She ignored him and went on. “I became so miserable, thinking you hated me, that I might never again see you, speak to you, kiss you, and you did seem rather displeased when I told you of my betrothal—”
“That’s putting it mildly,” he muttered, even as he hung on her every word.
“And I thought, perhaps…” She swallowed, and pressed her lips shut.
“Perhaps?” he prodded.
She ducked her head and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Perhaps, if I found a way to purchase my father’s vowels back, and somehow found a way to silence Mr. Mealy, and then proved to you that I wasn’t trying to entrap you, well…” She huffed out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Go on,” he whispered, his heart slamming his ribs.
“You might realize…” A shiver went through her, transmitting itself through her hands to his, and to his great distress, her voice began to warble. “That you might consider marrying me, for real this time.” She shook her head. “Never mind. It sounds silly now, saying it aloud.”
Far from silly, it sounded glorious. Exactly right. “As it happens, as I’ve already tried to tell you, youaremy wife, Lady Arlington.”
Her head popped up. “Teddy, I already told you—”
“Yes I know. The paper you showed me from our so-called Gretna Green adventure was fake. But the one your butler, Mr. Danvers, handed to me prior to my journey to London was not.”
With reluctance, he released one of her hands to delve into his inner pocket, the one closest to his heart, to withdraw the folded, sealed, very official license, attesting to their marriage. “Have a look, Lady Arlington.”
She snatched the paper, eliciting a snort of humor from him. Then, another emotion entirely welled-up inside him, watching her scan the paper while her hands shook.
Pressing the paper to her heart, she looked up at him. “Is this truly what you wish? You will not blame me in future years, for entrapping you?”
He sent her a cocksure grin. “I’m content with my choice. So you see, you have nothing to fear from Mealy.Iwill see to it that he understands.” With pleasure. “But now, if you do not mind, I must consult with the Black Widow.”
“But there’s still so much for us to discuss, not to mention, you meanwemust meet Mrs.—”
He placed two fingers over her soft, eminently kissable lips. “No, darling. Not this time. You’ve been taking care of me. It’s time to let your husband manage a few things and take care of you, hm?”
An hour later,led by one of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s female attendants garbed in a far better fitting male suit than the one his wife had donned, Teddy proceeded through a maze of winding corridors to an exit opening to the alley. Outside, dull gray skies and a blustery breeze carrying a fine mist greeted him. A quick scan revealed his waiting carriage, which, with any luck, still held his wife.
He had asked her to wait for him. But then, he’d also asked her never to visit the gambling den again.
Striding forward, he waved a hand to the groom sitting atop the box to indicate he need not place the step. “Number 37 Rally Street,” he ordered for the second time today, then opened the carriage door and peered inside. Relief flooded him at the sight of his wife. Hiswife.
“Teddy, at last,” she exclaimed practically vibrating atop her perch on the center of the bench.
He studied her a long moment. For some reason, she had yet to remove the beaver hat he’d dragged her out of the den wearing. That would never do.
He vaulted inside, pulling the door closed behind him, and dropped onto the bench beside Georgina, drinking in the sight of her in the golden glow of the low burning carriage lamps.
“What took you so long? I thought you’d never return,” she complained as the carriage lurched into motion.
For some perverse reason, her distress over his absence pleased him immensely.
“I beg your pardon,sir. Say, you wouldn’t happen to have seen my wife, would you?” Not waiting for her reply, he grasped the brim of the hat and flicked it to the bench.
Her lustrous mane of dark curls spilled free, and the subtle fragrance of rose petals scented the air. “Ah. There she is. Good afternoon, madam wife.” He would never tire of calling her thusly, he decided.
She licked her enticing lips, sending a coil of heat through him. Good Lord, the woman’s effect on him increased by leaps and bounds, daily. He supposed there were worse fates.
“Are you going to tell me what you discussed with Mrs. Dove-Lyon? In truth, Teddy, I don’t understand what you hoped to accomplish. She has not allowed my father into her establishment for months, and already confirmed she cannot help retrieve his vowels—”
He held up a hand, palm out. With his other hand, he loosened the cravat he wore. “That is nothing for you to concern yourself with, darling. But there is something I wish to discuss.”
Wariness filled her eyes. “Such as?”
