Page 119 of The Moonstone Pirate
Imogen gasped.
“Sorry, m’lady,” McTavish said. “But I cannot have him alert while I drag his miserable hide to my ship. I look forward to being invited to the wedding.”
“Get out of here, Irishman,” Draco growled, but he was chuckling. “Don’t press your luck.”
William had brought McTavish and his crewmen up, and now accompanied them back downstairs. He had also broughtalong his uncle, Constable Angel, who now took advantage of his time alone with Imogen and Draco. “Care to tell me what is going on, my lord?”
Draco was about to fill him in when more steps were heard and Fionn suddenly appeared at the threshold of the broken door. “Imogen,” he said, his expression fierce as he took in the shattered door, iron shovel, and stool that had been knocked over when the ogre had crash-landed to the floor, “your uncle is going to have a fit when he learns of this. What in blazes happened? Weren’t you instructed in no uncertain terms to stay home? Let me return you before you cause more trouble.”
“Fionn, it wasn’t my fault,” she insisted, shrugging out of the reeking cloak now that there was no need to hide herself. She kept her own expression steady, although deep inside she felt this latest incident was all her fault. However, Draco was not blaming her, and instead had credited her with breaking up the rebel plot.
She was relieved he hadn’t decided she was too much trouble to marry. That would have crushed her heart.
“I’ll take her home, Major Brennan.” Draco took her hand in his. “Lord Burness will want to hear the details directly from me. Besides, I am now ready to ask for your and Constable Angel’s help in tying up all the loose ends.”
He quickly told them all that had transpired, ending with running up here to find Lemuel unconscious and Imogen standing over him with shovel in hand. “That’s everything up to now. I’ll need you to arrest Sewell and Gray, and their wives. We can hardly toss them into your flimsy cells, Mr. Angel. But I don’t think it is appropriate to place the ladies in the fort’s prison, either.”
“I’ll have them confined to their rooms at the inn and place soldiers to guard them,” Fionn said, his frowning gaze now onImogen. “Are you sure you are all right? Shall I summon Dr. Hewitt to have a look at you?”
“No, it isn’t necessary. Truly, Parrot defended me and that oaf never set a hand on me.”
Fionn now managed a smile. “That’s one big fellow. I don’t know how you managed it, Imogen. But somehow I am not surprised. Wait until Chloe hears about this. She always thought you and Ella were something special. In truth, we all did. Burness will have an apoplectic fit, but I expect he will calm down, especially if Phoebe is present to scrape him off the ceiling.”
Draco winced. “Yes, he isn’t going to be happy. But he knows this was a serious plot. Major Brennan, I’ll need you to take Lord Eldridge into custody when he arrives. He may have a contingent of his own men with him.”
“I’m putting my entire regiment on alert effective immediately. We’ll deal with them. I can hold them in the fort’s cells until the Crown agents show up. What about that Irishman and his crew? You haven’t said anything about him. His ship’s still in port.”
“He goes free,” Draco said. “He’s been secretly working with me.”
Imogen noted the dubious look on Fionn’s face, but he was not about to contradict Draco in this matter. “All right. Have it your way. I wouldn’t have room for all of them anyway.”
It took another half-hour before Draco had finished tending to all the details. Finally, he turned to her. “Ready to go home, love?”
“Yes, Draco.”
He tucked an arm around her shoulders. “You look dejected.”
“No, it is just me being silly. After all that has happened, I would have loved an afternoon alone with you. We are unofficially betrothed now.”
“And it will soon be official. Much as I would adore stripping you out of your clothes and getting you into bed, it shall certainly not be in this flea-bitten bed where drunks bring their doxies, and…anyway, I cannot bring myself to fullytakeyou before we are married. Especially since this will be another first for you. You deserve a beautiful setting. A sandy beach with waves gently lapping the shore and a soft breeze floating around us. Or a rose-scented garden as I lay you down upon the soft grass and scatter flower petals around us.”
She smiled up at him, surprised by this man who had shown her only his hard edges up to now. “I never realized you were a romantic at heart.”
“Heaven forbid. I’ve cleaned up my thoughts for your sake. I assure you, they are highly improper. Perhaps your first time shall be in my own grand bedchamber fit for an earl and his countess.”
“I would not care where it was so long as I was with you.”
He grinned. “We are quite alone for the moment. Would you like me to give you a hint of what’s to come?”
She inhaled lightly and nodded. “Yes.”
“Then close your eyes and trust me, sweetheart. You’re going to like this.”
Of course, she knew she would, because it was Draco teaching her. His lips were hot against her skin as he nuzzled her neck and trailed hot kisses along it. He caught her hands in his when she tried to place them on his shoulders. “No, love. You are at my mercy.”
His touch made her tingle.
He moved lower, nudging aside her lacy fichu and putting his lips to the swell of her breasts. He released her hand to cup one breast and run his thumb in a lazy circle over the bud.
