Camelia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s a wonderful idea, Your Grace. Pamela, now you can tell him about the chestnut stallion you mentioned. He sounds quite spirited!”
“Spirited like you?”
Camelia rolled her eyes. “Don’t be fooled. No one is as spirited as I!”
“Don’t get too smug now. This doesn’t mean I’m softening towards your ways,” Raph warned as he pulled on his coat.
He was far from softening where she was concerned. Whenever she was around, his body would ache wildly for her.
Camelia’s lips twitched as if she knew what she was doing to him. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Your Grace. I’ll leave you two to it then.”
She turned to leave, but stopped in her tracks when Raph spoke, “You will accompany us, Camelia. And do keep up.” He turned to Pamela. “Do you know the way to the stables?”
“Yes!” Pamela gushed.
“Then you may lead the way.”
Pamela nodded, her smile bright as she began to lead them. When they moved towards the gardens, Camelia spoke softly to her, probably believing that Raph couldn’t hear her.
“See, Pamela? He’s reasonable when you ask the right way. We’ll have you riding in no time.”
Raph held back a chuckle.
As they entered the stables, Camelia went to sashay past him, but he grabbed her arm mid-step and whispered in her ear, “Little flower, you’re treading close to another lesson.”
Camelia blushed, but she held his gaze steadily. “I’ll take my chances, Your Grace,” she quipped.
He bit the inside of his cheek as she smiled sweetly at him.
“You should consider teaching Pamela yourself, it might be good for the two of you.” Her arm felt hot under his palm.
“Pray, do tell howhorse ridingwould be good for us?” His tone dripped with sarcasm.
“Well, for one, you’d get to spend time with your daughter,” she replied coolly. Her words felt like tightly coiled slap.
Camelia shook his hand off of her and left him with his troubled thoughts.
“Are you coming, Father?” Pamela called from the stable.
Raph felt a strange tug in his heart. “Yes, Pamela. Let us choose your horse.”
CHAPTER 24
Raph sat at the head of the breakfast table while Pamela nibbled on her toast quietly, her eyes brighter than he had seen them in months. As for Camelia, she was distracting in her soft lavender gown, sipping her tea, her eyes meeting his with that rebellious look that set his blood on fire.
The memory of her touch, her moans, and her pleas never failed to make his pulse quicken.
“Pamela, Camelia,” Raph called roughly, “I’ve arranged a carriage for you both to visit the seamstress today. You’ll need a gown for the ball, and Pamela needs a dress for her birthday.”
“Are you not escorting us, Your Grace?” Camelia asked with a frown.
“No, I will be busy with my duties. I trust you two to return safely.”
They exchanged surprised looks.
“Thank you, Father. I am truly excited and grateful,” Pamela said politely.
“The Duchess is the one you should thank, Pamela. This outing was her idea, after all.”
