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their clothes.
Noticing her unease, Annaleigh went to her.
Are you all right, Baroness?
It s so overwhelming. I never expected any of this and then
to have my husband facing another part of a case we thought had
been closed&
He ll be a short while shall I draw your bath?
That would be nice, Fallon said. Thank you.
Fallon enjoyed the soothing bath loving the smell of roses
though she missed the orange citrus Noah preferred she use. Con-
sidering everything going on in their lives, she relaxed and let the
heat and atmosphere take her.
She finished her bath, toweled dry then slipped into a thick
terry robe. Hearing a noise in the other room, she left the bath-
room, walked through the dressing room and into the bedroom
where she stopped frozen and gasping. Quickly stretching out on
the bed in a seductive pose, she waited.
Come sentence me, Your Lordship&
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Oh, my Lord&
* * * *
Noah took his seat before the small group assembled. Looking
at the defendant, he noticed the man seemed surprised that Noah
would be hearing his case.
In the matter before this court, Angus Portman is charged
with arson and attempted murder. How does the defendant plead?
Your Honor, my client would like to throw himself on the
mercy of this court.
In what way?
By giving full testimony as to the crimes he is charged with.
Go on, Noah said, sitting back.
Your Lordship, Portman began. Ralph Wilkes approached
me right after his escape from prison. Because of charges pending
against me before this court and especially you, he swore he could
make the problem go away if I aided him in his plans. He had me
help him in two murders down in London&
Your role in them?
Following the marks the justice and the advocate.
Go on.
Once he d murdered everyone here in England, he went af-
ter the final mark overseas.
Who?
Baron Noah Sheffield you, sir. He gave me a list of things
to get for him then left me with instructions as to his wishes should
anything happen to him.
What did he have you do?
Portman went into detail about Wilkes plans leading up to
the fire meant to lure Noah Sheffield back to Beckshire.
Why?
If I could get you out of the way, Wilkes told me my case
would not be heard as there would be no sitting justice until a
newly appointed&
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And you believed him?
Yes, sir, I did. I didn t know what else to do his offer that
good.
Portman stood in the witness box of the aging courtroom
wringing his hands as his nerves got the better of what remained of
his composure.
After my return, you had instructions to do what?
Knowing from your reputation that you would go directly to
check on the damage firsthand, I had instructions to wait until the
right time, bash you over the head then set another fire.
And if others joined me?
It didn t matter as long as you died.
Do you understand that with your confession in this matter,
you will be sent directly to London to face charges there due to the
extremely serious natures of the offenses as well as the event time-
line?
Yes, sir, I do which is why I ve chosen to throw myself on
this court s mercy. I didn t know what to do about the earlier
pending charges here.
I see they appear to be robbery and assault.
Yes, sir.
To be honest, I d love to personally throw the book at you
but the gravity of your crimes in London far outweighs those
here for now. I will send my recommendations as for sentencing
in the matter being heard today to the justice who will be handling
the case in Her Majesty s Court advising him that the time to be
served for these offenses will either run concurrently or in addition
to the sentence for the capital crimes. The previous pending will
remain open allowing investigators ample time to build a case
against you that will, if need be, keep you in prison until the next
century. Officer, see that he is transferred immediately to London
and make sure I get copies of all documents pertaining to this
man s case.
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Yes, Your Lordship.
This hearing is adjourned unless there are any other matters
needing to be heard.
No one said a word.
With no additional business, this proceeding is adjourned.
After signing paperwork needing his personal attention and
making a phone call to the justice in the Wilkes case, Noah left the
court and headed back to the main house and his wife.
* * * *
Removing his robe the traditional red velvet, white ermine
lined symbol of his rank in the House of Lords he carefully folded
it before putting it over his arm.
Braydon met him, wanting to discuss something with the Ba-
ron.
Sir, your wife is new to all this and we d like to make her
welcome.
I think she d like that.
There s also the ceremony officially proclaiming her as Baro-
ness Sheffield.
Damn, I d forgotten about that. It s been years since mine.
Exactly.
When can&
It s been in the works since we received word of your mar-
riage. If you d like, the vicar could do it tonight after dinner.
Perfect, Noah said, relieved. Thank you.
Once inside, he went to the library. After laying his robe over
a chair, he went to the safe hidden behind a seventeenth century
painting. From the safe, he pulled out several jewelry boxes.
The largest one held the Baroness necklace and earrings set
the last one to wear it being his mother. The necklace had six
stands of Oriental pearls with a huge ruby enhancer the stone it-
self weighing ten carats and surrounded by two rows of diamonds.
The earrings each had three tiers with large rubies in different
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cuts teardrop, marquis and emerald all surrounded by di-
amonds in a gold chandelier setting. Picturing Fallon wearing noth-
ing but the jewels caused his cock to throb. Oh, the effect you have on
me&
Setting the box aside, he looked at two ring boxes. His ring
one he had not worn in ages held a five carat ruby set in a heavy
masculine gold setting while her ring held a matching stone sur-
rounded by two rows of diamonds. Closing the safe, he took eve-
rything upstairs where he knew Fallon waited.
Trying to figure out how to spring the latest news on her, he
entered their suite and gasped. Fallon lay across their bed, naked
and beckoning.
Come sentence me, Your Lordship.
Oh, my Lord&
* * * *
After a huge lavish dinner to honor the Sheffields, Noah took
Fallon for a walk around the house. Her afternoon consisting of a
hot bath followed by heated sex had not given him the opportunity
to show her around.
Wearing a Victorian inspired white lace gown that gracefully
hugged her beautiful curves, Noah couldn t help but be proud of
her while falling deeper in love with his wife. So much had been
thrown at her in so short a period of time and now even more yet
she handled it all with an elegance most nobles had not been born
with.
Stopping in front of a huge window overlooking the grounds
of the estate, Noah traced the low-cut neckline of the gown want-
ing to take her back upstairs. With her hair up, it served to accen-
tuate her gorgeous neck, Noah inwardly groaning. Taking a deep
breath, he slipped his finger under her breast, her breath catching.
Noah?
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On this belated tour, I m taking you to the chapel where the
vicar will preside over a short investiture ceremony officially giving
you the title of Baroness Sheffield.
Are you serious?
We Brits are steeped in tradition.
I know that but&
Fallon, I d planned to introduce you to all this gradually but
things happened. Forgive me&
Lifting her skirt before slipping to her knees, she looked down
to the floor.
There is nothing to forgive, Master. I ve surrendered my be-
ing to you and swore to be there for you always.
Helping her up, he kissed her.
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