“She is like you,” Clarissa said.
“Aye, headstrong.”
“And healthy,” Clarissa had to add. “She is just perfect.”
He beamed his pride in his fatherhood, and then said, “The first night of our marriage wasn’t so bad, was it?”
It wasn’t. His bed was remarkably comfortable... and he had been well-behaved.
Instead of answering his comment, Clarissa said, nodding to his clothing, “Please don’t tell me Nelson has been in here while I slept.”
“Believe it or not, I can dress myself. I shaved myself as well.”
“I’m impressed. I didn’t realize earls were so resourceful.”
“This one is,” he answered, taking Dora back just as the baby gave a huge yawn. “We’ve been playing,” he explained. “Mrs. Rucker warned me she would tire out, but I think her color is very good, don’t you? She likes it here. Come, Dora, let us put you down for your nap.”
“Is it that late?”
“The morning’s half gone.” At the nursery door he stopped. “Do you ride?”
“Enough to stay on.” She’d only ridden cart horses and farm nags. Nothing like the stock in his stables.
“Good. I thought we would go for a picnic today after Dora’s nap. The staff is decidedly under the weather.” He made a drinking gesture with one hand to let her know what he meant. “A picnic will make it easy for everyone.”
“I’d like that.”
“Then dress,” he said as if it was decided and took Dora into the nursery.
Three hours later they were meandering their way across Belvoir’s fields. Mars wasn’t riding his huge horse. “He isn’t well-mannered enough for Dora,” he explained, indicating the baby he had cradled in a sling across his chest. “Although Bruno likes her. He smelled her all over.”
“You didn’t let that horse nibble on that child.”
Mars grinned. “He just had some snuffles. Bruno likes to snuffle people.”
Because he was the better rider, he had Dora. He carried the child in a sling across his chest. It was the sort of thing a farmer’s wife would wear. He wore it without embarrassment.
They couldn’t be out long because of Dora’s feeding schedule. Clarissa had insisted on bringing a sucking bottle just in case but they both agreed the services of the wet nurse would be better for their daughter.
Daughter. Another word that made Clarissa’s heart sing.
The day was lovely and bright. The summer sun warming without being terribly hot.
Mars led Clarissa down to a bank of the Three Thieves that ran along the boundary of his property. She spread out the contents of their picnic on an expanse of grass where they dined on good bread, cold beef, fruit, and a few of the sweets from their wedding breakfast.
It was companionable time. Dora was their go-between. She kept the atmosphere light, even when they discussed whether to take the baby with them to London the next day or not.
In the end, they both concluded it would be best for Dora to stay at Belvoir. Mars worried about the London air. Clarissa sensed the child had had enough of being passed around. She knew children were resilient and yet, considering they did not plan on being in London more than a week, she agreed it best to keep Dora at Belvoir.
It felt strange and comforting to have Marsask her opinion and to reach a consensus with him. He also kept a respectful distance from her without making a fuss about it. Instead, he acted more relaxed and natural around her than he ever had before. That didn’t mean he ignored her. His gaze would stray to her hair, her ankle, her breasts—but he, Lord Marsden, rakehell extraordinaire, kept all respectful.
And at some point in the conversation on this beautiful summer day, she wished he would kiss her. The thought rose in her unbidden. In truth, the kisses they’d shared were never far from her mind.
She looked over at him. They lay on a blanket with Dora between them. He held a long piece of grass and tickled the baby’s cheeks and neck. Dora tried to reach for it.
Mars caught Clarissa watching him. “What?” he asked.
Kiss me.She didn’t speak the words. Instead she said, “We have come a long way from when I fell into a mud puddle, ruining my lovely white dress, and you laughed at me.”
