‘They were parcelled up as neat as you like. Two ale house keepers and the skipper and crew of a prosperous little coaster that is quite large enough for crossing the Channel any time they fancy. And all singing like a cage of canaries in the hope of perhaps escaping the noose in favour of transportation. Hogget thinks he might even get a line on whoever it was at the Home Office who was careless in the first place. Good news, yes?’
‘Excellent. Couldn’t be better. Now go away.’
The door closed, but not before Jared’s wicked chuckle floated back to them.
‘You still haven’t said, Yes.’
‘Yes. Yes, I will marry you. Yes I love you, yes… Oh yes, Theo.’
The man really could kiss indecently well. Laura supposed she ought to wonder just how he learned the skill then decided, hazily, that she would put it down to natural talent.
We do fit together remarkably, she thought some time later. Theo was heavy, but he was supporting his weight efficiently on both elbows while he did quite delightful things to her breasts which seemed, by some alchemy, to have come free of the bodice of her gown. ‘Theo…’
‘Mmm?’ He looked up, heavy-eyed and wicked. ‘I’m squashing you. In fact I shouldn’t be doing this at all, not here not now. On a couch in the drawing room for heaven’s sake!’
‘Don’t – ’
But he was already levering himself up and off the couch. ‘I’m sorry. You should be in bed.’
‘That was exactly what I was thinking, Theo darling. Carry me? It is only just along the corridor and through the door…’
‘Are you – ’
‘Hoping that you’ll stay?’ She saw his breathing hitch. ‘It wouldn’t be so very wicked, would it? We could get a special licence from the Bishop and Will could marry us. Uncle Walter can’t object, not now Gerard Redfern knows what he’s been doing with my money.’
‘It would be very wicked,’ Theo said, bending and scooping her up in strong arms. ‘Very, very wicked. I’m counting on it.’
The sunlight was just beginning to spill across the bedchamber floor through the gap in the curtains when Laura woke to find Theo beside her propped up on one elbow, just watching her.
‘What is it?’ What if he’s having second thoughts but can’t say so because now he’s compromised me? What if…
‘I thought I needed to find a bride who would be a perfect viscountess,’ he said.
‘Yes?’ Oh dear.
‘I should have realised that what I needed, what I wanted, was someone who loved me as much as I loved them and then she could be as imperfect as she liked. Just so long as she was brave and clever and funny and had green eyes, that is.’
‘Then I intend to be perfectly imperfect, exceedingly wicked and I can promise my eyes will stay green.’ She pulled him down to her, the newfound miracle of the feel of his naked body against hers, the warmth of him, the scent of him, making her senses reel. ‘Because I love you, Theo Quenten, now and forever.’
THE END