Lady Incognita (25 page)

  There was something she had to know first. Louisa looked into his eyes. “What Jersey said - about women of experience - you didn’t deny it.”

Atherton’s face darkened again. “I am no innocent, Louisa. But I intend to be a
real
husband. What Jersey said was true, before. It isn’t true any longer.”

She was satisfied by that. “But Lord Harvey...”

“We will simply forestall him, my love. I shall go to Alvanley and announce your discovery, thus winning my wager.”

“But the talk...!”

Atherton laughed. “You are behaving like a ninny again. Let the
ton
talk. I will win my wager
and
gain a bride. And I will also become more eccentric.”

Louisa felt herself giving way to his arguments. How could she help succumbing to such a man?

“You have led me quite a merry chase, my pet,” said Atherton cheerfully, his arm tightening around her.

“I?”

“You. Haven’t you sense enough to know when a man is dangling after you? Compliments, frequent calls, my interest in your siblings, bringing my sister, all that talk about heroes. My God, woman, what did you think I was doing?”

Louisa flushed.

“Come on, out with it,” commanded the Viscount with mock severity.

“I thought you were amusing yourself. I didn’t know ...”

“Louisa.” Atherton’s eyed bored into hers. “When we waltzed. Didn’t you know?”

“I thought I did. But ... but I couldn’t believe it. Philip, you have forgotten. I am just a plain miss with no dower.”

His lordship’s eyes sparkled. “I believe you are mistaken. You are Lady Incognita. What better dower can a man ask? If bad times come upon us - if my proclivity toward gaming should suddenly increase - you can again take up your pen.”

Louisa chuckled. “I know you better now than to believe that you would waste your substance in foolish gaming, especially now that you will have a great many dependants.” She paused, obviously struck by the thought of this addition-al expense. “Really, Philip, perhaps I should continue to write. There are so many of us.”

Atherton laughed and ruffled her hair. “You may write if you choose, but I imagine that I can handle your entire household, including the twenty-five cats.”

  With this he drew her tenderly into his arms and kissed her long and thoroughly. As they drew apart, several giggles sounded from the doorway.

“Come in here, you scamps,” ordered the Viscount. “We have something to tell you.”

Betsy’s eyes danced. “I knew it! I knew it! That first day at the abbey I knew it. You’re Louisa’s hero.”

Atherton chuckled. “You have sharp eyes, Betsy, very sharp. Your sister and I will be married - very shortly.”

“Oh!” Betsy squealed in delight. “How wonderful. How absolutely wonderful. And I shall see Apricot.”

Harry, who had advanced into the room and was staring at the sight of his idol with his arm around his sister, was driven by this strange phenomenon to ask suddenly, “Is that the behavior of a gentleman, sir?”

Atherton, pulling Louisa even closer to him, chuckled. “In this case, my boy, it is. But it is also the direct result of my bump of amativeness. You are somewhat young yet for instruction in this area, but there will be ample time now and your ‘gentleman’ lessons should advance famously once you are living with me.”

Harry, whose ideas of heroes and matrimony were much slighter than Betsy’s, now had something firm to get ahold of. “Oh, indeed, sir. They will.”

“Fine,” said Atherton. “And now, if you will just run off and tell the aunts and Winky and anyone else you can think of - I have something to discuss with your sister.”

Obediently the children turned to the door, but long before it closed behind them, Atherton had pulled her to him and was kissing her sweetly. Oh, thought Louisa, as she nestled even closer to the man she loved, thank God, heroes did exist.

Copyright © 1980 by Nina Coombs Pykare

Originally published by Curley Large Print (ISBN 0792702298)

Electronically published in 2008 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

     http://www.RegencyReads.com

     Electronic sales: [email protected]

This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.