Never Courted, Suddenly Wed (33 page)

Christopher continued, interrupting her musings. “Lady Cowper was quite apologetic about the whole affair. She wanted me to convey my sincerest regrets and the assurance that her brother will no longer contribute to
Lady Ackerly’s Tattle Sheet
.”

A laugh worked its way up her throat, and spilled from her lips. “Surely you jest.”

“Oh, no. Not at all. She did, however, agree to have her brother publish a final piece.”

“Final piece?” she asked, her tone leery to her own ears.
 

Christopher removed the papers from her hands, and set them down. Then, he raised her knuckles to his lips, placing a gentle, lingering kiss upon them. “I would have arrived sooner if I’d not spent several hours with Lady Cowper. She transcribed the final column.”

He reached into his jacket and withdrew another parchment—a copy of
Lady Ackerly’s Tattle Sheet
.

The Earl of W has fallen hopelessly and helplessly in love with his stunningly beautiful, musically gifted, outrageously witty wife, Lady W. It is his fondest wish that he can someday find himself worthy of her love
.

A single tear streaked down her cheek. Then another. And another. Falling in a slow, waterfall upon the words until the black ink had smudged. She dashed a hand across her cheeks. “I’ve ruined it,” she managed between little gasps of air.

He winked. “There will be many other copies. It goes to publication tomorrow.”

“Oh, Christopher, you don’t have to do this.” His social image had always mattered a great deal to him. That he would willingly humble himself on her account filled her with a growing warmth. “I know you love me. Truly.”

His smile grew, displaying the even row of pearl- white teeth. “Good, Phi. But I’m still having it printed.”

“You silly, silly man.” She reached up and placed another kiss upon his lips.

“Should we have
Lady Ackerly’s Tattle Sheet
print that? Lord W, a silly, silly…”

“Christopher?”

“Yes, Phi?”

“Be quiet, and kiss me.”

“As you wish.”

And he proceeded to do just that.

Epilogue

Christopher stroked the top of Duke’s slumbering head. The pug let out a loud snore, his flat nose sprayed Christopher with bits of moisture. “You really are foul. Don’t tell your mistress I said as much.” The dog continued sleeping. “Not all the time,” Christopher amended. “There are times you are quite nice. I shan’t admit it to anyone. Not even your mistress.”

“Christopher, are you talking to Duke?”

His hand froze mid-motion. His gaze flew to the entrance of the room.

Sophie stood framed in the doorway, a grin playing about her luscious red lips.

“Uh, no. Not at all. I was just…”He sighed. “Talking to Duke.”

She made an X across her heart. “Your secret shall not leave this room.”

His eyes fell to the newspaper in her hands. “What do you have there, sweet Phi?”

“This?” she said, breezily. “Oh, it is just a copy of
Lady Ackerly’s Tattle Sheet
.”

His brows narrowed. By God, Lady Cowper had insisted her brother would cease dragging Sophie’s name through the paper. She’d given him her word as a lady.

“Might I read you the latest piece?”

A growl worked its way up his throat. He stood with such speed, Duke nearly tumbled to the floor. Christopher caught the pup, and set him down on the leather chair they’d occupied. Duke nestled into the folds of the winged-chair and fell promptly back to sleep. “What has he printed now?”

Sophie opened the page. She smoothed a finger over it.

“Lady W has fallen hopelessly and helplessly in love with Lord W, her magnificently handsome, intensely loyal, exceedingly clever husband. He has always been worthy of her love.”

He crossed the room to take her in his arms but she danced out of his reach. “I thought it would be far too scandalous to print that which I truly wished to write.”

He chuckled and this time swept her into his arms. “What is that?” he murmured. His lips found the sensitive place where her neck met her ear.

“Mmm, you do know it is hard for me to think when you do that?”

His mouth momentarily hovered above her flesh. “I do.” Christopher proceeded to kiss her.

“Aren’t you just the bit curious as to what I wanted to print?” she whispered, angling her head to allow him better access.

“Somewhat.”

A breathy little moan escaped her. “I never would print it. I was merely trying to shock you.”

“Were you?” he moved his attention to the corner of her lips.

“I…I can’t talk. When. You’re. Kissing. Me,” she said between his kisses.

“That is the idea, Phi.”

“I really thought you’d like to know.”

Christopher rested his brow against hers. The sooner his wife said her piece, the sooner he could resume making love to her. “What is it you thought I’d like to know?”

“I’m in the family way.”

Christopher blinked. His heart froze, suspended in his chest, and then picked up a fast, steady beat. “Phi?” he whispered. Since he’d wed Sophie, he’d often considered what it would be to have young, precocious daughters with her golden tresses and cornflower eyes, who had a special love for troublesome pugs.

Worry creased her brow. “I thought you might be happy with the news. Was I…?”

