An Early Engagement (24 page)

“And you truly love me?”

His lips met hers in answer, in a long, burning kiss that spoke of yearning and sharing at last. “More than life itself,” he said finally.

“Then, Lord Stokely, if you don’t mind that your countess will never be a meek, even-tempered, obedient little female who hardly bends the rules, and your son will have to be a duke, then I would be honored to be your wife, in every way, forever.” This time she showed him, with her innocent, eager passion.

“And you love me.” It was more a statement of his wonder than a question.

“I have loved you all of my life, Smoky. I am not about to stop now.”

…And some marriages are made just where they should be, in the hearts and minds of joyous lovers.

Barbara Metzger is the author of over three dozen books and a dozen novellas. She has also been an editor, a proof-reader, a greeting card verse-writer, and an artist. When not painting, writing romances or reading them, she volunteers at the local library, gardens and goes beach-combing and yard-saling.

Her novels, mostly set in Regency-era England, have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the Madcap award for humor in romance writing. In addition, Barbara has won two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine.

You can visit her website at http://www.BarbaraMetzger.com/

Copyright © 1990 by Barbara Metzger

Originally published by Fawcett Crest (ISBN 044921818X)

Electronically published in 2008 by Belgrave House/Regency Reads

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

http://www.RegencyReads.com

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.