“Ash?” Her muffled voice came from where she was still buried in his neck.
“Mmm, love?”
“What’s in that basket? I’m starving.”
His rumbled chuckle shook their entwined bodies. He planted a hard kiss on her head before heaving them both up to sitting—not an easy feat, but as his duchess had said oh-so-admiringly before, his body was strong.
They settled side by side on the blankets with a spread of cheese, lemon pies, biscuits, and replenished glasses of wine. They ate in silence, sharing secret smiles behind bites of food. His heart warmed, a happy wine-filled warmth. Felicity made him feel young, feel light, feelhappy.
“You know,” he said thoughtfully as he popped the last corner of his hand pie in his mouth. “I think there might be something going on between my valet and your brother.”
Felicity froze.
His eyes narrowed to slits. He pointed at her. “You know something…”
Her lips pressed tight, but she couldn’t hide the glee spreading over her face as she nodded vigorously. She leaned forward and whispered, “I caught them together last night when I left you in my chambers to speak with Felix.”
Ash was sure his eyes had doubled in size. “Dear God, after your brother’s rage? Sam had been fuming at Bentley attacking me.”
Felicity shrugged a shoulder. “I had the same thought. To be honest, when I walked into his chamber, I wasn’t so sure they weren’t still trying to kill each other. But it became obvious no one was killing anyone when Mr. Thornegot on his kneesfor my brother.”
Ash’s mouth dropped open.
“Hypocritical of my brother, I know.” Felicity lifted her brows and took a swig of her wine. “Apparently, I can’t suck your cock, but Thorne can suck his? Pshhh.”
Ash choked and broke out in a fit of coughing. He reached to her and cradled her face, pulling her in for a hard kiss, a kiss that tasted like sugar and wine. “God, I love you, Lissy.”
Her forehead came to rest against his, and she smiled against his lips. “I love you, too.”
He pulled back and studied her. She said she would marry him. She said she loved him. So now for his last question. “How do you feel about getting married in a sennight?”
Her lips formed a small moue, and she blinked at him. “Seven days?” Her look of surprise morphed into a grin. “Someone is eager,” she teased and waggled her brows.
“A smart woman once asked me a very important question:Would you not want to take advantage of every moment you have left and spend it with the one you love?”
Her smile faded at hearing her words to him from yesterday, her features softening.
“I would, Lissy. I would take advantage of every last breath. If I could marry you tonight, I would. But unfortunately, it is customary to wait the seven days from securing the license. So, I would marry you then and not a moment later. If you’ll agree.”
She put down her wine and scooted close to him, gripping his face tight in her palms and crushing her lips to his for a brief kiss. She broke away. “I would love nothing more…”
“Why do I sense a but…”
She let out a slow breath. “I don’t want to wait, it is just… I really would have liked for my mother, Fitzy, and Gigi to be there.”
His lips twitched, and he couldn’t stop them from curling into a smile.
She squinted suspiciously at him. “What are you so happy about?”
“What if I told you theywillbe there?”
“How could that be possible?” She wrinkled her nose, and her lips pursed to the side. “If we write them first thing in the morning, by the time they receive the letters, and then factor in time for travel. I suppose itcouldbe possible, but it would be awfully tight. Unlikely.”
“Lord Bentley sent out a letter first thing this morning requesting their presence at our wedding.”
“What!” Her eyes went comically wide.
His smile turned into a full-blown grin.
