The Spy Who Loved Her: Once Upon an Accident, Book 3 (24 page)

“And through the years, the times you have come to our assistance, the time you spent with my mother, with me, walking my sister down the aisle…they were all as a traitor, spying on us?”

He shook his head. “No. That was genuine, but try as I might, your mother would never let go of that memory. Never allow herself to love again. Even from death, Edward is haunting me.”

“And me? You knew for years I was a spy?”

“No. I really believed that you had decided not to do it, that your mother had made sure that you did not get involved. But imagine my surprise when I found out that you not only stayed in the game, but took over his position.”

Anna edged toward the door unnoticed. Lord Elwood was ignoring her now, his gun centered on Daniel. If she could get out into the hallway, she could run for help. She knew her way around White Chapel even in the dead of night.

Hope sprang in her heart until Daniel flicked her a warning glance. It was enough to gain Lord Elwood’s attention.

“Where do you think you are going, Lady Anna? I cannot allow you to leave. Not when I have such plans for you.”

“You will not touch her,” Daniel growled the command, his hands fisted at his sides.

The older man laughed. “As if you have any means to stop me.”

Daniel stepped forward, his stance threatening.

There was a sound at the door and the gun wavered in that direction. The door burst in at the same time that Daniel lunged. The gun went off, but Anna could not see what was happening. A man tackled her to the ground. She kicked and screamed, trying to buck him off of her.

There was another shot, then silence, except for her struggles. “Anna, it is Simon, Daniel’s cousin.”

She calmed then and looked up and saw the young man. He released her and she looked over to find Lord Elwood lying on the ground, blood pooling around him. Relief moved through her as she shoved Daniel’s cousin away and rose to run to him. He was rising to his feet when she jumped him. He grunted when she hit him, but his arms closed around her.

“Oh, Danny, I am so happy you are okay. I was so worried.”

She felt his mouth brush her temple and she pulled away. Tears blurred her vision as the night’s events began to come to a realization.

It was then she saw the blood on his shoulder and the ashen color of his face. Her heart nearly stopped as terror screamed through her entire body.

“Jack! He’s been shot.”

Chapter Twenty-One

A sharp pain lanced through his shoulder as he was jostled about on the way to the carriage.

“Please be careful with him.”

He knew without a doubt that Jack and Simon were trying not to laugh. He wasn’t that badly hurt. It was just a flesh wound. But Anna had refused to allow him to walk. Once he was settled on the seat, Anna shoved Jack aside and joined him. She leaned forward, her gaze on his wound as she tended it. The scent of her, the warmth of her body, surrounded him, left him feeling a bit lightheaded.

“What were you thinking showing up there like that?” she asked.

“Trying to save your life. Which I point out, that I did.”

“Humpf.”

Apparently satisfied with what she saw, she sat beside him as Jack and Simon joined them.

“You know, you could thank me.”

She said nothing. Anger vibrated off her in waves. He knew she was angry with him, mad that he had shown up at all. But dammit, what did she expect him to do? Allow a madman to kill her?

“Anna?”

“Thank you.”

“That is all?” He could not keep the amusement out of his voice.

“What do you want, a lock of my hair?” Her voice quivered, telling him that she was not as calm as she seemed.

“Your hand in marriage will do.” He could hear his words slur, his mind beginning to grow numb.

“Anna?” he asked, his head now growing fuzzy.

She cast him a wary glance and alarm spread over her features. “Okay, yes, I will marry you.”

He grabbed her hand. “By special license. I do not want to wait.”

She patted his hand. “I said I would, Daniel.”

“I will hold you to it.”

“I am sure you will. Not that you will remember.”

He thought he heard Jack chuckle as he clutched Anna’s small hand in his. His world faded into nothingness except for one thought—Anna would be his for a lifetime.

Two days later, Anna walked into his study, a smile lightening her face. She had been in and out of their house during that time, directing everyone—even his mother—to his care. He had been careful not to mention his proposal and her acceptance until he had everything in order. He knew she was convinced he had forgotten the whole incident, but he had not. He was going to hold her to her promise.

“Good morning, Daniel.”

He would never get used to hearing his name on her lips. The way her pleasant voice rolled over the syllables, but he particularly liked it when she called him Danny.

“Good morning, Anna.”

“Your mother said you had something to say to me?”

He motioned with his hand. “Come here.”

Wariness crept into her expression and she glanced toward the door.

“Oh, I am not sure—”

“Higgens?”

His formidable butler stepped into the doorway.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Shut the door.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Once it was closed, he motioned with his hand again. She hesitated long enough to irritate him. The woman just would not give him an inch.

“Anna.” He could not, would not stop the growl that vibrated in his voice.

She obeyed then and stepped around the desk. Without any warning, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap. She gasped and then laughed when he took a quick, hard kiss.

“I like the sound of that. You have not laughed much the last few days.”

She looked at him, the shadows of the memories from that night darkening her expression. “I am so sorry you were shot. I know that if it had not been for me, you would not have been hurt.”

He shook his head and knew that guilt was one of the reasons she had been a bit down. “I am the master spy, Anna. I should have suspected the man. He did come into his money quite suddenly, but no one really paid attention to him.”

She cupped his cheek. “That is why he made a very good spy.”

He nodded. “And one of the reasons I am giving it up.”

Her eyes widened. “But you said it was a family business.”

“My cousin is happy enough handling it for now. I have other more important things to accomplish now.”

She cleared her throat. “Indeed?”

He nodded, trying not to smile. The woman was as transparent as water to him. He knew she loved him, knew that if she had a chance, she would have jumped in front of that gun the other night. Even as the thought made his blood run cold, he rejoiced in her actions. It proved she loved him even if she had never said the words.

