Alistair attempted in vain to smother his laughter at the sight of his wife’s look of honest bemusement.

Not at the sight of the office he’d had prepared for her, but at his idiocy. “Did you really think you could surprise me, darling?” she asked, her eyes alight with laughter.

“Never,” he said, leaning down to nuzzle her neck as she turned to face the room that had supposedly been shut down for cleaning these past few weeks before her birthday. “But I like to try.”

She turned her head to smile up at him. “And I love that you try.”

He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “And I love that you love that I try.”

They shared a silly grin, one that would have horrified them both, no doubt, before they’d done the unthinkable and fallen in love.

“I love it,” she whispered, the laughter fading to warmth and a tenderness that made his world spin.

“And I love you.” He turned her slightly so he could kiss those lips, those lips that he was certain he could never get enough of, no matter how many days, weeks, or years they spend at one another’s side.

And that was where he wanted her, at his side. He hadn’t expected her to miss the fact that there was work going on in the old library. While they had spent the better part of the last two weeks in bed—they were newlyweds, after all—he knew her better than to think she could ever be duped by him.

But that did not mean he would ever stop trying to surprise her, or give her everything her heart desired. “You have missed one key facet of your birthday present,” he murmured softly as he pulled back from the kiss.

Her brows arched up. “Oh?”

He nodded, sliding one hand down to entwine with hers. “I was hoping you would make particular use of that room as my business partner.”

She batted her lashes and licked her lips. “This is to be my office…for your business?”

He grinned. So, he had surprised her after all. “I told you I wanted you by my side in everything, and I meant it.”

“Yes, but…” She shook her head and the fact that she was at a loss for words spoke volumes. “I thought you meant that in a general sense. You know, perhaps let me share your secrets and give suggestions or tactical advice when needed.”

He nodded. “I want that, yes. I want all of that. But I’d love it if you could help me run this estate and everything that entails.” He arched his brows meaningfully, not even trusting his staff with the type of secrets he was handing to her. “In the top drawer you will find a master key which opens all the drawers in my desk, giving you access to all the financial files, the deeds, the correspondence…everything you might need to enlighten that beautiful mind of yours with every facet of this business.”

She pursed her lips for a moment. “Am I to be an accomplice to pirates then?”

He stifled another laugh. She hardly sounded as horrified as she ought. “Not exactly, love.”

She arched her brows in question and he relished for a moment the fact that for once he had knowledge of which his beautiful wife was not privy. “While Marcus indeed operates outside of proper channels, he is not technically a pirate.”

Her eyes widen. “Then what technically is he?”

He felt a smile tugging at his lips at her bemusement. “Technically, Marcus and his crew would be better described as pirate hunters.”

She let out a little gasp before tipping her head back with laugh. “I do love you and your family with all of your secrets.”

He pulled her closer. “And I love that you are a part of this family.” He lowered his voice as emotion filled his chest. “The heart of my family.”

She blinked and he saw the moisture there, hovering on the edge of her lids. He watched her swallow thickly before responding, gesturing with one hand toward the office he’d had created for her personal use. “This is the best present I could ever ask for, Alistair.”

He grinned as he tugged her into his arms. “And you are the best gift I could ever have received.”

For a moment they stayed like that, holding one another in silence. Until she broke it with a soft laugh and an impish grin. “You know…” she said slowly. “You are not the only one here who still has some secrets left between us.”

He furrowed his brow, pretending to be angry. “What are you holding out on me, wife?” He dropped the teasing tone when he saw her hesitate, nibbling at her lower lip. “Henri? What is it?”

“I am not completely certain, but…”

He nudged her gently. “What is it, love?”

“I think I might know who your real father is.”

He stared at her for so long he lost track. She gazed back at him patiently, waiting for him to comprehend and digest this news.

She toyed with the pocket of his jacket, hesitation still clear in her eyes. “I was not certain if you would want to know.”

“I do,” he said, quickly and insistently. He had never been one to back away from the truth, and he would not start now. “I might not want anything to do with the man, but I deserve to know.”

She nodded, sympathy clear in her eyes. “If my hunch is right, the man has already passed.” A hint of laughter filled her gaze, “But he left a family behind who I think you would like to know.” She hitched her lips to the side. “I know for certain they would wish to know you.”

“Even though I am a bastard?”

She gave a short nod. “I do believe you would fit in nicely with this clan.” She tilted her head to the side. “Have you ever heard of the Cleveland family?”

He shook his head and she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck once more. “We shall do some more investigating and, if I am correct, I will introduce you.”

He nodded, uncertain of what to say in light of such a revelation. He ended up kissing her instead, hoping the embrace said what he could not. When he pulled back their gazes clashed and hers were filled with mischief. “See? I told you I still had secrets.”

He threw his head back with a laugh. He should have known she would see this as a competition. “You win, my love,” he said.

---

Thank you for reading A Lady’s Luck! Reviews are always greatly appreciated.

If you missed how this series first started, check out Anne Cleveland and Davenport’s tale in Earl of Davenport, a standalone novella from the multi-author Wicked Earls’ Club series.

Did you miss Claire Cleveland and Nicholas’s story? You can find it in A Rake’s Ruin.

You can read about how Georgie Cleveland fell in love with her duke in A Duke’s Distraction.

And for Eliza and Jed Cleveland’s story, please read A Gentleman’s Gamble.