The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(144)

But if he could pluck the rose and shred her petals, he would be able to convince them both that marriage even to him was preferable to her living the rest of her life labeled as a strumpet.



Fitzsimmons smiled into Elizabeth's face as he kissed her hand, bending down to get an eyeful of her cleavage. Then he sat on the sofa, his knees pressing against her thigh every so often as he feigned an interest in her needlework, all the while imagining all of the fascinating things she could do with her supple little hands, with those rosebud lips. His lap tingled at the prospect.



Elizabeth remained blissfully unaware of her companion's lascivious thoughts. Though they boiled and churned in his brain like an evil brew, his eyes were still the same flat pewter color, dirty water in a stagnant pool.



Yet he was most fulsome in his praises, and seemed to be going out of his way to make himself pleasant to the whole company, as well as herself.



Of course, he was not in the shadow of Parks, but graciously allowed himself to be eclipsed when the young man strode in a short time after Will with Stewart and Vevina and asked if they wanted to have a go at archery.



"We set up the butts this morning over at Clancar Castle. Everyone is welcome to come. That is, if you do not consider this a slight on your hospitality, Lady Elizabeth."



"No, not at all. A walk and some exercise will do us all good. Then we can come back here for dinner."



Fitzsimmons got up to let Parks sit, but he waved Will into the seat and went off to speak with Thomas and Charlotte.



Elizabeth smiled at each of the newcomers and made small talk about the ball, glancing every so often at Will, who was now sitting next to her, still dressed in unrelieved black apart from his shirt. She was just about to address him directly when his sister brought the children closer.



They held their arms out to him and he smiled at them in delight and embraced all three in his huge arms.



"Excuse me. I'll just take them off into a corner here so they won't disturb you."



She was about to say they would be no trouble at all, but he had already risen. Monroe took Will's place next to her and asked her if she would like to go riding with them all the following morning.



By the time she had agreed and they had arranged the details, Will was some distance away from her. She noted the children all climbing over him most affectionately. She could not help notice how very patient he was with them. He was also free once more of the usual guarded expression on his face.



Fitzsimmons saw where her gaze was resting, and misinterpreted her look. "Yes, awful little monkeys, aren't they?" he whispered. "Never still, always seeking attention. Children can be such dreadful things."



"On the contrary, I find children charming. Vevina's in particular. They seem very well behaved and very devoted to their family."



She stood up and went over to Will, seeing that he looked as though he were alarmed by something. She interpreted his white-lipped stiffness correctly, and hastened over to help little Arthur climb down to safety from off of his seemingly sore shoulder.



They stood closely, practically hip to hip. It was all Will had to do not to lay his head on her bosom and fit his body to hers. He had to content himself with his niece's and nephews' warm affection.



"They're very good children," she said with a smile.



"Yes, indeed. We are most blessed."



"Your niece and nephew are how old?"



"They are all of them my nephews, including Bob, but you're right. The twins turned two not long ago, and Jack is seven months older. Bob will be fifteen soon, so far as any of us can tell. He was a orphan raised in a poor house. He fell in with a gang of thieves and joined the army to keep out of prison, you see."



"Oh my."



"But he's the best of lads, aren't you, Bob."



Bob gave Will a big hug, and grabbed Elizabeth around the waist too. Then they were all tumbling down on the carpet, and began playing with the children's toy horses.



"No tin soldiers?" she commented to Will.



"Certainly not. No glorifying war with this lot. Or my own children either, if I'm ever fortune enough to marry and have any."



He should have said marry again, he knew, but he did not want to blurt out the whole story now. Not in front of so many people, not when she was kneeling on the carpet so near to him that he could just move his head two inches and…



"Really, Lady Elizabeth, your gown. It's much too lovely to ruin in so cavalier a manner," Fitzsimmons protested.



She shrugged. "It's only a dress. What matter that when there is so much fun to be had with such loving children?"



Arthur, seeing her arms outstretched, was so loving that he charged and knocked her flat. Will helped her up most carefully.