Olivia’s smile was sure, her gaze unwavering as she glanced at Magnus. “Very much,” she assured.

  Aldrich looked at Magnus. “Do you wish to marry Olivia?”

  “More than I have ever wanted anything in my life,” he answered with the same certainty.

  Because it was true. Nothing compared to the need he felt to marry Olivia and for them to have a family together. Not his years in the navy, which he had believed, until he met Olivia, would be the only enduring love of his life. Not his years as admiral, with all the privileges that involved. Certainly not inheriting the title and wealth of the Earl of Rockborne.

  None of those things came even close to the need he now felt to have Olivia for his wife. She was the only guiding star he would ever want or need for his future happiness.

  “They will not marry each other,” Margaret Buchan bit out harshly. “I shall not allow it.”

  Magnus glanced at her coldly before turning back to Aldrich. “I understand all that you had to lose all those years ago. The choices you had to make. But, in retrospect, was it worth it?” he prompted gently.

  Aldrich gave a choking sound, as if he didn’t know whether he wished to laugh or cry. “For myself? No. For Olivia’s sake, and that of my other children? Yes, for them I would make those same choices again.”

  * * *

  Olivia had no idea what choices her father and Magnus were referring to. But she wished to know. Felt they were significant to both the future and the past—

  Dear God…

  The past.

  “Papa,” she spoke softly. “Did you… Were you… Is it possible that you—”

  “Were Emelia’s lover and the father of her child? Yes,” he said, confirming what Olivia had been trying and failing to put into words.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Emelia was like a bright and beautiful butterfly,” her father continued as he dropped heavily into the chair behind his desk. “Always flitting to and fro—”

  “Be silent, Henry,” Margaret Buchan instructed sharply. “There is no need—”

  “There is every need,” he stated firmly, sitting up straighter in his chair. “I listened to you in the past, and I should not have done so. Because of my silence, other people’s lives and reputations have been put in question.” Her father glanced at Magnus. “I never meant for you or your good name to suffer because of my indiscretion. It was… Emelia was like an elusive flame. So beautiful. Teasing. Coquettish. Always laughing. So different from…” He broke off with a guilty glance at his wife. “If it is any consolation, Rockborne, to any discomfort you may have had over the matter, I have been made to pay for my mistake these past eighteen years.”

  “Your daughter should not have been made to suffer in the same way simply because she has the misfortune to look like your lover,” Magnus reproved.

  Her father’s look of guilt increased. “I have done what I could to stand as a buffer between the two of them. Not always successfully, I admit, and for that, I am deeply sorry, Olivia.” Her father looked at her pleadingly.

  Olivia was still slightly numb from her father’s confession about the past. Of his affair with his own sister-in-law. Of being the father of her unborn child. While Olivia had considered that it might be Cormac Fitzgerald, it had never occurred to her to think it might be her own father.

  But perhaps it should have.

  She had known for a very long time her parents’ marriage was not a happy one. That her mother was far too dominant in the relationship and her father’s wishes forever ignored.

  Admittedly, divorce was a route not many couples decided upon. It could take an age and required an act of parliament, and would forever leave a stigma attached to the names of both parties.

  But that did not explain why, when they were obviously so ill-matched and unhappy together, her parents had not arranged, as many Society couples did, to live separate lives in two of the Aldrich households.

  Except… “Papa, Elizabeth is but seventeen years old and must surely have been born after your…relationship with Emelia?”

  A slight flush appeared in his cheeks. “I believed your mother when she said she forgave me for my lapse and wished us to reconcile our differences and continue our married life together. Elizabeth is the result of that brief reconciliation. Afterward—after Elizabeth was born, your mother made it clear she had forgiven nothing, nor would she ever forget the slight I had shown her by my brief relationship with her own sister. I should have left her then, but your mother threatened to deny me my children if I should ever attempt to humiliate her by leaving.”

  Olivia had no doubt that her mother was capable of such cruelty. Just as she knew her father loved his children too much to ever be separated from them. Except they were no longer children.

  Her father sighed heavily. “Try not to think too badly of me, Olivia. I am guilty of foolishness and adultery, but please believe me when I tell you I love all my children. That I would do anything and everything within my power to ensure their happiness.”

  He had done everything for them. Olivia had absolutely no doubt her father had remained with a woman he no longer loved, if he ever had, in order to ensure his children’s happiness. Perhaps he had been less successful where Olivia was concerned, but that was because of her likeness to Emelia, the sister who had humiliated Margaret by having an affair with her husband.

  Olivia turned to look at her mother, only to find Margaret gazing back at her with that familiar dislike evident on the hardness of her features. No doubt Margaret had been beautiful once, but bitterness and contempt for her husband, and dislike for her eldest daughter for so many years, had resulted in her having a permanently sour expression.

