The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor, Scott, Regina [e novels to read online .TXT] 📗

“And now?” she asked.

He eyed her. “Now we marry. I distinctly heard you promiseas much.”

“I did,” she agreed. “But should we wait until you finishmourning?”

He glanced toward Elizabeth. His sister must have beenwatching them, listening, for she answered Hester’s question with a vehementshake of her head.

“No,” Rob said, facing Hester anew. “My father and motherwould understand. There is a matter of securing the line. And things are lessfussy in the country than in London. I doubt any here will fault us, especiallywhen we are merely following the earl’s good example.”

“Very well,” she said. “I’m not sure I’d want to wait solong in any regard. I love you, Rob.”

He claimed her lips. One kiss, to seal his promise. Onekiss, to show her how much he valued her.

One kiss that confirmed she was the perfect bride for him.

“Then let’s get married today,” he said as she withdrew.

She started laughing even as he heard a squeak of protestfrom her mother.

“No, Rob,” Hester said. “It would require a special license,which can only be had in London, at least a twelve-hour ride away. AndElizabeth needs you here. You will simply have to wait until the banns havebeen called.”

“The banns?” He collapsed against the back of the sofa.“That takes three weeks! I won’t survive.”

Hester bent and kissed him again. “I promise you will. Ilove you too much, Rob.”

And that was all that mattered, in the end. She loved him,with all his foibles and follies. If he had wondered whether he had a purposein this world, he had found it in her.

~~~

One Week Later

Rob drew in a deep breath of the brine-scented air andtucked Hester’s arm more securely in his as they watched Rebecca attempt toconvince Bascom to try the kite once more on the narrow rear lawn of the Lodge.Rob had offered the young footman a permanent position on his staff, pleasingthem both. Monsieur Antoine had been so moved by the encounter that he hadvowed fidelity as well.

“I am proud to see my masterpieces served to a lady andgentleman who would stare down the tyrant’s brigands,” he’d declared when he’d personallybrought Rob dinner the first night after the smugglers had been caught.

Just as they had the summer they’d met,Hester had spent part of every day with Rob since. Rebecca was generally withthem, though her grandmother watched her on occasion. Mrs. Denby had beendelighted to tell anyone who’d listen that her daughter was going to marry LordPeverell.

The only fly in the ointment had been the disposition of thedame school in Upper Grace.

“Apparently viscountesses don’t teach,” Hester had said witha sigh when she’d been notified by the church leadersthey intended to seek a new teacher.

Rob had put his arm about her. “My viscountess can do whatshe likes. If they won’t have you, talk to Mr. Wingate. Grace-by-the-Sea hasneeded its own school for some time. I’m sure a thousand pounds would coverit.”

Hester had laughed.

Rebecca brought the kite back to him now, holding it up,lips tight. “The tail is too short.”

Rob crouched beside her to examine the bits of paper, stick,and rag. “Is it now? How long should a good tail be, do you think?”

“As long as my arm,” Rebecca informed him, stretching out herhand. “You must learn such things. You’re going to be my father.”

Rob smiled at her. “Yes, I am.”

She wiggled. “I knew it before anyone else.”

Hester turned away to hide a smile.

“Yes, you did,” Rob agreed. “You’re a very clever younglady.”

“I’m your daughter,” she said, and she gave him a hug thatincluded the kite.

Throat tight, he held her a moment, gaze meeting Hester’s tofind it warm and tearing.

“Would you like to play with the kite?” Rebecca asked as shedisengaged. “After we fix the tail, of course.”

“Delighted,” Rob said, rising and picking her and the kiteup as well. “Let’s see what your aunt Elizabeth can contrive. She’s very good at this sort of thing.”

“Swords too,” Rebecca said, at which Hester’s brows went up.

“I won’t allow her to play with anything sharp,” Robpromised her as they headed for the Lodge.

“You can try,” Hester warned.

How good she was for him. He would never be the staid,unexceptional viscount he had tried to be. Likely, his father, mother, andbrother would have expected it, but he could only be his own person, do hisduty his own way. There was a joy in leading, protecting, and encouraging.Hester would help him remember that.

If he had had any doubts whether she would be comfortable athis side, she’d swiftly put them to rest in the last week. She’d located Mr.Priestly, who worked as secretary to the magistrate. The orderly running of thevillage meant that the man had time on his hands, so he had agreed to act asRob’s agent in Dorset as well. Already, he’d set matters to rights where Mercerhad changed them for his own profit.

Donner had brought the former steward personally to the WarOffice. If they didn’t charge him for treason, he would be prosecuted forembezzlement and endangerment. They would not be seeing the fellow again.

They might not see much of Donner either. Now that everyoneknew he was an intelligence agent, and not a tremendously good one, he would bereassigned elsewhere. If the War Office chose to send someone else their way, Robcould only hope the fellow would be more circumspect, and less necessary.

“Two more weeks,” he reminded Hester as Rebecca andElizabeth worked on the kite in his mother’s withdrawing room. Spending timewith the little girl was helping chase away the last of Elizabeth’s doldrums,and he was glad to see his sister smile far more often.

“Does it truly trouble you to wait to hear the banns read?”Hester asked beside him.

Rob brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. “No. I likehearing my name linked with yours. And you are worth the wait, then and now.”

“And you were the suitor worth a second chance,” she assuredhim. “I’ll always be thankful you returned to Grace-by-the-Sea and to me.”

“So will I,” he told her. “Being the viscount means I mustspend some time each year in London to attend Parliament. But I promise