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“No. No!” The Marquess backed up, colliding with another of his bags that he had packed, knocking it off a table so that the contents spilled out over the floor. “You were going to let me go!” he complained as Constable Jones took hold of his wrists and forced the man to his knees, shackling his hands together.
James smiled a little, glad to see the man was to go to prison for what he had done.
“I’m a principled man, and I believe in discipline. A man commits a crime, he will pay for what he has done.” There was darkness in his tone, one that made the Marquess of Stanton hang his head.
CHAPTER21
Marina waited by the window for what felt like hours. Mrs. Viner came to keep her company for a while, and Mr. Pitt-Rivers brought her more than one pot of tea. She thanked them both for their kindness, but soon, she returned to staring out of the window, waiting for James to return.
When he eventually did, night had fallen. His grey steed was only just noticeable in the darkness as he rode at a canter up the driveway. Marina leapt from her chair, hurrying out of the room, and raced to the door. Mr. Pitt-Rivers had emerged to answer the door, but seeing her beat him, he smiled and retreated.
Marina flung the door open, leaning on the frame as she watched James jump down from his horse. He looked tired, his body not quite standing straight as he passed the steed’s reins into the stable boy’s waiting hands then approached the house.
“Marina.” His voice was deep as he walked. “It is done.”
“He has been arrested?” she asked, jittery as she waited for his answer.
“He has.” James nodded and reached for her, kissing her lips quickly. She returned that kiss, her hands easily finding the tops of his arms and clinging to him. “He will not be bothering us again.” When he parted to say the words, there was a quiet somberness to his voice. “I kept my vow to you that I would find him, and I did. I’m only sorry I could not keep you safe from him before now.”
“James, you were not to know what would happen.” She pulled on his arms, drawing him into the house. “You look tired. Come, I’ll fetch you a drink.” Taking his hand, she drew him into the sitting room and urged him to sit.
He removed his frock coat and tailcoat, sitting beside the fire and running his hands through his hair as Marina crossed to the drinks cabinet. She found a glass of cordial, something she knew James was fond of as he had no taste for liquor, and brought it to him. Unable to put herself far away from him, she took the footstool in front of him, instead, wanting to be close to him.
His eyes looked over the rim of the glass, clearly noting how close she was.
“Thank you,” she murmured to him, unable to stop her smile. “You look so tired.”
“I am, but I will not sleep yet.” He downed what was in the glass, clearly thirsty. Marina took the glass from him, ready to stand and pour him another when his hand found hers on the glass. He took the glass back from her and placed it on the table beside them. “Not yet, Marina,” he whispered and moved to the edge of the chair, coming closer to her. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Tell me? Tell me what?” she asked, leaning toward him. Their hands ended up toying together. There was something playful in the action until she drew her hand down his forearms, resting at the crook of his elbows. He clung back to her, just as tightly, his eyes casting downward.
“You cannot look me in the eye,” she observed in surprise.
“Because I am about to say something I never thought I would say.” At last, his eyes lifted to meet hers. “It’s taken me by surprise, and it seems I have broken one of my many rules.”
“Why do you set yourself so many rules?” she asked, feeling a little frustration at his discipline. “No liquor, not even a drop, no gambling. You clearly used to have the rule of not sleeping beside a lady either, one I’m glad you broke for me. You had a rule not to marry, too.”
“The rule was never to grow close to a woman,” he confessed. “My father, Marina, he was always a slave to his urges. He drank, he gambled, and he slept with many women, making my mother miserable.” James was serious, his expression stern. Hearing the words spoken so plainly had Marina’s breath hiccoughing in surprise. “I never wanted to be like him. I decided long ago I would always be in control of myself. That is why I chose not to grow close to any one woman.”
He paused and loosened one of his hands from her arm, raising it gently to her chin. He lifted it, just a little, as if his eyes were surveying the bruising on her neck that was beginning to heal before they darted back to meet her own gaze.
“I made that decision, not knowing I was going to marry you someday.” At his words, she blinked, wondering if he was going to say the very words she longed to hear. “You have control over me.” He was clearly surprised by it, laughing a little and breaking his somber tone. “So, it seems all my attempts to control my own being have failed, for you have a power over me I didn’t expect.”
“You are not the only one who feels a little powerless.” She raised one of her hands from his arm and placed it on his chest, fumbling with the top button of his waistcoat. She knew what she wanted, what she had been longing for these last few days. “James…” she whispered, ready to say the words, “I’m in love with you.”
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. That response had her pausing with his waistcoat, terrified of what his reaction might be.
“Thank God, for I love you too.” His words startled her, and she pulled on his waistcoat, tugging him toward her.
When their lips met in a kiss, it was a clash, a fight for dominance, though within seconds Marina was only too glad to let him have that control. He pulled her off the footstool so that her body was leaning against his own, curving into him with his arms around the band of her waist. Her hands travelled up his arms, clinging to his shoulders, not wanting to be released from him.
He overpowered her in that kiss, having complete control of the dance of their tongues. Deciding she wished to tease him in that power, knowing now that he was as devoted to her as she was him, her hand lowered to that waistcoat, and she began to undo his buttons. He parted from their kiss, just enough to look her in the eye with a querying gaze.
“Clothes off, James,” she playfully ordered. He smiled and helped her, the waistcoat practically ripped from his shoulders as the shirt quickly followed. Before she could reach for his trousers, he was on his feet, moving to the windows to close the curtains, blocking out the moonlight, so the only light left in the room came from the fire behind Marina. He locked the door too before returning to her.
“You too, love,” he said with equal dominance, urging her to stand with a wave. She stood to her feet and unlaced her gown, letting it drop to the rug beneath her. Once she was out, she gestured to him.
“Boots,” she ordered. He kicked them off, and they landed nearby in a chair, making her giggle.
