“I can’t believe we are actually here,” said Bridget. She and Alice both giggled. Naomi shook her head. Her friends were behaving like young girls making their social debut, but she could understand their eager excitement. The first time she had set foot inside Monsale House, had also been surreal.
Until their recent marriage her husband had kept the place closed to all but a handful of friends. He was still reluctant to have guests, but to his credit Monsale was trying to change. This evening they were hosting their wedding ball, and shortly Monsale House would be filled with hundreds of guests.
“I hope to be able to host ladies luncheons and afternoon book clubs very soon. We are just waiting on the new wallpaper to arrive for the main drawing room,” said Naomi.
Alice gave a mock gasp of surprise. “He is letting you redecorate? Oh, Naomi what have you got over poor Monsale that would make him do that?”
Jane tittered. “It must be very good or very wicked. I can’t imagine him allowing you to make the slightest of alterations otherwise.”
A grinning Naomi let her friends have their fun. She was fast learning that actions spoke louder than words.
You shall soon know just how wonderful a man my husband is; how much he cares for his family, his friends.
She led them from the foyer and upstairs into the grand dining room. Monsale and the other members of the RR Coaching Company rose as the ladies entered the room. There were three other people present, Adan and the former stable hand Bob, along with Stephen’s young brother Toby.
As the other women took their places next to their husbands, Naomi walked confidently to the head of the table. Once everyone was seated, she addressed the room.
“My lords, ladies, and valued friends. Welcome to Monsale House. An extraordinary meeting of the RR Coaching Company was conducted a short time ago, at which it was decided to liquidate the company. This meeting is to establish a new company, the RR Coaching and Railway Company.”
“I’ve heard of railroads, they are wooden tracks, but what is a railway?” asked Jane.
Monsale got to his feet. “Railways are made of iron and will eventually replace railroads. They will also mean the end of the many coach services which travel up and down the country. In the north of England, there is already a proposal to expand the Stockton to Darlington tramway and make it into a railway. While the tramways currently move stock, there will come a time when they also carry passengers. Our company has made strategic investments in land as well as the metal bolts and materials that the people building and running those future railways are going to need.”
He pointed a finger in the direction of his estate steward and former stable hand. “Adan and Bob have been invited to invest in the new company, and I am pleased to announce that they have both sensibly agreed. Master Toby Moore is also to receive a parcel of shares which will be held in trust by his brother Sir Stephen until Toby comes of age.”
Lady Alice Steele got to her feet. “When you say we have made investments, what exactly do you mean? Where has the money come from?”
Monsale and Naomi exchanged a grin. They had been running a secret bet as to which of the wives would ask that particular question.
“Over the years, I have taken an extra cut of all the proceeds from the RR Coaching Company. And while some people assumed that it was to line my own pockets, it was, in fact, a form of savings. I’ve been preparing for the day when we all walked away from our…” He darted a glance at young Toby before continuing. “Previous business endeavors.”
There were gasps and loud exclamations from the other wives, followed by a hubbub of chatter amongst the various couples. It took some time for the noise to finally die down, at the end of which Stephen got to his feet.
“It has also been agreed that we shall all hold our shares for the next five years. After that time, if anyone wishes to leave the company, Monsale will buy them out.”
Naomi let out a small sigh of relief. Her husband had carried the weight of the new company for many years, it was only fair that the rest of their friends stand up and support him. And while she didn’t enjoy the prospect of everyone else potentially walking away from the venture at some point in the future, she trusted Monsale’s investment instincts.
One by one Harry, George, Gus, and Stephen all spoke. No one would be selling their shares. They all supported Monsale.
“If you can all please sign your names to the document of incorporation, then we can bring this meeting to a close,” said Naomi.
She picked up a pen and signed her own name. While it wasn’t legally binding for the women to sign, she and Monsale were both keen to have everyone’s name on the document. For everyone to agree.
Monsale then signed, as did the rest of those present. Even Toby carefully wrote his name. When the meeting was officially closed, everyone but Monsale and Naomi filed out of the room. Monsale took a hold of Naomi’s hand. There was a glint of excitement in his eyes as he bent and kissed her.
“Business is over and done with, now it’s time to celebrate. Come my love, we have a ballroom of guests waiting for us downstairs.”
She gifted him with a warm, teasing smile. “Let us linger here for a minute or two. You have helped to create a secure financial future for our friends and their families. I just want you to know how proud I am of my husband.”
He kissed her once more. “Thank you. Hearing you say that, means the world to me.”
This was a special night and Monsale was grateful that Naomi wanted them to be alone for a time before they were caught up in a whirl of people.
He took in the dark silver of her silk gown, enjoying the stunning way it hugged Naomi’s curves. She was every inch a duchess. From the diamond tiara which glittered in her hair, to the emerald bracelet which adorned her wrist.
The look of joy on her face when he gave her the ornate jewels would forever be one of his happiest memories. He knew it wasn’t the precious stones which had brought tears to her eyes, it was the knowledge that he now felt free enough of his past to share his heart with her. To openly gift her his love.
Naomi slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a long, tempting kiss. Her fingers ruffled through his hair. “What foolish people invited five hundred guests to our home tonight? We could be enjoying the warmth of the hot house and those lavender roses which arrived this afternoon.”
He gave a deep chuckle in response to the promise in her words. “Later my love. And don’t you go getting me all hard before we have to go and greet your parents.”
She mewled with disappointment. “Just remember our deal. New roses. New game.”
“Tonight, I promise.”
He led her out of the dining room, and to the top of the stairs where Adan was waiting, the Monsale staff in his hand. He bowed. “Are your graces ready?”
Monsale and Naomi both smiled. “Yes.”
They followed him down to the doorway of the ballroom. It had been a major effort to empty the room of all the crates of roses, but Monsale didn’t want to risk any of them being damaged.
From the ballroom came the hum of many voices. The chatter and laughter all ceased as Adan, rapped the staff on the floor and announced. “My lords, ladies, and gentlemen. The Duke and Duchess of Monsale.”
Monsale led Naomi through the door and straight to the middle of the room. At his signal the sixty-piece orchestra struck up the opening notes of a waltz.
“Never forget, from this day forth all my dances are yours. As is my heart.”
“I love you, Monsale.”
There in front of all of London’s elite, he drew Naomi into his embrace. This woman was his world. And tonight, he would show everyone just how much he loved her. How she had always been the one for him.
She let out a laugh, filled with such joy, that he almost missed his footing as he spun his bride into the first turn of the dance. But as it was always when he was with Naomi, Monsale quickly recovered.
Thank heavens you never put your name on that list.
The king of rogues finally had his queen.
If you want to meet up with the Rogues of the Road again, they feature in Devoted to the Spanish Duke.
A Spanish noblewoman, kidnapped and far from home, must place her trust in the hands of a man who is the bitter enemy of her family.
Lisandro de Aguirre, Duke of Tolosa has few enemies greater than the Elizondo family. A bitter feud has existed between the two clans for over a hundred years.
Maria de Elizondo Garza is stolen from her home and taken to London as a hostage. A king’s ransom now demanded by her secret captors.
With hope fading fast, Maria’s brother turns to the one man he knows who can save his sister, Lisandro de Aguirre.
But when her family’s enemy arrives to rescue her, Maria is determined not to go quietly.
A battle of wills soon turns into a war against simmering desire. How can the man she has been taught to hate, be the one who holds her heart?
A dangerous journey home has Maria and Lisandro both resisting the growing attraction between them, but a night of steamy passion makes them finally face up to the truth.
Back in Spain, all is not what it would seem; and they are forced to face the hardest question of all.
Can you truly trust your enemy?