"Traveling actors," he said.

Angeline gasped. "No!"

The marquess shrugged. "I was desperate and had to do something. By the way, Lady Angeline, Mrs. Faraday, the actress, bid me to apologize to you. Apparently, she thought you were living in sin with my son."

"I'll be d.a.m.ned," Colin said.

"Colin, we do not use that sort of language," Margaret said.

"Pardon me," Colin said. He noted that Bianca and Bernadette lit up like the lanterns at Vauxhall. He figured he'd just added to the twin's colorful vocabularies.

A fortnight later "Are you nervous, Angie?" Penny asked.

"No, not really, but I am so happy that you agreed to attend me."

"I'm honored," Penny said, "but I will miss you, Angie."

"You know that you can always visit us. The twins are nearby. Best of all, this spring you will make your debut, and everyone will be there." Including me, all because of Colin.

Marie finished styling her hair. "You look beautiful, my lady."

"Thank you, Marie."

Her mother came inside the room. "You are not dressed yet."

"Mama, Angie insisted I must dress first," Penny said.

"You have always loved your sister, Angeline."

"Who would not love Penelope?"

"My lady, shall we dress you?" Marie said.

A tap sounded at the door. Margaret peeked inside. "May we come in?"

"Of course," Angeline said.

The twins sat on the bed and watched as Marie tightened the strings of the stays and smoothed them out over the petticoat. Then she stepped inside the beautiful white gown with yards of lace and rosettes on the hem. Her mother clasped her own pearl necklace on Angeline. Then she donned her slippers. "Well?"

Her mother carefully hugged her. "I am so very happy for you. No one deserves it more."

"Thank you, Mama."

Another knock sounded. Margaret opened the door. The duke stood there. "It is time, Daughter."

She took her father's arm. He escorted her down the stairs and into the waiting carriage. Her mother and Penny followed inside. The carriage rolled off, and Angeline inhaled. "Oh, goodness, I have b.u.t.terflies in my stomach."

"That is normal," her mother said.

The duke looked at Angeline. "You have always been beautiful, but you are even more so today."

The carriage arrived quickly. Her arms were a little shaky as her father escorted her down the aisle. Colin's friend Harry nudged him. Colin turned to watch her, and she knew she would never forget the look of love in his eyes.

At last Angeline stood beside him. Her little sister held her posy, and Harry winked at him.

The familiar words of the ceremony washed over Colin. Not long ago, his life had seemed so aimless, but standing in this church beside the woman who would be his wife from this day forward, he knew that there was a purpose to all things. Even before he took the marriage vows, he had sworn that he would never take her for granted, and he would tell her that he loved her every single day of their lives together.

Then it was time to repeat the vows. He slid the ring over her slender finger and looked into her eyes. "With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."

Reverend Quimby said, "For as much as Angeline and Colin have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before G.o.d and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands: I p.r.o.nounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Deerfield There was much rejoicing at the wedding breakfast. Angeline ate very little because she still had b.u.t.terflies in her stomach. Colin made up for it by eating two slices of cake. Bellingham and his wife attended. Three times Bell had to grab his son, who tried to pull Hercules's curly tail.

The footmen circulated with gla.s.ses of champagne. Bianca and Bernadette got scolded after Margaret found them draining two gla.s.ses of champagne. The marquess was worried that they held their liquor like a man. He confessed to Colin that it didn't bode well. Colin advised him to have locks installed on the sideboard.

Penny took a slice of cake to Harry. When Angeline remembered Penny asking about kissing boys, she steered her sister away from Harry and took her aside. "He's too old for you, and he's a rake."

"He's ever so witty," Penny said. "I know he's too old, but a girl can look."

Someone dropped cake on the floor, and Hercules gobbled it up. Mrs. Quimby asked every single guest if they had made the acquaintance of Baron Overton. Mr. and Mrs. Faraday congratulated Colin and Angeline and said they had never had a finer time as actors.

The celebration lasted for hours, but as the autumn sun started to set, Colin took Angeline's hands, and she thought she might melt on the spot from the way he looked at her. They said good-bye to all their friends and family, and then they took the carriage six miles to their home, Sommerall House.

There was a chilly breeze as they hurried to the door. Colin unlocked the door, picked her up, and carried her over the threshold. Then he slid her down his body. "Welcome home, my wife."

She cupped his face. "My husband."

They removed their wraps and walked up the familiar stairs. A fire was burning in the bedchamber where they had made love that rainy night. Someone, probably Margaret, had put the servants to work. The covers were turned down, and there was a bottle of wine.

He removed her stunning gown and all the rest of her clothing. Then he laid her on the sheets gently as if she were made of the finest crystal. After he shed his own clothes, he joined her in the bed and turned on his side. "Tonight is our first night as a married couple. I don't want to think what my life might have turned out like if not for you. Now I have my family and yours and ours together. All because of you, my beautiful Angeline."

