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“How so?”
Crispin sighed with the shame he must admit to. “My job was to seduce the ladies by any means possible.”
“Oh.” Maggie’s brows drew together in confusion and then widened. “Oh!” Her gaze dropped from his. “Oh.”
“I am not proud of my actions, nor can I explain why I stayed. Other than I had no clue any other life was possible. Also, my mother had secured our fate each time she borrowed money and never paid Lady L back.”
Maggie listened to Crispin’s explanation. She raised her head and met his eyes. She saw his suffering and shame and wanted to soothe him. But she couldn’t. He must do so on his own. No matter how much his time with other women bothered her, it was before she met him. She wouldn’t condemn him for his past actions. His behavior from this day forth was all that mattered.
“I am sorry for the life your mother forced you to live. Sometimes it is the actions of our past that shape the person we are today. And you, Crispin Dracott, show proof of someone who has overcome the ghosts of his past.”
“Not completely, but I will continue to fight them for you,” Crispin swore.
“And the secret you wish for me to keep?” Maggie asked.
“Graham has asked me to search for a lady. She is a friend of mine from my past, and I cannot betray her.”
“She is special to you,” Maggie didn’t ask but stated.
“Yes. Not the way you assume. Lady L brought her into the organization when she was young. I looked out for her. Became her protector. ‘Tis all.”
She frowned. “Then why not let Graham help her?”
“Because Lady Langdale will never release her from her clutches without some sort of retaliation. Lady L seeks her revenge against Ravencroft and me because we helped her escape. We even found her a secure place to hide. Only my mother saw her and betrayed her to Lady Langdale.”
“Was she the girl at your lodgings the other night?”
“You saw her?”
Maggie laughed. “Ironic, is it not? She dresses like a boy like I do.”
Crispin nodded. “One of many of her disguises.”
“What is her name?”
“Ren.” Crispin paused. “Sabrina.”
“That is a pretty name for a pretty girl,” Maggie commented.
“Ren is a friend, nothing more,” Crispin insisted.
“I believe you. But why must we keep her a secret?”
“Because I promised her I would. She is my inside source for information. Ren has promised to inform me of Lady L’s moves.”
“Why won’t you tell Graham about her?”
“Because your brother’s intent with Ren does not lie with the investigation, but concerns a personal interest. He is unaware of the many facets of Ren.”
Maggie’s lips puckered. “He wishes to act as a rake. Well then, this is one secret I will enjoy keeping from him.”
Crispin roared with laughter at her mischievous vindictiveness. Maggie’s eyes widened, and she covered his mouth with her hand. In response, he slowly drew each finger into his mouth. Maggie sighed at the wondrous sensation. She hoped Reese would procure them a special license because she couldn’t last much longer without having Crispin make love to her.
Soon Crispin’s lips were upon hers once more. Soft, slow kisses consumed them. Each time their passion built to a higher level, Crispin would pull back and whisper his intentions into her ear of how he would love her once they married. A day Maggie eagerly waited for.
She never imagined her season would end with a marriage. She only thought to pacify her mother and return home to Worthington Hall after the season ended, to idle her days away on horseback. Instead, she had fallen for a man who made her whole, a soul mate to spend an eternity with. While her family protected her from the harsh realities of life and gave her all the love a girl could ever wish for, the life Crispin led was the complete opposite. Maggie hoped to gift him the happiness he deserved.
Crispin watched Maggie fall asleep, and his hold tightened. She made his heart skip a beat even while she slept. He never wanted to let her go. He didn’t think he would ever find someone to love him with the baggage he carried from his past and the demons he had to fight to stay sane. But Maggie surprised him at every turn. Her openness to love without fear amazed him. He never knew what to expect from her and he eagerly waited for tomorrow to see where their love would lead them. Crispin may never deserve Maggie, but he would cherish and love her with all his heart each and every day.
It took a gentle soul to love one whose past had scarred them greatly.
