The Undoing of a Libertine (Somerset Historicals 2)

“What is wrong? I see that shuttered look in your eyes.”

She shook her head and tried to hold back more tears. How many times would she cry in front of this man? Before he grew utterly sick of her, if he wasn’t already.

“Can you not tell me?” He brushed his right hand under her chin to lift it up, but did it gently. She could smell her essence on his hand, and she blushed at the thought of exactly where his hand had been. “You must know you may always talk to me about anything. Don’t be shy now. I want you to be at ease to tell me whatever you wish.”

“Jeremy…” She croaked out his name, the sound lost, swallowed in her throat. “I nearly got you killed—”

It was true. However their acquaintance had come about, that—that creature, Strawnly, had tried to abduct her. And he almost had done, nearly killing Jeremy in the process. And it was all her fault—her jealousy and the fact she hadn’t trusted him enough.

Georgina could hardly bear to recall the swipe of that knife coming down at Jeremy, stabbing him. Any closer to the vein in his neck and he would have bled to death even faster! Because of her. Because she had walked them both right into it, blindly stupid and careless.

“Hush. Listen to me now!” he spoke firmly. “This is not your fault. He hurt you! He caused this! He dared to touch you! Do not blame yourself. Gina!”

“But I do! I know I risked myself and, in the end, your life, but I still have to understand the reasons. Jeremy, how is it that you know that evil man? Why does he know you?”

He reacted to her question with a frown, and his jaw got hard with a clench.

It scared her, and she knew fear in the pit of her guts, even though she was lying down. What would Jeremy say? She turned fully to her side to face him in the bed. He rolled to his back and was quiet for a time.

Georgina stared at his rugged features, his sandy hair, the sharp nose that marked his profile, thinking he was the most beautiful man in the world.

Finally he sighed, looking up and focusing on the ceiling. “I’m going to tell you all of it even though it will hurt you.” He started slowly, his words guarded, but she sensed that he didn’t hold anything back. He told her how he’d learned of Pellton and Strawnly’s intent, Marguerite’s knowledge, and how he’d come to hear of it, the extortion letter, their bargain, all of it. The telling seemed painful for Jeremy, his voice cracking at times. Maybe harder than anything he could have ever imagined telling her about the man who’d attacked her, just as it was painful for Georgina to hear it—but necessary. It was the beginning to putting the horrid experience away, so both could start on the healing process of freeing themselves of its burdensome weight.

“…And that is why I went to London. Strawnly had to be stopped before you were hurt any more. I did it out of love. You are mine to protect, and I’d do it again in an instant if you were at risk.” His words came out a little harsh. “You are everything to me.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, sending love into her with his earnest blue eyes looking over warm, moist lips pressed to her skin.

Georgina expelled a breath, realizing she’d been holding it in. “I hardly have any words to say. Not only did you save me, but you love me.” She was truly incredulous. “Why do you?”

“I do not know the why, but only the truth. For me, loving you has been the easiest thing in the world, sweetheart. I most certainly do love you. You have awakened me to life—literally and figuratively. I am never going to let you go. That is my solemn promise.”

Georgina felt her heart pulse deep within her chest, knowing it was absolutely brimming with love for this man. She moved the covers aside and scooted her body down. Finding the hem of his nightshirt, she pushed it up and then lifted her eyes to Jeremy’s handsome face.

The hue of his eyes showed only as a slit of blue for they were half closed already in anticipation.

“What are you up to, my glorious sweetheart?” he asked as she took him into her hand and positioned the tip up against her lips.

The skin on his shaft was so exquisitely soft and fine, but when aroused, like right now, could be burning hard and hot. She licked the tip of him and breathed in his male scent. So beautiful—all of him.

He groaned beneath her mouth, but not from pain this time. Power. Love. Need. So many feelings flooded her. Jeremy evoked things in her she didn’t know existed until he had showed her.

“Exactly what I want to be doing. This time is for you, so lie back, relax, and enjoy, my husband.”

* * * *

Jeremy picked though a week’s worth of correspondence. His wounds were healing to the point that he couldn’t bear staying in bed a moment longer, unless of course Gina was in the bed with him, working her magic.

One missive caught his eye though. He’d been anticipating it and ripped open the seal with vigor. From Luc, it was short and to the point:

Greymont,

He boarded the Excelsior, eleven o’clock. Tanner and Parkins already on. Cast off midnight. Smooth departure out.

Luc

Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief and shuffled over to the fire. He dropped the note into the flames and watched it burn. Done. Simon Strawnly was done. He would never hurt another helpless woman again.

Frisk looked up from his warm place by the hearth and tilted his head at Jeremy in curiosity.

“He deserved it you know. What he got was earned by him. Earned just as much as you deserve a knighti