Authors: Scandal Bound
Anita Mills (21 page)
“Because you felt obliged to! You thought I could not take the scandal of Brockhaven’s getting the annulment.”
“You know, Ellie, you have been so deuced possessive about your scandal that I have had to come up with one we can share.”
“Alex, there is no need! Do you think I do not know that I am not the sort of female you would choose on your own? I am not such a fool that I do not know you could have a Toast, a Diamond of the First Water, a—”
“I don’t want one of them.” He turned around and gave her a wry smile. “I know it sounds perverse of me, Ellie, but I have the strangest notions about what I want.”
“But you could have someone quite beautiful, like the Mantini, or—”
“I think I have one. Look at me, love,” he commanded. She raised her eyes to his bare chest and looked away. “You’ve seen it before,” he reminded her, “for it is the same chest you spread onion poultices on, remember? Now, let me tell you some things, Ellie. I am afraid I will not be your conventional sort of husband, my dear. You see, I shall expect to live with you, not just politely share my house. Get used to the sight of my skin, because I expect you will see a lot of it over the years. I know I shall expect to see a lot of yours. And I am not one for undressing in closets, either—nor do I plan to sleep alone. I do not plan to get up from your bed to seek mine.”
“Alex—”
“No, let me finish. I know it is common for our class to live separate lives except for the necessary begetting of heirs. That is why so many of us keep mistresses, if you want my opinion of it. Not me. I don’t ever want to seek any company but yours. I want to wake up with my wife, Ellie. I think it will be a comfort to me to have you with me because I never expect to be bored with you. You see, you little wretch, I know I love you. Now, shall I continue removing my clothes or do you wish to marry me first? By now, Gerald will have arrived with an English divine from the embassy to take care of the matter. But if you require further proof of how I feel about you, I am prepared to continue until we are both as bare as we were born and I’ll show you.”
“Oh, Alex!” Her voice had taken on that husky quality of one deeply moved as she smiled up at him mistily. “I quite believe you, and if you are that determined to share my scandal, then you are quite welcome to share my life, too. I do love you, you know.”
“I know.” He reached down to pull her up against him and bent to kiss her mouth, gently at first and then with deepening passion. She twined her arms around his neck and pressed closer until at last he released her and stepped back shakily. “We will have such good times together, Ellie, I swear. I shall take you to Italy—maybe Spain, too—and we’ll not go back to England until the tale dies down. And everyone will blame it on my wild Deveraux blood instead of you by then. I gave it out tonight that I’ve had a long-standing attachment for you—and I have.”
“Alex, would you mind very much if we did not go to Italy?” she whispered against his shoulder. “I know where I should like to go.”
“Greece?”
“No. Little Islip.”
“Then Little Islip it shall be, my love, but I warn you—no pork jelly.”
Connect with us for information on new titles and authors from Diversion Books, free excerpts, special promotions, contests, and more:
