Page 94 of The Rogue’s Countess

“I see,” she murmured with a soft laugh. “Unfortunately, Mr. Currer is about to succumb to a terminal illness. I submitted the last of my chapters for the Chronicles the other day.”

“When did you write them?” Gideon asked with a frown of curiosity.

“I wrote the last three chapters at Lyndham House. I knew I couldn’t write them here. I was terrified you would never forgive me if you learned the truth.”

“Are you telling me Constance and Lucien know you’re Currer?” Gideon arched his eyebrows with a touch of pique in his voice at the possibility that his friends had known something about his wife that he hadn’t.

“Only Constance.” Phoebe brushed her fingers over his mouth. “Her gift showed her who I was when we met at Madam Sabine’s.”

“I don’t know who I fear more, you and your wicked pen or Constance for her special talent.”

“I think you might want to wait and decide when the last chapter is printed.”

“And why is that?” Gideon murmured as he brushed his lips over her cheek to find her earlobe and nibble on it.

“I believe Mr. Currer gently points out in his final chapter that Lord Chelmbee, a man of fastidious tastes, appears to have hung up his wings for the time being as the rogue has suddenly and surprisingly acquired a countess of late. If I recall correctly, I also seem to remember a mention of bumblebees adorning a certain cake.” The droll note in her voice made Gideon bite down lightly on her earlobe.

“You do like to test me, don’t you, Lady Chelmsford.”

“It’s a necessary requirement for the wife of Lord Chelmbee to ensure he never becomes too pompous or full of himself.”

The light-hearted teasing in her voice made him chuckle as he lifted his head. No sooner had he taken a breath than the air in his lungs disappeared as he stared down into brown eyes shining with love. Gideon’s heart slammed into his chest at the thought he might have lost her. When he didn’t speak, a troubled look darkened her face.

“What is it? Are you still having doubts? Are you regretting—” Gideon captured her mouth in a gentle kiss. A hint of dismay still lingered on her face, and his arms tightened around her.

“I love you, Phoebe. I will never have any regrets about loving you. Never.” Gideon caressed her cheek with his hand as the happiness he’d experienced last night returned ten-fold. The rogue’s countess was his until he drew his last breath. “Did I tell you how much I love you, Lady Chelmsford?”

“Not enough that I want to stop hearing it,” she whispered. “I love you too.”

Epilogue

“Good morning.”

A warm mouth brushed across Phoebe’s as the wickedly sinful sound of Gideon’s voice echoed in the air above her. Eyes fluttering open, she looked into a pair of gray eyes glittering with amusement.

“Clearly, last night’s activities exhausted you, my lady.” A deep rumble of laughter rolled past his lips as she glared up at him then slowly smiled.

“Hmm, is it any wonder? Although, as I recall, I did manage to make you plead for mercy. It is not an easy thing to make the Earl of Chelmsford beg for his release.”

“And yet you did it so incredibly well, my love.” Gideon kissed her quickly then straighten upright. He was fully dressed, and Phoebe pushed herself up on her elbows to stare at him in surprise.

“You’re dressed. Did I really sleep so late?”

“No, but as I recall, you were far from enthused about spending the morning in the Villa Borghese’s gardens.” Gideon’s beautiful mouth twisted in a droll smile. “So I thought I would go alone and allow you to rest for this evening’s events.”

“You’re correct,” she said with a laugh. “I do not want to spend two hours listening to you and Signore Calabrese discussing how best to care for one plant or another. I politely, and patiently I might add, sat through an hour’s discussion on the virtues of the lily the other afternoon.”

“Forgive me, my love,” Gideon grimaced with regret. “I should have been more thoughtful.”

“I didn’t mind,” she said softly as she caught his hand in hers and kissed the inside of his palm. “I was with you, and it made me happy to see you happy.”

Gideon leaned over her again and kissed her deeply. With a murmur, she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him downward. Gideon resisted her efforts, and with obvious reluctance, he straightened upright again.

“At the moment, I am deeply regretting my having accepted Signore Calabrese’s invitation.” The indecision on his face made Phoebe scrambled up onto her knees and cupped his face in her hands.

“Go, I know how much you have been looking forward to this. I’ll enjoy a long bath, have breakfast in the courtyard, and perhaps take a walk down the Spanish Steps. When you come back, you can tell me how much you missed me.” Gideon appeared to be on the verge of staying, and Phoebe smoothed the lapels of his jacket before playfully slapping his shoulder. “Will you go? I really do want you to. I refuse to be the reason you missed the chance to discuss a topic near and dear to your heart, especially when I know how much you love puttering around in the arboretum.”

“Have I told you how much I love you, Lady Chelmsford?” Gideon’s voice was husky with emotion.