Sunshine spilled into his heart.
This girl was magic.
He glanced around.
Everyone was smiling, even his father who had to be in pain no matter how vehemently he denied it. But one would never know it from the joy in his expression. The man had never been in a kitchen in his life, and here he was holding court as though it was the most natural thing for him to do. He sampled one of the apple pie fillings. “A little more cinnamon.” Then sampled a fish sauce. “Needs more lemon.”
Alexander could not stop laughing. “Miss Ruskin, are you almost finished down here?”
She nodded. “As soon as I roll out this last batch of dough.”
He marched toward her. “Leave it to Mrs. Stringer.”
The maids giggled and scurried out of his way as he slowly made a path toward Viola.
Her mouth formed a delectable ‘O’ as she noticed the wicked smolder in his eyes. “But, I’m almost done.”
“It is four o’clock.”
Daisy and Laurel grabbed their bowls and scooted out of the way as he reached Viola’s side.
Viola’s eyes were now wide and beautiful as she hastily set her bowl aside and wiped the dough off her hands. “Um, is there a significance to the hour?”
“You are getting married tomorrow,” he said with a soft growl.
Her smile was a sunburst as she shook her head and laughed. “I do recall that was the plan.”
She squealed when he suddenly lifted her into his arms. “Oh, my!”
Lord, she truly was meant for him. He loved the softness of her body and the way it fit perfectly against him. “Mrs. Stringer, can you manage without Miss Ruskin?”
“Yes, my lord,” she said, unable to quell her own laughter. Her maids were tittering and grinning, all thought of work set aside for the moment as they watched him and wondered what he planned to do next. “All is well in hand. We have her instructions.”
“Good.”
Viola started to protest. “But I–”
He kissed her on the mouth.
A deep, commanding kiss, albeit too short for his liking. But the point was to stop her talking and it did the trick. However, it also caused an uproar in the kitchen…in a good way, he hoped. Mrs. Stringer and her maids clapped and cheered, banging pots together and whistling as he kissed her again, this one more prolonged.
His father groaned, but did not really look overset. “Alex, put her down before you destroy all discipline within your household.”
“Not on your life.” After two years of a moribund home, he wanted a little joyful chaos. “She is mine and I aim to hold onto her.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Viola whispered in his ear as the howls and whistles continued. “I love you, Alex.”
“Thank you, love.”
His family and Lady Withnall were all looking on, trying to look indignant and appalled, for he was misbehaving and completely unrepentant about it. But they relented and grinned as he strode past them with Viola in his arms.
“I think Laurel and I must have a closer look at our kitchen when we get home,” Graelem teased. “Seems there is some fun to be had.”
“Where are you taking her?” his mother asked, obviously worried about what he intended to do next.
“Back to the vicarage. She is done with work for today.” He was never one for social conventions, but he did have sense enough to know the boundaries of behavior and he had already crossed over the line by behaving like an ape just now.
Viola was a traditional girl. Kissing her and carrying her in his arms was about all the scandal she could manage. Betrothed couples were allowed more intimacies, but he was not about to take her into his bed before they had exchanged their wedding vows.
