“Gory!” Adela’s face turned a fiery shade of red.
“I knew it! Syd, pay up. I’ve won the bet.”
Adela scampered into the carriage. “Dear heaven.”
Ambrose climbed in beside her.
He waited for them to be on their way before he asked what that exchange was about. “Above or below? What did she mean?”
Adela’s face turned flaming red again.
“Blessed saints! They were wagering on our wedding night?” Of course, he had devoured her. Above. Below. Several times. What man in his right mind would ever keep his hands or lips off her gorgeous body? “Your friends are too inquisitive for their own good.”
“It is harmless fun. They don’t really understand what the wager is about. I don’t think Gory or Syd have even been kissed yet. None of us were until you came along and kissed me. We are told so little, left so unprepared to face the important changes in our lives. Can you blame them for being curious? I hope they find the same happiness I have found with you, and that they enjoy the intimacy shared between a loving, married couple. Well, I don’t suppose one needs to be married forthatto happen, but as you saw from my response, reading about it and actually experiencing it are very different things.”
“You were quite wanton last night,” Ambrose teased.
She laughed. “Indeed, I was. Dear heaven, you were quite naughty in leading me astray. I think I need to fan myself.”
He took her hand in his as their carriage rolled off. “Feel free to shed your clothes if you are too hot.”
She gasped and at the same time laughed. “In a carriage?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Think of what we can do as the carriage bounces. I’ll show you once we are outside of London and the roadway is clear.”
“Good grief, you are serious. It sounds awfully wicked.”
“It is.”
“You know, we have only been married a day and I already feel thoroughly corrupted by you.”
He cupped her face in his big hands and kissed her ever so gently on the mouth. “I’ll never force you to do anything you–”
“Oh, I wasn’t complaining about it. I am quite eager to be your partner in that sort of adventure. If I fall asleep, just wake me once the road is clear.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “You won’t regret it, love.”
He said no more as their carriage slowly made its way through London and finally onto the less congested Devonshire road. Adela turned silent, but he could sense she was happy as she spent her time watching the scenery until she fell asleep against his shoulder.
He had kept her up much of the night and she must now be exhausted.
She was sleeping so peacefully, he decided not to disturb her.
They would have their romp in the carriage another day.
They had a lifetime of days ahead of them.
Besides, he did not mind just holding her in his arms.
However, the silence brought his thoughts back to Octavian. His brother had always been a restless fellow and was not pleased when the Admiralty promoted him to duties on land. He had wanted to remain in command of his ship, and not merely because the captain of a ship commanded the biggest share of spoils from any enemy vessel captured.
Octavian had amassed a sizeable fortune already and had no need to risk his life adding more to it. He chafed at being on land because he loved the sea and was fiercely loyal to the men under his command.
But those in the higher echelons knew his value and were grooming him for greater things since Octavian had brains as well as brawn. Coupled with his experience at sea, this made him the best naval officer to oversee the design of a new fleet of ships and accompanying weaponry. He had the battle experience and the scientific vision to advise on these designs as well as detect flaws. These advancements were vital to maintaining England as the reigning monarch of the seas.
Despite Octavian’s grumbling, Ambrose knew this was no soft assignment. Within a few years, his brother would be elevated to the rank of admiral. The only way Octavian could sink his career was if he ignored his duties and ran off after Syd. She had assured Adela she would remain in London, giving the impression that whatever crisis had caused her family to attempt to drag her away was now over.
Could they believe it?
