‘We are delighted, dear,’ the baroness embraced Fallon.

‘Congratulations Hampton,’ the baron smiled broadly, exchanging a hearty handshake with Braeden.

‘Thank you,’ Braeden beamed elatedly. Silently he said a prayer of thanks. He had been thinking himself unable to sire an offspring, that perhaps some medical condition was preventing him producing an heir. He was overjoyed that his worries had been for naught. Off course there was nothing wrong with him, or his adorable wife. They were both perfectly healthy and there had been absolutely no reason to panic.

‘Braeden? ’

‘Yes my lady?’ He dragged his attention back to the present.

‘We should leave, if we want to be home before dark.’

He liked that she regarded their home and not her parents’ home as home . ‘Yes off course,’ he smiled at his wife.

‘Are you sure you do not want to stay another day?’ The baroness enquired. ‘There is no need to rush today.’

‘Thank you mama,’ Fallon smiled, ‘but Hampton would like to share the news with his grandmère.’

‘She is certainly going to be rather elated,’ the baroness laughed softly.

‘I believe so,’ Braeden laughed agreeably. ‘Heaven above knows, grandmère has been rather impatient to have some young ones running about the estate.’

The baron placed his palm on Braeden’s shoulder. ‘Best you leave whilst there is still light,’ he suggested with concern.

‘The carriage is all packed,’ Braeden nodded. He looked in the direction where Fallon was in conversation with the baroness. Braeden smiled at the way Fallon was nodding her head vigorously. He suspected the baroness was imparting wise words to her daughter with regard to Fallon’s delicate condition.

‘Shall we?’ Braeden laid a hand lightly on Fallon’s shoulder.

‘Yes,’ Fallon agreed softly.

Braeden observed her eyes were moist. She looked everywhere but into his eyes.

‘Fallon?’ He whispered quietly. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Yes,’ she nodded and offered him a brief smile. ‘I shall miss mama,’ she confessed.

Braeden was surprised. She had not been reluctant to stay when they had wed. Infact he had suspected, Fallon had seemed eager to begin her new life. Perhaps now that she was with child, she wanted her mother close by … she desired maternal support.

‘We could stay a day or so, if you would rather not travel,’ he suggested.

‘No!’ she looked up into his eyes. ‘I too, would like to give your grandmère our good news.’

Braeden swallowed down his breath. His eyes trained on Fallon. It pleased him greatly that his wife could be so considerate. He was impatient to inform the dowager of their news, but his wife’s health was more important to him. If she was not feeling strong enough to travel, he would stay another day. It did not matter where they were, as long as they were together.

‘If you are certain?’ He queried.

‘Yes, I am well rested and I feel fine,’ she smiled. ‘Take me to her.’

‘As you wish my lady,’ Braeden nodded with a smile and escourted Fallon to their awaiting carriage.

‘Fallon!’ Emma wrapped her arms with delight around her sister. ‘I came as soon as I could,’ she laughed.

Fallon greeted Burward, before Braeden dragged him away for drinks.

‘When did you return from the continent?’ Fallon smiled, happy to see Emma looking so radiant and clearly very much in love with her new husband.

‘Only yesterday morning,’ Emma smiled. ‘Burward was tired,’ she smiled shyly, but I urged him for us, to make the trip to you.’

‘Thank you Emma,’ Fallon tried not to look too sad. She appreciated her sister taking the time to come to visit her. It did get lonely in the huge mansion, what with Braeden continuously away each day. It was mostly in the weekends that she had Braeden to herself. Fallon was pleased Emma had chosen a Saturday to visit.

‘This is for you Fallon,’ Emma handed her sister a package wrapped in brown paper, securely tied with string.

‘What is it?’ Fallon ripped through the packaging excitedly. Emma laughed as she knew Fallon would discover the gift before she could start speaking. ‘Good Lord Em, it is gorgeous.’ Fallon lifted the salacious lingerie up to the light. I love it’ … and so will my husband’ when I put it on.

‘I knew you would Fallon,’ Emma smiled shyly. ‘Green is definitely your colour. When I saw it, I just knew it would look good on you.’

Privately Fallon could just picture the look of delight in Braeden’s eyes when he saw her in this evening wear. She knew he could scare keep his hands of her when she was dressed in such exquisite lace. Her husband may have wandering eyes; he may have a taste for variety but Fallon marveled at the certain amount of power she wielded over her husband.

