“We have the Chesterfield ball,” Felix reminded her. “Plus, you always enjoy their functions. For some reason, the wildest things seem to occur at their balls.” He frowned thoughtfully. “Haven’t the slightest idea why.”
Felicity propped herself up on one elbow, her lips pursing. “That’s true. Lord and Lady Chesterfield are quite the riot. Their high spirits must seep into the food and drink somehow.”
“No wonder I always end up foxed,” Fitz added with a chuckle.
The room went quiet, and Felicity cocked her head at him. “You—foxed? You’ve never been even a trifle disguised at a function.”
“No, I know.” His smile faded as he was met with three pairs of blank expressions. “It was a jest…because they infuse everything with highspirits.”
Felix groaned, shaking his head. “Fitz, if you have to explain it…”
Fitz opened his mouth and paused. Hehad thought his pun quite obvious. His brows scrunched. Perhaps not? Georgiana’s giggle distracted him from his tumult, and he turned to look at his lovely wife curled into his side.
Her eyes danced, and she reached out to interlace their fingers. “I wouldn’t have you any other way, love.”
The right side of his mouth kicked up. How had he gotten so bloody lucky with her?
“Have you heard their love story, Georgiana? The Chesterfields’?” Felicity asked, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
Georgiana leaned forward, practically bouncing on the seat cushion. “No! Imustknow.”
Felicity dropped her voice, her eyes wide with dramatics. “The marquess accidentally married her when he—”
“Mr. Jennings, you have a caller,” their family butler announced. He cleared his throat, eyes shifting to the side. “Mrs. Smith is with the—urm—caller in the front entry.”
Fitz frowned. What on earth—
Oh. Oh! Fitz shot to his feet. It was here! He jolted for the door—
Thud—
Thwack.
Fuck, fuck,fuck.He palmed his face, which had just collided with the plush rug, his aching knee having thankfully taken the brunt of the fall. Why was he always falling and colliding with things?
“Ohmygod!Fitz!” Georgiana screeched, dropping to his side. “Are you all right?”
He popped back up, rubbing his smarting knee. He shot his wife, who was now in a pile of burgundy skirts on the floor, a wide smile. “Pine”—he cleared his throat—“Fine. Everything’s fine.” He stumbled backward toward the door to the hall. “Foot got stuck in the settee leg. No worries. Ferfectly pine!” He spun on his heel and hurried out of the room.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fitzy so excited,” Felix’s baffled voice followed him out into the hallway.
Fitz chuckled. It was the truth. Excitement had his limbs jittery, his heart kicking against his chest. It was here!
Georgiana’s surprise.Finally.
Well, part two of her surprise. The brothel surprise—which had almost ended in disaster—turned out to be a gift that kept on giving. A sly grin spread across his face, and his cheeks heated. They had been back at Madame Beaumont’smanytimes since their first visit. His green-eyed angel of a wife had thoroughly corrupted him.
He picked up his pace and jogged the rest of the way to the entry. He frowned, his gaze landing on his housekeeper, who appeared to be desperately flailing as she tried to contain a blur in her arms. “Oh, thank goodness. Mr. Jennings. I cannot contain this little rapscallion!”
She held out the culprit—a round-bellied, wrinkly, tail-wagging, Bloodhound puppy.
Fitz relieved Mrs. Smith of the black and brown wriggling thing—only to almost drop the rascal! His arms scrambled to keep purchase on the puppy as it tried to disappear right under his arm and leap for its death. Saving it just in time, he hugged the thing to his chest—and was promptly attacked by a small, rough tongue. And razor-sharp teeth!
“Bugger!” Fitz yelped, his voice embarrassingly high.
Who knew puppy teeth would be so bloody sharp? He pulled the scamp back, a piece of his cravat—now shredded—in its teeth. Goodness, the little devil was out of control.
“Isn’t it supposed to be in the basket?” He kneeled where a large wicker basket with a soft blanket inside rested on the entry’s marble floor. He carefully stuffed the squirming puppy into the basket—only for it to hop right up on the edge—and promptly topple the entire basket over.
