The Desperate Love of a Lord by Jane Lark Read Free Book Online Page A

future in London. They had only lived each day for what it was all through the summer months.
    “But what we –”
    “What we did in the beginning, was not what we were doing in the end, was it? I have told you, now, I love you. I should have told you before. I am sorry I did not, but I was terrified of you running a mile if I said it. I was always waiting for the right moment and it never came. Here…”
    He withdrew the ring he’d purchased in Bath from the inner pocket of his morning coat, where it had rested close to his heart with her painted image. It was his heart he was giving to her as he dropped down onto one knee. She made a little, “Ooo,” sound, and when he looked up she was biting her lip.
    Was she going to say no and keep the child to herself? Was that what she wished, to be without him? He hoped not. He prayed not.
    “Violet, I shall say it again. I am in love with you. I have been for weeks now. I’ve been shattered without you. He took her hand. I do not want to lose you. I cannot stand to ever see you with anyone but me now. Be mine…” He met her blue gaze. “Honour me and accept my hand? Will you be my wife?” With his free hand he lifted the ring, hopefully holding it before her finger, but her hand slipped free of his. He knew she’d often said in the past she had no wish to marry again.

    “I lied about my age,” she whispered. “I am seven years older than you, not three.”
    “I know.” His gaze held hers as determination thrust from his heart.
    “Geoffrey, you cannot want me.”
    “I do, Vi.”
    “You have a life –”
    “I love a woman who is more important to me than anything else.”
    “Your sister? I am not equal to you in status.”
    “She will be glad for me and you ought to know I care nothing for such things.”
    “Geoffrey?”
    “Are there no more excuses, Vi, because if not my knee is starting to hurt. This floor is a bit hard?”
    She laughed.
    He held his hand out for hers and she took it. “I love you, Violet. I will love our child, and I will take care of you both.”
    “It is just…” She hesitated again and bit her lip. “Geoffrey –”
    “Do you think it is your fortune I am after?”
    She shook her head. “No, I know exactly what you’ve been after, what I wished…” She laughed again, the true Violet shining through, her voice brimming with innuendo.
    “But not now, Violet.”
    Her expression changed, shifting back to wariness and pain. “You will tire of me? And I could not bear infidelity.”
    No, he could imagine she would not. She always wished to be treated as though she was a precious jewel, she could never bear to be second best. “Violet, I promise, I shall never look elsewhere. I swear it to you.”
    She held her breath and he could see her searching for trust, and sifting through further excuses not to.

    “Violet,” he said, in a cracked voice. “Was I wrong? Do you not feel what I feel? I have thought you must because my own emotions have been strong. I cannot bear to be without you. Say, yes.”
    Her eyes gleamed suddenly as her smile lifted. “Yes. Yes, Geoffrey.”
    He slid the ring onto her finger, sapphires, diamonds and gold, like her, and then he was on his feet and hugging her, and her arms were about his neck, and his mouth was on hers. It was a heated, hard kiss.
    She broke it. “I love you too. I have loved no one like this.” Her cheeks glowed with a blush. “But I am afraid of it. I cannot believe it will last, and what then? What about when I am older?”
    “I will love you more. That is what. And we shall have an army of children.”
    Her forehead dropped to his shoulder. “I am going to have to face ridicule in London. We will not be able to hide how quickly the child is born.”
    He leaned back and lifted one eyebrow. “And Violet Rimes cares about such a thing? I thought you loved creating gossip.”
    “I am thinking of the child.”
    “The child will be loved and adored by us, Vi, we have no need