Engaging the Enemy (34 page)

Mercy sucked in a breath, startled by the heat behind his words. “Do you resent me, too?”

She couldn’t bear that. She couldn’t live with herself if he blamed her for the loss of his honor. Not when doing so had given her a man she could love.

Leopold’s gazed fixed on hers as he smiled, showing off the dimples she loved. Her heart did little tumbles of joy. “Never. That would be impossible.”

Relieved, Mercy grinned impishly and ducked under his arm. She stood between him and the balustrade. Leopold shook his head at her and she curled her fingers into his waistcoat pocket and tugged. “I love you.”

Leopold’s eyes closed, yet his arms curled around her protectively and drew her against his body.

Mercy watched his face, searching for some hint as to what he was thinking. What he planned for his future. She hoped he’d be amenable to her suggestion. “I’ve given our situation considerable thought over the past few days and I think it’s high time you made an honorable woman out of me. You should propose. Tonight. And then we can start living respectably as man and wife. I liked waking up beside you.”

Mercy bit her lip and waited. Slowly, Leopold opened his eyes and stared at her. She smiled her most encouraging smile then looped her arms about his neck. “Really, it’s the perfect solution. You get free run of Romsey to look for further clues of your sibling’s whereabouts and you get to keep Edwin and I safe from further harm.”

“And what are my chances of getting you to behave?”

Mercy slid her hands down his chest. “You would change me?”

“No. But almost getting caught making love to you is not how I would wish to conduct my marriage. We were lucky that Allen walked in on us and not a housemaid. The gossip will be bad enough that you’re considering giving up your title to marry me.”

Mercy shook her head. “Not considering. I will give it all up to be your wife as long as you promise not to keep any more secrets from me. I don’t care what they are, or how scandalous, I want to be your confidant. I don’t want a stuffy, proper husband who keeps me on the outside of his life. I want you to desire me and also care for my opinion. Just as I do yours.”

Leopold backed her against the balustrade. The hard ridge of his erection nudged her belly. “Desire isn’t a problem for us, and I’m getting used to sharing my thoughts with you. All I ask is that you be a little more patient with me.”

“I can be patient about
some
things.” Mercy chuckled and shifted her hips against him. “But I hope, too, that you’ll be agreeable to getting me with child again as a matter of some urgency. I don’t want Edwin to grow up alone. I want a large family again.”

Leopold pressed his head against hers. “That’s why the old duke sent me to you in the first place, you know. I overheard him complain to my father once that our side of the family reproduced like rabbits. He’d hoped I’d prove to be just as fertile.”

Mercy cupped his face between her hands. “No matter his motives, I am thankful he sent you and not one of his cronies, or Allen.” Mercy shuddered at the thought and Leopold tightened his grip around her. “I think I fell in love with you that first night you know. You were so gentle with me, so concerned that I be all right after we made love.”

“You were terrified at first, as you should have been. The old man was a bastard to do that to you.” Leopold’s head dropped to her shoulder. “When did you discover it had been me in your bed?”

Had there really been a time that she hadn’t known? She curled her fingers into his hair and held on. “Not at first, certainly. But you affected me, and I couldn’t stop wanting to touch you or kiss you.” Mercy looped her arms about his neck again. “But after our first night by the pond, I discovered that everything I’d loved about the night Edwin was made seemed the same, except for your withdrawal. You have quite remarkable restraint, my love. Did your Indian mistress teach you that?”

“My circumstances taught me to never make mistakes again.” Leopold’s lips pressed hard against her head. “I did have a mistress in India, but she couldn’t hold my interest after I had made love to you. I wanted to come back to you to see if you were all right, but the threats against my family prevented that. Do you understand? Do you forgive me for abandoning you?”

Mercy nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks. “You didn’t abandon me. Family is everything to me, too. But once he was certain I had conceived the old duke doted on my health and happiness. I believe he also discouraged his son from visiting my bed. He only shared my bed once after you came to me.”

Leopold’s sharp intake of breath gave her pain. “Then I may not be Edwin’s father after all?”

“True, but I believe he is your son and that is what counts. There are so many things about the two of you that are similar. Dimples for one.” She smoothed her hands over his chest. “My husband never affected me the way you have, Leopold. I may be a horrid woman to speak ill of the dead, but he never was particularly affectionate toward me. You showed me what had been missing from my marriage and made me yours that night.”

Leopold’s hands cupped her head to hold her gaze to his. “That was never supposed to happen. We did not know one another. I should have done everything different. I should have asked your name.”

Mercy cupped his cheek. “We cannot change what has gone on before, but we can change our futures. I think it only fair that I claim you, too. Marry me so we may find Oliver and Rosemary together. I should confess that there is a hidden room inside the abbey that may contain all we need to know.”

“You clever girl.” His smile grew. “You found the duke’s sanctuary. Father always said there were secrets within the walls.”

Mercy nodded quickly. “Live here with Edwin, with our son, and love us as we love you. You belong here at Romsey. Tobias will settle down in due time, and I will show you the entrance to the room in a moment if you like. But since neither Tobias nor Edwin is in any immediate need of our attention could we please get back to my original proposal?”

“So are you proposing now? I thought I should do it?”

When Leopold pressed his lips to her brow, she snuggled closer. “Well,” Mercy sighed dramatically, “I haven’t heard anything like a proposal of marriage from your lips so far. Perhaps I should be the one to get down on bended knee?”

