Reckless in Innocence ~ A #Free Historical Romance story ~ Part Eighteen

Reckless in Innocence

for my Historical Romance readers ❤

© Jane Lark

Publishing rights belong to Jane Lark, this should not be recreated in any form without prior consent from Jane Lark

Reckless in Innocence

Read the earlier parts

one , two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight,nine, ten,eleven,twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen

Chapter Six

Marcus

Marcus turned from the drive, through an open gate, into a grass meadow scattered with thistles which had turned to down, and urged his horse forward into a canter. He’d forgotten how good the air of Kent felt against his skin, and that from the ridge you could see far into the distance.

Elizabeth’s mare’s stride thudded on the grass behind him as his stallion kicked up clumps of turf before her, but he did not slow the pace. Instead he kicked his heels against Titan’s sides and focused the animal forward, sending it into a brisk gallop as he leaned close to the horse’s mane, absorbing the exhilarating speed and power in the animal’s limbs.

The wood. Marcus sat back into his saddle, pulling sharply to turn Titan and break his speed. The animal spun about, side stepping. Elizabeth rode a good hundred or so yards behind him. Keeping Titan steady, Marcus waited for her to catch him up.

She looked as though she was enjoying herself, or certainly the smile on her lips implied it, he could not see her eyes at this distance through the fine veil attached to the brim of her hat.

“Has Titan broken your temper?” She called from a distance.

“I am not in a temper. It is a beautiful day. I had a thirst to feel the rush of air one gets from a hard ride. Do you not like the first days of autumn? There is something different in the light, I think. Can you see it? The grass turns to an emerald green and the bracken to bronze. I would miss autumn if I lived in a country where it was forever hot.”

“You are at odds with yourself, Marcus. You cannot say you like autumn because of its affect on the foliage when you have just told me you prefer the town.”

A frown creased his brow briefly, he did not really understand her logic. He leaned forward, passing his leg across the horse’s rump and then leapt into a dismount. “Come, I have a whim.” He took off his hat and gloves and then tossed them to the ground.

Elizabeth watched, her expression dubious. He smiled. She was entirely mistrustful now, but he supposed he deserved that. She accepted his hand, though, when he offered it, and slipped her knee from the pommel, then turned. His hand left hers to catch hold of her waist and then he lifted her down. He might have brought her close but he did not, he stepped away and instead caught up her hand then led her from the horses towards the hedge at the edge of the field.

The grass was long and damp and it soaked the hem of Elizabeth’s skirt.

When Marcus reached the hedgerow he stretched up to a thorny bush and picked a ripe, dark blackberry, then turned to Elizabeth. “The fruits of autumn. Open your mouth.”

Her eyes looked her confusion and doubt, yet she opened her mouth.

He placed the berry on her tongue, as he held her gaze. His fingers were stained with the dark juice and a little leaked on to her lip as she chewed it.

He picked another for her but this time she let go of his hand and took it from his fingers, denying the intimacy he’d engendered. But then she took off her gloves and reached for one, and turned to him. Marcus swallowed against the sudden dryness in his throat before he opened his mouth to accept it. She slid the berry past his lips and he caught it with his teeth as his hand lifted to capture hers before it might pull away. He licked the juice from her fingertips. He reached for another berry for her but she turned away, pulling her hand from his.

“Did you come here to pick berries as a child?” she asked, picking another one for herself a couple of feet away.

“I did.” Marcus glanced towards the wood, an image from years ago in his mind’s eye. “Though only when I was very young.” He looked back at Elizabeth. “I have not done so since I was eight.” He watched her lips part and then she bit into the berry.

“Elizabeth, tell me what the hell you see in Percy to make you want his company?”

She smiled at him, a soft smile. It reminded him of the tempting looks she had used to throw across ballrooms at him, when she had still been innocent. “Because Lord Percy is not you, Marcus. He is the opposite of you, and I am inclined towards every quality you do not possess.”

Wicked, wicked woman. She was sugar and spice indeed. When she wished she could spit venom, when she liked she could be honey. Without even thinking, his hand reached for her and he brought her to him. The material of the habit was taut across her chest and he could not help but be aware of her bosom rising and falling from the quickening of her breath.

He looked at her mouth, at the dark stain from the berry juice on her lips. Then his gaze met hers through the thin gauze of the short veil covering her eyes. He had not looked into the depths of the turquoise blue for weeks. His fingers lifted the gauze and turned it up over the brim of her hat, but then they ran down her cheek and his thumb wiped juice from her lower lip.

To be continued…

If you cannot wait until next week for more of Jane Lark’s writing there’s plenty to read right now 😀 And if you have read them all already, then there’s another treat on its way, on the 29th January you can begin devouring, The Dangerous Love of a Rogue

To read the Marlow Intrigues series, you can start anywhere, but the actual order is listed below ~ and click like to follow my Facebook Page not to miss anything…

The Lost Love of Soldier ~ The Prequel #1 ~ A Christmas Elopement began it all ~ The paperback would be a lovely stocking filler 😉

The Illicit Love of a Courtesan #2

Capturing The Love of an Earl ~ A Free Novella #2.5

The Passionate Love of a Rake #3

The Desperate Love of a Lord ~ A second Free Novella #3.5

The Scandalous Love of a Lord #4

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue #5

Jane’s books can be ordered from most booksellers in paperback and, yes, there are more to come 🙂

Go to the index

For

the story of the real courtesan who inspired The Illicit Love of a Courtesan,
another free short story, about characters from book #2, A Lord’s Scandalous Love,
the prequel excerpts for book #3 The Scandalous Love of a Duke

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

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue, out Jan 29th, is Mary’s story – but here are some previous scenes including Mary

*** If you have not read the series – Spoiler Alert ***

The new story in the Marlow Intrigues series, The Dangerous Love of a Rogue, is Mary’s story, so before the book is released on January 29th I thought I would do a little reflection on the scenes Mary has been in.

