Chapter Sixteen
Feeling smug aboutthe possibilities tonight’s ball held, Matthew handed Fortuity up into the carriage. “There you are, my love. Have I told you how positively breathtaking you are tonight?”
She cut a sideways glance at him, narrowing her eyes with suspicion. “As a matter of fact, you have. Twice before, actually. What are you up to now?”
“Can a man not admire his wife’s beauty? Repeatedly?”
“When he is genuine—yes. When he is distracted by whatever nefarious doings he has plotted with my sister—no.”
“I would never plot anything nefarious, nor would Lady Blessing. Effectiveness is our goal, nothing more.”
“Effectiveness?”
“For us.”
She scowled, then puckered her tempting lips into the most adorable pout he had ever witnessed. “I repeat my earlier question: what are you up to? What is this plot the two of you have hatched? I would like to be prepared.”
“There is nothing for which you need to prepare, and I am simply looking forward to an enjoyable night out with my wife.”
“Liar.”
“Is that kind?”
“No. It is truthful.”
She didn’t sound angry, so he hazarded a smile and patted his waistcoat that held the key element for the trap. “Rest easy, my love. If tonight goes as planned, the Duchess of Esterton willworry us no more, nor will thetoncontinue laying odds on your meek acceptance of a roving husband or your refusal to ever allow me back into your bed.”
“What do you intend to do?
“You shall see soon enough.”
She snorted a very unladylike huff. “I believe you are enjoying this.”
“I am indeed, my lady. That woman has caused us untold misery, and it is time for it to end.” He took her gloved hand in his and frowned down at it. “I hate gloves. They bar me from the enticing feel of your bare skin against mine.”
“I do not care for them either. But one does not go to a ball without one’s gloves.” She rolled her eyes and made a face. “Or so Mama always used to say and now Anne ensures I remember.” She leaned into him and offered up her mouth along with a suggestive nudge against his chest. “A kiss would help me endure the sacrifices I am forced to make for propriety.”
He happily complied, groaning at the sweet taste of her and drawing upon every strength he possessed to break the connection and lift his head. “Such a wicked temptress, you are, my love, making me yearn to stay home rather than attend another of Lady Atterley’s infamous balls.”
Fortuity gave an equally put-upon sigh. “I would rather stay home as well, but Blessing is so looking forward to seeing the results of this scheme the two of you devised, since you were good enough to wait until after her churching and Aurora’s christening to launch it.” She nudged him in the ribs this time. “I cannot believe you plotted with my sister rather than me.”
“Thorne begged me to because your Blessing was not at all pleased about being barred from overseeing the construction of her new observatory for the four weeks of her lying in. Plotting the duchess’s downfall served as a distraction to maintain peace in the Knightwood household.”
“Well…I did get the pleasure of enjoying little Aurora’s company while the two of you worked out the details of your nefarious plan.”
“I told you, it is not nefarious. Only effective. Or should be.”
The thrill of the hunt surged through him as the carriage rolled to a stop, and Lady Atterley’s footman opened its door and let down the steps. Matthew alit, then helped Fortuity disembark. She truly was lovely this evening, bedecked in her gown of lavender that shimmered with silvery threading embroidered in an elegant trail of ivy that swirled around her as if she were the queen of the fae. But it was more than just the gown. An unexplainable glow emanated from her, as if something magical glimmered within her.
He halted her before they continued up the steps. “You steal my breath away, Fortuity. Please know this is not just the idle babbling of distraction. You are my world—now and forever—and the strength and depth of my love for you sometimes frightens the blazes out of me. I would be lost without you.”
Her lips parted with a surprised but silentoh, and a sheen of happy tears glistened in her eyes. She rested a hand on his cheek and tiptoed for a tender kiss. “I love you with a fury as well,” she whispered.
A polite clearing of a throat behind them interrupted the moment.
Matthew glanced back at Lord and Lady Billersford. “Do forgive me. I am completely besotted with my wife and sometimes forget my surroundings.”
Crusty old Billersford nodded and affected an understanding smile that he obviously did not mean. As he and his wife stepped around them, Matthew overheard Lady Billersford curtly question her husband, “Why do you never say things like that about me?”
