“I will let him know.” After providing Evie with the address of the farm, Loretta paused and lowered her voice. “I hope you don’t mind my asking, but everything is well with his lordship?”
“I don’t mind. Things could not be better.” Evie smiled. “I have taken your advice.”
A knowing twinkle came into her friend’s eyes. “Picked up a broom, did you?”
“Metaphorically speaking.” On impulse, Evie took the other’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thanks to your encouragement, I decided to no longer hide my feelings, and that has made all the difference.”
As James had a busy social agenda, Evie’s evenings were fully occupied. She accompanied him everywhere and wore the spectacular diamond necklace in hopes of luring out her enemy. She also did her best to support James’s candidacy, and the pride in his eyes gave her newfound confidence. Expressing her admiration for his reforms and his character came naturally. If the conversation fell flat, she turned to tips for reviving houseplants, a topic that never failed to find an audience. Her partnership with James had never felt stronger or more vital. Secure in their love, she even managed to be civil to Morgana Vernon.
Evie had a rare break the following afternoon and decided to spend it in the library at Bottoms House. She had her reading spectacles perched on her nose and a stack of horticultural volumes on the table in front of her. She enjoyed the tranquil space, which boasted charming green bookshelves, sage and cream carpets, and pristine floral plasterwork on the high ceiling. The bay windows framed views of the blooming springtime that the storm had left in its wake.
Not only was the library well-appointed, but it was also fully stocked. While Evie had brought along some of her own books—one never knew when a botanical guide would come in handy—she’d been delighted to find all four volumes of Loudon’s Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum in the labyrinth of bookcases. She was perusing one of the books now, researching causes that might account for the disappearance of Chuddums’s cherry crops. However, she found herself staring dreamily into space.
It was new to her: this feeling of peace. Although the blackmailer remained at large, letting go of her secret made her feel calmer and lighter. It was as if she’d dumped an invisible sack of bricks she’d carried for years. She was brimming with hope for the future…and she was silly with love. In fact, if she wasn’t careful, she might burst into song like the returning warblers and chiffchaff. Loving James was hardly a new phenomenon, but now it felt safe to do so and to let her feelings show. The miracle was that he loved her back—and he wasn’t hiding it either.
Evie cast a discreet glance at her husband, who was playing chess with his papa in the nearby sitting area. Sunlight polished his hair to a rich bronze, and above the elegant knot of his neckcloth, his face was set in serious lines as he discussed political strategy. He’d removed his frock coat, and his waistcoat flattered his broad shoulders and trim torso. After all these years, his splendor still caused her heart to careen into her ribs, and she suspected he would always affect her this way. She would forever feel that spark in his presence, that breathless attraction and soul-deep joy that he was hers.
When he picked up his queen, stroking the piece with his long fingers, heat bloomed inside her. While the desire she felt was not new, the raw intensity of its expression was. Her honesty about the past had opened the door to honesty in all aspects of their relationship…including lovemaking. James had always been a passionate lover, but now he was exposing his naughtier appetites. It seemed that even her confident, successful husband had hidden a part of himself. Shame and guilt had motivated her to conceal her secrets, and she wondered if he had similar feelings. Perhaps he had buried his darker needs because they did not fit his image of what a gentleman and husband should be.
They had both had walls up, and together they were tearing them down. Their progress expanded her heart with joy…and sent a sizzle through her blood. She adored James’s feral side. Now he was debating his papa on the merits of their respective clubs—the Reform Club versus Brooks’s—and watching his lips move, she remembered how persuasive his mouth could be.
After last night’s soiree, he’d shown her a novel and rather depraved position. Gripping the headboard, she’d perched atop his face, surrendering to his hot kisses and hotter words.
“Ride my tongue, love. Feed me more of your delectable cream.”
She’d done both, gushing with bliss and earning more filthy words of praise.
At that instant, James caught her staring at him. Her breath hitched, blood surging into her cheeks. The knowing gleam in his eyes confirmed that he’d guessed the wanton direction of her thoughts. It was one thing to lust after one’s husband, another to do so in public, and for him to be aware of it.
Mortified, she dropped her gaze to the book in front of her and pretended to read.
A few moments later, she heard the marquess say in a pleased tone, “Checkmate.”
“Well played, Papa.”
“Thank you, son. I was fortunate. I could have sworn you were laying a trap.”
“I concede to your superior strategy, sir,” James said blandly.
Pushing his chair back, the marquess rose. “Well, I promised Mama a stroll around the garden. I shall see you both at supper. Evie.”
She smiled at him. “Enjoy your walk.”
When James approached, she quickly bowed her head over the book.
“Interesting read?” he inquired.
“Very.”
“It must be since you are so absorbed by it.”
“Absolutely. It is absolutely…absorbing.”
She wanted to kick herself for sounding like a nitwit.
Leaning on the table, James peered down at the page, his clean-shaven cheek close to hers. Sandalwood and musk curled in her nostrils. Desire tugged at her belly.
“I can see why this has your full attention. There is nothing quite as scintillating as the process of selecting the proper fertilizer.”
