“Yes, she can be. I can.”
Leaning against the side of the bed, he cradled her smoothing her back, fingering the silky satin of her wrinkled dress.
“Daniel, I’m sorry. I hit you pretty hard with that candlestick.”
He rubbed the lump at the top his head. “So you did hit me? We should stick with kisses. Yes, I think kisses.”
She pushed a little from his chest, then melted against him.
“For all the reasons I wanted us to marry before, you know we must wed now.”
“Daniel, let’s talk of this tomorrow when you are better.”
“Between Lady Bodonel and Lady Lavinia’s forked tongue, your reputation will be in tatters. Blessedly from what I can remember, you’ve been compromised at least once tonight. And now you’re in my bedchamber and our chaperone is asleep, this has to be a second compromise.”
“I’m not concerned about my reputation.”
“That’s obvious, but fret about mine. Rumors circulated about all these attempts at seduction, and still I fail. The fellows will tease me mercilessly at vingt-et-un. Not good, ma’am.”
She chuckled. He loved her loud laugh.
“My ego, Jemina. It alone demands that you be ravished and pleasure sated by now.”
“Daniel, you’re making light of tonight. I know what they tried to do to you. It has to be my fault.”
He didn’t want to think of it or how everything might have been ruined if Jemina hadn’t rescued him. He reached up and traced her nose, connected the dots between the freckles on her cheek. “You. You made the storms go away. That tells me I’m lucky.”
“Willingham struck you because of me. My fault. I made you vulnerable.”
“Well, there’s one thing that is your fault. I can’t stop thinking of you. My daughter can’t stop chattering about you.” He sought her face, “I trust you with all of me. Here’s my secret. I don’t want to go on without you.”
“You need to sleep, Daniel.”
“My child calls you her mother. Only my wife can be Hope’s mother. She wants you. I want you. Can you want us, too?”
“You don’t think I’m too reckless?”
“Yes, you are, but I need you. I need you here with Hope and Max snuggled in my bed.”
“I had decided to say yes. That’s why I hunted for you. I spent two years in Bedlam. After this night, at least half the town will think I need to be admitted.”
“The Duke of Repington found his wife there. Bedlam must be where all the good women are.”
“Be serious, Daniel.”
“I am. You saved me. You made sure I was safe. You made sure Hope was too. There’s no better woman to trust.”
“Hope’s nightmares are almost as bad as mine.”
“But look at how she’s sleeping knowing we are both around.”
Jemina raised up and looked at the mattress and covered Hope’s feet. “Do you want your lone pillow?”
“No. I want you to return to your original yes. If we are both off the marriage mart, London will be safer. The lunatic practices will have to die down.”
“Daniel, what if I willfully participated in my late husband’s deeds. What if I’m guilty?”
“Forget him.”
