“Tomorrow, Mother, I propose that I will escort Patience to her father’s place of business to consult with him about her future plans.” He finished his port and set the glass aside. “We will return in time to dine with you, if that is satisfactory.”
“I suppose it must be,” Lady Beckham acknowledged.
“Excellent,” Arthur said and rose to his feet. He offered Patience his hand. “If you have finished your tea, I should very much like to retire and read more of my book.”
Patience bit back a smile, guessing what book that might be. She rose and put her hand in his, glad that he had come to her rescue. He bowed to his mother and she curtsied, then they left the drawing room together. Arthur cast her a warning glance and she remained silent as they climbed the stairs together.
How she yearned for her own household!
Within moments, Gellis had helped her to undress and left her alone in her chamber. She opened the door to Arthur’s chamber to find him leaning there once more, a smile lifting the corner of his mouth. “Alone at last,” he murmured, linking their hands and drawing her to the chairs before the fire. “Get along, Tar,” he said, nudging the black cat out of one seat.
“Catrame,”Patience corrected.
He looked up at her, then his eyes lit with laughter as he understood. “You did rename them.”
“Catrame e Piume.Amelia and I decided that Italian cats should have Italian names.”
He murmured the names beneath his breath and chuckled, then sat down and drew her down to nestle on the seat beside him. It was a cozy fit, but Patience liked the feel of him against her. “And now we scheme,” he whispered in her ear, his arms closing around her.
“Is everything a calculation?”
“No, but more things are than many people believe. When my mother is vexed, it is wiser to proceed with care.” He stared into the fire, clearly considering his options. Catrame took advantage of this moment to leap back into Arthur’s lap and he smiled as he dropped a hand onto the cat, ruffling its fur. “I am thinking that you might seek your father’s advice about our proposed alliance,” he said finally and Patience understood. “He may have suggestions.”
“He may, indeed. My father loves to solve matters, and I would be glad to consult him first.”
Arthur nodded, then studied her. His gaze was dark and his expression made her remember all they had done earlier that afternoon. “Are you sore?” His voice was low and velvety, his concern enough to melt her reservations away.
“A little,” she confessed.
“Then we will read tonight.”
“I can imagine nothing better,” she admitted and he smiled.
“I read one of your favorite books, now it is time for one of mine.”
“Is it here?”
“Of course. Who else would I entrust with my treasures?”
She rose to retrieve the book. “Which one?”
“The Canterbury Tales. I had a tutor who believed all wisdom upon the human condition could be found within its pages.”
Patience fetched the book, fanning through it. It was a fine edition with several illustrations. “I have never read it all.”
“I think the Wife of Bath’s tale would be particularly apt this evening,” Arthur said. He stretched his legs out toward the fire and opened the volume, his hand still in Catrame’s fur. Patience took the other chair and Piume jumped into her lap, circling before she laid down as well. The fire crackled, the cats purred and Arthur read aloud.
Patience was certain there could not have been a more perfect evening. She must have dozed off because she awakened as she was lifted into Arthur’s arms. “I fell asleep. I am sorry.”
“You did not hear the moral of the tale, then.”
His tone was teasing and she watched him. “Which is?”
“That what a woman desires most is her own way, of course.” He grinned down at her. “And so the choice is yours, Patience. Would you sleep alone, with me in your bed or with me in mine? I feel compelled to note that my bed is larger, though your chamber is warmer.”
“Which would you prefer?”
He looked down at her, smiling slightly, then bent and claimed her lips in a potent kiss. He took his time, savoring the embrace, conjuring a heat within her that made her toes curl. When he lifted his head and looked down at her, his eyes glimmered with an intent that made her heart skip. “I would be with you, here or there, but I heed the wife of Bath’s counsel.”
