CHAPTER9
A DINNER AND CONVERSATION
Seven o’clock
“Do you have an extra wrapper I might wear?” Marian asked when she was aware of footsteps coming down the corridor.
David blinked several times. “Wrapper?” he repeated.
“A dressing robe? A banyan?” she clarified.
“Oh,” he said as he was suddenly up and out of the bed, unaware Marian watched him. Although she had seen the front of him naked earlier that evening, she hadn’t seen his backside. From her vantage in the bed, she studied how his muscles moved beneath his skin, how his thighs and calves worked. A pleasant tremor passed beneath her skin, and she marveled at the thought she might experience such a sensation every time she saw him unclothed.
He disappeared through a door in the corner and emerged with a silk dressing robe. “Like this?”
A firm knock sounded at the main door to the bedchamber. “I’ll get it,” he said as he pulled the robe on and Marian dived under the covers.
“Your dinner, sir,” Glover said as he held a tray laden with two covered plates, various utensils, a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“Ah, right over here in front of the fireplace,” David said, waving to where the tea service was still set up. “You can take that, but leave the biscuits if you would.”
“Of course, sir. Will there be anything else?” The butler kept his attention on his master, deliberately ignoring the lump in the bed.
“Breakfast in the morning,” David stated. “Eight o’clock. Do bring a cup of chocolate and... make sure the driver is ready to depart by nine. We’ll be going shopping before we head back to the Soho Club.”
“About that, sir...” Glover started to say.
“What is it?” David asked, noting the servant’s curious expression.
“A footman arrived from there a few minutes ago. Something about Miss Copper having gone missing? I had him wait in the front salon.”
David blinked. “Miss Copper isn’t missing,” he replied. “Nor is she Miss Copper any longer,” he added, feeling emboldened. “She is Lady Engleston.”
“Yes, sir.” Glover looked uncertain for a moment. “Should I send the footman with any other message?”
Sighing, David considered how to respond. “If the Earl of Penhurst is interested in being a witness, we’ll have a formal wedding ceremony at the Soho Club at eleven in the morning. Then we’ll be off on our wedding trip the day after,” he said, deciding he rather liked the hastily made plan. It would allow him to take Marian to his house in the country.
“Have a footman sent to Penhurst Place with the message that Lady Engleston’s maid is to pack a trunk or two and be ready to join us for the trip,” he added, rather enjoying the growing look of shock Glover was displaying. “Oh, and have the Soho Club footman tell Lord Penhurst I expect Lady Engleston’s dowry to be deposited into my account at Barclay’s within the week. I need to set up a generous settlement for her and our children when I next see my solicitor.”
Glover listened intently before he gave a nod. “Yes, sir. Very good, sir.”
The butler took his leave and David shut the door. He turned to discover Marian sitting up in the bed, the linens pulled up to hide her nakedness. The knot atop her head, which had been smooth and in perfect condition upon their arrival earlier that afternoon, was now a messy bun that somehow made her even more beautiful than he remembered.
“Lady Engleston?” she said in a teasing voice. “I thought your butler was going to faint.”
“He’s your butler, too,” David said as he moved to the edge of the bed. “My baroness.”
Marian sat up straighter, one of her hands going to her hair before she winced. “I’m quite sure I must look a fright.”
“You’re gorgeous like that,” he said, smiling.
Marian displayed an expression of disbelief before she slowly grinned. “Says the man who has decided he likes making love and wishes to do it again?” she guessed.
He nodded. “I’ll not deny it, but I do require sustenance. I’m starving,” he claimed. “Will you join me for dinner?” he asked, waving to the tray of plates.
“Do you have an extra robe?”
His eyes widened. “Oh. Yes. Yes, I believe I do,” he said as he once again disappeared into the dressing room. He emerged with a heavy velvet banyan and helped her into it.
