Page 91 of The Designs of Lord Randolph Cavanaugh

Rand shook Albert’s hand and those of the committee members. Then he turned to find Felicia and William John waiting, identical smiles wreathing their faces. Rand smiled back, spread his arms, and hugged them both.

Success, at long last, was theirs.

CHAPTER 16

The celebrations lasted far into the night. It was close to midnight, and the publican was looking longingly at the stairs, when Ryder and Mary excused themselves and went up to their room.

William John, Shields, and the men who had been their guards—not counting the four presently standing guard about the barn housing the steam carriage—were still toasting a success William John had insisted be regarded as an all-inclusive team effort. Felicia caught Rand’s eye, then looked toward the stairs.

He smiled, took her hand, rose, and drew her to her feet. To the others, he simply said, “Goodnight, all.”

Felicia paused to add, “Don’t forget we’ll be leaving at nine o’clock sharp.”

Several groans were the only replies, then the group went back to reliving the day’s events.

Smiling, Felicia linked her arm with Rand’s, and they made for the stairs.

They reached her room, and Rand followed her in. She shut the door and turned—to find herself drawn into his arms.

Leaning back against his hold, she looked into his face. The lamps had been turned down, but sufficient light streamed in from outside for her to see his expression. She trapped his eyes with hers, raised her hands and framed his face, and, with heartfelt sincerity, said, “Thank you. I haven’t said that yet today, and I don’t think William John’s acknowledgment went far enough. Without you, we wouldn’t be here—we would never have overcome the hurdles, much less reached such a glorious end.” She hesitated, then, her eyes on his, went on, “More, I wouldn’t have found myself—my true calling. And I wouldn’t now feel so much closer to William John, and so much more reconciled to my father’s ways.” Her voice lowering, she said, “I know I have you to thank for that. If you hadn’t come to the Hall and been willing to stay and work with us to see the invention through, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Rand’s smile was the definition of mellow, full of confident satisfaction. The same emotion rang in his voice as, after turning his head and pressing a kiss to her right palm, he replied, “It truly was my pleasure—and all of what’s followed, all our combined success, is my reward. All the reward I look for.” He paused, then added, “This is the sweetest part of what I do and a large part of what attracts me to the challenge.”

She slid her hands back, locked them at his nape, and tipped her head, studying him. “Succeeding—pulling it off.”

No question, Rand noticed; she understood. “And speaking of such challenges—and pulling them off—as I mentioned, I have a proposition to place before you, one I wish to state at the outset is not in any way connected to my proposal of marriage.” He continued to hold her before him, continued to meet her eyes. “If you don’t think this proposition has merit—if it doesn’t appeal to you—please don’t feel obliged to agree. Your decision won’t affect our marriage in any way.”

She narrowed her eyes fractionally. “I think you had better make your proposal clear, my lord—and allow me to be the judge of how much impact it might have.”

His lips twisted wryly. “Very well—it’s simply this. Quite aside from marrying you, I want to bring you into the firm of Cavanaugh Investments as a full partner.”

Her brows rose. “A partner? Doing what?”

“Working alongside me in evaluating inventions in which the various syndicates I manage might invest. I have a feel for things from a financial perspective, but you have a talent for sensing which inventions can be made to work efficiently and which are more likely to hit insurmountable obstacles. You can winnow the chaff from my grain. As partners, working as a team, our chances of success—and of avoiding failure—will be greatly increased.”

Her eyes had widened. “You truly want me working beside you…openly?”

He nodded. “In the office, sitting alongside me while I meet with my investors.” He couldn’t help his smile. “You’ll feature as my number one advantage over all other investment-syndicate managers, at least those focusing on inventions. Especially now the Throgmorton steam carriage has achieved such preeminent success.”

Her gaze had grown unfocused as she envisaged the picture he was endeavoring to paint. “Together, we could steer funds toward those inventions most likely to result in new and better ways of doing things—producing things—society needs.” She refocused on his eyes and smiled her warm, engaging smile. “This proposition of yours, husband-to-be, appears to have been quite thoroughly thought through—a most well-grounded and well-rounded proposal.”

He smiled into her green eyes. “I thought so.” After a second, he arched a brow. “Does that mean you’ll accept?”

She tipped back her head and laughed. “Of course—how could I resist?”

He dipped his head to place a string of hot kisses down the sweet line of her throat. “I’m glad you can’t. We’ll make a remarkable team.”

She righted her head and, moving into him, her gaze locking on his, softly said, “I never thought to have anything to do with inventions—not ever. But by your side…that’s where life now calls me.”

He held her gaze. “It’s where you fit—by my side, working with me in every way.”

“Yes.” For a second, she held his gaze, letting him see her commitment to that—a commitment to match his own—then she stretched up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

She kissed him, and he gathered her to him and kissed her back.

And as the moon and the stars shone upon them in silvery benediction, they gave themselves up to their private celebration. With minds and souls committed, wholeheartedly, they embraced all that linked them, surrendering with joy to the need, to the undeniable wanting. To the hunger and desire, to the passion that rose up and, in a fiery conflagration, erupted and drove them to the bed.

Onto sheets that tangled as they reached for each other and burned.