her mouth again, until several servants interrupted them, ready to serve their dinner.
They started with Swiss potato soup and olive-and-oyster canapés, and then feasted on vegetable marrow stuffed with shrimp, French stewed quail, and spinach Alsace. Lily was stuffed but forced down a few bites of cheese and fruit. She asked Daniel if they could save their lemon cream cake for later.
“I couldn’t eat another bite. Really, I don’t think I’ve consumed this much since I’ve been here.”
“That’s fine, love. Would you like some more wine?”
Lily giggled. “Maybe just a little. I feel lighter than air tonight, Daniel, despite the amount of food I just put away. I’m so happy to be here with you.”
“You read my mind, as usual,” he said, as he poured her wine. “Tell me, what would you like to do with the duchess’s suite? My mother has several decorators in Bath whom she uses. I could bring them out for you to meet if you’d like.”
“I feel terrible kicking your mother out of her rooms,” Lily said.
“You’re going to be the duchess. She understands that.”
“Still, you and I could be perfectly comfortable here.” She looked around the sitting room. “This suite has grown to mean a great deal to me.”
“My mother wouldn’t hear of it. She wanted to move out of her suite right after my father died, but I told her to stay. I didn’t want to move into the duke’s suite then, but now I do. I want to be the duke, Lily, and I want you to be my duchess. It all seems within the realm of possibility with you. It never did before.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. I want you to stay in this suite until we’re married. I’ll move into the duke’s suite. But I’ll continue to spend my nights here with you, if that’s all right.”
“I’d love that. But shouldn’t I return to Hampshire with my family prior to the wedding?”
“No, I’ve already arranged for you, your mother, and Rose to stay here after the house party ends, to help plan the wedding. Your aunt and cousins also.”
“Really? That sounds wonderful. But couldn’t we…”
“Yes?”
Lily fidgeted. “Would you mind terribly if we…postpone the wedding for several weeks? I…I want a real wedding night, Daniel. I don’t want to be cheated out of it.”
He smiled. “It’s already arranged, my love.”
Her heart hammered and she grasped his hand. “That’s wonderful. Thank you.”
“I thought you would be pleased. I hope you don’t mind being married here. Since my title is above your father’s socially, he and I both thought it would be best.”
“Goodness. I don’t think I’ve considered that before.”
“What?”
“That I will be above my parents socially. I’m not sure I find that at all comfortable.”
“I find titles as a rule uncomfortable, but I possess a powerful one. One I never thought I’d have, that’s for certain. Your discomfort won’t keep you from marrying me, will it?” He winked at her.
“Of course not,” Lily said. “Tell me, though, how do the titles work in your family? Will our children have titles?”
“Our first son will carry the lesser title of Marquess of Gordonshire. That was Morgan’s title. Personally, I hope we have many daughters and only one son. Being a second son is difficult.”
“Your mother told me a little about you and Morgan as boys. I’m sorry it was so hard for you.”
“My mother talks too much.” Daniel smiled lazily.
“Perhaps. Before my accident, she told me you were in love with me.”
“She was right about that.” He laughed, but turned serious. “If you and I have more than one son, I plan to do things a lot differently than my parents did.”
“We’re not shipping any seven-year-old boys off to school, that is for certain,” Lily stated.
“My, she did bend your ear, didn’t she?” Daniel rubbed his thumb in the palm of her hand. “I wholeheartedly agree with you. All my sons will learn about the estate, as will you, Lily. I expect full cooperation from my duchess. I plan to put your intelligence to good use.”
“That’s the highest compliment you’ve ever paid me,” Lily said. “I am very interested in being a true partner to you in this marriage.”
“Another reason why I’m marrying you.” His eyes gleamed. “Aside from your amazing kindness and tenderness, your incomparable beauty, and your”—he lowered his voice to a smoldering whisper—“unbelievable prowess in bed.”
Heat crept up her neck. “Any prowess I possess comes from your lead.” She rose from her seat and curled into his lap.