Page 120 of The Moonstone Pirate
Little bursts of fire shot through her. “Draco.”
He groaned and pulled away.
She felt a terrible disappointment and tried to draw him closer.
“That’s as far as I dare go for now, love.” He hastily nudged her fichu back in place to cover her breasts. “I hear someone coming up the stairs. Bloody hell, is the entire village going to pop in here?”
It turned out to be Thaddius, who stuck his head in and cast them a jovial smile. “There you are, Lady Imogen. I’m glad you’re safe. Seems there’s quite a bit of excitement going on in the village today. My uncle and Major Brennan have just arrested the Grays and the Sewells. Matchett is talking himself hoarse telling everyone about it. I had better get back to the inn, but I wanted to hand you this piece of mail that just arrived, my lord. I think it is official correspondence from the Home Office.”
Thaddius appeared ready to loiter instead of rush back to the inn, but Draco’s impressive scowl had him scampering off.
Imogen held her breath as Draco opened the letter and read it. “What does it say?”
“Crown agents will arrive tomorrow. Lorcan Brayden is the name of the agent in charge.”
“You are smiling, Draco.”
He nodded. “He’s their top man. Butterfly, we’ve done it. This is truly over.” She was surprised when he suddenly scooped her up in his arms and hugged her fiercely. “You gave me the scare of a lifetime, Imogen.”
“I had to protect you. I wasn’t trying to put myself in danger. Hopefully, there will be no more rebels or idiot Walters for us from now on.”
“Or pirates,” he added.
“Oh, no,” she said in all earnestness. “I must insist on having pirates in my life. Well, just one. You.”
He laughed. “Imogen, I am not a pirate. Why will you not believe this?”
She stared at him.
“All right, but I am onlyyourpirate just as I will only ever beyourhusband, faithful and true.”
She cast him a beaming smile. “Very nicely said, Draco. I love you.”
“Love you too.” He gave her a surprisingly intimate kiss, his lips possessive but gentle on hers, and then he tenderly kissed the swell of each breast before drawing away. “Let’s get you home.”
He placed the cloak around her again and tucked the hood over her head. “Stop looking at me with your big, come-hither eyes, or I am going to toss aside all good sense and take you right here on that ugly bed.”
“I would not stop you.”
He grumbled.
“You are far too moral for a pirate,” she said, kissing him because she was so happy.
“And you are too curious for a gently bred young lady. But I promise to corrupt you as soon as we have exchanged our wedding vows. Count on it. A pirate always keeps his promises.” He gave the hood a playful tug. “Come, my little butterfly gnome.”
He tipped her chin up for a better look at her, since she was mostly swallowed up in the enormous cloak. “Blessed saints,” he said with a chuckle, “you are a pretty thing.”
“Flattery will not gain you my pardon.” But she smiled at him, surprised by how lovingly he regarded her. There were no shadows in his eyes or tension around his mouth. “Oh, all right. You are forgiven for not seducing me in this den of depravity.”
“Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you out of here.”
Few people noticed as Draco slipped her out the back way. “Wait right here. Stay out of sight.”
It wasn’t long before he brought his rig around and they were on their way to Westgate Hall. Parrot had scampered up alongside Imogen, stretching out across her lap as they got underway. “I wonder what Uncle Cormac will say when you officially ask for my hand in marriage. Not that he is able to give consent, for that is up to my father to do. Still, I think we ought to get his approval before you tell him what happened at the tavern. It might temper his outrage.”
Draco shook his head. “Are you serious, Imogen? He’s probably already gotten word. This is Moonstone Landing, after all.”
She frowned. “Then why have me wear this stupid, reeking cloak if everyone already knows it is me you are sneaking out of town?”
