But he resolved to try the civilized method first, although he wasn't at all sure he could wait that long.
He wasn't much of a letter writer. Not because he didn't want to write her, but because he was desperately trying to make arrangements in order to have time to be with her while she visited him. One of the few letters she'd gotten had told her to arrange to take time off in May and to make sure that she got her passport.
It was less than two months since he'd seen her, and if he hadn't kept himself so busy, he would have gone crazy. What if some American Joe saw what he saw in her, and she fell for the man who was closest to her rather than waiting all that time for him?
Douglas consoled himself with the fact that her letters were very long and affectionate, and that they arrived quite regularly. He devoured them as soon as he got home, while locked alone in his study, poring over every word.
He even called her sometimes, when he was up in the middle of the night, and he figured she hadn't gone to bed yet. They were short but sweet conversations, filled with him telling her that he loved her and trying not to worry when she didn't say it back to him.
But she always sounded bubbly when they talked. He made her tell him any time she was punished by Daniel, but she hadn't been.
"So you've been behaving like an angel, my love?" he asked, sounding skeptical.
"No, I've been doing nothing but working, frankly. I even got a part time job on the weekends."
"Whatever for?"
"Well, so I'll have spending money and money for incidentals when I'm with you."
Douglas commended her independence and the fact that she was not a spendthrift. He had a lot of Scottish in his background, and he was quite money conscious. "Baby, I want you to quit your second job." He wanted her to quit her first one, too, but first things first.
"But—"
"No buts; I want you to do it tomorrow, yes?"
She sighed. "Yes."
"I told you that this trip is all expenses paid, and it is. I've already arranged to wire you some money—although you'll have to find an American Express office and get it changed into pounds."
"Okay."
"Good for you, though. I appreciate you trying to help me, money wise. I do. But there's no need. I would tell you if there was."
"Are you sure?"
"I am, dear heart. And I cannot wait to see you again."
She was traveling by herself for the first time—Daniel couldn't come, and Taffy didn't want to leave him for so long to fend for himself. Ia thought that it wasn't that she had much sympathy for Daniel, but more likely that she figured she'd come home to a house that looked like a bomb had gone off in it—and she probably wasn't wrong.
It was a long flight, and she was wearing a very nice suit that she had found at Belks. Even on sale, it was more than she wanted to spend, so she'd used some of the enormous amount that he had sent to her for her time in England. She hoped he wouldn't mind. It was her understanding that the British were much more formal than at home, and she wanted to look nice for him, especially on first sight after such a long time apart.
The flight was uneventful, and it landed on time. She got through customs easily and headed out into the vastness of London Airport, looking for his familiar face.
Ia paused, scanning the crowds of arriving and departing passengers, starting to get a bit nervous now that she was here, and he apparently wasn't.
"Ia, my love."
A familiar voice caused her to turn around. As he put a big bouquet of roses in her arms, she couldn't believe what she saw.
He was wearing an outfit that looked like it was out of the last century, with a top hat, tie and tails. Douglas got gracefully down on one knee, with an open ring box in his hand and a small group of violinists standing behind him. "I have missed you so much, Miss Ia," he said, "and I cannot bear the idea that we might be separated for so long again."
People were milling about, and some were standing around looking at them. They were gathering an audience that got bigger and bigger.
"Would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife, please?"
Tears welled in her eyes, and she didn't know what to say at his wildly romantic gesture, hands on her cheeks and tears now rolling freely down her face.
"Ia?"
She drew a breath, her feelings finally organizing in her mind, all of them around this wonderful man in front of her. She knew she probably shouldn't do this, but she sat down on his knee, which sent titters through some of their audience.
Then she leaned forward and whispered, "You are my Mr. Rochester and I love you."
He was wearing an ear-to-ear grin when he whispered to her, "Actually, I'm the seventh Duke of Hereford, but I'm just as happy to be your Mr. Rochester."
Her jaw dropped.
And the audience had had enough of them whispering to each other, since they couldn't hear what they were saying. A lot of the gathered folks were demanding that they know her answer.
"Will you have him?"
"Did you say yes?"
In answer, she kissed him, and a great cheer went through the crowd. He stood, taking her with him and kissing her again in a manner that got the crowd so stirred up that a bobby broke them up, but not without offering his congratulations to the couple first.
Ia knew he was supposed to be speaking English, but she couldn't understand a word of it. Luckily, Douglas did, and he thanked the gentleman heartily.
"Oh, the ring."
The diamond was huge, she noticed as he slipped it onto her finger.
"I knew you loved romance stories, so I wanted to do something romantic for you. I was actually thinking about what Mr. Rochester might do in this situation when I planned it out."
He hugged and kissed her again. "I will never get enough of you, I swear."
"You are really a duke?"
Douglas took her bag from her, and they began to walk toward the baggage area. "I am, and you will be a duchess." He stopped and looked down at her. "And that's your nickname. Duchess. I'll be sure to call you that when you're bawling over my lap as I spank you."
