Page 79 of The Masked Baron
Ellis pulled her back and looked into Annie’s eyes. “Well? Are you never to forgive me? Why won’t you accept?”
Annie bit her lip.
“Don’t do that. You know I can’t resist it.”
She grinned. “Very well, you can have me.”
Ellis smiled widely, brought his head down, and took an excited breath. Then he captured Annie’s mouth with his own, thoroughly kissing her. His fingers reached for the dark curls at the back of her neck as he tasted her sweetness. She was his, and he was hers. When he finally pulled back, he looked at the sky and laughed with sheer joy.
Annie giggled, but he silenced her with another kiss, this one tender and slow, sparking a fire inside of him.
He took a step back. “Come, let’s tell Eliana. Let’s tell everyone!” He could hardly restrain his happiness. It was as if he had smothered the emotion for so long he had no idea how overpowering it could be.
Annie put her hand on his chest. “Can it not wait until morning? We should let Eliana have the attention tonight, and Mrs. Trenton with her news of the baby. We can take our turn tomorrow.”
“Your selfless foresight is impressive.” Ellis leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “None of this has been easy for you, love. You will forgive me, won’t you?”
“I will forgive you,” Annie assured him, curling against him and resting her head on his chest. “And the more you tell me and show me you love me, the easier it will be for me to forget.”
Ellis sensed her fatigue and scooped her up in his arms. “I promise to do so. For the rest of forever, you shall have all of my heart.”
Chapter 29
Andalin fell asleep to asoft rainfall out her window and a smile on her face, only to be awakened some time later, in the dead of night, to a faint pounding. She rolled over and groaned, fatigue pulling at her consciousness. She heard the pounding again, and this time her eyes opened. She kicked off her covers and pulled on her robe, tying the sash at the waist. The pounding, though faint, was coming from downstairs and becoming more persistent.
When she opened the door, she saw Mr. Trenton and Katrina both in their robes at the head of the stairs. They each held a flickering candle. Miss Dubois stuck her head out her doorway with an expression of concern.
Andalin hurried to Katrina. “Where is Mr. Lewis?”
Katrina shrugged. “Probably fast asleep like the rest of us should be. Who would come here in the middle of the night?”
Mr. Trenton answered. “Only someone seeking trouble or reporting it. Here is Lord Cadogen now.”
Ellis had taken the time to dress, though his shirttails were sticking out, and he was still buttoning the top of his shirt. “No one has beaten me to the door yet, I see.”
“We’re not as brave as the Dark Rider,” Lord Kerrigan joked as he stepped into the passageway—he had just thrown his clothes on as well.
Ellis started down the stairs. “I should have grabbed my mask. I don’t feel presentable for guests without it.”
“Wait.” Lord Kerrigan tossed Ellis a gun. “It could be the rest of the Brennan clan, up to no good. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Ellis nodded and slipped the revolver into his breeches.
Andalin’s heart raced at the thought of the Brennans. She pulled her robe closed at her throat and shuddered. Mr. Trenton had been right; no one would come in the night unless there was trouble.
Lord Kerrigan and Mr. Trenton followed closely behind Ellis to the door, and the ladies trailed along too but at a distance. Mr. Lewis stumbled into the room with his lantern right as Ellis put his hand on the door. Ellis motioned for him to stand back. Andalin closed her eyes. Why did he have to be the brave one?
Ellis opened the door a crack, peered into the night, and yelled, “Who goes there?”
Andalin did not hear the visitor’s reply, but Ellis turned around and held up his hand. “All is well. It’s a friend.”
Ellis stepped aside, and a man entered. His coat was dripping with rainwater, his boots were thick with mud, and his hat was pulled low over his face. Ellis shut the door behind the man and then put his hand on the stranger’s shoulder.
“Everyone, we have an addition to our party.” Ellis turned to the man. “I didn’t expect you until morning.”
“Lord Cadogen, is it? I wouldn’t have known you without your mask. I made good time and thought I’d come early but then got stuck in the storm.”
Andalin tilted her head to hear better. She recognized his voice. She hurried forward.
