Her Secret Lover (Aphrodite's Club 2)

“And I couldn’t understand why I wanted to be with you despite knowing you were a highwayman.”

“I do love you, Antoinette,” he murmured. “Can we start again, this time without any secrets?”

She laughed and held him close. “I love you, too. And yes, please,” she said.

“Then I think we should get married.”

Epilogue

The History of the Langleys of Devon was not the sort of book Antoinette would normally pick up. She wasn’t sure why she’d done so today.

She glanced at the clock on the mantel. Twenty more minutes until her assignation in the maze with her husband. Her mouth went dry at the thought of it, and him. Antoinette opened the book at random, the words a blur, to pass the time.

Antoinette and Gabriel were very happy. Every day was a wondrous adventure, and every day she thanked whatever unlikely chance had brought them together. Although there were times when he drove her to distraction, and no doubt she him, she wouldn’t change a thing.

She blinked. There were names in the book, written in Sir John’s neat hand, and for a moment Antoinette thought she was seeing things. Dupre? She adjusted her spectacles.

“Eleanor Dupre married to Robert Langley.” The date was during the reign of King Charles II and the wedding had been celebrated here, at Wexmoor Manor.

Her wicked ancestress was called Eleanor Dupre. The woman for whom the king built Dupre House, the woman who ran away and married for love and vanished into the shadows of history.

Eleanor Langley.

Antoinette laughed; she couldn’t help it.

“Talking to yourself, sparrow?” a warm voice said behind her, and a pair of strong arms slid around her.

“Gabriel, you’ve finished?” She turned to look up.

Gabriel took the opportunity to kiss her long and well. “Yes, I’m finished with the army of restoration experts,” he said at last. “Or just about. I want Wexmoor Manor to be a crown fit for my precious jewel of a wife.”

Gabriel said such delightful things.

“I thought we were going to have a tryst,” she spoke softly, smiling into his eyes.

“We are. Why do you think I’m here?”

He took her hand and led her toward the door. Antoinette glanced back

at the open book on the table.

“What is it?”

But Antoinette only smiled. “I’ll tell you when we reach the heart of the maze,” she promised, her fingers entwined with his.

It would be appropriate. She knew Gabriel would be amused and amazed, just as she was, that their meeting hadn’t been chance after all. Their love was predestined, and if their ancestors had anything to do with it, so was their happiness.