“Perfect.”
“Not sore?” She looked puzzled at my question for a moment before pressing her thighs together with a slight wince and nod. “I’ll ask them to fill a bath once they bring breakfast.” I pulled her back to my chest and rubbed her shoulders and back soothingly.
I was surprised when it was not Anna but Mary, looking slightly worse for wear, who knocked on the door with the breakfast tray. There was a great deal of blushing and stammering on both her part and Juliet’s. Mary was one for gossip. Juliet may believe she was thoroughly ruined last night, but I needed to head off the household rumors.
“Mary, can you have a note sent to Augie? I need him to set up a meeting with my solicitor and a visit to the Doctors Commons. Lady Juliet did me the great honor of agreeing to be my wife yesterday.” At least the gossip downstairs would be accurate now.
“Oh, that is wonderful news! Congratulations to both of you.” Her countenance was much improved with the acquisition of gossip. “I’ll just go fetch a second tray and have a note sent to Augie.”
“No need on the tray, Mary. But thank you.”
She disappeared out the door with a quick half-bob, half-curtsy.
“That will be all over downstairs in the next five minutes. I hope you haven't changed your mind.” I strived for a casual tone as I spread the jam on her toast and handed it over to her before filling the cup with tea from the pot.
She took a prim bite of her toast with an equally studied air. “I suppose I shall have to accept my fate.” Trading toast for tea she took a sip before continuing. “Such a terrible fate, too. To marry a kind, handsome, intelligent man who professes to love me and sets my entire world aflame. I can think of nothing worse.”
I enjoyed a sip from her abandoned teacup to hide my relieved smile.
“Well, I hear you’re quite famous for throwing over fiancés, if it’s truly such a terrible future.” I stole a bite from her toast before peeking under the cloche to see what else Mary had brought.
She sat up to face me fully before responding. “Michael, I can think of no better fate than to be your wife.”
Quest for sustenance forgotten, I marveled at her ability to say exactly what I most needed to hear, even before I understood its necessity. She pulled the tray from my lap and set it on the side table before settling a gentle hand against my jaw.
“Now, dearest fiancé, I believe you promised me a lesson this morning…”
It was all I could do to provide a very insincere chastisement for her insatiability before delving into a very thorough, hands-on lesson.
* * *
Sometime later,with all appetites temporarily satisfied, her delicious curves were pressed against my side once more.
“Jules, I need to discuss a few things with you before I meet with my solicitor.” She offered little more than a contented hum of acknowledgment. “Do you have any thoughts about the wedding? We could likely wait until Kate can be summoned from Lincolnshire if you desire it. Or, if you wish, more time to prepare.”
“I had assumed we would wed as soon as possible. Is that not what you desire?”
“Oh, it’s very much what I desire, but I did not wish to rush you.”
“I am available at your leisure, sir.” She pressed a sweet kiss to my chest just above where my heart skipped at her words.
“Monday then.” She nodded in agreement with her chin pressed to my chest, head bobbing in a manner that warmed my chest. “About our future situation, I was thinking I might give up day-to-day management of Wayland’s and just retain an ownership stake.” She tried to sit up, but I tightened my hold to keep her in my arms where she belonged.
“But why?”
“I haven’t been managing it since I met you, not really. You’re far too distracting. Augie has done a wonderful job in my absence, and he would hold up to the responsibility well. If I continued managing it, we would be forced to remain in London for the majority of the year. That’s the other thing I wanted to discuss with you. What would you say to us letting a country estate?”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes. Unless you object.”
“I have no objection, of course. I adored every moment we spent in the country together. But Wayland’s is your life’s work. I can’t ask you to give that up.”
“My life’s work of a few years. I’d quite like your happiness to be my life’s work going forward. And you’re not asking; I’m offering. I wouldn’t give it up entirely. I’d still have income from it and some say in decisions.”
“If you’re certain. I believe I would be happier in the country, yes.”
“I have one last, slightly less pleasant question to put to you. I intend to transfer your father’s debts to my personal funds when I meet with my solicitor. I can have his debts forgiven, and he will be released from prison. Does that meet with your agreement?”
