A Lord’s Desperate Love

A Historical Romance Story

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Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Part Ten

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Part Eleven

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“I shan’t listen to any arguments Geoff. I will not give the child up. I’ll disappear again if I must.”

So this had been Violet crafting a new life for herself, one in which she could be a mother without judgement. “The blacks…” he answered.

“I want my child to be accepted and respected.”

“Our child, Vi. This is our child.”

Her chin tilted, her old fire returning. “It is mine. I’ll not give it up.”

He took a hold of her hands. “I am not asking you to. Have I said such a thing?”

She shook her head, sighing and appearing uncertain again, and so unlike Violet. Was it him she was uncertain of – or them? But was that surprising, they had never discussed any future in London. They had only lived each day for what it was all through the summer months.

“But what we –”

“What we did in the beginning, was not what we were doing in the end, was it? I have told you, now, I love you. I should have told you before. I am sorry I did not, but I was terrified of you running a mile if I said it. I was always waiting for the right moment and it never came. Here…”

He withdrew the ring he’d purchased in Bath from the inner pocket of his morning coat, where it had rested close to his heart with her painted image. It was his heart he was giving to her as he dropped down onto one knee. She made a little, “Ooo,” sound, and when he looked up she was biting her lip.

Was she going to say no and keep the child to herself? Was that what she wished, to be without him? He hoped not. He prayed not.

“Violet, I shall say it again. I am in love with you. I have been for weeks now. I’ve been shattered without you. He took her hand. I do not want to lose you. I cannot stand to ever see you with anyone but me now. Be mine…” He met her blue gaze. “Honour me and accept my hand? Will you be my wife?” With his free hand he lifted the ring, hopefully holding it before her finger, but her hand slipped free of his. He knew she’d often said in the past she had no wish to marry again.

“I lied about my age,” she whispered. “I am seven years older than you, not three.”

“I know.” His gaze held hers as determination thrust from his heart.

“Geoffrey, you cannot want me.”

“I do, Vi.”

“You have a life –”

“I love a woman who is more important to me than anything else.”

“Your sister? I am not equal to you in status.”

“She will be glad for me and you ought to know I care nothing for such things.”

“Geoffrey?”

“Are there no more excuses, Vi, because if not my knee is starting to hurt. This floor is a bit hard?”

She laughed.

He held his hand out for hers and she took it. “I love you, Violet. I will love our child, and I will take care of you both.”

“It is just…” She hesitated again and bit her lip. “Geoffrey –”

“Do you think it is your fortune I am after?”

She shook her head. “No, I know exactly what you’ve been after, what I wished…” She laughed again, the true Violet shining through, her voice brimming with innuendo.

“But not now, Violet.”

Her expression changed, shifting back to wariness and pain. “You will tire of me? And I could not bear infidelity.”

No, he could imagine she would not. She always wished to be treated as though she was a precious jewel, she could never bear to be second best. “Violet, I promise, I shall never look elsewhere. I swear it to you.”

She held her breath and he could see her searching for trust, and sifting through further excuses not to.

“Violet,” he said, in a cracked voice. “Was I wrong? Do you not feel what I feel? I have thought you must because my own emotions have been strong. I cannot bear to be without you. Say, yes.”

Her eyes gleamed suddenly as her smile lifted. “Yes. Yes, Geoffrey.”

He slid the ring onto her finger, sapphires, diamonds and gold, like her, and then he was on his feet and hugging her, and her arms were about his neck, and his mouth was on hers. It was a heated, hard kiss.

She broke it. “I love you too. I have loved no one like this.” Her cheeks glowed with a blush. “But I am afraid of it. I cannot believe it will last, and what then? What about when I am older?”

“I will love you more. That is what. And we shall have an army of children.”

Her forehead dropped to his shoulder. “I am going to have to face ridicule in London. We will not be able to hide how quickly the child is born.”

He leaned back and lifted one eyebrow. “And Violet Rimes cares about such a thing? I thought you loved creating gossip.”

“I am thinking of the child.”

“The child will be loved and adored by us, Vi, we have no need to fear what others think.”

She nodded, a nod which expressed conviction and a desire to do battle for their son, or daughter. His hand pressed to her stomach again as he kissed her once more, embracing their child as he embraced her too. “Vi.” Her name was an echo of need slipping from his lips into her mouth. “Let’s go up to bed.”

She laughed.

He smiled.

“Geoffrey Sparks, you are a rogue.”

 

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A Lord’s Desperate Love is the  story of two of the secondary characters from the 2nd book in the Marlow Intrigues Series

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‘The Passionate Love of a Rake’

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The true story of a courtesan, who inspired The Illicit Love of a Courtesan, which I’ve been telling every Sunday, will continue alongside this, and if you fancy more reading, the 3rd book in the Marlow Intrigues series, John’s story, is out on 3rd April click on his cover in the side bar to pre-order. My lovely, moody, arrogant, fractured-golden-hearted Duke! Plus – so much going on – I Found you – my bestselling contemporary novel – is reduced to $1.99 from $7 in the USA until 31st March (it is £2.99 in the UK)

Jane Lark is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance stories, and the author of a No.1 bestselling Historical Romance novel in America, ‘The Illicit Love of a Courtesan’.

Click here to find out more about Jane’s books, and see Jane’s website www.janelark.co.uk to learn more about Jane. Or click  ‘like’ on Jane’s Facebook  page to see photo’s and learn historical facts from the Georgian, Regency and Victorian eras, which Jane publishes there. You can also follow Jane on twitter at @janelark