The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(171)

She backed away in horrified loathing, raising the candlestick even higher.



Realizing his mistake, he abruptly fixed his pleasant smile on his face once more, and declared in a more normal tone, "My apologies, Lady Elizabeth. My overwhelming love for you can be my only excuse for this appalling display."



He bowed to her stiffly, and pulled open the door to leave just as Thomas was entering.



The Duke stared at his wide-eyed sister clutching the candlestick and demanded, "I say, is everything all right, Elizabeth?"



"F-f-fine, fine, we were just clearing the air," she said quickly. "Goodbye, and farewell."



"Goodbye." Fitzsimmons nodded to them both and left.



Elizabeth heaved a huge sigh of relief. She put the bronze candelabrum back on the table.



"Was he very angry?" Thomas asked softly.



She shrugged, not daring to tell him what the degenerate had said and tried to do. She was sure even her rational-minded brother would kill him with his bare hands.



"He was rather upset, and said some hurtful things. Nothing to worry about. I shall be safely wed to Will soon, so there isn't anything he can possibly do about it anyway."



Thomas smiled and nodded, satisfied with his sister's explanation. "That's right. Just forget about him and his sour grapes, and concentrate on your wonderful future with Will, and being happy."



He led her out the door to say goodnight to her guests, and go to bed to try to sleep after the thrilling events of the evening.



But Elizabeth knew now that there was more to Marcus Fitzsimmons than met the eye, and shivered every time she thought of what he had tried to do, what he had said, how he had looked. And what on earth had he meant about Will…



She shoved her uneasy thoughts to one side, hugging her certainty of Will's powerful love to her heart like a warm blanket.





Marcus Fitzsimmons stormed down the drive of the Manor, cursing with every step. The little slut… But this was not over, not by a long chalk. In fact, it could turn out even better than he had hoped.



He had a long memory, and would neither forget, nor forgive. He could bide his time and wait. His fortunes would be changing soon enough, even beyond anything he could ever have hoped for in marriage.



His revenge would be even more sweet when he got hold of Will's property right along with his beautiful young widow Elizabeth. And then that bitch would pay for making him look such a fool in front of everyone. Pay dearly….





Chapter Nineteen



The next three days were a whirlwind of wedding preparations and decisions being made with all possible cooperation between the two families.



Will was such a happy man that he would have agreed to getting married in a lime green coat and kilt if that was what Elizabeth wanted.



Fortunately, she was much more moderate in her requests, and told him to wear whatever he liked. The vicar Mr. Locke was only too pleased to preside. There would be no time for Jonathan Deveril to come over specially, even were the newlywed vicar and his wife willing to travel so far.



Will and Thomas finished their business with the nuptial agreement very quickly, and Will re-wrote his will to reflect his new state. Their only sticking point was where they were to live, for Will said he did not like anyone to think that he was marrying her for Ellesmere Manor.



But Elizabeth pointed out reasonably that since the Joyce estate was in a poor state of repair there was no sense in being uncomfortable when they could live at the Manor and renovate the Hall at their leisure.



"I would really feel much better about being in our own home, our own suite of rooms that we mean to be going on with," Will said with a frown.



"But how much can you reasonably accomplish in three days?"



"A new roof, if I push them hard," he admitted.



She smiled tenderly. "Please, darling. I can understand your pride, and I love you for it, but I don't want to have to bivouac for my honeymoon."



He kissed her on the temple, and sighed. "All right, love. We will live here for the present. But I want us in our new home by the New Year."



"Fine. Now," she said in a whisper, "can I make a special request?"



"Name it."



"Can we please slip away and meet in the cave. I find I simply can't wait until—"



"No, darling, really," he said firmly. "It's dank, horrible and unsafe. The roof looks as though it night come in an any moment."



She made a moue of disappointment. "But we're never alone for a minute. I need—"



"There's one way to remedy that." He stood from the sofa and took her hand. "Parks, have you a pocket watch?"