minutes, he was teaching her to ride.
He was going to enjoy teaching his little firecracker the pleasure of married life, if she didn't kill him first.
A groan escaped him as Georgina carried his little trick one step further. He barely had time to hang on and hold her still before the uncontrollable explosion overtook him and he came deep inside her.
Daniel's hands clamped her waist and held her hips tightly against his.
"I'll make you pay for this in the morning," he warned as the aftershocks rippled through them.
Georgina grinned, bent over and nipped his ear, then slid off him to her side of the bed. "You ain't seen nothing yet, Pecos."
Chapter 38
Dolly Hanover fumbled nervously at her napkin when confronted with the actuality of her son-in-law over breakfast the next morning. Daniel smiled his most boyish grin and passed her the cream for her coffee.
"Morning, ma'am, perfect day for a parade, wouldn't you say?"
She ducked her head, blushing with pleasure at his attention. "We don't usually attend. George says the streets are too full of the common elements."
"Mama usually goes to the Mulloneys for their big Fourth of July picnic," Georgina said with an innocent look that wouldn't fool the pope.
Daniel regarded her warily. His impetuous wife was up to something, but he didn't even want to contemplate what it might be. He glanced at the way Georgina was holding her coffee cup, displaying the ring he had just given her this morning. The sight of his ring on her finger stirred something deep and possessive inside him. The fact that she was proud of it made him bristle with pride. He wouldn't destroy the bond between them by questioning her.
"The parade stays downtown," Dolly explained diffidently. "Sometimes, we can hear the music."
"Well, you just have a really good time, Mama." Georgina patted her mother's hand. "Daniel and I will meet you at the Mulloney picnic."
That was when Daniel knew she was up to something, but he waited until they had left the breakfast table before hauling her into a quiet room where no one would hear them. "I don't know how good an idea it is for you and your family to be over there when I show my face. If my father sees me, he's likely to make a scene."
Georgina patted his cheek in much the same way as she had patted her mother's hand. "Don't worry. I sent a note to Peter telling him to keep your father otherwise occupied. He may be a villain, but he's not dumb. You'll have some privacy."
Daniel caught her hand and pulled it between them. "I'd feel a lot easier if I knew what you were up to. Where will you be while all this is happening?"
"Oh, I'll be just fine, don't you worry. I'll make certain I'm surrounded by people who wouldn't think of harming me. You just go see your mother and don't worry about a thing."
The more she told him not to worry, the more Daniel suspected he had something to worry about, but the sound of Georgina's father coming down the stairs prevented him from questioning closer. Holding her hand captive, he pulled her into the hall to confront his nemesis.
"Good morning, sir."
The older man halted in shock when confronted with the tall stranger who had carried his daughter off. His hand went up to rake at his full side-whiskers, then to tug at his cravat. The steely gray of Daniel's eyes remained implacable. With a slight "harrumph," George Hanover managed a greeting. "I see you don't even have a home for my daughter. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."
Daniel entwined his fingers with Georgina's and smiled confidently. "On the contrary, I have several. I just wanted Georgina to have time to get used to the idea of being married before I take her away. And I thought you might feel better if you had time to get to know me better so you would be a little less concerned for Georgina's welfare."
"Likely story." George glanced at the ring on his daughter's finger and hesitated. It wasn't an inexpensive ring. He took a more calculated look at his son-in-law.
Journalists didn't make enough money to pay for that tailored frock coat Daniel was sporting this morning. But it could have been bought on credit, on the promise of his wealthy marriage. George frowned. "I'd suggest you consider taking Georgina to one of those many homes pretty soon, then. This one isn't likely to be ours much longer."
"I