The Bachelor Earl - Darcy Burke Page 0,38

to provoke him.” Nora caressed her growing belly.

“Or her,” Lady Satterfield said, her eyes sparkling.

Nora chuckled. “Or her.”

Lord Satterfield entered the drawing room at that moment, rubbing his hands together. “Ah, here you are. Everything’s arranged.”

Nora nodded. “Titus is in his office with the steward attending to a few things. I will interrupt him shortly.”

“Excellent.” Lord Satterfield grinned, looking between them. “I admit I’m quite looking forward to this.”

“Me too,” Nora agreed. “I’ve never been on a Yule log hunt before.”

“Even if you had, I doubt it would compare to this” Lady Satterfield said. “My former husband made sure to include as many of the tenants and retainers as possible.” Her gaze glowed with love as she recalled the previous duke who’d died almost a decade ago. She moved toward her current husband and clasped his hand. She’d been lucky enough to find happiness a second time with the Earl of Satterfield.

Lord Satterfield squeezed her hand in return, and Nora felt a lump in her throat. Goodness, strong emotion came so easily since she’d become pregnant.

Nora coughed and blinked lest tears decide to pool in her eyes. “I’m quite excited for the feast afterward.” An affinity for food, particularly sweets, was another side effect of carrying the babe. “Keeping the feast planning secret from Titus has been the most difficult piece.” They’d enlisted everyone in the household to help with today’s surprise for Titus. It was astounding that no one had said anything to him—or at least Nora hoped they hadn’t.

She so hoped he liked what they’d planned. He missed his father and had felt guilty for many years about not spending more time with him when he was ill before he died. Nora hoped that this hunt would remind Titus of happier times as well as help him feel as though he could truly carry on his father’s legacy. The previous duke had been beloved by his retainers and tenants and Nora wanted the same for Titus. He was very dedicated and worked hard, but he didn’t always allow himself to relax and simply enjoy. It was a characteristic that had added to his reputation as the Forbidden Duke. He seemed unapproachable and aloof, and for the most part he was content to embody that role. Nora, however, knew a different Titus. Her husband of the past several months was warm and loving, and she wanted everyone to know it.

“I suppose I should go get him.” Nora looked expectantly between her in-laws, and they gave her encouraging smiles.

She made her way to Titus’s office and knocked softly on the door, which stood ajar.

“Come in,” Titus called.

Nora stepped inside as the steward stood from his chair. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said.

Titus got up from behind his desk and smiled warmly at her. “You’re not, we’re finished.” He nodded at the steward who turned and started toward the door. He exchanged a knowing glance with Nora as he departed.

Nora focused her attention on her handsome husband, and her breath caught, as it often did. They’d married last spring, but her heart still beat wildly when she was with him. She smoothed her skirt over her belly as she moved farther into the office. “I thought we could go for a ride in the barouche today. It’s so glorious outside after all this rain.”

Titus came around his desk and approached her, his brows pitching down. “I wanted to stay inside and snuggle with my beautiful wife.” He slipped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.

Nora giggled. “We do that every day.”

He kissed the flesh beneath her ear, his lips warm and soft. “Is there a limit?”

A sigh escaped her mouth as he trailed his mouth along her jaw. “No. But I really would like to go out while we can. Please?” She pulled her head back forcing him to stop and straighten.

He frowned slightly as he stared down at her. “I’d rather not. Truly. I think we should stay in. Especially in your condition.” He patted her belly and turned away from her to return to his desk.

Nora tried not to feel slighted. “That’s absurd. I can go for a ride in the barouche.”

He shook his head. “It’s far too cold.”

Frustration grew in her breast. “It isn’t. The sun is out, and it’s quite fair. Besides, I’ll have a blanket.”

“I’m afraid I insist we stay inside.”

“You insist?”

He sat down in his chair. “Yes. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few letters I must respond to before we