Authors: Scarlett Scott
Her Errant Earl (13 page)
“Documents prepared by my solicitor. Come and have a look.”
He waved her onward. “I hope they will hold some meaning for you.”
Wary, she crossed the room to his side. His familiar scent
teased her senses. She couldn’t help but notice how very gorgeous he appeared.
She longed to fall into his arms, fall back into the life they had tentatively
begun together. Forcing her feelings of longing to abate, she glanced down at
the papers he had brought for her.
She quickly skimmed over them, not certain she was reading
them correctly. “Can this be what I think it is?”
“I’ve renounced my claim upon your marriage settlement,” he
confirmed. “The remainder of the portions of the funds I was to receive has now
been relinquished in full to the duke. There’s no more threat of him cutting me
off. I’ve cut the purse strings myself.”
Could it be true? Her heart beat faster as she took up the
documents for a closer inspection. Yes, she realized, it was true. He had truly
forfeited his wealth, the one cause that had originally sent him back to
Carrington House to woo her in the first place. His one cause for deception was
officially dismissed.
She looked back to him. His gaze was intent upon hers,
searching. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“To prove to you that it’s only you I want. The rest can go
straight to bloody hell as far as I’m concerned.” He paused, his vulnerability
reflected in his tense expression. “There’s nothing that can come between us
now. My father has no hold upon me. Money has no hold upon me. I would have
turned over the entail to him as well were it possible, but my solicitor
assures me it’s binding and old as the proverbial hills.”
The gesture left her speechless. She had never expected
something so drastic from him. A wild surge of love hit her, strong enough to
bring tears to her eyes. It was too much for her to process. She couldn’t have
been more surprised or overwhelmed.
“Don’t say anything yet,” he continued, his brow furrowed as
if he believed she would still reject him. “We’ll need funds of our own, but
I’ve thought this through. With your help, we can make the Carrington House
estate profitable enough to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. It may
not be the life to which you’ve been accustomed, but it will be ours.”
Theirs.
She couldn’t imagine anything she wanted more than to be
free to love him without the encumbrances that had wrought havoc upon their
union. “Are you very sure, William?”
His eyes were steady upon hers, never wavering. “I’ve never
been more sure of anything in my life.” He closed the distance between them
then, slipping his arms round her waist and securing her to him. “I’ve also
written to your parents, inviting them to join us in the country. I hope it
wasn’t too forward of me, but I’ve suggested they bring all your sisters, Rose,
Lillian, Edith, Pearl and Libby.”
She reached up to trace the strength of his jaw. How could
he be so striking, so wonderful? So capable of warming her heart? “You
remembered all their names,” she murmured, truly touched by both the gesture
and that he had troubled himself to recall each sister’s name.
His grin appeared in full force then. “The woman I love told
me I ought to know.”
“Oh William.” She was overcome with sheer joy, her heart
about to leap from her breast and gallop excitedly about the drawing room. “I
love you too.”
He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, holding her
closer. “Thank Christ. I’d begun to fear you no longer did.”
“I could never stop loving you.” She shook her head
slightly. “No matter how hard I might have tried.”
“Nor I you. Believe me, falling in love with my wife was the
last thing I wanted.” He paused, his lips achingly near to hers. “I didn’t even
think it possible. But now I can’t bear to live without you. I love you so much
it bloody well hurts.”
She laughed at his pained pronouncement, so distinctly
Pembroke. “I feel the same way, my love.”
His teasing air returned. “It’s been a week since I’ve
kissed you, and I fear I may soon perish with wanting.”
She grinned at him. “Then what are you waiting for?”
“Ah darling.” His mouth finally claimed hers, the kiss
possessive and deep. When he broke away, they were both breathless. “Marry me,
my love?”
She giggled, pressing another kiss to his beloved lips.
“We’re already married, you silly man, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He raised a brow, his expression turning wicked. “Let’s go
home to Carrington House. I can’t wait to undo all those damned buttons.”
His naughty words sent desire through her. It had been far
too long. “I should like nothing better,” she said.
And hand in hand, they traveled out of the drawing room and
into a dazzling new future together.
Scarlett Scott has loved romance novels ever since she was
eleven and swiped her older sister’s books to read by flashlight in her closet.
Her mother caught her, but she remained undeterred. A self-described
promiscuous writer, she dabbles in all sorts of genres but loves erotic romance
best. She lives with her hero and their adorable but occasionally evil puppy
and spends too much time lurking on her blog.
Scarlett welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
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Her Errant Earl
ISBN 9781419945267
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Her Errant Earl Copyright © 2013 Scarlett Scott
Edited by Grace Bradley
Cover design by Dar Albert
Photo: Maksymfilipuk/Fotolia.com
Electronic book publication March 2013
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