Wicked at heart, p.33
Wicked at Heart,
p.33
Now the end of Lord Morninghall's long journey was nearing. As the coach, fresh from London where the marquess had met with the Prince Regent, slowed going up that last, noblest hill, the setting sun broke from the clouds and spread its orange glory over the vast rolling hills. It was an omen of the finest sort, and inside the coach the marchioness smiled and exchanged glances with her husband. She wore an elegant gown of turquoise watered silk, and its high empire waist did much to conceal the fact that her belly was already beginning to swell with child. Not that she was trying to conceal it. Her husband's hand rested possessively on her rounded belly, and as they turned up the road that led to the massive gates of Morninghall, she saw that he too was smiling.
He had never looked handsomer, she thought, studying his aristocratic profile. She thought about their brief time with Sir Graham. The admiral had treated him with the deferential respect due a marquess, and indeed, for the first time in many a month, Damon had been at ease with a naval superior. But perhaps that was because Sir Graham was no longer his superior, nor was anyone else in the Royal Navy. Damon had wasted no time in officially handing in his resignation to the unsurprised admiral, and as he'd done so, Gwyneth had seen his proud shoulders going back, as though a great weight finally had been lifted from them.
It was the right, the only decision, and she loved him for it.
Now he was staring out the window, boyishly eager for his first view of the magnificent house he thought he'd never see again, and as he sensed her gaze upon him, he turned. His eyes were cool, but fire simmered in their depths, and she knew that that fire was for her.
She thought of that huge, curtained bed in the ancient chamber and smiled to herself.
"And what amuses you so, my lovely wife?"
"Oh, I was just thinking."
"About?"
"Making love in our own bed tonight."
Damon chuckled darkly and leaned over to graze her neck with his lips. "Great minds must think alike, for I confess I was thinking the very same thing."
"Were you?"
"I was."
They both laughed, staring lovingly into each other's eyes as the coach drew up to the gates. The massive black wolves looked down on them, their marble eyes seeming to gleam with approval; then the attendant swung those iron portals wide, and the coach moved down the shadowy, stately drive.
Toward the magnificent house that waited at its end.
Toward the servants, already gathered on the great stairs in an exultant, cheering array.
And, for Lord and Lady Morninghall, toward a lifetime of bright tomorrows.
###
-- the end --
About the Author:
Bestselling, multi-award winning and critically acclaimed author Danelle Harmon has written ten books, previously published in print and distributed in many languages worldwide. Though a Massachusetts native, she has lived in Great Britain and is married to an Englishman; she and her husband make their home in New England with their daughter Emma and numerous animals including four dogs, an Egyptian Arabian horse, and a flock of pet chickens. Danelle welcomes email from her readers and can be reached at Danelle@danelleharmon.com or through any of the means listed below:
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"The bluest of blood; the boldest of hearts;
the de Montforte brothers will take your breath away."
Meet the dashing and aristocratic De Montforte Brothers by Danelle Harmon:
THE WILD ONE
THE BELOVED ONE
THE DEFIANT ONE
THE WICKED ONE
and coming soon:
PIRATE IN MY ARMS
CAPTAIN OF MY HEART
MASTER OF MY DREAMS
MY LADY PIRATE
TAKEN BY STORM
~~~~
Danelle Harmon, Wicked at Heart