  “You told Frances Fitzgerald you did not know for certain who had fathered Emelia’s baby,” Olivia challenged.

  Margaret’s top lip turned back in a sneer. “I was not about to tell my cousin that my own husband had been stupid enough to fall for Emelia’s flirtatious ways.”

  Olivia shook her head. “But to have allowed Society to believe even the possibility of that man being Magnus was very wicked of you.”

  “Wicked!” Margaret scorned. “The fact he is an admiral and a close friend of the Prince Regent shows he has not suffered for the rumor.”

  “That is hardly the point.”

  “Do you think I care about Rockborne’s reputation?” her mother dismissed harshly.

  “I think— No, I know the only thing you care about it yourself,” Olivia stated flatly before straightening her spine. “Well, you shall not continue to have influence in my life for a moment longer. Not now, not in the future, nor in the future of my children. I shall pack some of my things to take with me today and then depart with Magnus. I shall expect the rest of my clothes and personal items to be delivered to me at Rockborne House tomorrow.”

  Her mother appeared scandalized. “You intend to openly live with this man before you are married?”

  “I intend to reside in the house of my future husband until the wedding in a few days’ time, yes.” She turned to her father. “Papa, for your own sake, you must put an end to this misery you have lived in for so many years. All your children are grown now. Your three daughters are about to be married, and Simon has not lived at home for years. It is the perfect time for you to end this farce and at least find some peace for yourself.”

  “I will move into my club until after you are married and then consider my options,” he agreed quietly.

  She nodded. “You have always enjoyed the estate in Kent, I believe,” she added gently. “Perhaps you might go there? Magnus and I will visit you often, I am sure.” She glanced at him and received his nod of agreement before turning back to her mother. “You.” Her voice hardened. “Unless you change your ways, I never wish to see or speak to you again. I doubt, as you have formed Charlotte and Elizabeth in your own image, that you will see much of them and their families either. You will, in a very short time, I am sure, be left a lonely and bitter woman.”

  “I do not need your pity!” her mother scorned.

  “You do not have it,” Olivia assured. “I have loved you because I felt duty bound to do so as you are my mother. But I would have to like you to pity you, and I do not. Now if you will both excuse us, Magnus and I have a wedding to arrange. I will let you know the time and place, Papa, so that you might attend if you wish to.”

  Her father smiled tentatively. “I should like to give you away, if you will allow it.”

  “I will most certainly allow it.” Olivia gave him a hug. “I will send you word as soon as the details are settled.” She moved to Magnus’s side without so much as giving another glance at her mother.

  Magnus was her future.

  The only one she would ever want or need.

  Magnus gazed across the width of the carriage at Olivia. She was looking out of the window as they traveled to Rockborne House together.

  He did not believe he had ever admired anyone as deeply as he now did Olivia.

  He had admired her before, but today had only deepened that emotion. Not only had Olivia been presented with the truth of her father’s affair with Emelia Brigham all those years ago, but she had remained calm and reasoning throughout the equally revealing conversation that followed.

  Magnus hoped for Henry’s sake that the other man heeded his daughter’s advice and left the unhappy life he had been forced to lead these past eighteen years. But that was for Henry to decide and implement. Magnus’s only concern, now and in the future, was Olivia.

  He sat forward on the seat to reach across and take one of her gloved hands in both of his. “I have only just realized that not once have I told you… I love you, Olivia,” he stated with feeling. “I love you so deeply, you have all of my heart, and my every thought and emotion also belongs to you. I also admire you, and like you more than I ever have anyone or anything in my life before.”

  Her eyes were wide as she stared at him, her cheeks becoming flushed. “You do?”

  “Very much so, yes.”

  “More than the sea?”

  “What sea?” he dismissed lightly. “You are all I need. All I shall ever want or desire for my future happiness.”

  Her breasts quickly rose and fell as she gazed at him with glowing eyes. “I love you too. So very much. I deem it the greatest honor of my life that you have asked me to be your wife.”

  “The honor is mine,” he assured.

  She chuckled softly. “We are very lucky to love each other so much, I believe.”

  “Very,” he agreed fervently, having just witnessed in her parents the opposite of the love and respect he and Olivia felt for each other.

  “It seems an age since you last kissed me,” she invited longingly.

  It had been earlier this morning, when they had made love again before they departed his ship. But Olivia was perfectly correct, it did seem a very long time ago since they had last kissed.

  He rose enough so that he could move across the carriage to sit beside her and take her into his arms and kiss her parted lips.

  They kissed long and deeply, sipping, tasting, devouring as their passion for each other intensified.

  “I hope we shall have many happy years together loving each other,” Magnus vowed. “Of loving our children, and our grandchildren,” he added with satisfaction. “My only desire for the rest of my life is to ensure your happiness. For you to never know a moment’s sadness if I can prevent it.”