Ia glared at him, but she took his hand at the same time.
Her life was ending up quite differently from what she had imagined, and she knew she was the luckiest woman on Earth to have found a man like Douglas.
* * *
The End
Carolyn Faulkner
The words “spanking” and “discipline” have always sent a shiver up Carolyn Faulkner's spine. She knows she's not alone.
Writing started as a way to explore her feelings. Soon short stories flowed from her pen featuring reluctant heroes taking the leading lady in hand, but always for her own good.
Today Carolyn is the author of dozens of books. She writes from her home in Maine, where she lives with her husband and leading man.
* * *
You can read an interview with Carolyn here:
http://www.blushingbooks.com/blog/?p=175
* * *
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Carolyn Faulkner and Blushing Books!
* * *
Series books
The Alpha’s Woman Series
The Alpha’s Woman
Kosh’s Omega
Red’s Mate
An Omega’s Awakening
The Omega Within
* * *
Adored series
Adored, Book 1
Tessa’s Wedding, Book2
* * *
The Red Petticoat Saloon Series
Grading Garnet
* * *
Thornton Brothers Trilogy
AJ’s Hope
Beau’s Desire
Cade’s Wish
Thornton Brothers, Three-Book Set
* * *
Taken as His Trilogy
Prima
Tria
* * *
Priceless Love Series
Priceless, Book 1
Love’s Possession, Book 2
Dangerous Love, Book 3
* * *
Mistress Mommy Series
Alicia, Book One
* * *
Little Miss Series
His Little Miss
Little Francesca
* * *
Vlad, the Vampire Series
Tears of a Vampire
Vlad’s Story
Two-Book Set
* * *
Single Titles
The Lark and the Bull
Her Gentle Giant
At His Hand
Doctor’s Orders
A Babygirl for Christmas
Her Handyman
The Hart of the Matter
At His Hand
King of Hearts
True Desires
Lord Belden’s Baggage
In His Care
Beauty of the Beast
Correct Me If I’m Wrong
Ready for Love
Make Me Yours
A Most Unsuitable Mate
Indiscreet
On the Razor’s Edge of Paradise
Only Her
The Power of Love
Forever in Love
Under the Cover of Love
Never Say Never
Man and Wife
The Sister and the Sinner
Amanda and the Stable Master
Lion
The Banished King
Northern Belle
The Cherished One
Forever Wife
Grace’s Demon
Beauty’s Beast
Captured by the Count
Male Order Bride
Sinful
Packed: The Enforcer
Submissive Love
A Heart Full of Heaven
Daddy’s Girl
To Love a Man
Etta’s Surrender
Her Secret Submission
Make Me
Let Me In
'Til Death Do Us Part
Promises Kept
The Obedient Wife
Old enough to Know Better
To Trust Her Heart
Naughty Girls: Brynn and Kim
After Hours: A Medical BDSM fantasy
Droit de Seigneur
Dutch and the Cowboy
Under the Lash
The Rogue and the Rose
Submissive Bride
The Unrequited Dom
Three’s Company
The Reluctant Bride
His
Embraced
Attentions Throbbing
Submissive Desires
Kept
A Hard Man is Good to Find
The Spoils of War
Gilded Cage
Second Chances
Patriot Bride
The Boss of Her
Forever and Always
Tribute
Caged
Jake Ryan’s Woman
Soulmates: Backside of Love
A Good Man
Depths of Desire
The Substitute Wife
Princess Slave
Against Her Will
Body and Soul
Two True Loves
Captured by Time (w/ Alta Hensley)
A New Forever (w/ Alta Hensley)
Under the Cover of Love
Her Guardian Don
The Rod of Correction: Taken and Tamed
Taken by Force
Skye’s Submission
Sheik’s Desire
Reject Ranch
Nola
Generation Stables
The MacNaughton Bride
More Than a Man
Man of Her Dreams
Love Will Find a Way
Fools Rush In
Everything Gained
Blood From a Stone
Angel of Sudden Hill
All of Her
A Piece of Heaven
Grace’s Demon
Sold!
The Centurion
Cherished
The Little Miss
The Gentleman Dom
The Supplicant
Belonging
Hidden Desires
Her Bad Boy
All is Right with the World
The Error of Her Ways
* * *
Holiday Stories
A Holiday to Remember
Griff’s Christmas Angel
All Hallow’s Eve
A Season to Submit
Mr. Imperfect (Dominating His Valentine)
* * *
Anthologies
Blushing Cheeks Vol. 1
Love of a Cowboy, Vol. 1
The Dark Forest
Thornton Brothers: 3-Book Collection
Bound by Love: A Carolyn Faulkner Trilogy
* * *
* * *
Audiobooks
Rod of Correction: Taken and Tamed
Sky’s Submission
Generation Stables
Spoils of War
www.carolynfaulkner.com
Blushing Books
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