Loving Protector (15 page)

“Escape?” Brook had crossed the room
without her realizing. He pulled her into his arms. “Don’t you know that I’ve
been in your captivity since the first day I met you? I don’t want to escape. I
love you, Calista. I have loved you from the moment I opened the carriage door
and saw your brave, beautiful face glaring at me, determined to face your
attacker head on. That was the woman I fell in love with. The same woman who
stood up to my father.” He stroked her hair. “I think that you have been so
overshadowed by Blanche’s personality all these years, so convinced that she is
better than you that you really have no idea how much more beautiful you are.”

He loved her! It was all she had ever
wanted to hear. “You said that the Earl of Garton’s taste was for homely
women.”

“You did not see his first wife…”

“But he wanted to marry me.”

“Then he showed some rare good taste.”

“That was very well saved,” said
Calista, with a wicked grin, “but I know what you said about him preferring
homely women.”

“Well, perhaps you do give off a homely
air sometimes, with that innocent face of yours.” He kissed her neck and
laughed softly. “But he has not seen you as I’ve seen you.”

She blushed and hid her head in his
shoulder. To say how intimate they had been over the past couple of days, she
suddenly felt as if everything between them was brand new, even the intimacy.
“I’m glad you saved me from him,” she whispered. “I could not bear to think…”

Brook held her closer still, and she was
aware of his lips tightening. “No, neither can I, so do not even think of it.
You’re mine, and I promise I will protect you. Not in the disgusting way you
thought, but as my wife, as my love.”

“And I’ll protect you too.”

“I have no doubt about that my little
Boadicea.”

The End