Viscount of Vanity by Tammy Andresen (beautiful books to read .txt) 📗

Gabriella didn’t try to talk again as pleasure built inside her until it finally broke, shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.

At her cry, he grunted, his own body shuddering in pleasure.

His arms wrapped about her back then, holding her against his chest. She didn’t bother to move off him as she lay her head on his shoulder.

“Austin,” she murmured.

“Yes, love?”

“I like your given name much better than that nickname. It doesn’t suit you.”

He gave a small chuckle. “They gave it to me because of my insistence on hygiene.”

She kissed his neck. “It implies a shallow superficiality and you, my husband, are a man of great depth.”

He squeezed her tighter. “I think they may have also been referring to my rigidity, but you, my wife, are erasing that part of me in very short order.”

“I hope you like that change. You’re changing me too, but I am so very happy about it. It’s only been a short time, I know that, but I can’t imagine me without you.”

He rolled them to the side, looking deep into her eyes. “You don’t have to. You’re my wife. We’ll be together until death do us part.”

Chapter Twelve

Austin woke to the sound of knocking.

The sun had only just risen, though he’d normally be awake at this time. He’d slept better last night than he could ever remember sleeping in his adult life.

Gabriella was still curled into his side, her leg tossed across his midsection.

His wife.

Not only had he made love to her last night, but he hadn’t experienced a moment of fear or any physical ailments.

She’d taken his fears and found a way to make him completely comfortable.

His chest ached.

She was the most wonderful person he’d ever known, and he was married to her. He shook his head. How could he have known that one impulsive move, one break from his rigid lifestyle, would change everything for the better?

He brushed back her hair, gazing at her long lashes, resting on her cheek. The flush of her cheeks, the pout of her lips.

He swallowed down a lump as he ran his thumb along her jawline. His heart beat faster in his chest.

The knock sounded again, and he grimaced. Who was calling at this hour? Was it Chad? Was something wrong?

He slipped out of her arms, rose from the bed, and yanked on his pants. His shirt was nowhere in his sight, which he quickly realized was because the garment had never made it to the bedroom. It lay on the floor near the hearth along with her skirts and petticoats.

Picking up all the clothes, he tossed them behind a chair, except for his shirt, which he pulled over his head and then crossed to the door.

But a glance out the side window told him that it wasn’t Chad paying the early morning visit but Gabriella’s father.

He let out a low growl, opening the door just wide enough to look out. “Mr. Winston.”

Winston gave him a bleary smile. “My dear son-in-law.”

“What do you want?”

Winston tried to peer past him. “Is my daughter here?”

“She’s sleeping.” Austin had no idea what the man was actually doing here, but there was no way he’d let the man in.

“Her? She always rose with the cock’s crow.” He shoved his hand in his pockets. “No matter. Since I’m here, we might as well have a word.”

Austin was running out of patience. “Now is not a good time. I have an appointment in the village later today, we can discuss it then.”

Winston’s face fell. “I had a rather late night and fancy a bit of a repose.”

Austin quirked a brow. He was certain that meant the other man had yet to go to bed because he’d spent the night drinking. “Tomorrow then.”

Winston pulled his hat from his head. “Would noon work?”

“Fine,” Austin answered. He didn’t know what the man wanted, but he knew it wasn’t good. “I will see you at noon.”

He closed the door again without another word and turned away to see Gabriella peeking out from the bedroom. “What did he want?”

He slid the lock in place and started for his wife. “It doesn’t matter, love.”

“It might,” she whispered.

He crossed the room toward the door as she moved back to let him in. She’d pulled on her chemise but nothing else, and he wrapped her in his arms. “This is something you don’t need to worry about. It’s now my job to deal with him.”

She wrapped her arms about him. “It’s too much. You shouldn’t have to.”

Picking her up in his arms, he moved to the bed. “It isn’t.” But it did make him wonder how he should handle today. He didn’t want to leave her in the cottage alone nor did he wish to take her with him. Whatever tricks her father might have up his sleeve, Austin didn’t wish for her to worry about them. She’d spent enough of her life subject to the man’s cruelty. “But I’d like you to spend the day with Abigail and Chad. Just to be safe.”

“Safe?” she asked as he set her back down on her feet.

He shook his head. “I just mean so that he can’t bother you.”

She gave a tentative nod, her hands resting lightly on his chest. “We could just leave. When do Abigail and Chad return to London?”

Austin grimaced. How had he forgotten? “You’re right. They left this morning.” With the only carriage. “Still. Let’s bring you to the house.”

“It’s in the opposite direction of the village.”

He smiled then. “The exercise will do me good.”

She gave a tentative nod. “I can come with you.”

He cupped her cheek then, leaning down to give her a light kiss. “I want you to relax and enjoy your day.” She did not need to see what he was about to do to her father. But the man was not going to be part of their life and ruin their newfound happiness. That, he was certain of.

* * *

Gabriella sat in the kitchen of Abigail and Chad’s home, chatting with their