The sight of him ravaged with pain compelled her to move close.
Caleb brought a palm up and caressed her cheek. “When I let you leave, I was empty in ways that man-o’-war ship hadn’t even left me. I want to live again, but I want to live a life with you in it. I love you.”
Her heart leaped at that admission.
Caleb sank to a knee. “Marry me, Claire. Please.”
Tears filled her eyes and fell freely down her cheeks, going unchecked.
“And if you marry me, I’ll never seek to control you. I’ll be your partner and travel with you and De Witt, if you want me.”
A sob burst from her lips, and she launched herself at Caleb.
His arms were immediately around her, folding her close in an embrace that enveloped her in so much warmth and love the tears came all the harder.
“Yes,” she managed to rasp between her tears. “Yes, I want to marry you, and spend our days together, and paint together, and travel. I want all of it, Caleb, with you.”
He wound his fingers through hers, twining those digits, his longer and darker against her smaller, lighter ones. “It appears we agree.”
He leaned down to take her mouth, but Claire edged back a fraction, leaving a hairbreadth between them. “If one wishes to be truly fair, I had the sense back in North Yorkshire to suggest we marry, and as such, one might say—”
Caleb kissed her, deep, long, and hard, stealing the rest of her words, and Claire surrendered to his embrace and looked joyously forward to each moment to come.
The End
If you enjoyed Claire and Caleb’s story, be sure and check out Taming of the Beast, Book 2 in the Scandalous Affairs series. It features Claire’s younger sister Faye, and Tynan Wylie…notorious warden of Newgate.
Official Blurb
Intrigued by the scandal of London’s Lost Lords, intrepid Miss Faye Poplar resolves to untangle the mystery of those complicit in the disappearance of the young lords and ladies-even if it leads her to the steps of the most powerful peers. But she’ll require the help only one man can provide…the ruthless, Beast of Newgate.
Caught up in his own crimes, Tynan Wylie, the Beast of Newgate, finds himself behind bars of the same prison he once ran. When he’s freed with Faye’s help, he has no intention of repaying her debt. His only focus is reclaiming his place of power, overseeing the most ruthless criminals in London.
Except, Faye didn’t go to the trouble of freeing Tynan only to face his rejection, and it isn’t long before Tynan understands how tenacious and charming the young miss can be. When Faye’s research into the disappearances open up an even darker danger, Tynan becomes the only person she can depend on. Despite vowing to never be weakened by love, Tynan finds himself falling for the one woman he can never have.
Want to know the stories of the Lost Lords of London:
Lost Lords of London
In Bed with the Earl
In the Dark with the Duke
Undressed with the Marquess
Want to know the story of Claire’s brother Tristan, the Earl of Bolingbroke and his wife, Poppy?
Courting Poppy Tidemore
Biography
Christi Caldwell is the bestselling author of historical romance novels set in the Regency era. Christi blames Judith McNaught’s “Whitney, My Love,” for luring her into the world of historical romance. While sitting in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut, Christi decided to set aside her notes and try her hand at writing romance. She believes the most perfect heroes and heroines have imperfections and rather enjoys tormenting them before crafting a well-deserved happily ever after!
When Christi isn’t writing the stories of flawed heroes and heroines, she can be found in her Southern Connecticut home with her courageous son, and caring for twin princesses-in-training!
Visit www.christicaldwellauthor.com to learn more about what Christi is working on, or join her on Facebook at Christi Caldwell Author, and Twitter @ChristiCaldwell!
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