Page 113 of Redeeming the Marquess

“Is it truly over?” Ellie asked.

He gave her a reassuring smile. “I have no doubt that Lord Worthington will try to exhaust the court with his appeals, but I am confident that Mr. Clawson will remain one step ahead of him.”

“I do hope so. I can’t believe he tried to have me arrested for shooting him in the foot,” Ellie said.

Roswell chuckled. “I believe the magistrate even praised you for your accuracy.”

Ellie smiled. “It was no less than he deserved.”

“No one disputed that,” Roswell responded.

Rising, Alice said, “If you will excuse me, I believe I shall rest before dinner.”

Roswell rose and waited until she departed before he sat back down. “How are you faring, my dear?” he asked.

“I am well,” Ellie said, “but I must admit that I am missing the privacy we enjoyed at our Scottish estate.”

“We could always go back,” he suggested.

“Can we?” she asked eagerly.

He reached forward and tucked a lock of his wife’s errant brown hair behind her ear. “We may have to wait until after the Season concludes, since I am needed in the House of Lords.”

“You are right, of course,” she said with a slight pout on her lips.

Roswell leaned closer and pressed his lips against hers. He leaned back only slightly to say, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Their lips had only met again briefly when the sound of dog whimpering met his ears. He broke the kiss and saw a brown puppy staring up at them, its tail wagging rapidly.

Ellie gasped. “What is this?”

Roswell leaned down and picked up the puppy. “This was supposed to be your surprise after dinner,” he said. “Do you like it?”

“I love it!” his wife exclaimed, reaching for the puppy.

Mary entered the room with a repentant look. “I do apologize, but the puppy escaped from the servant’s quarters.”

“No harm done,” Roswell said. “I think her ladyship likes the surprise, regardless.”

“I do,” Ellie responded as she kissed the puppy on top of the head. “This has been my favorite gift from you so far.”

Roswell shook his head, feigning outrage. “I should be offended. That coral necklace around your neck was quite expensive.”

Ellie leaned closer to him. “But you are still my favorite thing in this whole world,” she murmured.

“That pleases me to hear.”

As Roswell pressed his lips to hers, he knew this woman held the best part of him. And he would have it no other way.

The End