Her words ended on a breathy laugh when he swept her into his arms, and twirled her in a circle. Duke, alerted to the merriment around him, leapt from his seat and bounded over to them. He nipped at Christopher’s boots.

Christopher stopped abruptly, and set Sophie down. “Christ. I’m sorry. Have I hurt you?” He ran his hands along her arms, inspecting her for injury.

Sophie pointed her eyes to the ceiling. “I’m not injured, Christopher. I’m merely expecting.”

Duke barked.

Christopher bent down and scooped him up. “Do you hear that, boy? You’re going to have a sister.”

“I imagined you would desire an heir.”

He trailed his gaze along every precious line of her face, remembering back many, many years ago, to the time he’d been a small boy and she a mere babe. “It doesn’t matter whether it is a boy or girl,” he said. “All that matters is that the child is a piece of you. He or she will have your indomitable spirit. Your kind heart.”

“Hopefully not my penchant for trouble,” she said, wryly.

Christopher imagined a house with a gaggle of children running after a litter of fawn-colored pups and grinned.

He couldn’t imagine anything he’d love more.

The End

Biography

Christi Caldwell blames Judith McNaught's "Whitney, My Love!" for luring her into the world of historical romance. While sitting in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut, Christi decided to set aside her notes and pick up her laptop to try her hand at romance. She believes the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections, and she rather enjoys torturing them before crafting them a well-deserved happily ever after! 

Christi makes her home in southern Connecticut where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances and being a full-time wife and mother!

Visit
www.christicaldwellauthor.com
to learn more about what Christi is working on, or join her on Facebook at Christi Caldwell Author.

Other Books by Christi Caldwell

Winning a Lady’s Heart (A Danby novella)

Author's Note: This is a novella that was originally available in A Summons From The Castle (The Regency Christmas Summons Collection). It is being published as an individual novella.

For Lady Alexandra, being the source of a cold, calculated wager is bad enough...but when it is waged by Nathaniel Michael Winters, 5th Earl of Pembroke, the man she's in love with, it results in a broken heart, the scandal of the season, and a summons from her grandfather--the Duke of Danby.

To escape Society's gossip, she hurries to her meeting with the duke, determined to put memories of the earl far behind. Except the duke has other plans for Alexandra...plans which include the 5th Earl of Pembroke!

A Season of Hope (A Danby novella)

Five years ago when her love, Marcus Wheatley, failed to return from fighting Napoleon’s forces, Lady Olivia Foster buried her heart. Unable to betray Marcus’s memory, Olivia has gone out of her way to run off prospective suitors. At three and twenty she considers herself firmly on the shelf. Her father, however, disagrees and accepts an offer for Olivia’s hand in marriage. Yet it’s Christmas, when anything can happen…

Olivia receives a well-timed summons from her grandfather, the Duke of Danby, and eagerly embraces the reprieve from her betrothal.

Only, when Olivia arrives at Danby Castle she realizes the Christmas season represents hope, second chances, and even miracles.

Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride

Hopeless romantic Lady Emmaline Fitzhugh is tired of sitting with the wallflowers, waiting for her betrothed to come to his senses and marry her. When Emmaline reads one too many reports of his scandalous liaisons in the gossip rags, she takes matters into her own hands.

War-torn veteran Lord Drake devotes himself to forgetting his days on the Peninsula through an endless round of meaningless associations. He no longer wants to feel anything, but Lady Emmaline is making it hard to maintain a state of numbness. With her zest for life, she awakens his passion and desire for love.

The one woman Drake has spent the better part of his life avoiding is now the only woman he needs, but he is no longer a man worthy of his Emmaline. It is up to her to show him the healing power of love.

Never Courted, Suddenly Wed

Christopher Ansley, Earl of Waxham, has constructed a perfect image for the
ton
--the ladies love him and his company is desired by all. Only two people know the truth about Waxham’s secret. Unfortunately, one of them is Miss Sophie Winters.

Sophie Winters has known Christopher since she was in leading strings. As children, they delighted in tormenting each other. Now at two and twenty, she still has a tendency to find herself in scrapes, and her marital prospects are slim.

When his father threatens to expose his shame to the
ton
, unless he weds Sophie for her dowry, Christopher concocts a plan to remain a bachelor. What he didn't plan on was falling in love with the lively, impetuous Sophie. As secrets are exposed, will Christopher’s love be enough when she discovers his role in his father’s scheme?

Uninterrupted Joy: Memoir: My Journey through Infertility, Pregnancy, and Special Needs

The following journey was never intended for publication. It was written from a mother, to her unborn child. The words detailed her struggle through infertility and the joy of finally being pregnant. A stunning revelation at her son's birth opened a world of both fear and discovery. This is the story of one mother's love and hope and... her quest for uninterrupted joy.