by Maya Banks
“I want your blessing,” he said again.
“Why do you want my blessing? I just told you Jenna is free to marry whomever she wants.”
Gray shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t take her from her family, not like this. Her happiness means too much to me to make her choose between me and her family.”
“You said you loved her. Isn’t that enough?”
“Let me ask you, my lord. Is it enough that I love your daughter if she defies you to marry me? Is it enough when you see your relationship with her deteriorate? You start seeing her less and less as the awkwardness becomes too much to bear. Will it be a consolation to you that I love her?”
Fleeting respect gleamed in the earl’s eye. “So you wish to have my blessing so that it conserves her relationship with her family?”
“If I marry only half of her because the other half was torn and remains in her family’s heart, then I cease to see the point in marrying her at all. I want all of her. And if that includes an overbearing family then I am prepared to deal with that result.”
To his surprise the earl burst into laughter. “I do believe we’ve just been insulted,” he said to Quinn and Sebastian. “I like you, Mr. Douglas. Make no mistake. I still entertain thoughts of tearing you limb from limb for taking liberties with my daughter, but I admire your courage, and your obvious devotion to Jenna’s happiness.”
“I know I am not good enough for her,” Gray said in a low voice. “But I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy.”
The earl’s eyes flashed, and his jaw drew tight. “Why aren’t you good enough, because you work for your wage?” He shoved away from the desk and paced back and forth in front of Gray, his hand clasped behind his back. He stopped and eyed Gray. “I took the liberty of making a few inquiries about you this past week. I’ve not come across a single person who deems you less than honorable.”
Gray shook his head, surprised the earl had gone to such lengths. But then he should have realized that no member of Jenna’s family did things in half measure.
The earl continued before him, assessing him with his probing eyes. “We’ve only to look at Viscount Dudley to see that being a nobleman doesn’t make you an honorable man.”
He glanced at his sons then back at Gray. “If Jenna will have you, I will grant my blessing on your union.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. He stared in disbelief. The unattainable had just become reachable. Happiness and his future with Jenna was within his grasp.
“I suggest you go speak with Jenna posthaste. Her belongings are being packed as we speak. I cannot guarantee that she’ll have you, but if she will, I will grant my approval.” His eyes twinkled, and he looked to be suppressing laughter at Gray’s loss of words. “She’s in her room,” he added. “I believe you know the way.”
###
From her perch on the window seat, Jenna watched as Margaret packed the remainder of her clothing. She glanced down at the missive she had received from Stuart and gently folded it in two.
He had found several documents his mother had hidden in their London townhouse. Not only was his father clearly implicated, but several other Napoleon loyalists were named and subsequently apprehended.
Though it was unlikely anyone beyond her immediate family would ever learn of the viscount’s treachery, she knew Stuart would long carry the shame of his father’s actions. She hoped he would one day find a measure of peace.
“I’ll summon the footman to carry your trunk down,” Margaret announced as she closed the heavy lid.
Jenna nodded and turned her gaze out of the window and toward the neighboring rooftops. In a few hours, they’d climb into the procession of carriages and leave London. Leave Gray. She’d been so tempted to go to him again. Tell him that her father had relented and would let her marry whomever she wished. But her pride wouldn’t allow her to beg. He had made his choice, and it wasn’t her.
A bold knock sounded at the door and Margaret hastened to answer it. She was already gesturing toward the trunk when her hand fell limp. “What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“Who is it?” Jenna asked sharply. She sucked in her breath when Gray appeared in her room.
“I wish to speak with Lady Jenna,” he said to Margaret.
Obviously still flummoxed by his appearance in Jenna’s bedroom, the maid beat a hasty retreat.
“Gray...what are you doing here?” Jenna asked, rising from her seat.
He crossed the room in an instant, taking her gently in his arms. “Are you well? How is your arm? Does it pain you?”
She laughed. “Yes, better and not overly much. What are you doing here? My father will kill us if you are discovered.”
“He knows I am here.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Why then are you here?”
“Because I can’t live without you. I can’t imagine taking a breath without you next to me. I can’t envision going to bed at night and not having you beside me. I want to wake up in the morning with your hair in my face and your legs wrapped around mine.”
Her mouth dropped open and her lips quivered as tears sprang to her eyes. “Gray...”
He placed a finger over her lips, his other arm still wrapped securely around her waist. “Shhh, I’m not done yet.” He kissed the tip of her nose then kissed away the single tear that trailed down her cheek. “I love you, Jenna. I love you more than I ever imagined loving another human being. You’re as much a part of me as my heart, and just as I can’t do without my heart, I can’t do without you.”
He knelt in front of her, wrapping his arms around her legs and burying his face in her skirts. He held her so tightly she couldn’t move. Gently, she threaded her hand through his hair and he looked back up at her, his eyes bright with emotion. “Marry me, Jenna. Say you’ll spend the rest of your life with me. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you mine.”
“But what of Papa?” Her voice trailed off in an unhappy whisper. Would he agree to a match with Gray? Would his assurances that he wouldn’t interfere with her choice of husbands be true? And would Gray still wish to marry her if Papa refused to grant his blessing?
Slowly, he slid back up her body until she was once again back in his arms. “I’ve already spoken to your father.”
“What?”
“I asked for his blessing, and he granted it. We are free to marry without alienating your family.”
