What a Reckless Rogue Needs (The Sinful Scoundrels, #2)(100)

“Yes, I will marry you.”

“Oh, thank God.”

She laughed again. “Stand up, silly. I promised you kisses upon your return.”

He stood and kissed her gently on the lips, and then the kiss caught fire. He opened her mouth and tasted her. She felt at last that she had welcomed him with no reserve and no fears. “I love you, Colin.”

He rubbed noses with her. “I know. Who else would defend me to my father?”

“Do you think our families will be surprised?”

“No,” he said. “Oh, one reason I’m late is I paid a visit to the archbishop. We will marry by special license.”

“Oh, that should impress Mrs. Quimby.”

His chest shook with laughter. “I had better ask your father’s permission. My father assured me that Wycoff would probably want to kill me, but he’s a bad shot so the odds are with me.”

The duke stopped outside the door. “Ravenshire, you’re home. Take your hands off my daughter.”

“Papa, your timing is excellent,” she said.

“Wycoff, I wish to marry your daughter. Will you give your blessing?”

“Hmmm.” Wycoff looked at his daughter. “Are you sure you want him? He’s not like a fish; you can’t throw him back.”

“Yes, Papa, I’m sure I want him.”

He cleared his throat. “Well, then, you have my blessing.”

“Excellent.” Colin shook Wycoff’s hand and then he picked up Angeline, and she shrieked.

Naturally footsteps followed. They turned to find their families invading the drawing room. Everyone exchanged hugs and congratulations. The marquess requested a bottle of champagne and said the girls could have a tiny bit. Margaret took Angeline aside and showed her the ruby bracelet and confessed she’d won the wager with Chadwick, who apparently had doubts about Colin and Angeline getting married.

In the midst of the celebration, the twins set Hercules down in the drawing room. He had a sealed letter in his mouth.

The marquess picked up the dog and set him at Colin’s feet. “Drop it, Hercules,” he said.

Colin bent down. The dog sank his teeth into the letter and growled.

“Drop it, Hercules,” the marquess said.

The dog whined and the letter fell with a slight clink.

Colin grasped the letter, broke the seal, and a key fell out. He picked it up and looked at the letter.

Son,

I finally figured out a way. When all else fails, bribery usually works. May you and Angeline be happy always at Sommerall.

I’m proud of you.

Colin swallowed hard and showed it to Angeline. When her eyes welled, he put his arm around her. “You’re not crying over an old house, are you?”

“No, I’m crying sentimental tears, because today is magical.”

He leaned down and said, “No, you are.” Colin squared his shoulders. “Father, I’ve been wondering about the Faradays.”

“Oh, what about them?” the marquess said.

“They took your bribe so willingly.”

“I made them an offer they could not refuse.”

“Father, who the devil are they, really?”

“Traveling actors,” he said.

Angeline gasped. “No!”

The marquess shrugged. “I was desperate and had to do something. By the way, Lady Angeline, Mrs. Faraday, the actress, bid me to apologize to you. Apparently, she thought you were living in sin with my son.”

“I’ll be damned,” Colin said.

“Colin, we do not use that sort of language,” Margaret said.

“Pardon me,” Colin said. He noted that Bianca and Bernadette lit up like the lanterns at Vauxhall. He figured he’d just added to the twin’s colorful vocabularies.



A fortnight later

“Are you nervous, Angie?” Penny asked.

“No, not really, but I am so happy that you agreed to attend me.”

“I’m honored,” Penny said, “but I will miss you, Angie.”

“You know that you can always visit us. The twins are nearby. Best of all, this spring you will make your debut, and everyone will be there.” Including me, all because of Colin.


Marie finished styling her hair. “You look beautiful, my lady.”

“Thank you, Marie.”

Her mother came inside the room. “You are not dressed yet.”

“Mama, Angie insisted I must dress first,” Penny said.

“You have always loved your sister, Angeline.”

“Who would not love Penelope?”

“My lady, shall we dress you?” Marie said.

A tap sounded at the door. Margaret peeked inside. “May we come in?”

“Of course,” Angeline said.

The twins sat on the bed and watched as Marie tightened the strings of the stays and smoothed them out over the petticoat. Then she stepped inside the beautiful white gown with yards of lace and rosettes on the hem. Her mother clasped her own pearl necklace on Angeline. Then she donned her slippers. “Well?”

Her mother carefully hugged her. “I am so very happy for you. No one deserves it more.”

“Thank you, Mama.”

Another knock sounded. Margaret opened the door. The duke stood there. “It is time, Daughter.”