d.a.m.n him for a fool, how could he not have seen it? That time last week when he had tried to kiss Corisande and she had panicked, then cried herself to sleep? How she had tried so desperately to run from him the other night-even attempting to jump from the balcony-and he had demanded why she was afraid of him? But maybe she hadn"t been running from him as much as from something else . . . maybe feelings that frightened her so . . . feelings he had sensed all along ran as deep and as fierce as his own . . .
Cursing his blindness, cursing himself for having spoken to her so callously last night on the ship when she had come to thank him, Donovan stuffed the torn letter in his pocket and sprinted outside, his heart thundering in his ears as he headed for the stable.
"What do you mean he"s not here?" Corisande began to think she would have to shake an answer from Henry Gilbert, who was gaping at her so fearfully, his Adam"s apple bouncing. "I"ve no pistol, Henry! I"m not going to shoot you! I just want to know where Donovan-"
"Th-the stable, I think. A few moments ago-I imagine to get his horse. He . . . he said he was going to London."
"Oh, Lord."
She fled back outside, wondering wildly if she had missed him. Henry Gilbert had been so engrossed in his work when she burst into the library, who could say if it had been a few moments ago or maybe a quarter hour ago that Donovan had left? She must have frightened the poor man to death, too, papers flying into the air as he dropped to his knees and ducked behind a chair. It had been so comical she might have laughed, but she didn"t feel at all like laughing.
She"d never ridden so hard, exhausting poor Pete. He would never make it any farther, not to Helston, and certainly not to London. She ran to the stable, her lungs hurting, already so out of breath.
She couldn"t believe Donovan would leave her without even saying good-bye-ah, yes, she could, and she couldn"t blame him. Yet it still made her angry all the same and-and, oh, please, please, may he still be in the- Corisande gasped, spinning so crazily out of the way as a horse and rider galloped through the stable doors that she lost her balance and fell flat on her face, the wind knocked from her. For a moment she could only lie there, coughing at the dust and bits of hay settling around her, but suddenly she was hauled to her feet, coming face to face with Donovan.
"Corie? Good G.o.d, woman, are you all right?"
She stared up at him, so grateful that she"d caught him in time, so giddily happy that he hadn"t left yet for London, so . . . so angry that he was going to leave without saying good-bye!
"You . . . you cad! Scoundrel! Reckless horseman!"
"Reckless horseman?"
"You could have killed me! Killed me! And I came all this way to find you!"
"You came to find me?"
"Yes, that"s only fair, isn"t it? After all the times you had to come after me? But then Gilbert said you were going to London and-and without even a good-bye and . . . and you"re going to annul me, aren"t you?"
"Actually," he said huskily, drawing her into his arms, "I"d annul you just for the chance to start over with you again as my bride, Corie, if I thought it might help me win your love."
As tears filled her eyes, Corisande plucked at Donovan"s coat; she had suddenly grown so fl.u.s.tered. "I . . . I don"t think that will be necessary, my lord."
"No?"
She shook her head, swallowing hard so that she might continue to speak. "I think I"ve been quite won over already . . . quite won over. I"m just so sorry, Donovan, that it took me so-"
She didn"t have to finish. Donovan"s kiss was so warm, so tender, that she felt her heart filling with unimaginable joy. And when he finally pulled away from her, long, long moments later, he had the funniest, wryest smile on his lips.
"I wasn"t going to London, you know."
"No?"
He shrugged. "No. Couldn"t leave you. That"s all there is to it. I guess you"re stuck with me, woman, for better or worse, informer or not-"
"Oh, no, Donovan, I never believed you were an informer! I only said that because-"
Again Donovan silenced her, this time with a finger placed gently to her lips. Later, he thought, later he would tell her about Jack Pascoe, but not now. Not now.
"That"s all behind us, Corie. Are we agreed?"
She nodded, and he drew her close, hugging her fiercely to him as he murmured against her hair, "And no more fair trading, are we agreed? After seeing that revenue cruiser, I can"t bear the thought that-"
"Agreed."
She"d answered so hoa.r.s.ely that he drew back to look into her face, only to discover tears coursing down her cheeks.
"Corie?"
"I want you to find your daughter, Donovan, I truly do, and I"ll do anything I can to help you. I"ll love her as if she were my very own. But for you to go behind enemy lines-"
"There won"t be any enemy lines, not in Lisbon," he said softly, watching surprise light her face. "Paloma"s been found. My daughter"s been found. We have only to go get her, Corie. Will you come with me to bring my little girl home?"
Corisande reached up to cradle his face, her lips sweetly, so sweetly touching his, and Donovan knew that he needn"t have asked. But he couldn"t help himself from asking for one final agreement when she drew away from him a moment later, her beautiful eyes shining.
"One last thing, Corie. Would you promise here and now that you"ll never call me lambkins?"
"Only if you promise never to call me a shrew."
"Oh, you"re no shrew, woman." Donovan hugged her against him, his smile as teasing as her own. "Just lively. And I wouldn"t want you any other way."
About the Author.
Miriam Minger is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of ten historical romances. She also writes inspirational romantic thrillers as M.C. Walker, and is the co-author of the popular Little Mike and Maddie series of children"s picture books about a lovable pair of dogs and their motorcycle adventures.
Historical Romances by Miriam Minger:.
Twin Pa.s.sions.
Stolen Splendor.
A Hint of Rapture Captive Rose.
Defiant Impostor.
The Pagan"s Prize Wild Angel.
Secrets of Midnight My Runaway Heart (sequel to Secrets of Midnight).
Wild Roses (sequel to Wild Angel) Inspirational Romantic Thrillers by M.C. Walker: Blood Son.
Children"s Picture Books by Miriam Aronson: Little Mike and Maddie"s First Motorcycle Ride Little Mike and Maddie"s Black Hills Adventure.
Little Mike and Maddie"s Christmas Book.
Other Electronic Books by Miriam Minger.
Medieval Romances:.
Twin Pa.s.sions.
Captive Rose.
The Pagan"s Prize Wild Angel.
Wild Roses Regency Era Romances:.
My Runaway Heart.
Historical Romances:.
Stolen Splendor.
Defiant Impostor.
Highland Romances:.
A Hint of Rapture.