting a crick in my neck."

"You wanted to be painted in the moonlight," he reminded her. "Don't complain because it takes such a long time. It's dark out here."

"I'm not complaining," she answered. "Actually, I think this honeymoon is one of the best adventures you've thought of yet."

He groaned.
"I
can tell
I
've set a dangerous precedent. Adventures, adventures, all the time." He took another dab at the canvas. "There," he said.
"I
'm done."

Margaret jumped down from her perch. She reached for the robe of gold silk that matched the wickedly skimpy nightgown she was wearing and shook the sand out of it. Pulling it around her, she walked to his side to have a look at the canvas.

She peered doubtfully at it and didn't know what to say.

"Well," he prompted when she made no comment, "what do you think?"

She took a deep breath. "It's awful."

He dabbed blue paint on her nose. "Impudent. Do you always have to be so honest? Don't you know you're supposed to say it's wonderful? I'm your husband, and you're supposed to flatter me."

"I am?" She frowned. "Let me see, flatter, hmm, I can't remember. Was that part of the vow, to love, honor, and flatter?"

"Yes, it was." Dropping palette and brush, he seized her, and both of them tumbled into the sand, laughing.

Trevor pulled the edges of her robe aside and rolled on top of her. She recognized the expression in his face and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm afraid we're very scandalous. The servants at this villa think we're a pair of decadent adventurers."

"So we are."

"I know." She smiled up at him, joyously happy. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Yes," he answered gravely. "I love you."

She touched his cheek tenderly with her fingertips. "You only fell in love with me after you seduced me," she teased.

He shook his head. "It was the other way around. I think you seduced me."

"Does it matter?"

He laughed low in his throat, the wicked laugh she loved. "Hell, no. Madam, you can seduce me any time you like."

"I will, sir, I will," she assured him. "Every single day."

He bent his head. "God, I love being married," he muttered, then kissed her.