“Of course, that would be an excellent notion, Woodleigh. Thank you and please pass on our gratitude to everyone below stairs for their well wishes.”
“And their fruit tarts.” Mowbray licked his lips. “Oh and are we invited for dinner? I am finding that all this excitement is giving me an appetite.”
Ivy raised her eyebrows at Woodleigh, who unbent far enough to smile back. “Cook has anticipated such an event, your Grace. All is in hand.”
“By God, Woodleigh,” Miles rose, his glass in his hand. “I do believe we should toast you.”
So they did.
And the rest of the day proceeded in much the same manner; outright hilarity, some pensive moments, and a fine dinner shared with friends.
At the end of it all, when Hartsmere House was quiet and the candles extinguished, Colly tapped on Ivy’s door.
“Come in,” she said, sitting tiredly on the edge of her bed. “Are you sure…” She shot him a worried glance.
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, love. Yes. I’m sure I’m all right.”
She couldn’t help the sigh that followed. “I was so very scared when I saw that sword appear. It was as if the world froze in that instant.”
He came to her and to her surprise, he put his arms around her and pulled her to her feet. “Ivy, when I heard the shot and you were right there in front of me, I swear my world froze as well.”
“It did?” She blinked.
“My world froze, my heart stopped and if I’d lost you at that moment, I would have died too.”
“Colly…” she whispered, wondering at his words.
“Don’t you know?” He leaned down and pressed tiny kisses to her cheek and lips. “Have you no idea how much you have come to mean to me?”
“No, I didn’t…you never…I…” Lost in the pleasure his mouth was stirring inside her, she stuttered.
He picked her up, swept through the doors into his room, and dropped her on the bed.
“I love you, Ivy.”
Her world spun. “You do?”
“I do,” he answered, tumbling on top of her. “And tonight, I’m going to show you just how much…”
His hands where everywhere, the heat of his skin searing hers before she even understood he’d removed her nightgown.
She gasped as his hands found her, and whimpered when they travelled a sensual path over her tender and ticklish places.
“Ivy,” he whispered against her breast. “Ivy, so silky and warm…”
He touched her with skill and erotic intent, finding all the spots that made her catch her breath, then teasing and toying with them until she was a writhing mess of desire beneath him. Her hips lifted, her neck arched and his talented fingers pushed her higher and higher until she shattered on a choked cry of pleasure.
But he wasn’t finished.
Barely had the spasms eased than he moved on top of her, pushing her legs wide apart and settling himself between them.
“Bend your legs, Ivy.”
Obediently she did, then understood that in so doing, she’d opened herself wide—and he was there, slowly sinking into her body, stretching her in a wonderful way that robbed her of thought.
She could only feel, every part of her focussed on the slide of velvet iron as he penetrated her as deeply as he could go.
Seated fully within, he stopped, looking down at her face, his eyelids heavy over glittering blue eyes, his cheeks flushed and his usually ordered hair hanging untidily around his face.
She couldn’t possibly love him more than she did at that moment.
“Colly,” she whispered, reaching a hand to his cheek. “Oh Colly. You feel wonderful inside me.” It was a brazen statement and she knew her face was heating with a blush, but the time for polite phrases was passed. This was a moment for truth between them. “I love you so much.”
He moved a little, and then gave her a wide grin. “Wait a few minutes my darling. You’ll love me even more…”
As she screamed out her release and found it echoed by his roar of satisfaction, she understood what he meant.
And later, when they were tumbled together, sated and damp from their passion, she chuckled.
“You were both right and wrong, you know.”
“I was?” He nuzzled her neck as he held her spooned against him.
“Yes. I did understand what the height of love could be. But do I love you more because of it? I don’t know. Because I’m not sure my heart can hold another drop of my feelings for you without bursting.”
“Well that will never do. I’d better hold it in place while you sleep.” He yawned and put his arm over her.
And that’s how his Grace the Duke of Maidenbrooke finally dozed off—with a hand full of his wife’s left breast.
His wife fell asleep too, comforted by his touch, and with a slight smile curving her lips.
Epilogue
In spite of the events of the previous afternoon, Miss Prudence Hartsmere-Drake’s birthday and garden party celebration went off without a single problem to mar the day.
The guests arrived on time, were vociferous—and not a little envious—of the garden, and appeared to enjoy themselves, feasting on Cook’s amazing assortment of tasty delicacies. One guest was brave enough to descend to the kitchen and offer the astounded woman three times her current wages if she’d leave the Duke and come to work for her.
The Cook, slightly flabbergasted, refused with thanks, and then asked Woodleigh if he’d be so kind as to fetch her a brandy for medicinal purposes because she was about to faint.
The young lady herself was on her best behaviour and all who attended found her charming, with her pretty gown, her sweet deference and her exemplary manners.
Which translated into an ability to
