his answer, her graceful eyebrows arched and her full lips slightly parted in a way that sent a buzz of arousal through his body. She was, he thought with a shock, a remarkably sensual creature in addition to being clever and caring. He loved their time in bed, but he wanted more than that—no matter how wonderful their sexual relations might be.
“I would rather spend the evening at home.With you,” he added, diverted by the way she turned away, giving him her shoulder. A few weeks ago, he would have viewed such an action as rejection. But Gabriel was beginning to understand she was at her most prickly when she was most emotional.
“I shall write to express our regrets,” she said to the far wall.
Gabriel smiled, as eager for the evening as Samir had been for their visit to Gunter’s this afternoon. He strode toward her and took her upper arm, turning her.
She was a fiery red, her expression flustered. He lowered his mouth to hers, claiming her with all the hunger he felt. Her body shifted and molded itself against his, her arms circling his neck while she opened to him, sucking his tongue in a way that made his entire body hum with want. His wife was a very fast learner in many areas.
Gabriel was breathless when he pulled away. “I shall notify Parker that we will dine in our room tonight.” He took in her full, parted lips and slightly flaring nostrils and gave a growl of frustration. “I think we will have dinner early this evening. Very early.”
Chapter 22
Everything changed after that night.
Oh, they still needed to attend the interminable parties, routs, and balls that filled the Season every evening, but they spent part of every day together—days that sped by in a blur of happiness.
As Gabriel had suggested, Samir remained with his former mistresses until they departed for Sizemore.
Though Drusilla agreed that two moves in a brief time would be hard on him, she could not be comfortable with Gabriel’s frequent visits to their house to either bring Samir out for the day or read him a story before bed. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him; it was just that she felt . . . excluded.
To his credit, Gabriel tried to include her in his time with Samir. She saw the little boy every day, and, after a few weeks, she felt as though she’d known and loved him for years. She didn’t know if he was Gabriel’s son, nor did she believe the blood relationship mattered to her husband.
For a child who’d just lost both his parents, he was remarkably happy, but Gabriel told her Samir was plagued by nightmares, so Drusilla knew he was not as serene as he appeared on the surface. It would take years to help him overcome his grief. The best way to do that was to give him security and love. She was eager to begin their life as a family and could hardly wait for the day they could leave London for the country.
But, in the interim, there was the remainder of the Season to be gotten through.
In the evenings they went to balls, routs, soirees, and every other type of foolishness. She soon discovered that a Season with the man she loved was far more exciting and interesting than a Season as a wallflower. Drusilla was stunned by what a difference happiness made to activities she had always considered vapid.
Eva often accompanied them, and Drusilla was relieved to resume their friendship. She did not believe Eva felt excluded by the growing closeness between herself and Gabriel, although it seemed to her there was a new distance between herself and Eva. It was probably natural that their relationship had changed; they were now separated by a vast gulf of experience.
But it wasn’t only the fact she was now married; sometimes she felt as if Eva might be hiding something from her—or, at the very least, was distracted by somebody or something.
It was selfish of her, but Drusilla could not apply herself to discover whatever might be bothering Eva. Her daily life was simply too magical. Indeed, she could scarcely believe this was her life, that she had somehow managed to end up with the man she’d wanted and dreamed of all along. And that he seemed happy to be spending his days and, oh, his nights, with her.
He came to Drusilla every evening, often remaining until morning.
It was on one of those nights, not long before