The Unmasking of Lady Loveless (5 page)

Alex tilted her face up to his. He looked shocked. “You
loved
me?”

“Oh, with a silly, girlish infatuation,” Melicent said, sighing. She took a deep breath. She could feel her heart beating in light, quick strokes at the risk she was about to take. But she had to tell him. She had never been less than honest before and she could not change now.

“I love you differently now,” she said hesitantly, playing with the edge of the sheet and avoiding his eyes. “I think I have grown up.”

There was a moment of absolute stillness, then Alex pulled her so tightly against him that she could barely breathe. “I love you, too, Melicent, and I will never hurt you again.” His voice shook a little. “I failed you so badly before, but if you can forgive me I will make sure that I never, ever do so in future.” He sighed. “Perhaps I have grown up, too.”

“I like our grown-up selves,” Melicent said, kissing him.

Alex rolled over and reached for his jacket. He took a long, flat package from the pocket and handed it to her. “I hesitate to give this to you, sweetheart, as they form part of yet another erotic adventure charted by the pen of the inimitable Lady Loveless, but when I bought them for you I swear I did not know.” He smiled at her. “The thing that should be important is that they are given with all my love.”

Melicent’s fingers trembled on the catch. “A Christmas gift given with love,” she whispered.

“Always,” Alex said, smiling.

Melicent opened the box. The pearls gleamed lush and pale on the bed of black velvet. She ran her fingers over them.

“Alex, they are so beautiful! Thank you.” She bit her lip. “I have nothing to give you in return—”

“Except your love,” Alex said, “which is more than I could ever deserve or ask for.”

After a suitably blissful interval, Melicent lowered her gaze modestly and a faint blush came into her cheek. “Alex,” she said, “what did Lady Loveless’s courtesan do with her pearls?”

“I’ll show you,” her husband said, drawing her back into his arms, and demonstrating with ardor just how much he adored her, as the Christmas night wrapped them in peace and love.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-2601-6

The Unmasking of Lady Loveless

Copyright © 2008 by Nicola Cornick

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