She rose over him. "Lay back, Husband."

"Why?"

"I want to take advantage of you."

"Help," he said in a mocking meek voice.

In the next moment, he gasped for real as she used her tongue on him. "Have mercy, Wife."

Her only response was a wicked laugh.

Epilogue.

London, spring 1822 At Angeline's request, Mrs. Norcliffe delayed the ball for Angeline's return to society in deference of the debuts for Penelope, Bianca, and Bernadette. Colin looked into his wife's shining eyes and thought she was even more beautiful. She did look as if she were glowing within. Now and then she placed her hand over her slightly rounded belly.

Colin leaned down. "Is she kicking?"

"He is stretching and pushing as if he thinks he can get out."

"She is anxious to make her debut, but it is too soon," he said.

Angeline shook her head. "Every other man in the world wants a boy, except you."

"I really don't care, love. I just want you and the babe to be healthy."

"We are," she said. Then she grabbed his forearm. "Look, a boy asked Penelope to dance."

He frowned. "Do her slippers have red stripes?"

"Yes, they were mine, but they fit her."

"Aren't those a bit...fast?"

"This from a reformed rake?"

He laughed. "By the by, are you planning to take all the walls down at Sommerall?"

She snorted. "Be careful or I will."

"There they go, queuing up for the dance," he said. "Shall we walk closer?"

"Yes, please," she said.

He escorted her, setting his hand protectively over her belly whenever they moved through a particularly dense part of the crowd. Angeline saw a number of matrons smiling at him. They sat in chairs on the sideline because her back tended to ache if she stood too long. He held her hand and gave her his handkerchief when her eyes grew misty.

"This is the best gift you could ever give me," she said.

"Most women want jewels and furs."

"Those women don't understand that the best gift in life is love."

His heart turned over once again, and he figured he was the luckiest man in the ballroom tonight.

With the recent loss of his beloved uncle, Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Granfield, has no desire to partic.i.p.ate in a dancing compet.i.tion. But one look at his beautiful partner causes the n.o.bleman to change his tune...

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What a Devilish Duke Desires.

Chapter One.

White's, London 1822 Three months after his uncle's death, Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Granfield, needed to find his way back to his old life, which had disappeared under a mountain of grief. His uncle Hugh had been his father figure for as long as he could remember, and life at the farm in Wiltshire would never be the same without him.

Harry reached the door at the club, took a deep breath, and stepped inside the familiar hall. A servant appeared and bowed. "Welcome back, Your Grace."

"Thank you." He'd yet to adjust to his new t.i.tle and felt oddly like an imposter. As he divested himself of his hat, greatcoat, and gloves, he remembered thinking there would be changes, but he'd not been prepared for so many. Tonight, however, he looked forward to meeting up with his old friends.

Harry strolled over to have a look at the betting book as he'd always done upon entering the club. Apparently Aubery had wagered Rollins a crown that it would rain on Tuesday. The frivolous bet rea.s.sured Harry that the world in London had gone on and so would he, despite the crushing loss of his uncle.

He strolled through the ground floor, looking for his friends. The clink of gla.s.ses and silverware echoed from the upstairs dining room, and the fragrant aroma of beefsteak teased his senses. Now he wanted nothing more than to quaff down one too many brandies and have a few laughs with his old friends.

He didn't get far before Lords Fitzhugh and Castelle hailed him.

"Congratulations, on the dukedom," Castelle said, pumping his hand.

"Congratulations, Granfield," Fitzhugh said with emphasis.

Several other acquaintances approached as well. Harry acknowledged their greetings with a nod, but he neither wanted nor appreciated their congratulations. He knew they meant well, but no t.i.tle or fortune would ever make up for losing his uncle.

Someone clapped him on the shoulder and said, "It's the Devil himself."

Harry's spirits lifted immediately upon seeing his friend Bellingham. "I suppose it takes one to know one," he said, grinning.

"Come, our old table is waiting, and there is someone I want you to see," Bell said.

The world seemed right again as he followed his friend upstairs to the dining room. When they reached the table, Colin stood and pounded him on the back. "Harry, it's good to see you."

"And you. How is married life?"

"Well, Angeline hasn't thrown me out on my a.r.s.e yet," Colin said.

"Oh, ho!" Harry said, laughing.

Bell motioned to Harry. "Do you remember this fellow?"

Harry frowned. When recognition dawned, he was astounded. "Is that Justin?"

Justin Davenport, the Earl of Chesfield, grinned as he extended his hand. "Pleased to see you, Harry."

"Good Lord." Harry turned his attention to Bell. "He was a skinny cub the last time I saw him."