She had been perfect, as had been their lovemaking. In fact, there was no one more perfect for him than her.
But this was only a temporary situation, and he would need to remember that fact. She had no wish to ever marry, and he did need an heir.
Disappointment swept through him. Octavia would be perfect. She was mature, honest, intelligent and knew what she wanted. Had he not needed an heir, he may have considered finding a way to break her tenth rule and allow love so that she’d agree to wed once again.
He also would give anything to remain here the entire night and not need to leave.
Oddly, he had never wished to linger in the past. Of course, he’d never held a woman through the night until last night and he really liked it.
Though tired from not having slept, he was also calm, relaxed and at peace.
Octavia’s head was on his chest as it had been before and her body grew heavier, relaxed as she drifted deeper into slumber.
The ball did not end until the early morning hours. Even though Octavia had taken her leave before it was over, it had still been after midnight. Angelo had waited another hour and then made his way to her home, under the cloak of darkness. There, he stood in the shadows on the back lawn and waited for all lights to be extinguished except hers. He assumed that none were on at the front of the house because he could not check without the risk of being seen.
As a result of their late hours, the sun would be up soon. Angelo hated to leave her, but he must.
Slowly he disengaged from her and left the bed. She pulled the coverlet over her shoulder but did not wake. As he dressed, Angelo watched Octavia in her sleep. He then crossed the chamber and gently touched Octavia’s bare shoulder.
She mumbled and buried her face in her pillow, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Octavia, wake up,” he whispered.
She pulled the coverlet higher.
“Octavia, I need you to wake,” he said a little louder as he gently shook her shoulder.
She finally rolled over. “What?” she said without opening her eyes.
“You should dress.”
She slowly opened her eyes and then smiled. “Angelo?”
“Yes, it is me,” he said. “Now sit up.”
“Why?”
She was half asleep and Angelo knew that he was going to need to dress her, but he was also running out of time.
“You need to put your night rail back on.”
“Why?”
“Do you want your maid to find you naked in your bed?”
This seemed to wake her just a little more and enough to be more cooperative. He picked up the material and put it over her head and then her arms into the sleeves.
“Thank you,” she said, eyes heavy with sleep.
Angelo kissed her forehead. “Sleep well, Octavia. I will see you later today.”
She sighed and hugged her pillow. He was certain that she was sound asleep again before he ever left her chamber.
Chapter 20
As was her habit, Octavia arrived at her brother’s home to supervise her sisters and their many callers.
She looked on with detached amusement, her mind more on the night before. A part of her believed that it had all been imagined, a vivid dream, but how could she have conjured what she hadn’t even known was possible, such as the kisses that had not been on her lips.
