Andrea Pickens - [Lessons in Love 02] (32 page)

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Authors: Second Chances

BOOK: Andrea Pickens - [Lessons in Love 02]

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It was the only reminder she would have of their time together.

She glanced out the window. It was not yet dawn. There was no reason she couldn't slip downstairs and retrieve it without causing any notice.

* * *

Wrexham hadn't moved. The candles had long since burned out and the logs had turned to ashes, leaving the room with a decided chill. He hardly noticed as it couldn't come close to matching the clenching cold he felt in the pit of his stomach.

What a mull he had made of things.

His head jerked up at a slight rustling sound near the door. He could barely make out faint shape of a figure moving towards the desk. A flint was struck and a single taper lit. To his amazement, it was Allegra who took up the candle and began to search the sofa until she located a small book among the plump cushions. Tucking it in the pocket of her wrapper she turned to leave.

A soft cry of surprise escaped her lips as the light fell on Wrexham's haggard face.

"I... I hadn't realized you were here, my lord. Forgive me for disturbing you but..." she stammered. "But my book. I did not want to lose my book."

Her hair was simply brushed back over her shoulders, but an errant curl or two fell over one cheek. As she pulled her wrapper tighter around her slender form, she betrayed a trembling hand.

Wrexham rose and took a step towards her.

She fell back towards the door.

"Allegra, wait," he said in a hoarse whisper. "Please."

She stopped.

"I know my conduct has been unforgivable but I wish to apologize—"

"There is no need, my lord," she interrupted.

Another few steps brought him close enough so that his hands could grasp her shoulders. "Yes, there is! I want you to know that I have behaved... like an ass because—"

He stopped to take a deep breath. It frightened him to go on. But it frightened even more not to.

"—because it hurt that you don't care for me."

"Don't care for you?" she repeated in an incredulous voice.

"I know you find me arrogant, high-handed—"

"Not to speak of compassionate, kind, principled and intelligent. Why, Leo Sloane, you are the most wonderful man in the world. I shall never cease to... think of you."

He stood frozen in disbelief for a moment. "I am..." Then as she tried to slip by him, he crushed her to his chest. "I shall make sure you do not cease to think of me," he murmured huskily. "For I never intend to let you stray far from my side."

She looked at him in confusion. "But I am no longer Max's tutor. And even if I was, he does not need one for much longer."

Wrexham brushed his lips against her forehead. "Max may not need a tutor, my love, but I am in need of a wife. Are you by chance interested in the position?"

The look in his eyes made her feel rather warm all over. "But... you do not wish to remarry! You have made that more than clear."

"Have I?" he whispered as his lips traced a path along the line of her jaw. "I have said any number of idiotic things during the time you have been here, but that has to be the most foolish one." His expression then became very grave. "But perhaps it is you who does not wish to legshackled again. I can only promise you that the experience would be quite... different." He kissed the base of her throat. "And so would the chances of having a child. I should like that very much, you know."

His mouth took possession of hers and it was some time before she could answer him.

"Leo." Her arms flew around his neck, her fingers threading through his long locks. "Oh, Leo." This time it was she who initiated the long, intimate embrace.

"Is that a yes, my love?" inquired Wrexham with a tender smile.

There was a decided twinkle in her eye. "Well, we have not yet negotiated the terms of the position, but I am sure we will come to mutually agreeable understanding. So, yes."

Without warning, the door suddenly flew open.

Max rushed in, then stopped short at the sight of them. "I heard strange noises and thought perhaps an intruder had...." The explanation faded into in mute astonishment, at the sight of Allegra and the earl wrapped in each other's arms. "Father!" he finally managed to exclaim. "What... what are you doing?"

"I am kissing Allegra."

"Well, yes, I can see that—but what I mean is.... " His voice trailed off as a new concern seemed to pop into his head. "I thought you told me it was wrong to... compromise a member of one's household."

"Ah, but Allegra is not in my employ any longer."

Max took a moment to digest that reasoning. "I also thought you said a gentleman could on no account be caught behind closed doors with an unattached female, else he should be forced—"

"That is quite right, but under the circumstances, I think we need not worry about the consequences of my actions."

The lad regarded his father's disheveled appearance and unshaven face with great interest. "Are you foxed?"

Wrexham laughed. "I am feeling quite intoxicated at the moment, but no, I am not foxed, Max. Oh, and by the way, in the future when I am behind a closed door with your future stepmother, you will kindly knock before entering." He paused. "On second thought, you will not knock. You will go away."

A delighted grin slowly spread over the lad's face as the import of his father's words dawned on him. "Allegra is not going to be leaving us?"

Wrexham smiled. "No, she most definitely is not."

The lad's face suddenly sobered. "Are you going to send me away?"

The earl looked utterly dumfounded. "Send you away? Why, whatever put such a maggoty notion in that head of yours?"

"Max was afraid that you had left because you were angry with him," said Allegra softly.

Max hung his head. "I know I have been a sore trial of late. Perhaps, like Mama, you don't wish to be bothered with me—"

"Come here, Max."

Max hesitated, his hands jammed in the pockets of his dressing gown.

His father released Allegra long enough to reach out and pull him close. "How could you ever think such a thing, you young jackanape? Surely you know that nothing could ever change how much I love you," he murmured. "Mayhap it is you who wish yourself free of such a heavy-handed father. I know I make mistakes, but—"

"No!" cried Max. He took a deep breath, trying manfully to control his emotions. "I... I love you too. All those terrible things I said—I didn't mean a word of it."

The earl only pulled him closer.

Allegra brushed a tear of happiness from her cheek. "I hope you shall not mind sharing your father with me."

Max gave her a big hug. "I shall not mind at all."

With one arm around each of them, Wrexham broke into a broad smile. "What a lucky old dog I am. Max, I think perhaps you should fetch a bottle of champagne and pour us all a glass. I propose a toast—a toast to second chances, which have brought me the most wonderful family any man could wish for."

His son hesitated for a moment, then added his own postscript to the earl's words. "And to any future additions to the Sloanes—I have always wished I had a brother or sister."

Allegra's face turned a most becoming shade of pink as Wrexham grinned.

"Indeed, I'll drink to that."

The End