Ivy shook her head. “Not yet. Not until we’ve settled the Barrett business.”
“Ivy, I can’t be an invalid forever…”
“No, I understand that.” She sighed. “But I will not risk you, Colly. To go out and about again, before we’ve dealt with your assailant…no, I won’t let you do that.”
He moved a little, sliding his good arm around her shoulders and pulling her head to rest against his chest. “You won’t?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“Well, because…because…” Flustered, she tried to pull away.
“No, don’t do that.” He gentled her, stroking her arm. “Stay where you are. We’ve found ourselves in a number of unexpected situations, Ivy. We’re married. We didn’t expect that. I was vilely slandered and then attacked. We didn’t expect that either. Here we are, living as husband and wife in the middle of what sometimes feels like a dramatic play that is more suited for Drury Lane. It’s as good a time as any for us to talk about…us.”
“Us?” She swallowed. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Yes you are.” He gave her a little squeeze.
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want to know what you think of us.”
“I…” she paused, unsure of how to answer such a question, and a little afraid to voice the emotions so close to the surface at this moment.
“Are you sorry to be married to me?”
“No,” she answered immediately. “No, of course not.” His arm tightened a little and she couldn’t help but enjoy the feel of him so close.
“I’ve missed you,” he murmured. “I cannot tell you how much I regret having to leave so soon after our wedding.”
She felt him drop a light kiss on her head.
“As do I. But the circumstances were unique, Colly. And both our futures were in jeopardy. I’m not sure you could have done anything else.”
“I could’ve sent Franklin or someone in my place,” he sighed.
“No you couldn’t,” she shook her head. “Not you. It was a direct attack on you. You’d never let someone else try to solve such a problem. It’s not in your manner to pass things like that to others.”
“Maybe that’s a flaw in my character.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, pulling her head back and frowning at him. “You’re not perfect, Colly, but you’re not flawed either.”
His eyes gazed at her, a searing blue roaming over her face. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
And he kissed her, softly at first, then more enthusiastically, turning them so that their bodies intertwined, their legs tangled and his hands wandered to the tie of her robe, loosening it and delving within to find the heat of her covered only by the thin fabric of her nightgown.
“Oh Colly,” she sighed as he stroked whatever parts of her he could find.
“I wish I was well enough,” he muttered, cupping her breast and teasing her nipple with his thumb. “In a day or so we’ll take this to its conclusion, sweetheart.”
She moaned as her hips shifted toward him of their own volition. “Yes please. I’d like that.” Scarcely aware of what she said, Ivy lost herself in the touch of his hand. “I love when you do this. Being with you like this.”
“That’s good to hear, because I’m very fond of it myself.”
“Oh…” She gasped as his fingers slid down and burrowed between her thighs, “Oh God, Colly…”
He found her with unerring accuracy, his fingers delving and rubbing all the right places, driving her cleverly toward a peak she knew she herself desired above all things.
“Colly…”
Her muted cry was stifled by his lips as he pressed her close against his body, his hand fast against her most intimate places. He pushed her over the edge into ecstasy, drinking her gasps, and holding her tightly as she broke apart in his arms.
“That’s my woman,” he murmured. “So beautiful, Ivy. So very beautiful…”
She trembled and sucked in air, overwhelmed by the sensations still quivering within her. “Colly,” she sighed softly. “Oh Colly, I love you.”
“Thank God,” he whispered into her hair. “I don’t think I could stand it if you didn’t.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I’m not sure how much longer I can go on like this.”
Ivy stared at her reflection in the mirror as she spoke, not looking at the woman in the glass, but talking more to herself.
She loved her husband. A wonderful thing indeed, but how much better would it be if he could only say the words and reassure her that her affections were not one-sided.
Oh he liked her, she was sure of that. He touched her affectionately, was always correct and attentive, and listened to her when they conversed.
These were all comforting things, and many women would be overjoyed if their husbands showed such pleasant characteristics within their marriage.
So why couldn’t she be happy with them? Why did something deep inside her demand he say those words? Was she so insecure that she couldn’t accept his displays of affection and leave it at that?
Sadly, she shook her head at herself. She didn’t know. But there remained a nagging sense of discomfort when she considered their relationship. Matters felt incomplete.
This, however, wasn’t the time or the place for such introspection.
Things were coming to a head now that they had a grip on the likely identity of Colly’s attacker. All they had to do was get him to confess. Preferably within hearing of several people who could bear witness to his guilt.
How to do that was to be discussed shortly, when what Ivy was coming to think of as their little regiment of soldiers arrived.
No matter her situation with her husband, Ivy never failed to whisper a little prayer of thanks every time she thought of them. Judith, Rose, Lydia…women who never doubted, never failed, and never