‘So did you get any that Burward would ___ appreciate,’ Fallon teased.

‘Fallon!’ Emma coloured up profusely.

Fallon laughed. ‘Come on Em, you have to get past this maiden’s shyness of yours.’

‘Do let us change the subject,’ Emma pleaded, her face all scarlet.

‘All right Em,’ Fallon grinned. ‘So why do you not stay over?’ Fallon enquired hopefully.

Emma smiled apologetically. ‘I would love to Fallon, but we did not bring any change of clothes and Burward is making alterations at our home. He was quite eager to finish and I am certain a tad disappointed that I dragged him away,’ she laughed softly.

Fallon smiled, lowering her eyes. She hardly believed Emma would need to beg Burward. She was certain Burward would go to the ends of the earth to be with Emma and to make her happy unlike Braeden who found every excuse to stay away from her.

‘You must be hungry. Let us have luncheon,’ Fallon stood up.

‘You do not have to right away __ ,‘ Emma did not want Fallon to rush about unnecessarily.

Fallon laughed. ‘Being with child is not a sickness Em. And Braeden too has begun to raise a breeze almost every day about my health.’

Emma laughed softly. ‘Do not be alarmed by it Fallon. It’s just that he cares for you very much and wants no harm to come to you or the babe.’

Does he really?

Fallon was at pains to trust Emma’s judgment. She knew differently. She wanted to spend all her time with Braeden because she loved him so. So if Braeden spent so much of time away from her …. Did he care for her?

‘Burward fusses too,’ Emma broke into Fallon’s thoughts. ‘If I dare forget to put on a bonnet when I am in the sun, he does become pesky.’ Her tone indicated she enjoyed her husband niggling about such little things.

Fallon smiled. ‘I am very, very happy for you Em. You could not have wed a finer gentleman.’

‘Thank you Fallon,’ Emma smiled. ‘I think our parents are exultant that we have both chosen well. And Hampton worships you Fallon.’

She saw how often Braeden’s gaze fell on Fallon; how his eyes lit up as he gazed at his wife. Saw the way his hand protectively stayed at the little of her back whenever he was nearby Fallon. Emma was satisfied that Fallon had wed a man who loved her. It pleased Emma very much.

Fallon smiled. ‘I am certain, Burward is starving after the long ride and Braeden is forever hungry,’ she laughed. ‘Let us join the men for luncheon,’ Fallon held her hand out to Emma.

Fallon expected her husband to still be in bed lying next to her, as the sun was only just rising, so when she reached out and found the bed empty, it irked her.

‘Braeden?’ She half rose from the bed, sleepily looking around the empty chamber.

‘Morning my lady,’ Braeden smiled cheerfully as he reentered their chamber. ‘Why are you awake so early?’ He leaned over, one knee on the bed as he kissed her on the lips. She was tempted to wrap her arms around him, but upon finding him fully dressed, she resisted.

‘Where are you going?’ She ignored his question. He was all smartly dressed in fancy travelling gear.

‘I promised one of the tenants, I will look in at the property.’

‘But it is Sunday!’ She raised her voice and stormed into her bath chamber. Fallon did not bother calling her chamber maid.

‘I am just ___,’

‘Be quiet,’ she yelled as she hastily splashed warm water on her face and completed her morning routine in rather a hurry.

‘Is something the matter my lady?’ Braeden looked with concern as she fumbled with a riding habit. ‘Where are you going?’

She was with child. He did not want her riding horses… even though he knew she was an expert horsewoman. Braeden was immediately concerned when Fallon slumped back onto the bed.

‘Fallon ___?’

‘Get me some water please,’ she spoke softly.

‘Yes dear,’ Braeden ran into the bath chamber for some cold water.

As soon as Braeden was out of sight, Fallon ran out of their chamber. She secured the door from the outside and ran down the stairs. The butler was carrying a tray towards the breakfast room, it fell out of his hand, scattering the contents as Fallon bashed into him as she ran out.

Without turning around, the skirt of her riding habit held high, she ran even faster to the stables. Thankfully Braeden’s groom had prepared his horse for him. For only a moment Fallon contemplated not saddling Braeden’s horse, but only for a very brief moment. She needed a very fast horse if she was going to run away and there was no faster horse than Braeden’s stallion. The groom was holding the reins. He was not prepared to relinquish control of his master’s most favoured stallion.