The room swirled around her in a blur. Her eyes focused back on his face. The face of the man she loved without measure. Dare she hope to have it all? Never would she have imagined having the love of her family and a life with Gray. The two seemed at opposite ends of the spectrum. “He gave us his blessing?”
“He did,” Gray confirmed.
“Then yes, yes! I’ll marry you,” she shouted, launching herself full against his chest. “I would have married you without his blessing. I love you. Oh how I love you.”
He caught her up and kissed her with searing passion. Forgotten was the pain in her arm as he pressed her to him. She frantically tried to wrap her arms around him, growing frustrated with her sling and finally ripping it off.
A slight clearing of a throat had them jerking apart and turning to the door where they saw her parents standing in the doorway. “May we assume there is to be a wedding?” the earl asked pointedly.
“You may,” Gray said with a wide smile.
Tears shone in her mother’s eyes as she walked forward, hands outstretched to both of them. “Congratulations. I wish you every happiness.”
“Thank you, Mamma,” she whispered as she hugged her mother.
“Take care of her, young man,” the earl cautioned as he held his hand out to shake Gray’s.
“I will, my lord.”
“Come, Pen, leave them be,” her mother scolded. She shooed him out of the room and closed the door tightly behind them.
Jenna turned back to Gray. “Tell m
e I wasn’t dreaming. Tell me you really love me.”
He lowered his head to hers, kissing her eyes, her nose, her cheeks then her mouth. “I love you. I love you. I love you. I can’t imagine loving anyone more than you.”
She sighed in utter contentment. “And to think. We found each other all because I decided to take a lover.”
His eyes darkened, and he scowled at her. “I’m just glad you didn’t decide to proposition some other rake.”
“No, just a rake that turned out to not be a rake at all.” She grinned mischievously at him. “You almost missed me. We were set to leave for Westerleigh this afternoon.”
“I would have followed you to the ends of the earth,” he growled, capturing her lips again. “And I wasn’t going to take no for an answer.”
“I love you, Gray. I can’t bear the thought of being without you.”
“You needn’t worry. You will never be without me again.”
She snuggled deeper into his arms, closing her eyes as she inhaled his masculine scent. When she looked back at him, tears slipped down her cheeks. “Until midnight, my love. Until midnight.”
Epilogue
Agra, India
1820
“It’s more beautiful than I ever imagined,” Jenna whispered. Her hand tightened around Gray’s as the two watched the purple and golden hues of the sinking sun bathe the Taj Mahal in soft light.
“Still think it’s the most romantic story you’ve ever heard?” he asked in a teasing tone.
She turned to him and stared into the face of the man she loved more which each passing day. “No. I rather think our story is the most romantic.”
He smiled and lowered his lips to capture hers in a long, tender kiss. “I’m glad I could make one of your dreams come true.”
“You’ve made all my dreams come true.”
And it was true. In the four years they had been married, he had made every effort to fulfill everything she had ever dreamed. Together they had visited the pyramids of Egypt, made love on the sands of exotic beaches, and swam in the tropical waters of the Caribbean.
He had encouraged her to write about their adventures, and so she kept a journal of each place they visited. On cold nights, back in London, they would sit in front of the fire and regale the children with the tales of their travels from the endless pages she had created.
And now, here she stood living her dreams, not just dreaming them. It was almost incomprehensible. Tears pricked her eyelids, and the white marble spires swam before her.
“Are you all right?” Gray pulled her close to him and looked at her in concern.
“I couldn’t be better,” she said in a voice choked with emotion. “I love you.”
“And I you. You are the most beautiful woman, and I am the luckiest of men.”
She settled into his arms as they watched the evening shadows elongate and spread. Tomorrow they would set sail for England. Home. It would be nice to see Mamma, Papa, Sebastian, Quinn and the children. Even her friendship with Stuart had been repaired, and he had been welcomed into the bosom of her family in the days following his father’s death.
And Gray. He had been embraced with far more enthusiasm than even she had dared to hope. His obvious devotion to her had won over her doting family. Even if her parents did complain about their prolonged absences from England.
Gray took her hand in his and gently pulled her from his arms. “I fear we must be going.”
“I’ve missed the children,” she murmured. “I can’t wait to see them again.”
“I wager they have missed you as well.”
They both smiled as thoughts of the children filtered through their minds. After they had married, they had bought a sprawling house and opened their doors to the children of the orphanage. In the years since, they had added to the numbers, and each child held a special place in their regard. But Meg, dear, sweet Meg who had turned into a beautiful young lady, had captured their hearts like no other. She couldn’t be more of a daughter to them than if she was of their own blood.
Jenna shook off her thoughts and took Gray’s waiting arm.
“Another adventure comes to a close,” she said with a smile as they turned to walk back to the boat that would bear them up the Jamuna River.
His arm tightened around her. “Oh, but another one begins, my love. I plan for our entire life together to be the grandest adventure of all.”
About The Author
Maya Banks is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author across multiple genres including contemporary romance, erotic romance, romantic suspense and Scottish historical romances. She lives in Texas with her husband, three children and assortment of cats. When not writing, she enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her family. A southern girl born and bred, Maya loves life below the Mason Dixon, and more importantly, loves bringing southern characters and settings to life in her stories.
For up-to-date news on book releases, visit Maya’s website or Facebook page.
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