A Regency Christmas Pact Collection by Ava Stone, Catherine Gayle, Jerrica Knight-Catania, Julie Johnstone, Jane Charles, Aileen Fish Page A

some lesser title of some sort?”
    His smile grew larger. “Where were you when Pippa met St. Austell?”
    Tessie wasn’t certain how to answer that question. “I beg your pardon?” He truly wasn’t making a lot of sense this morning, and with him seated so closely to her, she wasn’t at all certain she was making a lot of sense either.
    “Long story,” he muttered.  “And since I owe the man, it would be bad form to speak ill of him at the moment.” Then he shifted on the settee in order to face her better.  “I don’t think it’s any secret that I’ve thought of little else but you since the first night we met.”
    Tessie gulped, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t make another improper suggestion. She couldn’t take hearing such a thing from his lips again.
    “And after your kiss,” he continued, his voice a bit more gravely than it had been the moment before, “I doubt very much, I’ll think of much else for the rest of my life.”
    Tessie was certain her eyes had gone wide. What exactly did he mean by that?
    “Will you marry me, Theresa?”
    She could not have heard him correctly. Had Lord Berkswell…Everett…had Everett Casemore just asked her to marry him? Her mouth dropped open and she said, “Your pact,” before she could stop herself.
    A look of chagrin settled on his face. “Was a foolish thing to agree to. I don’t think any of the other five gentlemen would hold me to my word, not if they were in my spot, not if they’d met you, not if they knew I loved you.”
    He loved her? Tessie couldn’t quite believe him. “You want to marry me ? You love me ?” She’d heard those same words from Lord Stalbridge so very long ago, but Everett Casemore was not the same sort of man that Stalbridge was. Everett Casemore was honest, sincere, and truly cared about his family.
    He nodded slowly, his warm gaze heating her from within. “And if your uncle wants to remain at Wellesbourne, I’m certain my aunt would be thrilled.”
    And he wanted Uncle Martin to stay too? Tessie’s head swam with so many thoughts it was hard to focus on just one.
    “I’m sure he’d want to be here for when we have children, anyway. You’re all he has left, after all.”
    He truly was offering for her. Heavens, she’d never imagined such a thing. Her heart lifted, though she hadn’t realized it had been weighted down. “You’re sure?” she asked hesitantly.
    “If you’ll have me.” Then a wicked glint flickered in his eyes. “I had hoped it wouldn’t take this, but I’ll use whatever help I can get.” Then he retrieved a sprig of mistletoe from his pocket and lifted it above his head. “Kiss me, Theresa. Say you’ll marry me.”
    She couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled up from inside her. “You’ve lost your mind.”
    He nodded in agreement. “Indeed. But you wouldn’t want to go against tradition, would you? Best kiss me, just to be safe.”
    “Heaven forbid we go against tradition.” Tessie slid her hands up his chest, then settled them at his shoulders. The mistletoe dropped to the settee as Everett pulled her to his lap and pressed his warm, firm lips to hers.

    Berks was just as lost now as he had been the night before. Theresa’s soft lips parted for him and he plunged inside, tangling his tongue with hers. The faint scent of gardenias circled about him, and Berks tightened his hold on Theresa. He could hold her, drink her in, kiss her like this all day and all night.
    After what seemed an eternity, he lifted his head slightly for a breath of air. Her blue-green gaze locked with his and unshed tears sparkled in her eyes.
    “Oh, my darling,” he said, retrieving a handkerchief from his pocket. “Are you all right?”
    She nodded quickly as her fingers toyed with his hair at the base of his neck, sending need and desire coursing straight to his nether regions. “I would be honored to be your wife.”
    “I’ll be honored to be your husband.” Then Berks pressed his lips to