Not Just a Governess (18 page)

The tears fell unchecked down Elena’s cheeks as she continued to gaze down into the dear beloved face of the wonderful gentleman whom she loved with all of her heart. The same gentleman who had stated several times how much he hated any public display, that he never intended to marry again, but who was now on bended knee in front of her
before many of the
ton
, as he asked her to become his wife.

And he asked in the full knowledge of what had been done to her. Indeed, he stated that her lack of innocence did not matter to him, that he loved her and wished to marry her.

Was it possible that she might accept? That she might become Adam’s wife, his to love, and for her to love him, for the rest of their lives?

She raised her eyes to look quickly across the room to where Ladies Cicely, Jocelyn and Edith stood together, three dear and beloved friends who knew all there was to know of her past, and whom Elena had come to deeply respect and love.

One by one they gave brief, approving nods, Lady Cicely’s accompanied by a glowing smile.

‘Elena, please…!’ Adam encouraged hoarsely.

She turned back to him, her fingers tightening about his. ‘I love you, Adam, and, yes, I will marry you—’ She got no further as Adam rose swiftly to his feet before sweeping her up into his arms and kissing her with all the hunger and longing she could ever have wanted.

One day later—the London home of Lady Cicely Hawthorne

‘S
o, Edith, Adam is to marry Elena as soon as the banns have been read, which now leaves only Royston’s future marriage to be settled.’ Lady Cicely could not stop smiling, thinking about her own grandson’s future nuptials.

‘And only weeks of the Season left in which to do it,’ Lady Jocelyn put in sympathetically.

‘Plenty of time,’ Lady Edith dismissed airily.

‘And are you still of a mind that it will be to the lady whose name is written on the piece
of paper you left in the care of Jocelyn’s butler?’ Lady Cicely looked doubtful.

‘I am more certain of it than ever.’ The dowager duchess gave an imperious nod of her regal head.

Eleanor—Ellie—Rosewood, stepniece and companion to the dowager duchess, and deeply in love herself with Justin St Just, felt her heart go cold at the determination she saw in that dear lady’s face…

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

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First published in Great Britain 2013
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

© Carole Mortimer 2013

eISBN: 978-1-472-00397-3