  “I promise you the same.” Olivia snuggled into his chest. “I never thought I should have this. I had half resigned myself to becoming an old maid and a doting aunt to my nieces and nephews.”

  “And instead, you shall be my adored wife,” Magnus promised.

  “And you my adored husband,” she vowed.

  They were, as they had already agreed, the luckiest couple in the world.

  Magnus intended for them to remain that way for the rest of their lives together.

  Newsletter and Social Media Links

  For news on upcoming releases in the Ruthless Regency Dukes, Kingston Security, Regency Scandal, Russian Dragon Heat, Regency Club Venus, Regency Men in Love, Regency Lovers, Steele Protectors, Regency Sinners, Dragon Hearts, Regency Unlaced, Knight Security, and Alpha Series please sign up to my mailing list/newsletter: http://www.eepurl.com/2rfzz

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  About the Author

  Carole Mortimer is a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, RT Career Achievement Award 2017, RT Pioneer for Romance Award 2014. She was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written over 270 contemporary, Regency and paranormal romance novels.

  * * *

  She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!

  Other books by Carole Mortimer

  NEW Regency Series:

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  The Wager (Ruthless Regency Dukes 1)

  * * *

  Kingston Security:

  * * *

  Kingston’s Ransom (Kingston Security 1)

  * * *

  Regency Scandal:

  * * *

  WANTON (Regency Scandal 1)

  WILD (Regency Scandal 2)

  WAYWARD (Regency Scandal 3)

  SINFUL (Regency Scandal 4)

  Series in now complete

  * * *

  Russian Dragon Heat:

  * * *

  VLADIMIR (Russian Dragon Heat 1)

  VAUGHN (Russian Dragon Heat 2)

  VIKTOR (Russian Dragon Heat 3)

  More books to come in this series.

  * * *

  Regency Club Venus:

  * * *

  Bastian’s Surrender (Regency Club Venus 1)

  Gabriel’s Torment (Regency Club Venus 2)

  Benedict’s Challenge (Regency Club Venus 3)

  Julius’s Passion (Regency Club Venus 4)

  James’s Lady (Regency Club Venus 5)

  Series now complete.

  * * *

  Dance with the Devil Series:

  * * *

  MATTEO (Dance with the Devil 1)

  LEON (Dance with the Devil 2)

  KILLIAN (Dance with the Devil 3)

  JERICHO (Dance with the Devil 4)

  KIERAN (Dance with the Devil 5)

  Series now complete

  * * *

  Regency Men in Love M/M (Written as C A Mortimer)

  * * *

  Hidden Lover (Regency Men in Love 1)

  Hidden Desire (Regency Men in Love 2)

  More books to come in this series.

  * * *

  Regency Lovers Series:

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  INDECENT (Regency Lovers 1)

  OBSESSION (Regency Lovers 2)

  CRAVING (Regency Lovers 3)

  FORBIDDEN (Regency Lovers 4)

  SURRENDER (Regency Lovers 5)

  SCANDAL (Regency Lovers 6)

  Series complete

  * * *

  Steele Protectors Series:

  * * *

  LOGAN (Steele Protectors 1)

  ATTICUS (Steele Protectors 2)

  BRYCE (Steele Protectors 3)

  ROURKE (Steele Protectors 4)

  HAYDN (Steele Protectors 5) Author’s 250th book

  LUCAN (Steele Protectors 6)

  Series Complete

  * * *

  Dragon Hearts – Contemporary paranormal

  * * *

  Nathaniel (Dragon Hearts 1)

  Deryk (Dragon Hearts 2)

  Bryn (Dragon Hearts 3)

  Dylan (Dragon Hearts 4)

  Grigor (Dragon Hearts 5)

  Garrett (Dragon Hearts 6)

  Aeran & Rhys (Dragon Hearts 7)

  Dragon Reunion (Dragon Hearts 8)

  Series Complete

  * * *

  Regency Sinners Series:

  * * *

  Wicked Torment (Regency Sinners 1)

  Wicked Surrender (Regency Sinners 2)

  Wicked Scandal (Regency Sinners 3)

  Wicked Deception Regency Sinners 4)

  Wicked Captive (Regency Sinners 5)

  Wicked Temptation (Regency Sinners 6)

  Wicked Sinner (Regency Sinners 7)

  Wicked Christmas (Regency Sinners 8)

  Series now complete.

  * * *

  Regency Unlaced Series:

  * * *

  The Duke’s Mistress (Book 1)

  Claimed by the Marquis (Book 2)

  Taken by the Earl (Book 3)

  Pursued by the Viscount (Book 4)

  Desired by a Lord (Book 5)

  Captured by a Gentleman (Book 6)

  Pleasured by a Duke (Book 7)

  Seduced by a Marquis (Book 8)