Mary Blayney (54 page)

Epilogue

M
ICHAEL WATCHED
Olivia putter about their vicarage bedroom. He wondered if she did it to tease him or because she truly could not settle to bed without being sure that everything was in its place. He never complained. It was such a pleasure, anticipating that moment when she would come lie beside him.

She was as adventurous in lovemaking as she was with food. He thanked God for it every day. And every night he hoped that God was not shocked at how much they enjoyed each other. No matter what new ways they found to tease and tempt, it always ended the same. Want became need and loving each other was the only thing that mattered.

Olivia blew out that last candle and replaced it with a new one. Once under the covers, she drummed her feet to loosen the covers, never mind that by the time they went to sleep they would be loosened enough.

“Now, tell me, Michael, where did you find Reverend Drummond?” She was lying on her side, watching his profile.

Michael stared at the canopy so that he was not too distracted to answer his wife. “He was in the haunted room in the old castle, talking to the air.”

“Or the ghost.”

“I knew you would say that, and Mrs. Blackford agrees with you.” He glanced at her. Just a glance. Her eyes had a devilish glint and he found he gave in to this temptation so easily.

“I spent some time discussing whether he wished to give the sermon this week, and after that he asked if I had decided what to do with the extra loaves and fishes. I assume he was referring to the Gospel feeding of the multitudes and assured him it was all taken care of. When I left to come back here, he was in the castle chapel at his prayers.”

She leaned closer and kissed his bare shoulder. “You are so kind to him. Thank you. He seems to be content?”

“Yes, it was inspired of the duke to suggest that he move to the castle and act as chaplain.”

“A pocket miracle,” Olivia reminded him.

“Yes, it was.”

This was another part of their evening ritual. If it had been his idea that they share a bed, for the first few months at least, it was Olivia who always had a dozen questions for him before they kissed each other good night.

He would grumble that it kept them from what they wanted to do most, but in time he had his own questions. As Olivia pointed out, in bed they had each other’s complete attention.

“Olivia, have you heard anything more? Where is Jess now?”

“Still in Sussex.” She flopped onto her back and reached over to take his hand beneath the covers. At least he thought it was his hand she was reaching for. “It will be almost a year since he left London. At least now we have a place to send letters. He is helping Gabriel, and after that he is off to see Rhys Braedon and his family.”

“Does Rhys Braedon gamble?”

“No, so far Jess has avoided the gaming and will tell no one why. He can be so exasperating. You think
I
am impulsive? Jess has made it an art.”

“At least you know why your letters never reached him.”

She let go of his hand and moved so that he could reach out and pull her close.

“Michael, did David tell you where Lyn is these days?”

“In France at the moment. He will be back in time for Parliament.”

She buried her face in his chest. “He will grieve for a long time, Michael, but I am hoping that he will marry again.”

The thought of losing his wife, as the duke had, kept Michael silent a moment. He could not imagine the pain if he lost Olivia. Grief was too tame a word.

“So, my dear.” He turned to face her, with only a few inches of white linen between them. “Where are Michael and Olivia?”

“In bed together.” She answered him cautiously, biting back a smile.

He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her nose and her mouth. “Then, tell me, why are we talking about other people?”

Olivia fell back from him. She threw her arms out and her bare breasts peeked out from her unbuttoned nightgown. “Michael, why are we talking at all?”

Author’s Note

THE RESEARCH for
Lover’s Kiss
was wide and varied and, as always, lots of fun. Lady Olivia’s obsession with food was not the norm in Regency England, especially among the ton, and for the daughter of a duke, it was unheard of. It is proof of her singular passion that Olivia made a place for herself in the kitchen. Her position followed her even there, as she did not cook for the household but pursued her own interests.

The briefly mentioned historical figure, Antoine Carême, is considered to be the first celebrity chef. He trained under Talleyrand and worked for Napoleon, the tsar, the Prince Regent and the Rothschilds. How lucky for me that his year in England actually did coincide with Olivia’s one London Season.

Bendasbrook makes his appearance in this book with a nod to the superb science fiction writer Lois McMaster Bujold. He is my version of one of the best characters in all of fiction—Miles Vorkosigan.

Elaine Fox, friend and writer, deserves endless thanks for her willingness to brainstorm and read and comment and critique. Lavinia Klein and Marsha Nuccio are right up there with Elaine. They are, as Marsha calls our group, Lifesavers.

Anke Fontaine helped with Troy’s movements and any horse-related details, especially whether even a genius horse could fit through a cottage door. Thanks also to Kalen Hughes for her expertise on so many things Regency, and to Pam Rosenthal and Tracy Grant for their willingness to share information on the subject of habeas corpus, barely mentioned in this book but of great importance then and now. And to Evelyn Payson for her help with Anglican Church history and details, several of which I stretched for the purposes of the story. The Beau Monde chapter of RWA is a group of talented women who are endlessly generous with their knowledge. Thank you.

Finally thanks to my husband, Paul, who will eat whatever is put in front of him, or find his own dinner, and to my editor, Shauna Summers, and her assistant, Jessica Sebor, whose input and support make any project better.

About the Author

MARY BLAYNEY lives in southern Maryland within sight of the Chesapeake Bay, an hour from Washington, D.C., where she was born and lived a good part of her life. In an area filled with history, her favorite events are millions of years apart. The Battle of St. Leonard Creek—the first step toward the attack on the Capital in 1814—took place a few miles from her home. Each year the event is reenacted and a bit of the period she loves so much comes to life. The Calvert Cliffs are filled with fossils millions of years old, many of which can be found on the beach nearby. When not distracted by the beach or the history of the area, Mary spends her time making up the history of the Pennistan family. Her next book for Bantam Dell is in the works now. For more information on her career and previous books, check her website at
MaryBlayney.com
.

TRAITOR’S KISS/LOVER’S KISS

A Bantam Book / November 2008

Published by
Bantam Dell

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York

These are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved

TRAITOR’S KISS copyright © 2008 by Mary Blayney

LOVER’S KISS copyright © 2008 by Mary Blayney

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eISBN: 978-0-553-90570-0

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