Taking her hands in his, he pressed a kiss to each. "An intelligent man would enjoy the time we have together, cherish every moment with you, and not waste whatever time we have on fearing the future. I haven't been a very intelligent man, Maggie, but I vow here and now that if you marry me today, I will return to being the intelligent man I used to think I was. I'll spend the rest of my life doing everything in my power to make you happy."
"Oh, James," Maggie breathed, tears welling in her eyes. "I love you and always will."
"Even when I am stomping around, grumpy and miserable?" He asked the question with gentle humor, but Maggie caught the uncertainty that flashed in his eyes.
His uncertainty should not have surprised her; his misery and grumpiness were the reasons she had just refused to marry him. Still, Maggie found herself startled by the sign of his vulnerability. Cupping his face in her hands she put all the sincerity she possessed into her words as she said, "Yes, my lord. I shall love you always no matter how grumpy and miserable you occasionally get...I shall just remind myself that it is caused by fear." She broke the solemn moment with a grin and added, "Then I shall remind you. That should jolly you out of the mood at once."
"Aye, it should," he admitted wryly, then chuckled and pulled her into an embrace. Hugging her close, he sighed into her hair then said, "And I love you, and always shall." Maggie was about to pull back to kiss him when he added, "Despite the fact that you tend to act without thinking, and are always managing to get yourself into trouble."
She drew back abruptly, but rather than kiss him she offered an indignant glare. "I am not always getting myself into trouble!"
"No?" It was his turn to grin. "Who is it who was kidnapped from a brothel some weeks back?"
"You were the one who did the kidnapping!" she exclaimed hotly.
"Ah...so I was. But then you nearly got run down by that scar-faced man."
She glared at him, and he continued, "And who is it who got shot while--"
"Trying to save her future husband from being discovered and shot?" Maggie finished archly.
James stilled. "Banks said he thought that was what you were trying to do. I had hoped he was wrong."
"Why ever would you hope that?" Maggie asked in amazement.
"Ah, Maggie. Had you died trying to save me..." Anguish washed over his face and Maggie felt tears well in her eyes again as he said, "I must thank you for what you did, but if you ever do it again, I swear I shall--"
"My lord?"
James scowled at the interruption. "What?"
"Do please shut up and kiss me."
His scowl faded slowly, then he bent to press a kiss to her lips. It started as a sweet kiss, a gentle brush of lips to celebrate their love, but as always happened between them, it soon became a desperate, all-encompassing embrace that left them both panting.
"Oh, I have missed you," Maggie gasped as his lips slid along her jaw and started down her neck.
James mumbled something of an agreement, then tugged impatiently at the collar of her wedding gown. Irritably he asked, "Why do they make women's clothing so damned restrictive?"
"To prevent men from doing exactly this!" Maggie laughed breathlessly, then groaned as he finally managed to get one breast free of her gown. He suckled it relentlessly. "Oh, James. Oh, oh, oh, James!" She squealed suddenly, pulling away as she recalled where they were.
"We are supposed to be getting married today," she reminded him, tugging fretfully at her gown, trying to get covered back up.
"We are supposed to be consummating the marriage today, too," he said in the velvety voice that always made her tingle. He began tugging at the skirt of her gown, now, trying to find the hem line to get under it.
"Yes, but I think you have it in the wrong order," Maggie pointed out with a laugh, pleased to see that the passion was back. "Do you not think we should--"
He silenced her by covering her mouth in a kiss that curled her toes. When he added to his persuasion by sliding his hand up under her skirt, Maggie gave up her arguments and melted into him.
The guests could wait a little bit longer.
"Well?"
Lady Barlow glanced from the carriage she was watching outside the church, to the woman who came to stand beside her. Agatha Dubarry. Maggie had insisted on inviting her friend, the brothel owner, and been terribly surprised when neither James nor Lady Barlow had argued. Vivian saw now that it was the right decision. The woman was dressed in a prim pink gown, her face free of makeup, and her brassy red hair was hidden by a wig. No one would recognize her.
"Ah," the madam said, noting the way the carriage was rocking. "They have made up."
"Yes. It would seem so," Vivian agreed, turning her attention back to the moving vehicle. "At least they're not in the library."
Agatha chuckled softly and when Lady Barlow looked over in surprise, the woman admitted, "Maggie told me all about Lord Ramsey's love of books."
"Hmm. Love of books, love on books, love among books," she counted off humorously, then glanced over her shoulder at the wedding guests. They were all peering curiously toward them. "I suppose we should tell these people that the wedding is still on. Do you think James and Maggie will be much longer?"
Agatha squinted at the carriage, pursed her lips and shook her head. "Nay. It has been two weeks since they have been together. Besides, by the way the carriage is moving, I am guessing that things are coming to a climax."
"I hope for Maggie's sake it is two," Vivian murmured.
Agatha glanced in shock at her, then burst out laughing. When she had regained herself, she took Vivian's arm, and the two started back into the church. The brothel owner said, "Why, Lady Barlow, Maggie never mentioned what a witty woman you are. I do believe we could be friends."
"That is more than possible," the noblewoman allowed with a smile. "And please, call me Vivian."
PRAISE FOR LYNSAY SANDS!
"Lynsay Sands has just the right touch of humor and the perfect amount of mystery to hold you in her grasp.... Lady Pirate is a delicious treat."
--Romantic Times
"Intrigue and humor...that will make you laugh and turn up the air-conditioning. 41/2 stars."
--Romantic Times on Always
"The Key is a happy surprise...a whimsical tale that never sacrifices smarts for silliness."
--The Romance Reader
"Lynsay Sands's strength lies in creating very light entertainment with elements of comedy."
--All About Romance
"Readers are swept up in a delicious, merry and often breath-catching roller-coaster ride that will keep them on the edge of their seats and laughing out loud. A true delight!"
--Romantic Times on The Deed
Copyright
THE RELUCTANT REFORMER. Copyright (c) 2002 by Lynsay Sands. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition (c) May 2010 ISBN: 978-0-06-201358-3
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Lynsay Sands, The Reluctant Reformer
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