In Want of a Wife? Read online

  ‘I know.’

  ‘You know?’

  Louis’s fingers were stroking the soft underside of her wrist and Lizzy could barely stop her heart from hammering furiously in her chest, beating out a tempo of hope and wishful thinking that terrified her.

  ‘You turned my life on its head,’ Louis said in a rough, uneven voice. ‘I had my own blinkered vision of life, and bit by bit you broke down my prejudices until I was acting so out of character that I could hardly recognise myself.’

  ‘What are you saying?’ she whispered, perched on the very brink of daring to think the impossible.

  ‘I wanted to help your father, just like I wanted to do whatever I could for your sisters, because of you.’ He reached out and stroked the side of her face, her adorable, lovable, stubborn, wilful, absolutely irresistible face—the face that had haunted him for weeks and had interfered with every second of his waking life. ‘I think I’ve been falling in love with you from the very second you took off that motorcycle helmet and gave me a piece of your mind. Why do you think I kept coming back for more? I just couldn’t help myself. I went from the guy who had every inch of his life under control to the guy who no longer knew the meaning of the word.’

  ‘You fell in love with me?’

  ‘I fell in love with you, Lizzy Sharp, and I don’t think I know how to stop falling.’ He didn’t have to pull her towards him because she came of her own accord, burrowing against him just as he had remembered her burrowing against him after they had made love. He curled his long fingers into her hair, pulling out the clips that had artfully held it up until its length spilled over his hands, just the way he liked it.

  He felt her shudder against him, and when he tilted her face to his her eyes were half-closed and her mouth was ready to be kissed. And every other part of her was ready for his questing hands, turning her on through the soft fabric of the dress.

  ‘Will you marry me?’ he asked, breaking away to look at her flushed face. ‘And I mean instantly, as soon as possible—no tedious engagement.’

  ‘Instantly.’ Lizzy was so happy that she wanted to cry. ‘As soon as possible and no tedious engagement.’

  ‘Good. Because you make my life complete, my darling. Without you, there’s no point to anything. I fell in love with you and I’m no longer interested in having control of my life. I’m willingly handing it over to you …’

  In any event, they waited until Rose and Nicholas had returned from their honeymoon before announcing their plans to family and friends. It was going to be a small affair. After the extravaganza of Rose’s wedding, Grace Sharp was more than happy to oblige, although it had to be said that she was every bit as excited about something quiet and elegant.

  ‘I know just the band who can play, and wouldn’t it be a good idea if Leigh and Freddy handled all the catering? What an advertisement for their business once they’re up and running!’

  ‘At least I won’t have to wear a peach gown when I’m far more comfortable in something small and sexy,’ Maisie announced, laughing at Rose’s disapproving face before adding slyly, ‘and the way this family is dropping like flies, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you or Leigh end up having to squeeze into something loose and flowing to cover the bump!’

  Her father was over the moon, although he did sit and have a long chat with her, because as with all his daughters he needed to make sure that it was all about love.

  ‘And my record is pretty good so far,’ he told her comfortably. ‘A dad couldn’t wish for more.’

  It was a mere three weeks between proposal and marriage, and not a day went by that Lizzy didn’t feel adored by the one man in the world who meant everything to her. She had moved into his penthouse apartment, but they were already looking for something outside London, close enough for him to commute when he needed to, but distant enough to benefit from the country lanes and open fields she so missed.

  ‘But the motorbike stays in Scotland,’ he warned her, half-teasing, half-serious. ‘I would become a nervous wreck if I thought about you haring down lanes on that thing.’

  Lizzy was more than happy to oblige. If she had tamed him, then he had similarly tamed her.

  Their wedding was small, quiet and absolutely perfect. Leigh and Freddy catered, and lest anyone might forget their role in the proceedings they liberally handed out their business cards to all and sundry. Maisie, as promised, wore something small and tight which seemed to have the desired effect on one particular guest, a friend of Louis. Vivian and Edward actually made the long-haul trip back because, she said fondly, ‘We girls stick together.’

  Three weeks after they had found the perfect new London residence for them both—not too grand, not too small—Lizzy cooked Louis a special supper, complete with candles and soft music. As always the sound of his key in the door and the sight of him walking through, tugging off his tie, made her tummy quiver. When he raised his eyebrows in a question, she laughed.

  ‘Before you ask, I’m not in any danger of turning into a Stepford wife.’

  ‘Good.’ Louis walked towards her and pulled her to him so that he could kiss her, a long, lingering kiss which, as usual, made thoughts of bed spring into his head. ‘Because …’ He drew away and smiled down at her. ‘I’m not sure I could cope with one of those.’

  It was only when they had finished eating that she looked at him and said, unable to contain her news any longer, ‘You might want to savour the time we have left together.’

  ‘You mean here? In this apartment? Before we move?’

  Lizzy qualified, dropping the air of mystery and beaming at him, ‘Before you become a father—in, I would say, approximately seven months’ time.’

  It was the icing on the cake. For Louis, he had found the perfect woman, and a swell of pride and contentment filled him as he gathered her to him and held her tightly. The perfect woman, and soon a baby to complete a picture he had never known he had envisioned—until Lizzy Sharp had come along and shown him that there were no boundaries to love and no regulating the winding course it took you on.

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

  First published in Great Britain 2011

  Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  © Cathy Williams 2011

  ISBN: 978-1-408-92555-3

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  About the Author

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Copyright