“That’s not what society thinks of you,” she said, wriggling to get comfortable.
“Is that so?” He lifted her up and lowered her onto his lap.
“What are you doing?”
“Making you comfortable,” he said, turning so she rested along him. Her arm was now on his chest.
“I don’t think we should be doing this,” she said, holding herself stiff in his arms.
“We’re married, so we can do as we wish,” he said, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Now shut up. I’m tired.”
She didn’t fight him; instead, she slowly relaxed against him. He knew when she’d fallen asleep because her body became boneless.
Patrick thought he could get used to holding her like this and decided not to analyze the heat blooming in his chest.
Looking down at his wife, he studied the gentle sweep of her lashes where they lay on her cheeks. Smoothing the dark smudges beneath with a finger, he felt a small tug of guilt that he had in some part been responsible for them. Sophie sighed softly, her warm breath brushing his hand as she snuggled closer. Pulling a blanket from beneath the seat, he covered them both. Closing his eyes, he leaned back and let darkness take him under.
CHAPTER 36
“Garland Hall, did you say?” Sophie said as the carriage swept into a long driveway one day after they’d left London. “How did it come by that name when you are the Earl of Coulter, as those before you were?”
He’d enjoyed the journey with her because they’d talked about many things, and Patrick now knew his new wife better, as he hoped she did him. She had a wicked laugh when he coaxed it out of her and a sly wit that he would enjoy exploring.
“It was named after the relative who built it hundreds of years ago. Garland was his wife.”
“That’s very nice of him.”
“Yes, it is,” he said, watching her. “Shall I find something to name after you?”
“Absolutely not. I wish I could see it,” Sophie added, looking out the window into the darkness for the fifth time in as many minutes.
“And you will soon.”
“I need to put on my bonnet,” she said, glancing around her.
“My staff will not care if you are not wearing a bonnet, Sophie.”
“I care.” She found it and dropped it onto her head. The ribbons would remain untied because she wouldn’t ask him to tie them.
His eyes ran over the bodice of her dress, which he could see, as her jacket was unbuttoned. Being in a carriage with Sophie was a double-edged sword. He smelled her scent and wanted her. Her body constantly brushed his, and Patrick was hard, aching to make love to her again.
“What is it you like to read?” she asked him suddenly.
“Books.”
“Which books?”
He shrugged. “The usual sort. They would bore you, I’m sure.”
She gave him a look that suddenly made him uncomfortable.
“Do you think I’m incapable of reading books?”
“Don’t use that snooty tone on me, Countess. I know you can read.” He wanted to laugh at her expression. In fact, she’d made him want to laugh more than he had in a long while.
“I rather enjoyed book ten ofThe Adventures of Reverend Potter.”
“Did you now? I’ve not read that,” he lied.
