‘So now do you understand? About everything that I had to do?’
‘For me, there was a much greater need that made me desperate.’
She looked faintly confused. ‘A need for what?’
‘You, Eleanor...’
‘Oh, Hugh.’ She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips.
‘I love you, Eleanor Tallany. I love you, body and soul. You challenge me to be a better man. A man worthy of you.’
‘And I love you,’ she murmured, her eyes filling with tears. ‘With all my heart.’
‘Ah...is that the same heart that you once declared would never be mine?’
‘Yes, the very same.’ She smiled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
‘Good to know.’ He shook his head, chuckling.
‘Does this mean that you have forgiven me?’ she asked.
‘Let’s not get carried away, now.’ He smiled, raising his brows.
‘Well, I’m hopeful that you will. After all, a wise man once promised me hopeful futures that would drown out disastrous pasts.’
‘True.’ He grinned. ‘And now that I hold the constancy of your heart in mine I have no choice but to use it for my own ends.’
‘Confounding man! Of all the ridiculous, arrogant—’
Hugh silenced her with a kiss so passionate that it rendered her speechless—if only briefly.
‘Hugh?’ she said, eventually.
‘Yes, my love?’
‘You didn’t really mean that, did you?’ She bit her bottom lip.
‘Oh, yes, Eleanor, I meant every word,’ he drawled, and bent his head to kiss her again.
Epilogue
Six months later...
Eleanor watched her husband bade farewell to Will as his friend left on yet another mission for the Crown.
The state of the kingdom was incredibly dire, with the animosity between King John and the Rebel Barons now as bad as ever—as Hugh had predicted. It hadn’t helped that once again the King had reneged on all the promises he had made, even after the Great Charter—a document that the man had signed himself. No wonder the Rebels found him so difficult to trust.
Eleanor realised that for Hugh it was a difficult balancing act, but at least they were no longer on different sides of this divisive conflict.
With so much strife in the kingdom she knew that her husband felt a huge amount of guilt at being so ridiculously happy and content with Eleanor...as she was with him. And it was the strength of their love and devotion that had slowly restored the trust and faith to their marriage. Something that brought so much joy to Eleanor that it made her heart soar.
And, when all was said and done, that was all that truly mattered...
As for Le Renard—Eleanor had all but retired him...for now.
Hugh was a diligent and effective lord, working with her to re-establish Tallany during these dark times. And even when he was commanded to court, and forced to turn his mind to matters of the Crown, Eleanor knew he safeguarded their land and its people. To her relief, he had also ensured that Osbert and Godwin were freed and returned safely to their families.
And for Eleanor there were now other things for her to focus on. She rubbed her stomach, delighting in the secret she would soon be letting her husband in on.
Hugh strode back towards her and smiled that lopsided smile of his that still managed to make her heart skip a beat. She returned his smile and stood beside him, waving Will off.
Will nodded at Hugh and winked at her, making her smile again. The man just couldn’t help being a consummate flirt, but she was inordinately fond of him and, like Hugh, considered him to be like a brother.
‘You’re going to miss him, aren’t you?’ she said, squeezing her husband’s hand.
‘Will seems preoccupied these days. A lot more serious.’ Hugh shook his head and sighed, looking down at her. ‘I hope that all goes well for him, this time.’
‘I hope so too,’ she said, tilting her head to gaze at Hugh. She frowned. ‘What is that in your hand?’
‘Ah, this?’ he said, tapping a package that had been wrapped with a thin layer of fabric and tied with string. ‘I wanted to give this to you later, but you may as well open it now.’
‘What is this? Another present, husband?’
‘Precisely, wife. Now, open it.’
Eleanor opened the package to find the most incredibly soft cape lined with an even softer woollen fleece.
‘It’s beautiful. Thank you.’
‘Made from the wool from your own sheep and their lambs.’ Hugh’s smile widened. ‘Not that I believe you are as meek as one.’
‘Oh, I would dearly like to know what you believe me to be.’
‘Well, you’re maddening,’ he said, kissing her on the lips. ‘You’re tempestuous,’ he said, planting another kiss. ‘You’re brave,’ he said, kissing her once more. ‘And I love you.’
‘I love you too—but it’s no use, Hugh. You cannot make a virtue out of my hopeless qualities,’ she said, biting the inside of her cheek. ‘Mayhap I am more the cunning fox, after all?’
‘Mayhap,’ Hugh said as he curled his fingers around her waist and pulled her closer towards him. ‘But either way, sweetheart, you have the heart of a lioness. My lioness,’ he murmured, and he kissed her again.
She giggled. ‘Well, your lioness has a little secret.’
‘Oh?’ He raised his brow. ‘And what is that?’
Eleanor shook her head. ‘I think my surprise may be best shared later...when we are alone.’ She met his smouldering eyes and smiled.
‘As you wish, my love, as you wish.’
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride by Virginia Heath.
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The Scoundrel’s Bartered Bride
by Virginia Heath
Chapter One
Mayfair—November 1817
‘I heard an interesting rumour about you today, Lydia.’
Just the sound of his deep voice cutting through the music and incessant chatter of the ballroom behind caused her step to falter. She’d seen him earlier. Of course she had. Shaking hands with the great and
