of them kissed her as well, and even though she could not bring herself to initiate it, she hugged them back. It didn’t feel natural yet, but she thought perhaps it would someday.
James was helping her with her coat in the foyer while Alexander was helping his wife. Payden stared at Elspeth’s stomach.
“Your coat’s not going to fit much longer,” he said with a grin.
“I believe you’re right, Payden. I’ve got three more months to go until your niece or nephew arrives. And don’t think I won’t be making you and Robert come play with him or her when they’re older, and when I have afternoon plans.”
“I cannot wait to see you like that,” James whispered in Lucinda’s ear.
“Behave,” she said over her shoulder.
“Don’t forget our meeting tomorrow, James. I’ll be by your house at eight,” Alexander said as he guided his wife down the steps.
“I’ll see you then,” he said.
“Is this the meeting with Alexander’s father and uncle?” she asked as he handed her into the carriage.
“It is. We’re to meet with a man who has been scouting locations to purchase.”
“My father is interested in investing.”
“I already live in his house and ride in his carriage; I’ll not work for him too, Lucinda,” he said.
Once home, she found him in his dressing room, pulling off his coat. “We should hire a valet for you, dearest. You’ll be far too busy to manage your wardrobe,” she said.
“No. I can hang up my own clothes in my father-in-law’s house.”
“You are a sight when you are on your dignity, James Thompson.” She handed him a thick envelope.
“What is this?”
“It’s the deed to this house,” she said. “My father told me he would have preferred to hand it directly to you, as he believes the husband in any marriage should manage those types of documents, but he was certain you would—now what exactly did he say? You would be an ‘unpleasant ass,’ and he did not want to argue with you.”
His wife—by God, he had a wife—was laughing at him without even the slightest hint of a smile. He opened the envelope and saw that it really was the deed to the house that she’d been living in, that he’d moved into after returning from their honeymoon. He had a butler. Brandleford. And maids. And more than likely, he’d have a valet before long. He blew out a breath.
“He meant it as a wedding gift,” she said. “Your salary will easily pay the staff, and we’ll be getting our share of Vermeal stock if I am to begin working with Father. And we’ll need space to entertain.”
“I suppose you’d like to stay here.”
“I would. I like the neighborhood and the size of the house and garden and carriage house, although we may have to look for something larger when we have children. It will be convenient for me to begin work at the Vermeal offices. It will most likely be convenient for you once you’ve chosen a property for the gymnasium. It is close to your sister and to Malcolm. But I would live happily with you anywhere, James.”
“Even in a two-room flat?” he asked her, knowing it was his own insecurities that made him challenge her.
She pulled the pins from her hat. “Even in a two-room flat. I love you, not where we live.”
He caught her around the waist when she turned to leave and pulled her tight, her back against his chest, his free hand working the clasps on her jacket. He slid his hand inside, working the pearl buttons of her blouse frantically until he finally touched her breasts. It should have been more familiar, more normal to him when he touched her intimately, as they’d spent much of their honeymoon naked and in each other’s arms, but every time he ran his fingers over her nipples or lifted the weight of her breasts in his hand, his breath caught, his mind blank other than the driving force to get between her legs.
“James,” she moaned and dropped her head back onto his shoulder, allowing him to kiss her neck at his leisure.
He released her and she turned, dropping her jacket from her arms and slipping her blouse down. She worked the buttons on her skirt until it was loose enough to fall and take her petticoat with it. He undid his trouser placket, picked her up by her bottom, leaned her against the door to their bedroom, and wrapped her legs around his hips. He felt for the slit in