Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (260 page)

Scott

sworn New Year's resolution and smiled. All he'd ever

wanted was within his reach.

did not disappoint. At the village, she dismounted from her horse, immediately engulfed by a group of children with daisies in their hands.

She took the little bouquets, some already wilting, exclaiming over each one in delight until she'd compiled one big one. The children were charmed.

Two little girls seized her hands and led her to the village green where preparations for celebrations were just finishing. She tossed a smile back at him as the children merrily towed her away.

Valerian lifted his arm in a brief wave and followed at a slower pace behind the excited children, stopping to talk with a few men as he progressed. Booths were set up around the perimeter of the green and he caught up with and

children at a booth selling Cornish pasties.

'We were deciding if we were hungry or not,'

called out.

little girl with dark curls piped up. 'We've decided that we are.' Excited cheers went up from the little coterie and Valerian found himself handing over coins for nine

with

beef.

He was starting to think the children might be with them all day, when a handful of mothers bustled up to claim them.

'We're so sorry, your lordship, milady. I hope they didn't bother you too much,' one woman said in apology, casting a stern look at her three young-sters.

Valerian assured her it had been no trouble. But

168

The Viscount Claims His Bride

the children's eyes began to fill with tears regardless of his reassurances.

knelt down swiftly,

their hands. 'Come and see us this afternoon.

I think I heard there are to be games.' Her offer dried their tears and Valerian thought he could literally feel his chest swell with pride at her

efforts.

'That was very generous of you,' he remarked as they began a slow stroll past the booths.

shrugged. 'Children make the world brighter. It's a shame the world doesn't do more for them in return other than to force them to grow up too fast and assume adult responsibilities.'

'Perhaps that will change. I hear there is legislation in Parliament regarding child labour.'

'I hope it goes through. I have thrown whatever political clout I have behind promoting such laws.

Perhaps you will too?'

cast him a cautious

sideways glance.

Valerian raised her hand to his lips and it,

his eyes returning her gaze. 'Absolutely.' For a fleeting moment he thought of Dimitri's young son forced to be a warrior, forced to flee from a village that had become a war zone. He wished Dimitri's children could have had a village like this one, a day like this one, and the security of knowing there would be other days.

'What is it, Val? You're miles from here,'

asked with concern.

He pushed his sad thoughts aside. Today was about the future. 'An old memory, that's all. There's a vendor with some good lengths of ribbon over here.' He tugged on her

and the moment passed.

Scott

169

They shopped the rest of the morning.

bought several lengths of ribbon and cakes of soap.

At the last booth she bought a bag of peppermints.

'Sweet tooth, my dear?' Valerian inquired teasingly.

'They're for the children,'

protested and

Valerian smiled. She hadn' t forgotten her promise.

Valerian spread out a blanket on the green near where the games would

place that afternoon and

went to assemble a luncheon of sorts from the different stalls. By the time he returned, was

surrounded by her court of children again. She sat placidly in their midst, weaving daisy necklaces for the girls and crowns for the boys.

The scene made his heart lurch, not this time for the boy who had died fighting beside him, but for the children that might be-his children with Philippa.

Yes, six or seven little ones seemed just about right.

After lunch, he let the children talk them into playing some of the children's games.

was

snatched up to partner one of the girls in a three-legged race. One small boy shyly asked him to play too. The little boy's name was Geoffrey and he barely came up to Valerian's waist. It would be a terribly difficult race with the difference in their heights, but

was already at the starting line,

smiling her approval. In the end, he and Geoffrey took third and the vicar's wife awarded them a shiny white ribbon that made Geoffrey's eyes light up in delight.

'He'll remember that for ever,'

com-

mented as they left the children to admire their