Page 86 of Gallant Waif
“Valet service. I never knew a woman who was so good at getting into a mess,” he chuckled, picking pieces of grass out of her hair. She slapped his hands away and pushed him back on to the ground. Her hands rested on his chest, partly to ensure he kept his distance, partly so she would not lose the contact with his body.
Her face grew serious and her eyes darkened with anxiety. “I have to ask this, Jack. Do you truly not mind about what happened to me, in Spain?”
His eyes softened. “On the contrary, I mind it a great deal…but not for the reasons you’re worrying about, my love.” He pulled her down into the curve of his body. “I mind that you were hurt, that you were frightened and abused, that you were hungry and in danger and that you were alone with no one to protect you. I mind that you did not get the support and assistance you needed, that you were subjected to gossip, cruel impertinence and worse. I mind that you came home to nothing and no one, facing destitution, and I mind that to earn a living you had to scrub my floors and put up with my vile temper…”
His voice came to a shaky halt and he held her tight, trembling with emotion. After a time, he stopped shaking, his grip altered and his mouth came down over hers, infinitely gentle, infinitely loving. “I give you my word, Kate, that you will never again suffer hunger, fear, pain or loneliness, not while I am alive to prevent it. And I vow to dedicate the rest of my life to loving and protecting you.”
She was weak with relief and joy. “And I to you, my love,” she whispered. It was all she had time to say before his mouth came down over hers again.
After a long, tender interval, he added, “Besides which, it is my firm belief—” he moved against her in an unmistakably erotic fashion, his face coming alive with wicked humour “—my very firm belief, that virginity has absolutely no place in marriage.”
Distracted by the feelings engendered by his movement, Kate was a little slow in realising his meaning, but gradually she became aware of his wickedly quizzing look, the laughter, and deep, passionate love and acceptance in his eyes. In relief she began to giggle, and his lazy chuckle joined hers as he swept her into his arms and hugged her tightly against him.
After a time, Kate pulled his chin down so she could look him in the eye. There was a hint of mischief in the loving look she gave him. “So you promise to love and protect me always…”
“Always, sweetheart.”
“And to make sure I never go hungry again?”
“Of course.”
“And kill spiders for me.”
“As many as you want.”
“And never make me scrub your floors.”
“Baggage!” He flicked her nose teasingly. “If you recall, it was not my idea in the first place.”
She nodded wisely. “Oh, yes. I recall now. You prefer your floors dirty.”
A low mock-growl and a swift, hard kiss was her only answer.
“And you promise I will never have to put up with your ‘vile temper’ again?” She reached up and curled a lock of dark hair around and around her finger until it was held tight. She gave it a little tug to make her point.
A baleful look from glittering blue eyes made her giggle.
“That depends,” he said sternly.
“On what, dearest?” she murmured, fluttering her lashes innocently.
“Oh, on such things as whether coffee pots and vases remain on tables or come flying through the air.”
She dimpled. “Oh, I do not know if I can possibly promise such a thing. Coffee pots are so unpredictable, you know.”
“Mmm,” he agreed dryly. “I see it will take me at least twenty or thirty years to understand the ways of coffee pots.”
“Oh, no,” she said dulcetly.
He looked quizzically down at her. His heart thudded at the blatant adoration that poured from her eyes.
“Much longer than that, my darling, much, much longer,” she murmured, reaching up and pulling his mouth down to hers.
EPILOGUE
“Oh, mind you do not drop me, you wretch!”
“Silence, baggage! And stop that infernal wriggling or I will!”
