Page 35 of Desert Island Duke

He released her wrists and slid his fingers between hers so their hands were entwined.

“Is that a yes? You’ll be my duchess? Just think, if we can get along under trying conditions like this, we’ll have no problem living together in my London town house, or at Gatcombe Park.”

He slanted her a hungry, heated look that made her pulse race. “I want to make love to you in a bathtub filled with rose petals, in a huge soft feather bed piled high with cushions—”

Caro groaned. “Ohh, you beast. Don’t tempt me. What if we’re never rescued?”

“Then I’ll be perfectly happy making love to you right here, in this awful, uncomfortable hut, for the rest of my days. We’ll be the duke and duchess of Heaven-Knows-Where.” Max’s hands cupped her cheeks as he tilted her face up to his. “Say yes, Caro.”

The sun burst over the horizon, flooding them both with light, and Caro pressed her lips to his. “In that case, Maximillian Cavendish, yes. I’ll marry you.”

Chapter 19

On the thirty first day of December, New Year’s Eve, Caro glanced up from her hibiscus flower tea and saw a tall plume of smoke rising over the headland.

“Max! The other island’s signal fire!”

Max, who had been dozing in the shelter after a night of lovemaking that made Caro blush to recall it—who knew a man could do such wicked, exquisite things with his tongue, for heaven’s sake?—leapt to his feet.

“Quick!”

He snatched a stick from the fire, and together they raced along the beach and clambered onto the rocks.

Sure enough, a fire blazed on the opposite beach, and Caro gave a whoop of sheer elation as she spied a ship with billowing white sails heading toward the strait.

“We’re saved!”

Max caught her in an impulsive hug, then leaped down and put the glowing torch to the tinder beneath their own signal fire. Since they’d been diligently keeping it ready, it caught almost immediately, and Caro heaped handfuls of damp leaves onto it to make it smoke.

As the ship drew closer, they could see crew members moving about on the deck, and Max squinted to make out the flag that fluttered from the rigging.

“It’s a Royal Naval ship,” he grinned. “I wonder how they found us.”

“Who cares!” Caro laughed, giddy with relief. “We’re going back to hot baths and soft beds and food that isn’t mango. I never want to eat another mango ever again.”

Max kissed the top of her head. “Very well. If that’s your wish.” He smiled down at her. “Would you like to be married at St. George’s, Hanover Square?”

Caro wrinkled her nose. “I don’t mind. Wherever you want.”

“Because I was thinking . . . ”

“What?”

“What if we present everyone with a fait accompli and get married before we get back to London? The ship’s captain can marry us. We could do it here, before we set sail.”

Caro went up on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Oh, yes, I love that idea! My clothes should still be on the Artemis. We can marry on the deck, in front of my family.”

“I’ll have to formally ask your father permission to court you.”

Caro snorted. “It’s a little late for that. And besides, they’ve always liked you. I can’t imagine they’ll be disappointed that you’re joining the family. You’re not a Davies, after all.”

Caroline Montgomery and Maximillian Cavendish, his Grace, the fourteenth Duke of Hayworth, were married at sunset on the deck of HMS Carron. The bride’s immediate family were in attendance, and the bride carried a bouquet of tropical blooms.

As the sky turned an extravagant array of pinks and reds, Max joined Caro at the ship’s rail and they both gazed back at the tiny island that had been their home for the past ten eventful days.

Caro leaned her head against her new husband’s shoulder. “This might sound strange, but I’m going to miss this place. Despite all the hardships, we had some truly memorable moments. I’m glad we were stranded. Together. Alone.”

Max put his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side. “Me too.”

---