Page 32 of Brazen Rogue
His heart burst with what he felt for the woman in his arms. He had wronged her multiple times, but no longer. From today onward, he would own his mistakes and the errors of his past and move forward. Fight for what he wanted.
Fight for her ...
"Oh, do excuse me," Lord Chilsten said from the doorway.
Bellamy reluctantly let Reign go, and she turned toward their unwanted guests, her cheeks high with color.
"Lord and Lady Chilsten," she mumbled, her eyes wide with alarm. "We were ... we were just discussing ..."
"Our forthcoming marriage," Bellamy blurted, taking Reign's hand in his. "And I shall need your assistance in London to ensure the scandal of my marrying my daughter's governess is not overshadowed by how I feel about the woman to be my marchioness," he said.
Lady Chilsten clapped her hands and ran toward Reign, hugging her fiercely, both ladies laughing and talking simultaneously so that even Bellamy could not understand what they were uttering.
Lord Chilsten came over to him, smiling. "Congratulations, my friend. I am glad you have seen sense and have made a choice that will be good for you and your daughter." He walked over to the decanter of brandy, pouring four glasses and handing Bellamy one. "What is this plan of yours?" he asked before going back to hand Lady Chilsten and Reign a glass too.
"Well, as to that," he said, explaining what he had told Reign earlier of how she was never here as a governess but a guest who came to visit with Lady Chilsten and not so much take part in the house party.
"It is a sound idea and coincides with your fibbing, Lord Lupton-Gage," Julia chided. "I think we can make it work, so long as Reign returns to London with us, with you following to have the banns called in Town. A unified assault against any impending chatter is what we need to do, but I think it's winnable. So long as your staff says nothing about Miss Hall working here these past weeks."
"I shall deal with the servants and ensure no one mentions her being here before the house party. But my staff have never given me cause for concern before. I'm certain they shall not want to when they hear my decision," he said, meeting Reign's gaze and seeing the uncertainty in hers.
"Mrs. Watkins does not like me, Bellamy. I'm not so sure she will be amenable to your proposal of me becoming her mistress. She warned me away from you only days ago, remember?"
Bellamy ground his teeth, not appreciating Mrs. Watkins interfering in his life and choices. He would address the situation with her first before they left for London.
"I will discuss the matter with them all, but now, let us share a toast to our betrothal." Bellamy pulled Reign beside him, holding her close. He did not like it when she was so far away, and the thought of her living with Lord and Lady Chilsten in London, no longer under his roof, made the calling of the banns more urgent than he first thought.
"To us," he said, raising his glass. "To our marriage and future happiness."
The others cheered, sipping from the glasses. "To you both. We wish you both very happy," Lady Chilsten stated. "And now to London, where we can move forward with this special day sooner rather than later," she quipped.
Reign laughed, and Bellamy dipped his head, stealing a kiss from his future wife. "I could not agree more."
* * *
They set off for London two days later, and Reign watched as Bellamy adjusted himself in his seat across from her. He had requested and been granted her company in the carriage until they reached their first inn for the night.
"You know you should not have demanded Lord and Lady Chilsten to allow me to travel with you without a maid. It's highly scandalous, and we all know how much you dislike scandal," she teased him.
He grinned back at her, and she shook her head at his gumption. The man was impossible to say no to. It seemed not even their friends were able to deny him any request.
"I wanted you with me, and we're so far north that no disgrace will ensue, nothing that will be seen in any case," he said, wiggling his brows. "We will arrive in London, announce our engagement, squash any talk of you being a governess, and all will be well."
She raised her brow, not so certain that everyone in London would believe their tale. Not when guests at house parties talked to servants, and Reign was not so green that she did not think Lady Miller had asked that question while in attendance.
She reached out and took his hand. "Even if there is a scandal, Bellamy, it will not last forever. Certainly, it will not last thirteen years until Alice has her coming out. There will be far more interesting things for thetonto sink their teeth into by then. Please do not worry too much," she said, hoping he would listen and forget about his late wife and all the strife she caused. None of it was his fault, and he ought not to carry the burden around with him.
"Are you saying, Miss Hall, that you think I worry too much?" He rubbed a hand over his stomach, cringing. "My doctor does suggest I stop troubling myself, but it is a hard habit to break. I've been doing it for so long now."
Too long, in Reign’s opinion. She hoped, in time, she could rid Bellamy of any thoughts or memories of his late wife. She had not been worthy of the title in the first place.
Reign slipped over to sit beside him. His eyes darkened in expectation and the air thickened with need. "Would you like me to distract you, my lord?" she asked in a sultry tone, running her hand over his suit jacket.
He raised his brow, wonder in his eyes. "What did you have in mind?" he asked.
She slid her hand down his abdomen, enjoying the feel of his muscular form beneath her palm before touching his thigh. But she did not stop there. Instead, she touched the growing bulge in his pants, stroking it as he liked.
He covered her hand with his, pressing harder against his manhood. "You undo me, Reign," he said, his gaze dipping to her lips in a manner that made heat pool at her core.
