Therefore, he hated to draw a thundercloud over his sunny lady, but he had to tell her.
“We have to go home.” It had been a week since the wedding day in St. Peter’s Church, Caversham. Each day after, she’d come up with something they had to do for the house before they left, a task which couldn’t wait.
But his life in London could no longer wait. For while he was not yet in charge of the Diamond estate, he had his own home to run, a sizable portfolio of investments to keep an eye upon, and certain chores his father had designated regarding all theirholdings from the time he gained the age of eighteen. And he had been away longer than he’d planned.
Naturally, his parents would be delighted when he returned with a clever, beautiful wife, and therefore, neglecting some of the family responsibilities would undoubtedly be forgiven.
“We leave tomorrow,” he said, hating to sound as if he were in charge of her and hoping she didn’t serve him a dish of nails in response.
“Tomorrow?” Her voice rose. “So soon.”
He chuckled. “Alice, please don’t fight me. You know I had to return.”
“Perhaps I should stay here and join you later, after...”
“After?” he asked when she didn’t finish. Not that he cared about her answer, for he had no intention of leaving without her. Skittish woman that she was, he knew he could be old and gray and still waiting.
“I understand your nervousness about meeting my family, but they will love you.”
“You probably should write to them first,” she suggested. “We’ll post a letter in another week or so, and when we’re assured of its receipt, we shall go to London.”
“You are a minx.” He drew her close and kissed her soundly. That always got her to bend to his wishes or at least let him take her to bed. “I have already sent word. But you can write a letter introducing yourself if you wish while we’re on the train, and I’ll send it to their house by courier when we get home.”
“That’s hardly the same,” she said, putting her arms around him and returning the kiss.
“Alice, we must leave tomorrow.” He still wanted to have a private word with Mrs. Georgie and with Henry, but then his task there was finished for the time being. “Do you hear me,Wife?”
Her cheeks pinkened whenever he said the word.
“Very well,Husband.”
And his shaft hardened whenever he heard that one. This married life was better than he could have imagined.
Alice was on tenterhooksfrom the moment they got on the London-bound train at Reading Station, across from The Great Western Hotel. An hour later, pulling into Paddington Station, her insides had turned to quivering jelly.
“You have come over all pale,” Adam said. “I promise, we’ll just go to my...ourhome and get you established as its mistress. When you’re comfortable —”
“In a few years,” she joked.
“Yes,” he agreed with hesitation, “in a few years, we’ll venture out of our den and visit my parents. Speaking of which, will you write to yours and tell them you have a new husband?”
“I suppose I ought to, although they didn’t particularly like my old one, not once they got to know him.”
Instead of making him jealous, he laughed. She relaxed. Adam Diamond was a diamond of the first water as much as any female. It must come from being the middle child, the only boy, the heir, having good looks, and being entirely self-assured.
And he loved her!
Because of that, Alice tried her best to shed her worries and leave them in the plush interior of their first-class carriage at Paddington Station. After a hansom cab ride of twenty minutes, Adam led her into her new home.
The three-story brick façade that greeted her was in the most desirable situation facing Green Park. The entry gave way to amarble foyer with a staircase to the right and a door beside it, as well as double doors on the other side of the hall.
“Wife, this is our extremely capable butler, Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis, this is Lady Diamond, my wife. I am going to give her a brief tour and get out of our dusty traveling clothes.”
They went upstairs, leaving the butler with his lifted eyebrows after such a brief introduction.
“Mr. Lewis will get the footman to handle our trunks,” Adam promised and tossed open a door to an impeccable drawing room of manly burgundy and gray decor.
“Anything you don’t like about any part of the house, you may change. I want you to make it yours.”
