Page 103 of His Improper Lady

“I can’t believe she...” He trailed off.

Tom squatted down on Gregory’s other side. “Come on, mate, we have to go.”

“Yes, of course.” Gregory drew a deep breath and pulled his face back into an approximation of its usual reserved state. “You’re right. I have to...there are things one must do.”

Desiree took his arm, and Gregory glanced at her in surprise. She wasn’t sure if he was startled by the gesture of support or had simply forgotten she was there. Or perhaps he was offended by the familiarity. She didn’t know; he was related to her, but she had no idea who he really was. He’d saved them, though, and he was in obvious pain. And he was her brother.

They took the stairs to the top of the cliff, none of them interested in trying the ancient lift. The stairs were as bad as they appeared, but Gregory, having taken the stairs down to the beach, warned them of this broken step or that loose railing. On firm ground again, they walked to the horses. Gregory had simply dropped the reins when he arrived, but the horse hadn’t wandered off and was grazing beside his mother’s team.

Gregory picked up the dangling reins and stood looking at the carriage. “I don’t know what to do with that blasted carriage. I’d like to leave it here to rot. She would never hear of getting a different one. Because Alistair bought it in New York City on their honeymoon.”

In the end, he decided to tie his horse to the back of the carriage, and they drove back to Weymouth in a gloomy procession. It seemed surreal to sign into the hotel room, such a mundane task, after all that had just happened. But Desiree felt too numb and exhausted to do anything else. Obviously, Gregory, signing in after them, felt the same way. The clerk looked askance at their bedraggled appearance and asked for his money up front, but he gave them rooms.

Gregory gave Tom and Desiree a nod and turned away. He had managed to recapture the controlled face of a proper English gentleman, but Desiree knew that inside him emotions were boiling, and he was simply hoping to get to his room before he broke down.

“Poor man,” she murmured, watching him walk down the corridor. “His whole life has been turned upside down. His whole world, really.”

Tom nodded as he opened the door to their room. “I’d not want to be him right now. I’d rather not know who my mother is than learn she was a murderer.”

As he closed the door behind them, Desiree went into his arms. And here, alone, safe, everything that had happened crashed in on her. She began to cry, suddenly weak and trembling, and unable to stop. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, her hands clenching in his jacket.

Tom bent his head to hers, his arms curving around her, murmuring soft words of comfort. “It will be all right, love. I promise.”

Her sobs quieted, but still she clung to him. “I know.” She drew a shaky breath. “It’s silly, really. I never knew them. But to see them lying there like that! I’m not even sure what I feel! All this time that I’ve been looking for them, angry and hurt that they abandoned us, they were dead, hidden in that cave. I’ve found them and lost them all at once. I hardly know whether to be happy or sad.”

“I’m sure you’re both.” Tom’s lips brushed her hair. “But you found what you needed to.”

“Yes, that awful feeling is gone.”

“Good.”

Desiree continued to lean against him, content in his arms, soothed by his hand as he stroked her back. Sheltered in his love. Now a different emotion rose in her. Softly she asked, “Did you mean it?”

“Mean what?”

Desiree leaned back to look into his face. “When you said you loved me.”

He looked startled. “Of course I meant it.”

“I—I wasn’t sure. I thought it might have been something you said in the heat of the moment. To make me feel better.”

“I hope it made you feel better.” Tom’s lips curved up. “But I said it because it was true. I love you. I want to marry you. These days with you have been the happiest moments of my life.”

“Even though we’ve been running from attackers half the time?” Desiree teased, warmth swelling in her chest.

“Yes. Even with the mad killers.” Tom caressed her cheek. “I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone in my whole life. Maybe that’s why I tried so hard to keep you away. I knew if I let you in, I wouldn’t ever be able to let you go. That if you left, there’d be this hole inside me that nothing else could fill.”

“I’m not going to leave.” Desiree stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly. “I love you, and it’s just as deep, just as strong. I know that you are the only man I’ll ever love.”

He kissed her again, his arms wrapping around her, and Desiree melted into him. The sweet kiss turned into something much hotter, and Desiree pressed up into him, hunger flaring in her. She had thought that she was too tired and drained to do anything but immediately tumble into bed and go to sleep. But now, with Tom’s mouth on hers, her weariness was gone. His love, his passion filled up all the empty spaces inside her, chasing away sorrow.

They undressed quickly, coming together in a storm of desire. Almost desperately, they kissed and caressed, fierce in their hunger. Desiree’s nails dug into his back, and she whispered, “Now. Take me now.”

Tom did as she asked, thrusting deep within her, each hard, deep stroke sending Desiree deeper and deeper into passion until the pleasure seemed almost too much to bear. With a cry, she crested, and he came with her, joined in fire.

Slowly, he relaxed against her, murmuring in her ear. “My love.”

Desiree slid her hand over the slick skin of his back. The past didn’t matter; she had all she needed here and now. Pressing her lips softly against his shoulder, she answered, “My love.”