“Did you … drown him? I shall forgive you if you did, for he deserved it, but … oh, I hope there won’t be repercussions.”
He hugged her fiercely. “If I drowned him as was my first inclination, I would have done so in a manner where there would never be any repercussions to worry you. However, I allowed Fenmore to persuade me to take another route.”
“Huh, what then?”
“Bruton was a desperate man. He was about to be served, and if he could not come up with the money he owed, he would have been hauled off to debtor’s prison … perhaps even sent to Australia. I gave him a choice he didn’t deserve.”
“What choice? What did you do?”
“We, James and I, helped him pack all his belongings, and we delivered him to a ship that was about to depart for the Colonies. What do they call themselves, ah yes, the United States. I bought him a first class ticket for the passage and gave him a tidy sum to invest when he got there. I rather think he will do well in the colo
nies … and hopefully stay there.”
“Brilliant! You are absolutely brilliant,” Taffeta said as she bounced in his arms and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“I am, am I not?” He laughed. “And I want that kiss, but not on my cheek.” He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers. “You drive me mad with need, do you know that? I want you all the time.”
“The gondolier will hear you.” She giggled and snuggled closer.
“Let him hear me.” Tarrant sighed, settling back and looking around. “Ah, I think we are nearly there. Are you hungry my sweet?”
“Yes, yes, I am starving, and I do so adore Italian food.” She eyed him and said naughtily, “It is a shame we couldn’t have drowned him. He did so deserve it.”
He barked a laugh, “Wicked wife, you suit me, you fit me.”
Taffeta sighed. “Next month James and Cath will marry. It will be so much fun. Their wedding will be beautiful. I shall be so proud to stand as her maid of honor with you as James’ best man.”
“Indeed, but I wish we had more time here in Italy. I love it so,” he whispered softly.
“Yes, I do as well, but Tarrant, we go to your Grange, and that will be very exciting, and it is so very near Grantham that Seth and Nigel will be able to visit often and—”
He laughed and said, “And who knows what my sunbeam and her rogues will get up to?”
She smiled sweetly. “Oh, yes, poor Tarrant. You could not have thought it out when you asked for my hand … as I go, those two as well. Three for the price of one.” She giggled.
“Rogues Three … aye… and my own sweet love, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A short blurb from Rogues, Rakes & Jewels
The Marquis of Lyndhurst wanted a woman who was more attracted to him than his title and money. He went to the Isle of Wight (at his mother’s request), to meet yet another eligible woman, but this time, he was going to play a little game! His cousin Robby would pose as him…And he would pose as his cousin.
Thought he had it all figured out.
What the Marquis didn’t expect, however, was a woman like Jewelene. Lovely and provocative--intelligent and headstrong, and playing a game of her own.
Each night she posed as Babette, the French Card Dealer in a House of Cards and turned the Marquis’ game inside out.
Here’s a taste of another of Claudy’s spicy Regency romances:
Myriah Fire
~ One ~
LONDON, 1813
CASCADING RINGLETS OF fire framed an elf-like countenance of peaches and cream. Dark brows and curling lashes accentuated the almond shape of the blue-green eyes. Champagne organza fell alluringly about a form as delicate as it was provocative, yet the owner of these enviable attributes gazed at her reflection in the gilt-edged looking glass and sighed deeply.
A maid popped her linen-covered head into Lady Myriah’s dressing room and clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “Tch tch, m’lady, here you be, idling your time away with your papa that anxious for you down in the ballroom! Why, gracious, the music is sweet to hear, and the dancers looking fine as five pence … and here you be, looking that sad! Why, it fair sets me in a huff, it does!” said the middle-aged woman, taking all the liberty that years of faithful service had won her.