Page 72 of Dare to Risk it All

Dear Alana,

I can’t wait to see you at the weekend. You’ll be astonished by the changes to Marcross since your visit in the summer, and this time you won’t have to stay at the inn. The house looks magnificent. There’s still much to do, but all the main rooms have been finished.

I do hope you like the bedroom your sister has chosen and decorated for you. I helped her choose the wallpaper, for I remembered you said your favourite colour was green. It’s a sort of ivy pattern and very pretty. Greer has chosen green velvet curtains and bed hangings, though I suppose I ought not to mention bed hangings to you. Not the done thing, is it?

Well, anyway, it looks very grand.

I showed Raphe about the lower fields today and explained about some improvements I want to make. (I’m sorry if I droned on about them in my last letter.) He gave me this odd look and his voice got all thick and I didn’t know why. Then he told me how proud he was of me and then I understood because my throat got all tight and I couldn’t speak. Strange isn’t it, but I don’t remember my father. Raphe has always been the closest thing I’ve had, and it made me feel grand to know he was proud of me and pleased with what I’d done.

One day, I hope I’ll have a small estate of my own.

―Excerpt of a letter from the Hon’ble Oliver Cootes to Miss Alana Cadogan (Daughter of Mr Jerome and Mrs Bonnie Cadogan).

Almost 10 months later…

26th October 1841, Marcross Manor, Monmouthshire.

Greer fidgeted by the window of the third-floor landing, which had the best view of the road that led to the Manor. Her parents and Alana were arriving today, and she was in a stew of excitement, eager to show them everything they’d achieved.

“Are you going to jitter about there all afternoon, love? I told you not to expect them before teatime.”

Greer turned, smiling as Raphe climbed the stairs towards her. Her stomach did an excited little flip at the sight of him. Even after ten months of wedded bliss, she still had not become used to the fact this glorious specimen of masculinity was all hers.

“But they might arrive before that,” she said hopefully.

Raphe came to stand behind her, sliding his arms about her waist and pulling her back against his chest. “It’s unlikely,” he said, bending to nuzzle the tender place beneath her ear that never failed to make her shiver. “However, I have an excellent notion of how to pass the time until they arrive.”

Greer tilted her head back to look at him, seeing the now familiar glint of devilry in his eyes.

“It’s the middle of the day,” she said, a little scandalised, though why she wasn’t certain. He was insatiable and would accost her in the most surprising places and at any time.

“Day or night, I always want you. Surely you know that by now, love?”

She did. Oh, she did. She turned away from him to hide her smile. “Where?” she asked. “There’s nowhere left we’ve not tried a dozen times. I believe you intended to make love to me in every room in the house before Christmas and, despite thousands of workmen constantly besieging the property, you’d accomplished the task by June. Will you grow bored with chasing me about the manor now it’s so familiar?”

He gave a snort of laughter, one hand sliding up to squeeze her breast. “As if that were possible. Besides, there're acres of gardens and woodland, not to mention barns and—”

“Lord de Ligne, there was a frost this morning, and if you think I’m lying on the cold damp ground—”

He smothered her indignant words with a kiss, taking her mouth as one large hand stroked her exposed throat and the other continued to caress her breast through her gown. Not that she’d meant what she’d said. She suspected he could talk her into any manner of sinful debauchery. She smothered a giggle as she realised he already had.

Raphe broke the kiss, staring down at her, his eyes a startling blue with that impossible hint of violet that fascinated her so.

“You were saying, love?” he asked mildly.

Greer shook her head, admitting defeat. “Do what you will with me,” she said, putting the back of her hand against her forehead in dramatic fashion. “You’ve corrupted me, you villain, and I’ve no defences left.”

“Excellent,” he said, grinning as he swept her up into his arms.

Greer gave a little shriek, startled. “I was joking. We must still be discreet. The servants!” she muttered, batting at his chest.

“Stuff the servants, if they don’t know what kind of people we are by now, then they’re too dim-witted to notice anything at all.”

“Where are you taking me?” she demanded, trying her best to sound stern and not giggle with delight. “You’re not really going to carry me out to the woods?”

Raphe smirked at her as he carried her along the corridor, pausing at their bedroom door and kicking it open. Once inside, he pushed it shut and set her gently on her feet.

“I think you’re disappointed, you wicked girl,” he observed, his eyes twinkling with mirth.