“That dress is every bit as lovely as I imagined.” He groaned, barely in control. “Lud, you look ravishing.”
“Looked, past tense,” she sighed. “The fichu is crushed.”
“Nothing,” he replied, “that cannot be fixed.”
“I adore the dress,” she said. “You have excellent taste.”
“Of course I do,” he replied with his old arrogance. Then, his face softened. He brushed aside her hair and placed a light kiss on her mouth. “I adore you.”
“Are you certain?”
He nodded, slowly. “I am, even though I didn’t believe in love.”
“And now?”
“And now I do.” He traced a line down her cheek. “I am sorry, hellion. I have been such a prideful ass.”
Her eyes stung. “You hurt me when you left.”
“I know,” he replied. “But I—I was tryingnotto hurt you anymore.”
He’d chosen the one explanation that could melt her heart. “What made you change your mind?”
“I couldn’t live another moment without you. I had to take a chance.”
Her eyes searched his. “You weren’t certain how I would respond.”
“You would have been right to box my ears,” he replied, gathering her into his arm. “I’m delighted you are foolish enough to give me another chance.”
“Now that you have me,” she snuggled beneath his chin, “what do you intend to do with me?”
“I intend,” he ran his fingers up and down her neck, “to relieve you of everything but those stockings. I intend to arrange you just so on the bed. And then, I intend to take you at least three times before we fall into exhausted slumber.”
“A marquess must have whatever a marquess wants,” she answered with a satisfied sigh.
“A marquess is due nothing,” Giles answered. “But I am lucky enough to have everything I could want.”
Epilogue
Katherine leaned back in her chair and turned her face to the sunlight. To spend an afternoon out of doors was a rare experience in Northumberland. Giles had gone out of his way to ensure they made the most of the day, as he did whenever there was an experience to be treasured.
He and Farring had brought a table out into the courtyard; Julia and Markham had followed with chairs. Clarissa brought the tablecloth, the glasses, and the lemonade.
In her most fanciful childhood imaginings, Katherine had never imagined she would be mistress of a castle. And during the time she’d struggled to become proper, she would have been horrified at the idea of having to maintain an expression of polite interest while her husband caressed her stockings through a slit in her skirt meant for a pocket.
She shifted in her seat, allowing him greater access.
The butler delivered the morning mail, which Giles directed to Farring.
“Farring,” Giles said. “Be a good sort and read aloud anything important.”
Farring sighed, longsuffering, and then opened the first letter. “Lord Darlington beseeches you to reconsider your position on his most recent bill.” Farring looked up. “How surprising,” he added, sounding anything but surprised.
“You cannot blame the man,” Markham said. “Not when Bromton—once the most reliable party vote—has become the most unpredictable.”
“Giles is not unpredictable at all,” Katherine countered. “He votes conscience over allegiance. I, for one, am proud.”
Giles smiled appreciatively as he tickled her outer thigh. She covered her laugh with a cough.
