Page 75 of Only Pleasure Will Do

“So I will tell you, Verwood, in strictest confidence so that you do not doubt in the slightest that Miss Forrester is anyone other than who she says she is. I can tell you, with authority, that she could not have been here in London posing as Amorina Vestry these last six years.” Reginald caught the eye of Dalbury and raised his chin. “Because she has been in the country that entire time, raising our daughter.”

Maddy gasped, her heart thumping so hard she thought it might escape her chest. What was Reginald saying? She stared up at him as though she’d never seen him before.

“Sir Reginald!” His face pulled into a grotesque mask of displeasure, Lord Dalbury started toward him, but Reginald put out a hand to ward him off.

“I cannot have Lord Verwood doubting Miss Forrester, even a tiny bit, my lord. He needs to know the truth.” Reginald put his arm around Maddy, and she relaxed into his comforting warmth. “I met Miss Forrester at her father’s estate some seven years ago. We fell irrevocably in love, but she was too young to marry and I was a mere Runner at the time. We hoped to wait until she was of age and I had the means to provide for her, but her father died unexpectedly. After she removed to her guardian’s home in London, we discovered she was carrying a child.” He gazed down at Maddy and squeezed her hand. “My child.”

She stiffened, suddenly confused about why Reginald would lie about such a thing. Of course, he’d already spoken falsehood after falsehood, but this one… Shifting subtly, she leaned her head back to stare up at him, making her puzzlement clear to him. “My dear, what—”

“It’s all right, my love. I believe we can trust Lord Verwood with our story.”

A slight shake of his head and she subsided. She’d trusted him with her life before now. Certainly he would protect her from the viscount and his scathing gossip.

“So for six years we have waited for our fortunes to change. And they did when Sir Peter Fitch died so…suddenly. Now Miss Forrester, who had incurred the severe enmity of her guardians as soon as they were told about the child, could claim her inheritance.”

Lord Dalbury’s countenance would not have instilled confidence in anyone at the moment. He absolutely glowered at Reginald, who ignored the irate marquess and continued his tale.

“By great good luck, at about the same time, I was promoted to magistrate at Bow Street and so Miss Forrester and I began to make plans to wed. However, Lord and Lady Dalbury so graciously offered their chaperonage for Miss Forrester to have the debut she’d not been able to have before.” He smiled directly at Dalbury. “We truly wish to thank you, my lord, for all your help in this endeavor.”

Pausing only to kiss Maddy’s hand, Reginald continued. “So we now come to tonight’s festivities. Indeed, the entire week is to be Miss Forrester’s time to shine. And at the end of it, we will announce our betrothal officially, with the wedding to take place in another two weeks’ time.” He turned to Maddy. “If that is quite acceptable to you, my dear. You have been so busy with all the preparations I’ve not had the chance to tell you of my plan.” Gazing deeply into her eyes, he asked, “Will that be suitable, do you think? Our marriage to occur in so short a period of time?”

Heart bursting with happiness, Maddy seized his arm. “I would be happy were it to occur this very minute, my dear. We have waited for this moment for so long.”

Taking both her hands, he beamed back at her. “Not very much longer now.”

“Ahem.” Lord Dalbury cleared his throat loudly. “If you are finished baring your soul, Sir Reginald, perhaps we can go find Lady Dalbury and give her the news. She will wish to begin planning the wedding breakfast at once, I am certain. Come, Verwood. You look as though you could use a drink.”

“Yes, my lord.” The viscount looked as though he might need many more than one. He kept looking askance at Maddy and Reginald, even as Dalbury took his arm and steered him back up the veranda, the other gentlemen chuckling as they followed along. “But I wish to put you straight, my lord. I was fooled by the lady. She looks exceedingly like Madam…er…that other woman. Laughs just like her as well.”

“Another case like Foxhill and Crosby’s footman, man. As like as though they’d come from the same mold. Strangest thing. Got to be careful, though. Such mistakes can end up rather badly sometimes, eh, Verwood?” The gentlemen continued toward the French doors, leaving the veranda to Maddy and Reginald alone.

Taking her arm, Reginald walked them down to the end of the porch, out of the light of the sconce. “I should have given you more warning what I intended to do, my dear. But I saw the opportunity to secure our happiness for once and for all and I had to take it.”

“I do not mind at all, love.” She leaned against his strong chest, content as she had not been in weeks. “I have said for the past weeks that all I wished to do was marry you. But Lord and Lady Dalbury were so adamant that I go through with the debut and establish my respectability. They would not listen to me.” His lips grazed her head and she shivered at the intimacy she had been craving with this man alone.

“Now they will have no choice, for our story will be gossiped about for weeks in the social circles.” Reginald kissed the back of her ear, making her gasp with pleasure. “You will receive some little censure, I suspect, for delivering a child without benefit of marriage, but when we do wed, that will likely be completely forgiven. As long as the proprieties are eventually served, Society’s memories are notoriously short lived.”

“But how will they get the story? Do you think Duncan will put it about?”

“No, never. He and Kat had their own scheme, I suspect, to bring us together in the end. Much as they have grumbled about our marrying, I believe they have condoned it all along.”

She peered up at him, drinking in the sight of the handsome face she’d been denied so long. “But if Duncan won’t tell, who will?”

“Verwood, of course.” He gently pulled her back to him, commencing to kiss her neck, raising goose flesh all over her body. “I knew I could trust him to spread the word as soon as he was back in the ballroom. So when he is believed, everyone will take it as truth that you have been in the country raising our daughter for the past six years.”

“If only that were true, Reginald.” That would be the perfect happy ending to this sorry tale.

“As far as I am concerned, my love, it is true.” He slipped his arms around her waist, holding her while he turned her to face him. “Society will accept it as such and there is no one who can refute that I am the father if I admit it and acknowledge Pearl. She will grow up as Miss Matthews, along with our other children, and take her place beside them, with her head held high.” He kissed her lips, softly, swiftly. “So I fear you are rather stuck with me, Maddy. If you intended to accept another gentleman, you may yet become the scandal of the Season for jilting me.”

“Oh, no, Sir Reginald.” She slid her arms up around his neck until she stood on tiptoe. “You have admitted to compromising me and actually proposed to me in front of witnesses, one of whom is acting as my guardian. Do you honestly think you will get away now?”

“I wouldn’t dream of trying, my love.”

She pulled herself up, draping her body against his, and kissed his waiting lips. The softness of his mouth she remembered well. Even stronger, though, was the absolute hunger that surged through her, urging her to throw caution to the wind, pull him off the veranda and behind one of the topiary bushes still standing. If they crouched just a little, they might be able to—

“I knew I should come back to fetch you two.” Dalbury’s amused voice broke her train of thought, and just as well. She’d hate to have ruined this lovely gown with grass and dirt. “What exactly is this, Miss Forrester?”

At last, she reluctantly broke the kiss and turned to Dalbury. “Insurance, my lord.” She grinned at him. “This is the one I refuse to let get away.”