Fairclough was a fool. Adam had been with mistresses, and none compared to the satisfaction he found with Alice.
“If you have your regular monthly courses, then the problem was probably with him.” He shrugged at her querying look. “Four sisters,” he reminded her. “But as I said, it doesn’t matter.”
She closed her eyes, and he held his breath, awaiting her answer. Finally, she squeezed his hand.
“If you truly mean what you say, then I am deeply relieved. You have caused most of my misgivings to vanish.”
Adam squeezed her hand in return. “Then you agree, we shall wed?”
“Lord Diamond, you are an incredible man. I can only hope I am worthy of your confidence.”
He decided to strike while the branding iron was scalding hot.
“In order to travel back to London together, and to raise no questions about how we’ve ...um... kept company these past weeks,” he said, “would you be averse to marrying here, now?”
“I am not bothered where or when,” Alice said. “However, your family may feel cheated.”
“My parents have already enjoyed my older sisters’ two extravagant weddings and expect two more. They won’t mind missing one. Besides, they themselves eloped to Gretna Green.”
“Did they?” Another look of astonishment.
He nodded, liking that wild and wicked fact about the Earl and Countess Diamond when he’d learned of it a few years before.
“What about a marriage contract and a dowry, which I don’t have, not to mention a house I cannot give you since this one legally must remain with me or my children?”
“Children,” he repeated. “Think of the fun we shall havetryingfor them.”
Despite still trying to lead him to Fiddlestick’s end and throw up opposition, she laughed.
“If you are in agreement, my lady, then I shall send word to the Bishop of Oxford and procure us a license.”
“You say that as if you know him personally,” Alice mused.
“When he was merely the Dean of Westminster, just before he was appointed bishop by Sir Peel, Wilberforce dined at my parents’ home, and I was in attendance. We got on very well despite my barely being twenty. We are lucky your home is in his diocese. He will allow us license to marry in your local parish church, and I shall pay for a feast for all of yourfriends. After that, I will take you home.”
“Home,” she repeated.
He detected the uncertainty in her voice. “I have a modest townhouse on Arlington Street.”
Her eyes widened. “There is nothing modest about the homes on that street.”
“Compared to my parents’ home on Piccadilly, I think of it as such. We shall settle in for a day, and then I will introduce you. They shall want to throw a party, of course. And you’ll meet all my sisters and my two brothers-in-law. Nice fellows. Did you know we have a country estate in Derby? Not quite as spiffy as yours, for it’s a little more crowded, both with people and chairs.”
“Don’t tease,” she said, pinching him through his shirt and coat.
“I won’t. After all, devoid as your house is of furnishings, I’ve spent the happiest time of my life right here with you.”
“And I, you,” she said. “The small bed helped bring us together.”
He laughed. “We should never have a bigger one.”
Chapter Sixteen
Adam had heard every jest and barb about getting leg-shackled, stuck in the parson’s mousetrap, priest-linked, yoked, andnoozed. He felt only delight that he had finally convinced Alice to become his wife.
If he had been among his randy friends in London, they would have said he would soon become like a butcher’s dog, lying beside something without touching it. An old saying that most certainly wouldn’t apply. Nor did he sleep like a cow with his back to his new bride. Another foolish saying.
He and Alice grinned whenever they glanced at one another, and they swived nearly as often as they grinned. Even he was getting sore.
