Scandal of Love (16 page)

The man flinched when Quinton moved toward him again. “What!”

The butler gave up all pretense of bravery and spilled all the information he had. “He didn’t think Lady Sera was happy in her engagement. He was sure that she would still want to marry him, so he set out to rescue her from an unhappy union.”

Quinton didn’t wait to hear any more. Turning, he raced back to his horse. There wasn’t a moment to waste. He had to catch up to them before they got too far.

One of the Duke of Dorchester’s men waited by his horse. Vaulting into the saddle, he called out to the man, “Tell the duke that Bromley has taken her to Gretna, and that I am following them. I will return her home.”

The man nodded, quickly taking the message back to Sera’s father.

Pushing his horse, Quinton stormed through London, determined to catch up with them. He wasn’t going to lose her. He wouldn’t. The only man Sera would marry would be him. He guaranteed it.

Could she have gone willingly with the duke? Quinton shook his head, forcing out the thought. She wouldn’t betray him like that.

Thinking of the time he had spent with her since their engagement, Quinton knew she wouldn’t do that. They had become friends. And he had fallen in love with her. No, she would never willingly go with the duke.

But the fear was still there.

She hadn’t expressed any feelings for him. While it was obvious they had fallen into a sort of casual friendship, she hadn’t said she felt anything stronger for him.

Was she in love with the duke? He knew she had strong feelings for Lord Bromley, but she had told him there was no love between them, only friendship.

He clung to her words as he rode through the city.

He wanted her love for himself.

***

The sun was beginning to set when the carriage rolled to a stop at an inn. “Where are we?” Sera asked groggily, her head only slightly aching. Looking out the window, she saw the dim light of the sun setting and jerked up. Had she fallen asleep?

“We are stopping to change horses. We should be able to get some food while we are here as well, but we must not linger too long.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Quite some time.” He gestured to her head. “You must have hit your head quite hard. How is it feeling?”

She rubbed it, testing its tenderness. “It only aches a little.”

She saw relief pass over his face and she felt a little tug on her heart. Bradford wasn’t a bad man. In fact, had things turned out differently, she knew he would have made an excellent husband. It just wasn’t meant to be.

“Good. I was getting worried.”

He helped her out of the carriage. “I have a room ready so that you may see to your personal needs. You have ten minutes,” he said with a nod, turning to head into the tavern himself.

She grabbed his arm before he could leave. “Bradford,” she said, speaking quietly. “I know you care for me. I appreciate you trying to help me, but you need to take me home. Everyone will be so worried.”

He shook his head. “I wrote a letter to your father before I came to meet you. I explained what I was doing and that we would return home once we were married. It was to be delivered a few hours after we left. He should already know by now that you are safe.”

She shook her head softly, then looked into his eyes. “Quinton will be worried sick.”

“He is only marrying you for your money.”

“Maybe.” She nodded sadly. “But I know he cares for me. He will worry and I can’t bear the thought of it.”

He searched her face, the light slowly leaving his eyes. “You really do love him, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And there’s nothing I can do to change your mind? I would be a good husband to you, Sera.”

She cupped his cheek. “I know you would, Bradford. You are a good man. I know you will make some woman really happy. That woman just isn’t me.”

Sighing deeply, he nodded, finally accepting defeat. “I’ll bring you home. I wouldn’t wish you to suffer any further hardships because of me.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll have them hurry with the horses, so we can be on our way at once.”

Smiling, she reached up to her toes and kissed him on the cheek.

“What’s the hurry? I hear Gretna isn’t going anywhere anytime soon,” Quinton drawled.

Sera froze, still on her tiptoes from leaning up to kiss Bradford. Blinking rapidly, she couldn’t believe that she had heard his voice. Turning slowly, her body sighed. He had come for her.

“Quinton?” It came out as a question, but it was really said in reverence. She was so happy he had come for her. She knew he would.

She gathered up her skirts to run to him, but his words cut off her progress. “Please, don’t let me interrupt. It seems as if I came just in time.” His eyes blazed, cutting through her.

Her step faltered. What was wrong with him? Could he really believe she had come willingly with Bradford?

Closing her eyes, she realized what the scene must have looked like when he arrived. She had been kissing the duke.

“I think you misunderstand the situation, my lord,” Bradford finally said, stepping slightly in front of Sera.

“Oh, I think I understand perfectly.”

Sera flinched at the bitter cold in his voice.

Quinton’s gaze raked over her. “Should I have bothered coming after you, Sera? I could pretend that I never found you.”

