a distant cousin tried to contest it. The case took almost a year to resolve. The best part of that was when my relationship to my sire was finally recognized, the mourning period was over. I didn’t have to pretend I cared about the death of the man who’d abandoned my mother.”
“I’m sorry you went through all of that,” she said tremulously. “And even prouder that you had the decency to take on your sire’s legacy, including your half-siblings.”
“I do believe I married a hopeless optimist.” Crinkles fanned around his eyes. “Most people would assume that I wanted the title for its privileges, not because of some innate sense of honor.”
“Those people don’t know you like I do,” she said firmly.
Emotion flashed like a falling star through his gaze. Just as quickly, it was gone.
“I cannot argue with that,” he drawled. “Especially after the night we shared.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said, her cheeks warming.
He traced a circle over her bare shoulder. “Are you sore this morning?”
Feeling a twinge between her legs, she admitted, “Maybe a little.”
“Poor wife.” He trailed his fingers downward over the slope of her breast, circling the budded tip. “I suppose I can delay my husbandly plans and let you rest.”
Trembling at his touch, she said, “Your husbandly plans? But it’s morning…”
She dropped her gaze to his lap. Sweet Jaysus, he was raring to go. It looked like he had an iron bar hidden beneath the sheet.
“Did you think lovemaking was exclusively a nighttime activity?” He looked amused.
Embarrassed at her naïveté, she gave a small nod.
“That won’t be the case for us.” His smile was lazy and self-assuredly male. “In point of fact, there are variations on the theme that won’t exacerbate your tender state, and I’ve a mind to introduce you to a few.”
16
Later that morning, Severin descended to the inn’s lobby. Since the establishment catered to eloping couples, the space was done up with romance in mind. Striped pink and cream paper covered the walls, the furnishings done up in maroon velvet. Vases of roses and heather bloomed on the front counter and in the cozy seating area by the hearth.
The innkeeper, a portly whiskered fellow, was puttering behind the counter.
Catching sight of Severin, he asked cheerfully, “Enjoying your stay, Your Grace?”
Severin thought of Fancy, whom he had left dozing upstairs. He had worn her out. To be fair, she’d done the same to him.
He had taught her how to frig him, and she’d proved an apt pupil. The image of her delicate, competent fingers pumping his cock brought a sizzle to his blood even now. Truth be told, he ought to be sated, considering how copiously he’d spent in his wife’s pretty hands. He’d returned the favor, fingering her bold little pearl until she came, then licking her pleasure from her a second time.
With those memories fogging up his brain, he murmured, “Quite.”
The innkeep winked. “Always said a bridegroom is the luckiest fellow on earth.”
Severin knew he was a lucky fellow. Damned lucky. Not only because he and his wife set the bedsheets on fire. Waking up with Fancy this morning, he had felt…not alone. He’d enjoyed cuddling and talking with her. He was a bit discomfited by how good her words of praise had felt. And even though she was nosy, her intentions were good. He owed her the essential facts so that she understood the family she’d entered into.
Then he remembered the way she’d kissed his scar, and his gut seized. He told himself that he could let her in, but only so far. Some things were too ugly to share with a wife. Too ugly to share with anyone.
He expelled a breath, not wanting to think of such things now. He wanted to enjoy the delights of being a new groom. He thought he might begin by taking Fancy on a brief tour of Scotland, a wedding trip to mark the beginning of their married life. He wanted to show her the sights, take her shopping and buy her anything her heart desired, spend hours making love to her…
He decided to write follow-up letters to his man-of-business and Aunt Esther forthwith. He would inform them of his marriage and of another week’s delay before he returned to London. It struck him that Fancy had a way of coming before his duties. That she made his existence less dreary and gave him something to look forward to. The fact that he now had a domestic life was strangely…satisfying.