“You really mean that, don’t you?”
“Absolutely.” The smile slid from his face. “I will have you in any way I can, anywhere, at any moment, for as long as I am able.”
Olivia lifted her head from his shoulder to look into his eyes. “That is the most romantic thing I’ve heard in my life.”
“Is that so? Has no one ever compared your hair to rays of sunshine or your eyes to honey, or your skin to the finest silk, and your mouth to a rosebud?”
Her light laughter from before bloomed into guffaws that shook her body as she buried her face in his chest. When she could breathe once more, she said, “No, and I wouldn’t consider that romantic, but corny.”
“Good thing I didn’t say those things then.” He said with a playful smack of her butt under her skirts. “Although I find myself having mawkish thoughts about you quite often. I’ll try to keep those to myself.”
“Hmm, no. I don’t want you to keep anything from me.” She brought her ‘rosebud’ mouth close to his. “I also want all of you for as long as I can have you.”
Someone cleared his throat in the doorway behind them, and Olivia froze in embarrassment. They were still joined under the folds of her skirts! Had someone just seen them having sex? She closed her eyes in mortification, feeling unbearably exposed.
But Dale simply responded calmly, as if they had just been having tea. “Yes, Hawkins?”
“Your Grace, pardon the intrusion.”
Yeah, no shit, Olivia thought in indignation. Why didn’t he simply go away so that they could make themselves decent?
“Mr. Collins is here to see you.”
Oh, no! Was there yet another person looking at them? Olivia reflexively moved to stand, but Dale held her in place with his hands at her waist, giving her a tiny shake of his head. Right, if she stood, they would be even more exposed. Could this get any worse?
“I have put him in the library,” the butler continued.
Oh, good. At least this other guy was not standing there too, looking at them.
“Thank you Hawkins,” Dale said. “I’ll be there in a moment. Please have refreshments sent to my cousin.”
“Certainly, Your Grace.” The butler bowed and left, closing the door behind him.
Livvy heard the click of the door and melted with relief. “Is he gone?” she asked, while hot waves of humiliation coursed through her.
“Yes.” Dale stood and set her on her feet, an amused smile on his face. “Here, have my handkerchief.” He handed it to her while he did up his pants buttons.
She turned around to clean herself. “How can you be so relaxed? I’ve never been so mortified in my life.”
“After that session, I cannot be anything but relaxed. But you don’t need to fret. He didn’t see anything. Your skirts covered us thoroughly.”
“Be that as it may, he must have guessed what was going on beneath the skirts.”
“Not necessarily. I think I played it off well,” Dale said with a smug smile. “Even if he did, I don’t care. You are my wife, and what we were doing is no sin.”
“Maybe not, but we definitely need to stop doing it in public rooms,” Olivia replied tartly.
“You were the one who jumped on me,” he pointed out, raising a brow in challenge.
“Yes, I did. How embarrassing. I’m so so...”
“Don’t you dare,” Dale exclaimed, pulling her close against him. “Never say you are sorry for that. I loved every minute. I hope you do it again and again.” He emphasized each word with a kiss.
Olivia threw her arms around his neck. “I will. I can’t seem to help myself, anyway. But now, don’t you have a visitor waiting for you?”
He sighed. “Yes, my cousin Alasdair. He is also my heir.”
A cousin? She didn’t even know about this cousin. He had only told her about his parents and late wife, but of course he must have extended family. The fact that she didn’t know about it just underscored how little she knew about him.