‘Leave it!’ Fallon instructed in a tone of voice that made other men quiver.

Immediately the groom dropped the reins. It took Fallon not more than three seconds to use the picket fence as leverage, as she used one foot to elevate herself up and swung herself onto the stallion.

‘My lady please, I will lose my job. Please do not take the master’s horse. No one but the earl rides this stallion.’

Fallon shut her eyes for a second. This horse was too fast. Perhaps she should take one of the more gentle horses or her own mare. That would take time, time she did not have for she knew Braeden would be out soon. As if in agreement with her thoughts, the spirited stallion bucked his head, loutishly raised his fore legs into the air and tried to dismount Fallon.

But Fallon was yet to meet any horseflesh that could outwit her or dismount her. ‘Easy fella,’ she spoke soothingly as she patted his neck. ‘Good boy,’ she continued to speak calmingly. The stallion offered some half- hearted resistance before he began to gently trot away from the estate.

‘Keep going boy,’ Fallon kicked the stirrup against the stallion’s haunch. He began picking up the pace and when they were in the open field, the charger raced ahead, enjoying the freedom of the wide open space. Her shoulders ramrod straight, totally in control, Fallon spurred him on.

‘Fallon! Fallon!’ Braeden banged on their chamber door frustratedly. Clearly she had tricked him. ‘What in heaven’s name was her problem? Why was she so infuriated? Why had she locked him in? Braeden’s heart stilled. He could hear the familiar hooves of his stallion racing away.

‘Fallon! No!’ He ran backwards towards their bed and came up with his shoulder flying up against the door. Braeden did this two more times and when the door did not budge he ran back towards the bed and this time used his foot with good measure. Before long, the door had splintered enough for him to break it apart.

‘Remind me to double your wage,’ Braeden yanked the reins from the groom who was standing just outside the front door with the next fastest horse in the Hampton stable. It took Braeden less than the three seconds it had taken Fallon to mount his stallion.

‘Faster! Faster!’ Braeden kicked harder at the haunches of the horse he was riding. It was hardly a match for the stallion Fallon was on. He prayed silently that Fallon would be careful. He did not want her falling of his temperamental stallion.

‘Fallon!’ He whispered to himself. ‘Please, please be careful.’ She could not hear him, but he spoke the words if only as comfort to himself.

Tears were streaming down her face. Fallon refused to believe his lies that he was going to see his tenants.

Hah the lying fiend. I don’t care a tinker’s damn about him.

She could not remain as his countess. Her self -respect could not allow her to stay with Braeden any longer. She would not share him with others and if he believed he could play the field; that he was entitled to a harem; that she would accept and tolerate it, then Braeden Kerrich did not know whom he married. And she would much rather walk away and live a sheltered life on her own ... with her baby than share a man with harlots. She did not need much in life, but if the man she loved ... did not love her back then there would be no more marriage. She brushed her hand furiously across her eyes. No more tears for the scoundrel.

‘Fallon!’

She looked over her shoulder and gasped. Braeden was but just a few lengths behind her.

How did he get here so quickly?

Fallon kicked harder and the stallion obliged only too willingly. ‘That’s it fella. Keep going. Faster now. Don’t stop,’ she edged him on.

‘Fallon slow down!’

‘Go away!’ Fallon yelled over her shoulder. ‘I hate you!’

Braeden was astounded. What brought on this violent outburst? ‘Fallon, my lady wife, please talk to me.’

‘No! You value only the conquest, you care not about the prize.’

‘Do get off your horse so you can explain that riddle,’ he commanded. Never mind that it was his horse that she had commandeered.

‘I shall not take another instruction from you,’ she yelled, kicking her horse harder as tears welded in her eyes again.

‘”Another instruction?”’ He laughed loudly. ‘My lady, you have never followed a single instruction of mine.’

‘Just go away. Go to all your paramours,’ she began to ride faster.

‘Fallon ___ darling,’ he began to fear at the pace she was going. ‘Please ___ I will do anything, give you anything ___ please stop the horse.’

‘Do not call me that! You do not mean it. And don’t think, I do not know that it is the safety of your heir that you concern yourself with, not mine,’ she brushed the back of her hand roughly against her cheek.

‘I care about you my lady wife. I care a great deal. Why would you think that I don’t? Do I not give you everything you could desire without you asking?’ He was almost upon her.

