Chapter 14
“Your father and I found the arrival of Romney’s visitor yesterday evening, followed by his hurried departure soon after, to be slightly…alarming?”
Pru wondered what her mother would say if she knew the whole story of why Romney had come into their lives in the first place. Not that Pru could or would tell her mother any of that. “I believe he was needed urgently on—on a family matter,” she dismissed, the two ladies once again comfortably ensconced in the countess’s private sitting room.
Her mother’s brows rose. “Surely what family he has is retired to the country for the winter.”
“Well. Yes. But all in Society know that The Sinners are more family to each other than any of their blood relations.”
“So it was one of The Sinners who needed him so urgently?”
The truth was Pru had no idea why Titus had left so abruptly yesterday evening after going outside to speak with whomever had been knocking on the front door of her family home. Romney had returned only long enough inside the house to offer his apologies to her and her parents and a promise to speak with her the following day before he had hurried off into the night.
It was now after luncheon the following day, and Pru had neither seen nor received word from Titus as to what the emergency had been the previous evening.
Pru rose abruptly to her feet. “I believe so, yes,” she answered noncommittally.
“But you do not know for certain?”
“Not for certain, no.”
“Darling—”
“Mama,” she interrupted firmly, “I know you to be an intelligent and perceptive woman—”
“Why, thank you, darling.”
“That being the case,” Pru continued, “I believe you to also be aware that all is not…not as it seems in regard to Cilla and Worthington dying in a carriage accident and then Parker and Romney having been shot.”
The countess eyed her ruefully. “I am, yes.”
“Father too?”
Her mother smiled. “I did not marry your father only because of his good looks and ability in the bedchamber.”
Pru did her best to shut out the images in her head that followed that remark. “I believe Romney’s hurried departure last night to be connected to those deaths.” But she did not know that for certain, because Titus had not confided in her.
She would not be kept in the dark this way once they were married—
If they married.
Pru sat abruptly in the armchair she had only recently vacated. She had done nothing but think about the reason Titus had left so suddenly, and about their possible marriage, since he’d left her the previous evening. The first she was sure she would hear about in good time. But she was still concerned as to whether Titus had made the offer of marriage because of their lovemaking, or possibly as another way of giving her his protection. Neither seemed a good basis upon which to embark upon a marriage.
There was their undeniable physical attraction to each other too, of course, but how long would that last? How many months, possibly weeks, before Titus tired of making love only to his wife and went off in search of fresh bed partners?
Pru did not wish to be one of those long-suffering Society wives, sitting at home with her embroidery before retiring to her cold and lonely bed, whilst her husband wallowed in whatever den of debauchery happened to be his particular choice for that night.
Loving Titus as she undoubtedly did, she could not bear to live a lifetime of such unhappiness.
If Titus did not or could not love her, then it was better if they did not marry at all—
“Viscount Romney is downstairs asking to see Lady Prudence,” Mayberry announced from the doorway.
Pru rose to her feet for a second time in as many minutes, her breath seeming to have become lodged in her throat.
“See him in your own little parlor, darling,” her mother advised gently as she stood. “You can talk privately there.”
She shot her mother a grateful glance before turning back to the butler. “If you wouldn’t mind, Mayberry.”
“Of course, Lady Prudence.” He bowed out of the room.
“Go, darling.” The countess gave Pru’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “And do not do anything hotheaded out of a sense of misplaced pride.”
Pru smiled ruefully. Her mother knew her far too well. “I will try not to, Mama.”
“I suggest you try harder than you usually do,” the older woman cautioned.
“It is only that Titus has this…ability to rouse my temper, and then I end up saying things I did not mean to say.”
“But he also arouses you in other ways. Try to remember that when you feel your temper getting the better of you.” Her mother gave her an encouraging smile.
Pru was calm and composed and standing near the window of her own private parlor when Mayberry announced Titus before promptly bowing out of the room.
“That is a magnificent pose,” Romney drawled as he strolled farther into the room. “The light behind you turns your hair to gold, and the material of that gown is just thin enough for me to be able to see the delicious outline of your body beneath.”
Pru’s cheeks flushed at his having immediately realized exactly why she was standing where she was. “State your business and be on your way,” she snapped her displeasure, at the same time as she offered a silent apology to her mother for having once again allowed her temper to get the better of her.
“My business, my dear Pru, is you.” He crossed the room with the stealth of a predator, until he stood only inches in front of her. He looked resplendent in a dark blue superfine and dark gray pantaloons, a diamond pin adorning his snowy-white neckcloth. “Always you.”
Her chin rose in challenge. “I have definitely decided I shall not marry you.”
“Have you, indeed,” he murmured softly. “Then it is as well my will is stronger than your own, and I decided some time ago that we should marry.”
Pru looked at him askance. “How long ago?”
He shrugged. “The idea has occurred to me several times, but I believe it was while I lay abed here after being shot, watching you guard and defend me like the lioness you are, that decided me once and for all.”
“But we only— It was only yesterday that I—”
“That we,” he corrected huskily. “Do you really believe I could not have halted your seduction if I had wished to do so?” he cajoled. “Admittedly, removing my cock before releasing proved to be a challenge beyond me,” he added self-derisively. “But prior to that, I could have stopped our lovemaking at any time.”
“Then why did you not do so and avoid our current predicament?”
His mouth curved into an enigmatic smile. “Have I told you how magnificent you look when you are angry?”
