a lily on his pillow, and she smiled, picking up the blossom to breathe in its heavenly scent. Lying on her back with a sigh, Mina grinned at the ceiling, her heart swelling with a rush of joy. So many perfect days.
Something bumped against the bedchamber door, and Mina heard a grumble from the other side that sounded distinctly like her husband.
And then another.
The door handle moved and stopped. And another thump against the wood. But just as Mina was going to throw back the bedcovers, the door opened to reveal Simon with a massive breakfast tray balanced in his arms, the dishes sliding as he maneuvered it through the doorway.
“Breakfast, madam?” he said with a smile. Simon set the tray on the bed, and Mina’s stomach rumbled at the array of treats and drinking chocolate. “I thought I might give the servants a rest this morning and bring you up a tray.”
Simon presented each of his offerings with an adorable eagerness, giving Mina another reason to smile. Not that he would appreciate being “adorable,” but he was so anxious to please that Mina couldn’t help but find him thus.
“And I brought a special treat,” he said, reaching into the pocket of his dressing gown to retrieve a box wrapped in a ribbon.
Mina straightened, sitting up in bed to stare at the gift and wonder what her husband was up to. Simon pushed aside the breakfast tray so that he might sit beside her as she tugged the ribbon free and pulled open the lid.
“Oh, Simon,” she whispered.
Inside the box rested a hair comb wrought in silver; it was not bedecked with gems or pearls as so many of them often were. The design was simple, naught but a series of filigree orbs running along the spine of the comb. Each one was intricate and unique from the others while still looking as though they all belonged together. It was unlike anything Mina had seen before and absolutely perfect.
“It is gorgeous,” she said, lifting it from the box to run her fingers over the twisted, twine-like prongs and up along the bubbled spine.
“Then you like it?”
There was something in his voice that drew Mina’s attention, and she met his eyes. Simon had a broad smile and happy glint to his eyes, but there was a tightening at the corners of his lips and a subtle tension in his brow. Though Mina could not decipher it, she sensed something was amiss.
“Of course,” she said, reaching over to run a thumb across his cheek. “I adore it.”
Simon placed a kiss on her palm, and whatever Mina had thought she’d seen disappeared. Twisting a handful of her hair, Mina took the comb and slid it into place. It would never hold without hair pins to assist in anchoring her tresses, but she couldn’t wait.
“How does it look?” she said, glancing at the vanity, though it was too far away to get a proper look.
“Positively lovely,” Simon murmured, sitting on the bed beside her.
Mina turned to him, and words flew from her mind at the look on her husband’s face. His gaze perused her face and figure in a manner that made her blush. For all her belief that attraction could grow from friendship, it still astonished Mina to see desire glowing in Simon’s eyes. Three months ago, she had been little more than a chum and partner. Mina Kingsley, his helpmeet. Yet now, he behaved as though she was his Aphrodite.
If she allowed herself to think on it, the change wrought in Simon was rather startling.
Leaning in, Simon whispered, “I love you,” before pressing a sweet kiss to her lips.
“It is comforting to know I am not the only one afflicted,” she teased, but Simon did not laugh.
“I do love you,” he insisted, a hint of his previous tension returning, and Mina wished her words unsaid. “I am sorry I was a fool not to see how precious you were from the start, but you mean everything to me—”
“Hush.” Mina pressed a kiss to his lips, silencing any further castigations. When she had him distracted enough, she continued, “You have apologized aplenty, Simon. Mistakes were made, but it does no good to wallow in them.”
Simon nodded, though his eyes held a hint of disbelief that broke her heart. However, there were no more assurances to be made, and time would simply show him the truth. Curling into his embrace, Mina rested her head against his shoulder. Her new comb poked him in the