“Well, I will flirt with yououtrageously.”
“That’s not done,” she said primly, but a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “A husband and wife should not show each other undue affection in public.”
“Then I take it back: I shall not comport myself with dignity. I shall be slavishly devoted to my wife and break every rule of convention.”
“The world will be amazed.”
“The world can go hang. I want what will make you happiest.”
“You,” she whispered, looping her arms around his neck. “You, Jacob. That’s all.”
He kissed her forehead. “And books.”
“Well, yes. Of course.”
“I would expect nothing else.”
“But they do come second,” she said, considering. “I think.”
“I’m flattered.”
Her laugh was low but it still tingled up his spine as though she had put her finger to his skin. “I hope you are.Thatis a concession I never thought I would make.”
“Then I’m not only flattered but honoured,” he said, kissing her again because he could not quite help himself. “How long do we have?”
“Until dinner, I think.”
He rose, lifting her and placing her on the desk. To hell with his paperwork. “Wait there,” he instructed as he strode to the windows and shut the curtains. There was no point offending the staff when Annabelle would soon be their mistress.
Annabelle was flushed, her eyes shining like stars, and he took a moment to appreciate her shy beauty. Pointed chin, full mouth, large eyes, soft freckles across her nose which she confessed to hating and he adored. Cheeks that were more frequently red than pale, as they were now. Sometimes with embarrassment, but more recently, with pleasure.
“You,” he said hoarsely, “are a wonder.”
She gave a shy smile. “High praise coming from a man who has brought Society to its knees.”
“There’s someone else I would like to see on their knees.”
Her cheeks glowed a deeper red. “Thatwould be scandalous, my lord.”
“It would be delectable, sweetheart.” He stepped closer, taking his time. “But that’s not what you’re here for.”
“And whatamI here for?”
He picked up a book from his desk and handed it to her. “Reading is your love, is it not? Open a page and begin.”
She eyed him over the top of the pages, her flush sinking down her throat to her chest. “What will you do?”
He sank to his knees and pushed her skirts back. “Distract you.”
* * *
Jacob’s hand was warm on hers as he led her out through the gardens. July had eased into August, and the grass was dry underfoot. Tomorrow morning, they would travel to London for the wedding. Then, to her relief, instead of parading her to Society like she had feared a new husband might, Jacob seemed perfectly content to whisk her back off to the country. A honeymoon in Yorkshire then back to her new home.
Heaven.
Of course, now she was able to retreat from Society, she found she didn’t fear it the same way she had. There were still expectations—rather alarming ones, given her forthcoming rank and consequence. But she had Jacob by her side, and although his reputation was not altogether savoury, he was at least now a rich and influential man, and he looked at her as though she had hung the moon and every single one of the stars.
“Given you already have me, body and soul,” Jacob said, a languid drawl in his voice, “what do you want most in the world?”