“What would that be?”

“Planning our wedding.”

Silence greeted him as she frowned.

“You do remember saying you would marry me, do you not?”

She patted his hand. “Daniel, seriously, I said it just to appease you.”

“You still said yes. I have two witnesses.”

She tried to get up from his lap, but he held onto her firmly.

“This is ridiculous!” She raised her arms up, almost hitting him in the face with her hand. “You do not really want to marry me and I will remind you, I did have one requirement.”

“Let me see,” he said, leaning back in his chair as if pondering the question. “What was it? Oh, yes, love. But I do love you, Anna.”

“Do not make fun of me, Daniel. It would break my heart.” The pain that tinged her voice almost broke his heart. He would do everything in his power that she never doubt his love ever again.

“But I do love you.”

She sniffed as tears filled her eyes. “You think you do, or you feel obligated to say it because you took my virginity.”

“No, I truly love you.”

“You do not.” Now she crossed her arms over her chest. He was damned with difficult women in his life. His sisters, his mother, Jo and now the woman he loved, the one who he would walk over hot coals for, the one who claimed he did not love her.

“Why do you think I do not love you?”

She sighed. “When I came to town, you were horrible to me.”

He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He should have known his behavior over the years would come back to haunt him.

“Do you want to know why I acted that way?”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then fixed her gaze on her hands in her lap and nodded.

“You had always been My Lady Poppet. I remember Sebastian telling me you were coming to town, that you would be coming out. In my mind, I did not see you as a woman. I expected the girl I knew to appear. Instead, you were there.”

“I do not understand.”

She was still looking at her hands. He slipped his fingers beneath her chin. Unshed tears simmered in her eyes.

“I had thought never to marry. When you came to town, I regretted that decision. I wanted you from the moment of your coming out ball.” Her eyes widened. “Worse, you were my best friend’s little sister. Lusting after you was crossing a line. You were not a widow to be dallied with, and I did not want to put you in harm’s way. After seeing what my father’s death did to my mother, I did not want to put you through that. I acted the way I did because I wanted you more than I wanted my next breath. It physically hurt to see you with other men.”

He reached forward and pulled out a piece of paper.

“I am not sure if you believe me, but I think this proves anything you need to know.”

She stared at the piece of paper. “A receipt? For…Danny, this is a lot of money for the orphanage.”

He smiled. “I wanted to buy you the most beautiful ring, but you are not an ordinary woman. I am sure that many women would love an engagement ring from me. Seeing how we will not be engaged for long, I did not see the reason. Besides, I assumed this would prove my point much faster than a silly ring.”

She looked up from the paper, tears spilling down her face. “Oh, Danny.”

“I love you, Anna. Not for your beauty, although there is plenty of that. No, I love that you are irritated with me right now, that you give your time to help those children, and I also love the fact that you probably have more courage than a woman should have. You are too intelligent for your own good. And I particularly love the way you call me Danny.”

“Truly?”

He nodded. “So, will you marry me, love me?”

Tears of happiness streamed down her face. “Oh, Daniel, I have loved you for so very long.” She hugged him then. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

“Now that is cleared up, I have gone two days without touching you and it has been driving me insane.”

She giggled and tried to bat his hands away.

“Danny, we can’t. You are not well enough, and besides the door isn’t locked.”

“Higgens.”

The door opened slightly. “Yes, my lord.”

“Shut the door and lock it.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Knowing his order would be obeyed, he smiled at Anna. “I assure you, I am well enough for certain activities.”

The mischievous light in her eyes, the way her lips curved in invitation, was all he needed. His blood heated, his heart expanding with the love he saw there in her gaze.

“I do love you, Anna.”

“Show me, Danny.”

He smiled as he moved his mouth over hers, her sigh of pleasure filling the air as the bright sun lightened the room. She was his. Forever.

About the Author

Born to an Air Force family at an Army hospital, Melissa has always been a little bit screwy. She was further warped by her years of watching Monty Python and her strange family. Her love of romance novels developed after accidentally picking up a Linda Howard book. Since her first release in 2004, Melissa has had close to 30 short stories, novellas and novels released with seven different publishers in a variety of genres and time periods. Those releases included an Eppie nomination and two CAPA nominations, along with a multitude of best sellers. Her contemporary, A Little Harmless Sex became an international best seller in June of 2005 and was named one of the 100 best selling Nookbooks of 2010.

Since she was a military brat, she vowed never to marry military. Alas, Fate always has her way with mortals. Her husband is an Air Force major, and together they have their own military brats, two girls, an adopted dog daughter and they live wherever the military sticks them. Which until recently always involved heat and bugs only seen on the Animal Discovery Channel. In her spare time, she reads, complains about bugs, travels, cooks, reads some more, and tries to convince her family that she truly is a delicate genius. She has yet to achieve her last goal.

If you want to know more about Melissa, stop by the following websites:
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She loves to hear from her readers so be sure to drop Melissa a note:
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Look for these titles by Melissa Schroeder

Now Available:

Grace Under Pressure

The Seduction of Widow McEwan

Harmless

A Little Harmless Sex

A Little Harmless Pleasure

A Little Harmless Obsession

A Little Harmless Lie

Once Upon an Accident

The Accidental Countess

Lessons in Seduction

The Spy Who Loved Her

Coming Soon:

A Little Harmless Addiction

The Last Detail

Purgatory: Devil’s Rise

Being a spinster was much easier than becoming the accidental countess and it definitely didn’t prepare her for falling in love.