“Not at all. It was as though I had two housekeepers, if anything. I thought that would stay the same, but of course it has not. It makes sense that you would take his attention away, for you are the one he is meant to serve, but it is odd all the same.”
They continued to discuss treatments of over-indulgence for a while, and then Jeffries returned with a tray. It contained their drinks, as well as some cakes and biscuits. Anna took a biscuit, while Spencer looked at it in confusion.
“I did not ask for all of this,” he pointed out. “I only wanted the drinks.”
“I know, Your Grace, but Her Grace has always liked to receive treats with every tray. I thought that was what you wanted.”
The two men looked at each other for a moment, and then Spencer smiled.
“Of course. Thank you, Jeffries.”
The butler bowed to both of them and left the room, Anna smiling through the icing.
“So he does still care about you,” Spencer said triumphantly. “More so than me, it would seem.”
“I cannot believe it. I thought that he would ignore me completely now that you have returned.”
“That is impossible. You have undoubtedly formed bonds with them all in the last year, and my return will not change that. I knew that would be the case when my own housekeeper told me what a fool I have been.”
“And did you listen to her?”
He was quiet for a moment.
“I have not done the best that I could have,” he confessed. “Nor have I changed much since my return. I have not known how to behave around you, and that has led to me being perhaps… well, I have blown hot and cold, I admit. I am aware of that.”
“Good, for I did not want to have to be the one to tell you as much.”
He chuckled, taking a swig of his drink. There was a delicate element to their peace, but it was there all the same, and Anna liked it. It was a glimpse of the life that they could lead together now that he was home, and she could only hope that it would continue.
“You like cake, then?” he asked.
“I do. I always like to have some sweetness in my life, which is why I have so much cake. It cannot be good for my size, but I enjoy it regardless.”
“I would say that it benefits you greatly.”
He had some icing on his thumb, and he placed it in his mouth to lick it off. Anna watched him intently, seeing for the first time how gentle he could be. There was something wicked in the way he moved, and she enjoyed it far more than she should have, but she refused to reprimand herself for it.
He was her husband, and just as he had proven that she was his, he was hers, too. It was only fair that she could enjoy watching him the way he did her when she was wearing her nightgowns and taking off her gloves. He caught her staring, but she did not shrink away. If anything, she only made it clearer that she was watching.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.
“Very much so,” she replied, taking a piece of cake and biting it.
“Then perhaps you had a point all along,” he said with a sly grin. “We ought to have cake more often.”
And, in spite of her trepidation, Anna wanted to accept such an invitation.
CHAPTER 15
Spencer had been avoiding his wife, and that was precisely because of how much he wanted her.
There had never been any denying that he was attracted to her, for she was a beautiful lady that he would have noticed even if he had not met her when she was already his bride. He did not mind feeling that way about her. The trouble came when he realized that there was more than a passing attraction between them.
He had gone to his greatest friend for advice in that respect, but that was not what happened. Instead, Alexander offered him a drink, which he declined, and grinned.
“I knew it would get you eventually.”
“I do not know what you mean.”