She first appeared in the epilogue in The Illicit Love of a Courtesan, and you tell already from this scene how treasured Mary is, and not only by her parents’ Edward and Ellen, but by her wider family too…

Ellen caught up Robert’s hand and pulled him towards Edward who stood to one side holding Mary Rose. The infant was gurgling with glee against the lapel of Edward’s coat, gripping his cravat. He smiled and gave her their daughter. Ellen passed the baby on to Robert.

“Here, your niece and now your Godchild. She is longing for a cuddle from her favourite uncle.”

Robert took her but sneered. He was such a cad. Ellen knew he loved Mary Rose. Whenever he visited he hardly left the nursery. He was either petting Mary or setting John into a riot with a noisy game of war. Proving it, he immediately moved away to show off the child to her aunts. They were gathered in a cluster across the room.

“We are so lucky,” Ellen whispered looking up at her husband. He bent and kissed her mouth, as uncaring as ever of what anyone thought.

Ellen swallowed, she had yet to tell him she was pregnant again. Mary was only four months old. Ellen had been waiting until now. She had wanted Mary baptised before their thoughts turned to the next child.

She spoke against his lips. “I have news for you.”

“What?” His lips curved into a smile.

“You should expect another christening in a year or so’s time.”

Edward held her back, grinning now. “You are expecting? I had an inkling but I didn’t like to say.”

“Yes,” Ellen smiled. “You could have told me you knew.”

“And steal your thunder,” he laughed. “I think not, such news is a woman’s prerogative.”

One hand slid the length of her arm and captured her fingers, then he turned to the room, picking up a drink from a tray balanced on the hand of a passing footman. “Charge your drinks my friends! We have a double celebration!” There was an instantaneous move to collect glasses, and then they were lifted high. “You are about to again,” he turned to face her mother and father, “become grandparents,” then he looked about the hall, “and uncles, aunts and cousins” He smiled at the children, and then particularly at John, “and brother. In a few months’ time. My beautiful wife is expecting another happy arrival! A toast to our children!” It was echoed about the room and then their families moved as one to give their congratulations.

I am truly the luckiest woman, Ellen thought again as John gave her a hug.

“Mama, I would like a brother.” She smiled, holding him tight. He now reached above her shoulder and was less like a boy every day and more like a young man.

“I do not think I can control it, John, but we shall see.” She kissed his forehead and let him go. He moved to speak to Edward.

Now her sisters, one by one, stepped forward to hug her…

…Sylvia stepped forward.

She was heavy with child and she gave Ellen a superficial cuddle. “Mary Rose is so pretty. I hope my own child is as perfect, But I admit I am nervous of the birth.”

Ellen held Sylvia’s shoulders. The child was her first. “It is not so bad. As soon as he, or she, is born you will forget the ordeal of birth. But would you like me with you? I will stay when you are due if it will help?”

“I should like that very much, James fusses over me and it makes me more afraid.”

“Very well, it is agreed. We shall come and stay. Edward will distract James too.” Sylvia nodded and kissed Ellen’s cheek before turning to congratulate Edward.

Next Penny stepped forward, her own son of just over a month old cradled in her arms. Ellen’s fingers brushed the child’s cheek and the infant turned his gaze to her. He was more like Richard than his mother. “He is beautiful,” Ellen whispered.

“Richard loves his daughters, but he is thrilled to have a son at last.” Penny glanced across her shoulder at Richard. He was standing across the room, and their eldest daughter was tugging his hand, urging him to look at Mary Rose, while he was trying to have a conversation with James.

“He’s lovely, I am sure he will grow to be a credit to his father…”

…Ellen looked at her son. He’d taken Mary Rose from Robert and was standing by the hearth talking to him. Ellen’s heart filled with pride. One day he would be a Duke.

“Ellen, my dear child.” Ellen’s thoughts came back to the moment as her mother, with tears in her eyes, drew Ellen into an embrace.’

And of course Mary was Edward’s first child so you can perhaps imagine the bond that she has with her father, but this does come out in excerpts in some of the other books which I’ll share in the time between now and the release date, to whet your appetite. 😉

If you haven’t ordered it yet and you’d like to, just click on the cover in the side bar which will take you into Amazon.

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue

“Pure, unadulterated romance.” Best Chick Lit.com

The next book in Jane Lark’s Kindle best-selling Regency romance series!

“The game is on with Pembroke’s little sister…” Lord Andrew Framlington watched Miss Mary Marlow. The woman had been warned to keep away from him, but she had a little contrary in her soul. She had not been deterred. Perhaps she had a taste for bad hidden beneath her cold denials, or a liking for naughtiness in her soul – either of which appealed.

“Stop pretending you do not like me…” Drew had urged Mary, “Stop running…” Her body urged her to as much as he did. Something pulled her towards him. Something unknown and all consuming… and yet how could she disobey her father and her brother…