Page 65 of Gone With the Rogue
“How did you get here so fast?”
“As the bird flies. Your carriage had to go around all the streets. I cut through the middle of them.” He smiled softly. “And I might have entered a few back gardens and jumped over a fence or two.”
She laughed softly as she looked at him, standing with his back to the fire. “You brought Mr. Urswick’s findings just in time. I believe the duke felt defeated tonight.” Garrett nodded. “You do know it’s the gentleman who is supposed to save the damsel in distress, don’t you?”
Admiration shone in his eyes. The potent sensuality of how his gaze swept across her face comforted and thrilled her. “I do, and you did save me. But how did you know the duke was there?”
“I saw his carriage while I was leaving. I knew you would confront him before the evening was out, so I went back to the office to tell Mr. Urswick to contact the Prince’s man and tell him I would carry the animals on my ship and what my price would be. Urswick told me he’d finally broken the code, but he’d only had time to translate the first page.”
“We only needed one.” She walked over and stood in front of him and enjoyed the feeling that a heavy weight had been lifted from her. “Thank you for everything. I couldn’t have broken free of the duke without you.”
“I wanted to help you the moment I first saw you,” he said, his voice husky. “It took you a long time to trust me.”
“The risk of getting caught was so great I had to.”
“I know and you were right to take such care. What you said to the duke was courageous, eloquent, and passionate. No one could doubt the truth of your words or their meanings. You were riveting.”
She watched his face and moved even closer to him, thinking she’d never get tired of looking at him. “Yes, I was,” she agreed, needing the affirmation that she had defeated the duke. “I knew the time had come to stand up for myself, Chatwyn, and for what I believed was right.”
“I know the duke was captivated by every word you said. He is a sick old man. I don’t think he has any recourse but to accept your demands. I think we’ll be reading soon that the owner of the Eubury-Broadwell Gaming House will be helping the people who wereinjured in the explosion.” His voice stayed low and gentle. “I would like to take credit for how this turned out, but the truth is, you saved yourself.”
“So this means you won’t be bringing animals to London in your ships?”
“I have no reason to now. If the duke changes his mind and tries to take Chatwyn away from you, we will revisit that option.”
“I was deeply touched by your willingness to go against your principles and bring the animals to London in order to help me even though I couldn’t bear the thought of you doing it.”
Garrett placed his hands on her shoulders and caressed down her forearms and back up again. His touch was tender and inviting.
“I stand by my argument that there needs to be a controlled and safe place for animals where they can be properly cared for and where children can go and see them.”
“And I may be willing at some point to consider your argument and listen to the plans for this Royal Zoological Society that you say is forming for the better treatment of captured animals.”
“I feel sure changes are coming in the months and years ahead. You know, one of the things I admired about you was that you never stopped being a good person just because the duke was mistreating you.”
“Are you trying to say it was all right I stole his papers from him?”
Garrett’s hands tightened on her shoulders and he moved his face closer to hers and looked deeply into her eyes. “My feelings for you haven’t changed. I love you, Julia. I want to marry you and be a father to Chatwyn. I will be here when you are ready to talk about your feelings for me. I’m not leaving London. I’m going to be building a new life and a new house. I want you and Chatwyn to live with me in it.”
Julia brushed her lips across his, giving him a tender kiss. “That’s good to know.” She slid her arms around his neck. His hands went around her waist and his arms encircled her, pulling her tightly to him. It felt divinely comforting to be in his arms again. She continued to stare into his dreamy golden-brown eyes, sparkling with lamplight, and asked, “Do you want to know what I want?”
“More than anything,” he said huskily. “If the answer is me.”
“I want to live by myself for a while and be courted by a gentleman.”
He blinked and then smiled, tightening his hands on her back. “Courted? You want me to come to the front door and bring you flowers?”
“Yes, and take me on rides in the park, walks in the snow, dancing at balls, and skating when the Serpentine freezes.”
“Maybe I never told you, but one of the things I wanted to do when I came back to London was meet a lady I wanted to court.”
“Then we are in agreement.”
“We are, but—” His arms tightened and he lowered his face closer to hers. “I hope this doesn’t mean you want me to stand by and watch other gentlemen call on you, and that you’ll accept attentions from them?”
“I don’t know.” She felt a rise in his breath as she made the statement.
“I am not good at sharing what I hold dear.”