“Is that the reason you enjoy rousing my temper so often?”
His smiled widened. “Oh no, my dear Pru. I do that because I know lovemaking usually follows one of your outbursts. I find I have become addicted to both.”
“Nonsense,” Pru snapped briskly, stepping out and away from his proximity. His seductive proximity.
The things Titus was saying to her were…tempting, so very tempting, but they did nothing to change the fact he still had not mentioned the word love. She could not and would not marry a man who did not love her and would turn to other women the moment the novelty of their marriage wore off.
She stood in front of the unlit fireplace. “Why were you called away so urgently yesterday evening?”
Titus dampened his disappointment at Pru’s change of subject. It was perhaps better that they get these other matters out of the way before he strengthened his campaign regarding the arrangements for their marriage.
“It was one of my own men at the door,” he reported briskly. “They have been keeping watch on the house of the man who disappeared at the docks in the hope he might return there eventually. Late yesterday evening, their vigilance paid off, and they were able to apprehend and arrest him. He has admitted his accomplice is responsible for hiring men to kill Pricilla and Worthington, and for the accidental killing of Parker. That bullet was apparently meant for me.”
“That’s—that is marvelous— Not that they shot and killed three people and seriously injured you,” she added hastily. “But that you now have someone in custody in connection with those murders.”
“It is and it isn’t,” Titus allowed with a grimace.
She stilled, her smile fading. “The accomplice is the Duchess of Stonewell?”
“Yes.” Titus knew he would never forget the look on Stonewell’s face when the man they had in custody named Nik’s wife as his contact and informant.
All The Sinners had hoped Angelique would be found to be as innocent as their own wives, despite Titus’s own investigations having confirmed that there were indeed only eight ladies who had been present at all the balls where the treasonous information had been passed to another French spy. Even Wessex’s threat to kill the person who had dared to harm his beloved Jocelyn had now been forgotten in the knowledge that person was Stonewell’s wife.
He sighed heavily. “Nik is now on his way to his estate to deal with the matter.”
“I am so very sorry for that.” Tears glistened in Pru’s expressive eyes. “He must be devastated.”
“Yes.” There was no avoiding acknowledging his friend’s feelings of betrayal. “I expect he and the duchess will return to London in the next few days, and she will be arrested and tried for her crimes.”
“So it’s all over? Really over?”
Titus nodded. “Once the duchess has given up the names of her cohorts and they have also been arrested, yes.”
Pru gave a shake of her head. “I feel so for the Duke of Stonewell.” She knew him to be a proud and haughty man, one of the Crown’s valued spymasters. She could not even begin to imagine how stricken he must be to learn his own wife was a traitor to the country he served so selflessly.
“We all do.” Titus nodded.
Pru drew in a ragged breath. “So what happens now?”
He shrugged. “I visited St. George’s this morning. Our wedding is arranged to take place three days hence.”
“I— No.” She gave a definitive shake of her head. “I have told you I prefer to—to wait and see if there are any repercussions from out lovemaking yesterday.”
His mouth thinned. “And I believe I told you the outcome was irrelevant and that we would be marrying immediately.”
“Titus, please,” she groaned. “Leave me with a little pride.”
“To do what?” he demanded. “To walk away from me, shut me out of your life, when you learn you are not with child? I think not,” he stated forcefully “If necessary, I shall make love to you again and again until you are expecting our child.”
She looked at him incredulously. “I… But… Why would you do such a thing?”
“Because I am in love with you, and you will be my wife!” He thundered his frustration with her stubbornness.
Pru stilled, her heart beating so loudly, she was sure Titus must be able to hear it too. “You’re in love with me?”
He glared at her. “Have I not shown it, time and time again?”
She stared back at him. “Well… I… How did you show it?”
“Dear God, woman! By being unable to stay away from you. By protecting you. Taking a bullet meant for you. By staying apart from you, even though not seeing and being with you was physically painful for me.”
“It was?”
“Yes, it was,” Titus bit out through gritted teeth. “You are the most stubborn, unreasonable, affectionate, beautiful, passionate, brave woman it has ever been my misfortune to meet, and I fell in love with you weeks ago even though I did not wish to admit to that emotion, even to myself.”
Her face fell. “You didn’t?”
He chuckled. “But now I am quite resigned to having my life led a merry dance for the next fifty years or so by your antics and heroism if or when you decide something or someone is in need of your protection or help. And to administering the chastisement we both enjoy so much once I have saved you from yourself,” he added throatily.
Pru frowned. “That does not sound like a romantic reason for marriage.”
He raised dark brows. “Perhaps I am still being cautious because you have not told me how you feel about me?”
She looked startled. “Surely it is obvious that I am madly in love with you.”
His eyes widened. “You are?”
Pru nodded. “Do you think I go around seducing every viscount I meet?”
Titus threw back his head and gave a shout of laughter. “You are beyond incorrigible!” He stepped forward to sweep her up into his arms. “I love you from the depths of my soul, darling girl,” he told her gruffly. “I always will.”
Her eyes glowed with happiness. “I love you in the same way.” Her hands moved to gently cup his cheeks. “I love you so very much, Titus. You are my hero, and the man I shall love until the end of my days.”
“As I shall love you to my dying breath and beyond,” he vowed.
Pru laughed. “Now kiss me, you annoying man, before I expire from happiness here and now!”
He chuckled. “That’s my darling Pru.”
It was true, she did belong to and with Titus, as he belonged to and with her.
Forever.