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Rory's eyes drifted across the ballroom until he located his sister dancing with another suitor. He smiled, watching the enjoyment grace Kathleen’s face. Finally, their family had settled into happiness. He wrapped his arm around Dallis tighter, drawing her closer. His hand rested across her stomach. If it wasn’t for her love, Rory didn’t know how he would have kept enduring his father’s shame. Because of her, Rory rose above the mistakes he'd claimed as his own. He lightly traced a path back and forth across Dallis’s stomach.
Dallis shifted her attention away from their friends when Rory’s touch changed. His gentle caress across her stomach caused her to raise her eyes to Rory's. Rory’s secretive smile revealed that he'd guessed. She'd hoped to tell him after the ball.
Rory whispered in her ear, “Would you like to dance, Lady Beckwith?”
“I would love to, Lord Beckwith.”
Dallis placed her gloved hand in his as he led them onto the ballroom floor. Ever since they'd married, he made sure they danced at every ball. Rory claimed he had a lot of dances to catch up on. Every dance held a special place in her heart. This one would hold the most precious of memories.
“Have I told you how much I love you this evening?” Rory asked.
“You have, my dear. But I never tire of hearing your sweet words.”
“Do you have any news you would like to share with me?”
“Mmm. I have already told you of my love for you earlier. So that is not it. Let me see. You are not so vain as to have me speak of your handsomeness.”
“Dallis,” Rory growled.
Dallis laughed. This brought the eyes of the other dancers onto them. His mischievous minx was tormenting him by withholding what he desired to hear.
“I would tell you our wonderful news, but it seems you have already guessed.”
“Do you not think that I don’t know every inch of you, or how your body reacts to my touch? You are the other half my soul, my love. Every change in you is a change in myself. Are you ...?”
Rory brought their dance to a halt. He cupped Dallis’s face and lowered his forehead to hers. When tears of happiness filled her eyes, and she whispered yes, his heart filled with even more tenderness. He brushed his lips across her, kissing her yes into his soul. Looking up, he found them the center of attention. He laughed and twirled Dallis around, her laughter mingling with his. It would seem they were still on the tongues of the ton’s gossipers. Rory no longer cared as long as Dallis remained at his side.
Dallis’s love for Rory kept growing. His excitement at becoming a father was endearing. As he twirled her around, her eyes never left his. The love that shone there completed her. All her life she'd dreamed of love and now shared it every day with Rory. Dallis treasured Rory with her heart and soul.
Rory told her, “You have made me the happiest man, my dear.”
“I love you, Roderick Beckwith.”
“And I love you, Dallis.”
Their friends and family surrounded them. Their news had spread and the well-wishers offered their congratulations.
All except for one man.
~~~~~
IT WAS TIME TO PLAY his marker. He had waited long enough. She was his, and he would stake his claim before the week ended. For weeks now, he'd observed her charming every eligible bachelor night after night. Well, no longer. When he stated his intentions, he realized the drama that could unfold. She had been his since the moment he became aware that she was no longer a little girl, but a woman meant for his desires. He'd fought to gain her, before her father traded her for a chance at a win. The old man lost more than a card game. He lost all. Every ounce of self-respect.
His old friend, Rory, misunderstood his intentions, however Holdenburg no longer cared. He'd tried to explain his reasons, but all he ended up with was a black eye and busted fingers. Rory had crushed his hand, thinking that would change the course of the card game. But it only brought about the loss of a friendship. Lady Beckwith knew the consequences of that night and understood his reason. She had watched him enough around Kathleen to realize his true feelings for her daughter. Lady Beckwith encouraged Holdenburg to pursue Kathleen, but she rebuffed him at every effort. Well, now she no longer could. Soon. It was only a matter of time.
Kathleen saw him out of the corner of her eye. As she stood with her family enjoying Rory and Dallis’s wonderful news, her pull toward Holdenburg never wavered. In turn, Lord Holdenburg’s eyes never strayed from her throughout the evening. Why did he regard her with such intent? He'd not danced with anybody at the ball, only watching her from the balcony. He nursed one drink all evening, not conversing with a soul. Kathleen had sensed the first shiver of his attention and the hair rose on the back of her neck. When she glanced around, Kathleen found him regarding her with an air of possessiveness. Each dance around the floor brought her within inches of him and his intent. Even now, as Kathleen stared back at him, Holdenburg intrigued her like never before. She didn’t understand. Over the last few years, the only emotion Lord Holdenburg invoked in Kathleen was hatred. When it changed, she didn’t know. It was only when Mama urged him to court Dallis did Kathleen feel the small tug of jealously. Which was ridiculous.
When her gaze entangled with his, his smile took on a predatory grin. Holdenburg lifted his glass to Kathleen. In an acknowledgement of what, she held no clue.
The End
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Discover Kathleen & Holdenburg’s story in The Scoundrel’s Wager coming May 12, 2020
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Author Laura A. Barnes
International selling author Laura A. Barnes fell in love with writing in the second grade. After her first creative writing assignment, she knew what she wanted to become. Many years went by with Laura filling her head full of story ideas and some funny fish songs she wrote while fishing with her family. Thirty-seven years later, she made her dreams a reality. With her debut novel Rescued By the Captain, she has set out on the path she always dreamed about.
When not writing, Laura can be found devouring her favorite romance books. Laura is married to her own Prince Charming (who for some reason or another thinks the heroes in her books are about him) and they have three wonderful children and two sweet grandbabies. Besides her love of reading and writing, Laura loves to travel. With her passport stamped in England, Scotland, and Ireland; she hopes to add more countries to her list soon.
While Laura isn’t very good on the social media front, she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on the following platforms:
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