‘Everything but nothing,’ she glared at him furiously. 'You are a dolt!’

His eyes fell to her breasts strained against the fabric of her gown. ‘What on earth do you mean by that?’ He tried in vain to grab a hold of her reins, but she jerked away too quickly. He had to steady his own horse.

‘You do not love me!’ She yelled even louder, even though he was very close to her.

Braeden was momentarily paralyzed by that accusation. His hands had stilled. His stallion had stopped moving, speech had deserted him as Fallon galloped on, at a faster pace. How could she have come to that conclusion?

Braeden knew he had to stop her horse. Fallon was out of control. He could not allow her to endanger her life. Nothing must happen to his dearest wife. If anything happened… Braeden kicked hard into the thigh of his steed. He kept his eye steady and focused on the back of Fallon’s horse. There was only one way to stop her horse and with lighting speed, Braeden lifted himself up, flung himself onto Fallon’s horse, simultaneously grabbing a hold of the reins in Fallon’s steady hands.

‘What the ___!’ Fallon was astounded to feel the towering yet calming strength of her husband’s body enveloping her from behind. His arms curved around her shoulders ensuring she stayed secure on the horse.

‘Easy boy,’ he instructed his stallion in a calming voice. Immediately the horse yielded to his instruction. ‘You’re safe, my sweet,’ he assured Fallon, gently putting one arm around her waist protectively, as he brought the mount to a stop.

‘Why the hell did you stop my horse?’ She ground out angrily. ‘I was safe before you dangerously jumped on. You could have endangered my life and the horse’s.’

She did not look at him as she leveled that unfair accusation. She knew Braeden would never attempt anything if he was not confident it would give him the desired result. He was a man who planned carefully and did not act irresponsibly.

Braeden hopped of the horse and held out his hands to Fallon. ‘Do get off, my lady,’ he ordered, in a tone that was losing patience.

‘I shall not!’ Fallon squared her shoulders and looked away.

She should have known, her husband would not bow down and keel over. He rather unceremoniously heaved her off the horse.

‘How dare you?’ Fallon was incensed. She watched Braeden lead the horse to a tree and tied it. His own stallion was in the shade munching on the green lush grass.

Ignoring Braeden, Fallon began walking in the very distant direction towards her parents’ home. If she kept on walking briskly, she could get there in about four days.

Braeden groaned loudly and marched up to her. He lifted her into his arms and walked to a shady spot so he could attempt to have a conversation with his wife.

‘Put me down this instance,’ she demanded.

‘Only if you promise to talk to me,’ he negotiated.

‘I do not wish to talk to you or look at you ever again in my life,’ she spat out.

‘You are my wife. You will talk to me,’ he ordered.

‘I hate you,’ she hissed.

‘I think not,’ his eyes caressed hers.

‘To what do you object my lord?’ She would not be duped by a philanderer’s artfulness. He was a rake and a wastrel. He cared not about her; his marriage …why should she bother with him?

Braeden’s eyes narrowed at her cold, impersonal question, as if he was nobody … not her husband.

‘I object to my wife dangerously running off without discussing with me why she is as mad as a hatter.’

‘It’s you,’ she shrieked. ‘I hate you! I hate you,’ she rammed her fists at his chest. ‘I do not want to be with you anymore,’ she sobbed.

‘What have I done wrong, my sweet wife? Please tell me,’ he pleaded, wrapping his arms around her.

‘Just let me be,’ she tried to wrestle out of his arms.

‘Now,’ he lowered himself onto the grass with her still in his strong arms. ‘Are we going to talk?’

‘No!’ she tried to escape out of his arms. His hands just tightened around her more securely.

‘I am quite happy to keep you here all night if I have to,’ his dark eyes laced over her threateningly.

Fallon’s body gave up the fight. Her hands fell onto her lap in surrender, but her angry eyes still glared at him,

‘Tell me my sweet, why are you running away? He pressed his lips to her temple. ‘What have I done?’

Where should she start? Will this boorish rake understand her frustration… understand that she was not prepared to share him with other women? That she loved him with every breath of hers and she’d rather die or live without him than share him with another.

‘Fallon __ talk to me ___please,’ he whispered close to her ear.

Fallon willed her eyes not to tear. ‘I thought ___ I thought I could live with your ___ indiscretions, but I can’t. I refuse to ___.’

‘”My indiscretions?’” His face was a canvass of confusion.