She nodded. “I do. Another time, if she grants permission, I will tell you what happened to her, and I shall explain what I said on the day of our wedding that might have given her the wrong impression.” A soft chuckle escaped her throat. “I was not particularly complimentary.”
“Ah… and I’ve nay doubt I deserved whatever ye said,” he replied, his hand cradling her cheek. “But did ye have to tell her to ride in the carriage with ye? Could ye not have asked her to ride on the bench with the driver?”
Anna grinned. “I suppose that does scupper our plans somewhat.”
“Nay matter,” he said with a dramatic sigh. “I’ll just have to rely on the anticipation instead.”
“Anticipation?”
He nodded and leaned in, close to her ear. “All the way back to Stonebridge, I want ye to think about me mouth on ye, me tongue tasting ye, me kiss exploring every inch of ye, me fingers sliding inside ye… and how ye’ll gasp when I ease inside ye for the first time. How ye’ll buck and writhe and tilt yer hips, eager for more.”
A flush of heat and want rushed through Anna’s veins, her breath catching as she gripped her husband’s arms, already imagining it. “That was unkind.”
“Nay, love,thatis anticipation,” he replied with a smile. “Now, come on, let’s get ye home before ye explode.”
He dipped his head and kissed her, slow and teasing, completely fueling the desire that throbbed through her body. She kissed him back just as lightly, unbothered by the fact that they were on a street outside a jail, in plain sight of anyone passing by.
“Then perhaps I shall make you wait until tomorrow.”
He growled in the back of his throat. “Now,thatwould be very unkind.”
She chuckled as she pulled back, admiring his handsome face. “I love you.”
“As I love ye,” he replied, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “More than ye know.”
With a contented sigh, he guided her toward the carriage door and opened it for her, giving her a sly smile as he helped her inside, his hand lingering for a moment on the small of her back... and along the soft curve of her hips. A promise of the wedding night still to come.
“I’ll see ye when we get home,” he told her.
She turned back and nodded. “When we get home. Toourhome.”
Her heart had been crushed when he had arrived at her sanctuary of Stonebridge, threatening to take everything she cherished, disturb the balance of the place she loved so deeply. She couldn’t have known then what she knows now: that his arrival was a gift, not a curse, and one that would last a lifetime.
CHAPTER 35
It was long past midnight by the time the carriage came to a standstill outside the familiar walls of Stonebridge Manor, yet Anna couldn’t have been further away from sleepy if she had tried. Katherine had dozed off some time ago, and in that quiet, Anna had daydreamed of Jeremy’s parting temptations.
Her heart jumped as the carriage door opened to reveal the very man she’d been daydreaming about. With a half-smile, Jeremy offered his hand to help her down.
“We’re home,” he said quietly.
Anna swallowed. “We are.”
At that moment, Katherine stepped out onto the gravel, rubbing her tired eyes. “Do you want tea, Your Grace?” she asked, immediately slipping back into her usual habits. “Shall I have a bath drawn for you?”
Anna cast a conspiratorial glance at her husband. “Yes, I think a bath would be rather nice.”
“I’ll see to it at once,” Katherine replied, yawning as she shambled on ahead of the couple.
“So, yearegoing to make me wait?” Jeremy whispered, his hand still holding hers. “What a cruel lass ye are.”
She stifled a laugh. “I mean to wash away the long journey.” She withdrew her hand from his and wandered toward the steps, turning back over her shoulder. “But you may join me, if you feel so inclined?”
“Need ye ask?” he replied, as he caught up and put his arm around her, steering her up the steps and into the entrance hall.
They were halfway to the stairs and the promise of privacy and a hot bath, when a voice croaked from the chaise-longue by the window, “Ye came back.”
Anna startled in Jeremy’s embrace, half-shocked by the unexpected sound, half-shocked by the dire sight before her. Beatrice sat slumped on the chaise, wearing her nightdress, her hair loose and unkempt, a dark curtain; her face pale and drawn, while her eyes were ringed with red.