Tears filled her eyes. She wanted to run to him, have him hold her in his arms, but she knew that wouldn’t happen. He thought she had betrayed him. Ran away from him.

His muscles were tense, rigid, almost as if he were ready to strike out at any moment. Raising her eyes to his face, her stare blazed into his green eyes. “Bradford, would you mind leaving us for a moment?” she asked, keeping her eyes locked with Quinton’s.

“Are you sure that’s such a good idea, Sera? He seems quite upset.”

She nodded. Continuing to look at her fiancé, she couldn’t help seeing the grin Bradford did little to hide. “I’ll be in the tavern if you need anything.”

Neither Sera nor Quinton answered him before he left. A few minutes passed without a word, both staring at the other.

“You can’t possibly think I would run away with him, could you?”

He shrugged, but still looked tense. “You looked quite cozy with him when I arrived.”

She sighed in exasperation before walking closer to him. “He had just agreed to take me home.”

His startled look made her want to laugh. His eyes looked into hers, probing her soul. “Do you mean it? You were coming back to London?”

She nodded, finally reaching out to him. “I was coming back to you.” She stepped into his arms.

A grin cracked his lips. “You mean you don’t want to become the Duchess of Wathersby anymore?”

She pretended to think it over. “Well, a duchess would be nice.” Seeing the smile wipe off his face, she laughed. “But I would much prefer to be the Countess of Surrant.”

Tucking his tongue in his cheek, he said, “I think I could arrange that.”

She laughed, flinging her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

His arms tightened around her waist, his whole body leaning into her. “Say it again.”

Leaning away from him, she looked deep into his eyes. “I love you, Quinton.”

His whole body relaxed as he rested his forehead against hers. “I might have been a little worried that you ran off with him.” His hand cupped her neck, their lips almost touching. “I love you, Sera. So much it hurts.”

With a cry of happiness, she rose up the rest of the way to his lips, placing hers firmly against his.

He groaned and the sound shot to the depths of her soul, speaking to her more strongly than words ever could.

They embraced in the fading light, locked in each other’s arms, their love uniting them as one.

Quinton kissed her again and again, one kiss fading into the next. Sera had never felt so wonderful, so complete in her whole life. Everything finally settled into place. This is the man she would marry. This is the man who she would love for the rest of her life and beyond. She never wanted to part from him.

“Let’s go to Gretna Green,” Quinton said, breaking their kiss. “I don’t want to go another day without you as my wife.”

A surprised laugh escaped her lips. “But what about my family?”

“They knew that I was coming after you. It won’t take them long to realize what we’ve done.”

She laughed again, but the idea wrapped around her soul and made her glow. She could be married to Quinton by tomorrow night.

Quinton looked back at his horse. “Do you think Lord Bromley will let us borrow his carriage?”

A sly smile crept to her lips. “I think he owes it to us.”

“So, what do you think?” He looked into her eyes, begging her to say yes.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave him another quick kiss. “I say yes. Take me to Gretna Green, Quinton. Make me your wife.”

She saw his grin before he swooped down, kissing her again, claiming her entire soul.

Pulling away, he took her hand, tugging her toward the tavern. “Come.”

“Where are we going?” she asked with a laugh.

“To speak with Bromley so we can leave.”

“Now?”

“Now.” He nodded firmly.

As she trailed behind him, she couldn’t help but smile. She had found love, and she would never, ever, let it go.

*****

Discover other titles by Janelle Daniels

www.janelledaniels.com

* * * *

Connect with me online

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Janelle-Daniels/155252004529054

MASQUERADE SECRETS (SCANDALS & SECRETS - BOOK 2) - EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1

London, 1835

If boredom could bring tears, Lady Aubrey Langston would be crying buckets by now. She sat in the parlor, sipping tea with other women of the ton as they waited patiently for the men to rejoin them after they finished their after-dinner cigars and brandy.

The meal portion of their evening had gone well, although the conversation had been quite dry. Why she was forced to endure such tedious company was beyond her. It was just the way society worked.

“What are your thoughts on the matter, Lady Aubrey?”

Jumping slightly, Aubrey realized she hadn’t been listening to the conversation.

“I’m sorry?” she asked, trying to seem like she had only missed the woman’s latest comment.

Lady Penbrook smiled patiently, clearly knowing she had caught Aubrey woolgathering. “We were speaking of Regency fashion compared to today’s fuller gowns. I was wondering which you would prefer if there were a choice.”