“May I hold you? Whilst we sleep?”
She nodded, marveling at how natural it felt to have the front of his body pressed against her back, his knees bent and tucked into the back of hers. She was sure she could feel his pulse slow along with his breathing, and when she thought he had fallen asleep, she closed her eyes and sighed softly.
He lifted himself onto an elbow, leaned over, and kissed her cheek. “Good night, my love,” he whispered. “My future Mrs. Higby.”
Grinning, Catherine said, “Good night, dear.”
Saying such an endearment reminded her that not so long ago, she had never expected to say it to a man. Marriage had been out of the question for her. A roadblock to the plans she had for her future. In only a short time, Matthew Higby had managed to convince her not only of his regard for her, but that he would help in seeing to it her dream was realized.
Had she agreed to marry him too easily? Perhaps.
Could she believe all his promises?
The question lingered as she felt him settle back onto the mattress. When he wrapped an arm around her waist, a slight frisson reminded her that without him, she might never have had the experience of this evening. The experience of shared pleasure. Of intimacy.
Even if she changed her mind—or he did—she would have the memory of this night.
She relaxed into his hold and covered his hand with her own. A moment later, and she was sound asleep.
Chapter Twenty-One
Breakfast for Two
The following morning
Suffering a momentof disorientation, Catherine attempted to sit up in a bed that was not her own. She was prevented from doing so, though, by a man’s arm draped over her waist. Glancing to her right, she discovered the owner of said arm regarding her with a brilliant smile.
“Good morning, my lady,” he said, his face lit by sunlight that bled from around the edges of the navy velvet drapes.
Catherine had to suppress the urge to groan.How could he look so handsome this early in the morning?His hair, spiking off in all directions, along with the dimple that dented his lower right cheek, made him appear ten years younger than he had looked the night before—even if that same cheek was darkened by the shadow of a beard.
“I do hope this morning light is doing for me what it’s doing for you,” she said, adding a soft scoff. “How is it you can appear so… so refreshed?” Even as she asked the question, she realized her own body seemed somehow different this morning. Alive. All buzzy and sensitive and, yes, refreshed.
Apparently lovemaking was good for one’s body.
He barked a laugh. “It’s all because of you, my love,” he said, leaning over to kiss her on the lips. “And, yes, this light favors you, as it does your hair.”
Widening her eyes at remembering she had slept with her hair loose, she lifted a hand and ran it through the mass of curls. “I must look like Medusa,” she complained.
“Hardly,” he replied, chuckling again.
A knock sounded at the door, and Catherine inhaled sharply.
“It’s Chessings with our breakfast,” he said. “Come,” he called out.
Catherine sounded a yelp and dived under the covers, holding her breath as the servant apparently entered and set a tray on the bed.
“Chocolate for her ladyship and coffee for you,” she heard through the blankets. “Cook prepared a number of items, so hopefully Lady Wingfield will find something she prefers.”
Matthew responded, although his voice sounded too muffled for her to make out the words. She sensed movement but if any more words were being spoken, she couldn’t hear them. When she was sure the door had closed, she emerged from beneath the bed linens to see that breakfast had indeed been served. The bedchamber was also much lighter given that the drapes had been opened.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Matthew commented. He offered her the cup of chocolate, apparently unconcerned his servant had entered his bedchamber while she was completely naked.
The scent of hot chocolate had her swallowing the urge to complain.
“Chocolate,” she said with appreciation, bringing the cup to her lips. She took a sip and closed her eyes. “This is so delicious.”
“Glad you like it. You can have it every morning, if you’d like.”