“Were you this bossy before you became a duchess?”

He really should know the truth before he got in too deep, and he did like her for her honestly. “Oh, much, much worse. I told you my brother was glad to be rid of me. I doubt you will see any change when I give up my title and marry you.”

Leopold drew away. “Your brother could object. He will be unhappy that you’re giving up life as a duchess. I don’t want to cause further trouble with your family.”

“Constantine finds little joy in life beyond his fleeting pleasures. But he will still have control over Edwin’s welfare. When Blythe comes around, guilty or not of terrifying me, she will forgive us any scandal as soon as the vows are spoken. Patience will not care. She is rather broad minded about affairs of the heart. Well?” Mercy gave Leopold a little shake.

To her surprise, Leopold threw his head back and laughed. When he finished, he wiped at his eyes, smiling so broadly that both his dimples showed. Mercy smiled up at him as tears threatened to take away her sight. How had she lived without this gorgeous man before?

“I suppose I should make a start.” Leopold kissed her nose. “A kiss first, my love, and then we can begin negotiating the terms of my surrender in earnest.”

Mercy pursed her lips. “It will do as a start, but don’t think I won’t make you work hard at the negotiations tonight.”

Leopold’s grin widened as he rocked his erection against her belly. “Trust me, given all you’ve put me through so far, I’m more than ready to engage the enemy.”

THE END

~ * ~

Thank you so much for reading
Engaging the Enemy
. I hope you enjoyed it! Please consider leaving a review—either positive or negative. Reviews help others find a book that’s right for them.
 

Engaging the Enemy
is Book 1 in the Wild Randalls Series. If you’d like to read the books in order, they are as follows:
 

Engaging the Enemy

Forsaking the Prize

Guarding the Spoils (Autumn 2013)

Hunting the Hero (Spring 2013)

Find out what’s next, or sign up for my mailing list to hear about new releases at

www.heather-boyd.com
.

If you’d like to read an excerpt from
Forsaking the Prize
, please keep reading.

About the Author

Heather Boyd is the author of sizzling romance with an historical bent. A fan of regency England settings, she writes m/f and m/m stories that push the boundaries of propriety and even break the laws of that time. Brimming with new ideas, she frequently wishes she could type as fast as she can conjure up new storylines.

She lives with her testosterone-fuelled family north of Sydney, Australia.

For more information visit

www.heather-boyd.com

Also by Heather Boyd

The Wild Randalls Series:

Engaging the Enemy

Forsaking the Prize

Guarding the Spoils

The Distinguished Rogues Series:

Chills

Broken

Charity

The Hunt Club Chronicles:

Almost an Equal

Barely a Master

Hardly a Stranger

Novella/Short stories:

One Wicked Night

In the Widow’s Bed

Love Me Tender

Wicked Mourning

The Almack’s Alternative

Love Me True

FORSAKING THE PRIZE

Chapter One

Once upon a time, Tobias Randall had expected a simple future; education, honest employment, and family. But the Duke of Romsey had stolen that bright future and discarded him to the whim of fate and the dangers of the sea.

Tobias glanced about him with a keen eye, surveying his current surroundings. Romsey Abbey wasn’t the home he’d expected to return to. However, since his brother Leopold resided here, managing the estate for the Duchess of Romsey, he had little choice but to remain as a guest if he wanted to be close to his brother.

“Can I be of service, Mr. Randall?”

Tobias turned toward the voice and found Romsey’s butler waiting at the doorway. “I’m well set up here, Wilcox.”

“You may retire for the night.” Leopold strode into the room and waved Wilcox away. “Come with me, Tobias.”

Tobias glanced around as he followed along. “I thought you might be busy for a while with Her Grace.”

“The duchess has retired for the night,” Leopold said in a tone that allowed no discussion. “It’s been an exhausting day for her.”

Tobias swallowed, conscious that Leopold may still be very angry with him. “Wilcox is exactly as I remember. How do you stand him?”

“Wilcox has been of great value to the duchess and to me.” Leopold strode up the stairs quickly. “Unlike some I can name.”

“Mama never trusted him and I don’t either,” Tobias said quietly as he followed along, gawking at the richness about him. He had learned the hard way when to trust his instincts. There was something wrong about the man, but he couldn’t put his finger on what.

Leopold hurried him along a dim hall. As they rounded a corner, Tobias spotted a maid and a footman before a door somewhat further along, whispering urgently to each other. They stopped speaking suddenly and then the maid scurried away. What exactly was inside that room that could be so diverting? And then it struck him. The mad countess was likely housed in there.

Leopold stopped one door shy of that bedchamber and turned the knob. “Here you are.”

Wonderful! Berthed next door to a mad woman. He hoped she didn’t wail during the night and whisper evil through the walls. Tobias crossed the threshold and whistled. If he’d thought downstairs was impressive, he’d been mistaken. This room could easily be part of a palace. Deep red velvet curtained a wide bed, roaring fire burning in the hearth, and a set of large windows that he could easily escape through. Certainly not the worst sleeping place he’d been in. He glanced over his shoulder at Leopold. “Bit small, isn’t it? Have you anything grander?”

“Tobias,” Leopold growled in warning. “Do not push my patience.”

“Sorry. The change is a lot to take in. After all, just a few weeks ago I was a seaman aboard a whaler. I never expected a warm welcome at Romsey.”

Leopold slapped his shoulder. “It does take some getting used to.”