Carola Dunn (30 page)

He wanted her, desperately, and the only way to have and keep her was as his wife. What maggot had got into his head to make him swear he was not a marrying man?

“Nerissa, marry me!”

Three startled faces turned to him. Nerissa’s lips parted, her glorious grey eyes shone, she took a step towards him.

“Oh Miles, I thought you’d never ask!”

Fiercely he clasped her in his arms. “Say you will. I cannot live without you.”

She linked her hands behind his neck and said, half teasing, half fiercely earnest, “No more actresses?”

“I shall never so much as look at another one--except for my mama-in-law, of course.” In her ear he whispered, “‘The first inter’gatory that my Nerissa shall be sworn on is, whether till the next night she had rather stay, or go to bed now...’“

Blushing delightfully, she said with proper severity, “‘By heaven, I will ne’er come in your bed until I see the ring.’“

Miles laughed. “Raymond shall read our banns with his own, unless you had rather be married in York? Never mind that now.” Over her shoulder he saw Miss Sophie and Mr Harwood tactfully tiptoeing from the library. “Miss Sophie,” he called, “don’t you dare leave the house. We shall soon need you to play grandmother.”

“Dear Miles!” A youthful spring in her step, Sophie followed Mr Harwood out. As Miles pulled Nerissa even closer and their lips met, Sir Barnabas wiped a tear from his eye. “All’s Well that Ends Well,” he murmured.

Miles broke off their kiss to say in a wondering tone, “I should never have found you if it were not for the old bastard’s Will.”

“Sir!” said Nerissa saucily, putting her finger to his lips, “pray mind your tongue.”

He grinned. “Old dastard. Now don’t interrupt.”

Drifting upward above the entwined couple, the old dastard chuckled as he silently faded away.

Author’s Note: I have taken liberties with my use of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments. Translations available before Burton’s (1885) were in fact heavily expurgated to be suitable for the polite drawing room.

Copyright © 1995 by Carola Dunn

Originally published by Zebra (0821749110)

Electronically published in 2006 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are

fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.