Frederick stiffened. He knew that was what she was supposed to say and yet… It sounded as though each word had been forced from her lips.
“You do not want this.” Frederick breathed as understanding dawned on him.
Her eyes widened and she took a step back from him. “I…”
“I do not want to live in separate houses. I do not want to end whatever this is. I do not want a ‘step back’. And I do not think you want it either.” His eyes searched her face.
Seconds ticked by, the space between them filled with all the moments they had shared. His heart pounded hard against his ribs and he waited. He canted his head, barely daring to breathe.
Slowly, in a movement so tiny, he almost missed it, she shook her head. Something broke inside his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him.
“You are my wife. And I will be damned if I let you leave.” He kissed her.
Fire flowed through his blood. Every hair stood on end. The cold breeze was a contrast to the warmth of her against him. He heard gasps from around them and pulled away from her.
Her eyes were wide, faint spots of colour on her cheeks. They were both breathless, but he could see the smile on her face. Even as she glanced around at the watching crowd.
“Everyone is watching us.” She muttered.
“Let them watch. I have waited for this for far too long.” He kissed her again, and this time, the roaring of blood in his ears drowned the world out around them.
The beat of their hearts filled the air around him. The feel of her lips against his drove all thought but Andrea from his mind. He held her to him, as though frightened she would float away if he let go.
He felt her arms twine themselves around his neck. He could have kissed her all night, but she gently pressed a hand against his chest.
He looked down at her, breathless, his arms still around her. “I want a real marriage, Andrea.”
“So do I.” She smiled at him. “But I think if you kiss me like that again, we will be arrested for public indecency.”
Laughing, they broke apart, and he jerked his head towards the dance floor. “Then I shall just have to settle for a dance.”
ChapterTwenty-One
“Iam so glad you are staying for the rest of the season and that I am not going to have to drag you kicking and screaming to every ball.” Cecily sighed happily as she looped an arm through Andrea’s.
They were walking in the gardens of the Caverton London house. The sun was high in the sky and a warm breeze tickled Andrea’s skin.
Her cheeks ached from smiling, but she could not seem to stop.Has it always been so beautiful?The sky was bluer, she was sure of it, the clouds fluffier and more friendly looking.
She realised she had quite forgotten what Cecily had said, and turned to her, an apologetic look on her face. “What were you saying?”
“That I am glad you are staying for the rest of the season.” Cecily laughed at her. “Though if you are going to spend the entire time daydreaming about your husband, I may be less glad.”
“I was not daydreaming about Frederick. I was thinking about how beautiful the garden is, and wondering why I never noticed it before.” She tugged at one of her sleeves, trying to affect an air of nonchalance as she straightened and surveyed the flowers around her.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Cecily’s grin broaden and suspected that her efforts at nonchalance had fallen rather short of the mark. Her cheeks coloured faintly and she rolled her shoulders back.
“I can think of a reason and it rhymes with glove–ow!.” Cecily rubbed her arm where Andrea had flicked her, jutting her lips out in a pout. “I was just saying that there is a reason you move as though you are floating on clouds.”
“It is just… It is nice.” Andrea shook her head and gestured around her. “I did not expect this.”
I thought we would go our separate ways.She had been certain that was what Frederick had wanted, though she had to admit, she had never enjoyed being wrong quite so thoroughly.
Let them watch.The memory of his words sent fresh shivers down her spine. She bit her lip as she remembered the feel of him pulling her to him. With an effort, she forced herself to return to the present, the faint flush to her cheeks considerably darker than it had been.
Cecily rolled her eyes. “You are probably the only one. Well, maybe you and Frederick. Honestly, the two of you deserve each other. Both too blind to see what was right in front of your faces.”
Andrea arched an eyebrow at her friend, giving her a half smile. “Remind me why I invited you to join me today?”
