Light slipped against the shadows in a mystical effect, just as gently as his fingers slipped against her contours. “Please.” One word that seemed to set the room ablaze.
Unable to deny her, he lowered himself to the sofa and pulled her down with him. His mouth met hers, so full of love for this extraordinary woman who’d brought joy back into his life. He would give her the world if he could and he would cherish every second they’d been granted with each other. With profound reverence, he reached for the delicate curve of her ankle, the intimate touch tormenting him with its divinity. “Beauty, you tempt me beyond compare.”
Saying nothing, she trailed her fingers along his arm, mirroring his touch as he worshipped all that she encompassed. A sigh of complete and utter pleasure escaped into the darkness while soft light from the lantern spilled across her face.
The temptation to lay her down on the sofa and claim her completely was greater than anything else that Richard had ever experienced. Squeezing his eyes shut, he took a fortifying breath and set his mind to less amorous thoughts, like the memory of his body on the cold hard ground in Belgium as he studied his enemy from a distance—waiting, assessing and planning his next move.
“Are you all right?” Mary’s voice broke through his thoughts, returning him to the present.
Opening his eyes, he glanced down at her, noting the look of concern in her eyes and instantly hating himself for having caused it. “Of course.” Leaning forward, he placed a tender kiss upon her lips. “You are everything that I have ever dreamed of, Mary. A truly magnificent woman.”
“And you are...” She bit her lip but was unable to mask the smile that threatened.
Her expression was so adorable that Richard couldn’t help but smile as well. “The luckiest man in the world,” he told her sincerely.
“I was going to say extremely talented, but—”
His laughter interrupted her and then he kissed her again before easing her off his lap and helping her to her feet. “Just wait until you see what else I have in store for you,” he teased.
She gave him a pert look while smoothing the skirt of her gown. “Your modesty astounds me.”
Reaching out, he grabbed her by the waist and, lowering his head, he whispered in her ear, “Modesty has no place in the bedchamber, Mary.”
He felt her shiver slightly in response to his bold remark, but rather than shy away, she said, “Then it is fortunate that we are not in a bedchamber, Sir.”
Grinning, he pressed his face into her shoulder while holding her close in his arms. “You kill me, Mary. Do you know that?”
He felt her breaths slow a fraction. Her arms found their way around him in a close embrace. “And you undo me,” she whispered, her words filled with raw emotion. They trickled through him, settling deep within his heart. Whatever he told her now, it would not be enough, and so he said nothing at all.
“Should we tell Lady Duncaster about what we have found tomorrow?” Mary asked as they made their way back upstairs a short while later.
“Yes. I think she deserves to know. Don’t you agree?”
“Certainly.” Arriving in the interior courtyard, they fell silent until Mary quietly asked, “And what of the special license that you mentioned?”
“I have sent a request. If all goes well, it ought to arrive within a couple of days.”
“We should probably warn your mother and my aunt.”
He winced. “That will not be an easy conversation.” In fact, he dreaded it already.
“No, but we will get through it together, and then—”
“Then we will be married.” A wonderful prospect.
They parted ways at the top of the stairs with Richard offering Mary a swift kiss on the cheek. Returning to his bedchamber, he applauded himself for his control. It had been a struggle for him to refrain from taking more than what he had. Recalling the look of pleasure upon her face as he’d held her in his arms, he felt his pulse quicken. He needed a drink. Hell, he neededher! Clearly that special license could not arrive soon enough.
“Here is another option for you to consider,” Lady Oakland said as she handed Mary what had to be the hundredth fashion plate. “The gown will take at least two weeks to complete so it is imperative that you make your decision today so there can also be time for a fitting.”
Seated to her right, Richard said nothing as he turned the page of his newspaper. He was almost completely hidden away behind it, leaving Mary with the trying task of dealing with his overexcited mother and siblings. Annoying man. Which was probably why she couldn’t help herself from saying, “While I truly appreciate your suggestions, Lady Oakland, there is a very good chance that I will not be requiring a new gown.”
Lady Oakland’s eyes widened with apparent dismay, as did her daughters’. Beside Mary, Richard stilled. Clearly he had not been so engrossed in his paper as to miss out on the conversation. “What on earth do you mean?” Lady Oakland asked. “Of course you must have a new gown for your wedding. It is certainly not an expense that Richard would be unwilling to spend. Is it, Richard?”
“Not at all, Mama,” Richard said, lowering his paper.
“Then it is settled,” Lady Oakland declared.
Turning to Richard, Mary gave him a beseeching look. His mouth tightened a little around the corners but then he reached for Mary’s hand and nodded before addressing his mother. “If I may make a suggestion, I think it might be wise to postpone any further wedding preparations until we are sure that there will in fact be a wedding.”
