Page 106 of Barbarous

Hugh winced.

Her stern expression melted slowly into one of her serious smiles. “But not on our wedding day.” She sighed. “I am very glad it is behind us. I will be even happier when we can return to Lessing Hall. I’ve had quite enough of my first Season.”

“What?” Hugh demanded in mock surprise. “How can you wish to leave the scene of your greatest triumph? Haven’t you read the papers, my love? You managed to snap up the King’s Privateer, by God! The man every matchmaking mamma called the Catch of the Season. No, wait—” He paused and pensively stroked his chin. “I believe I was actually called the Catch of the Decade in several newspapers.”

“Yes, I read that article—it was right beneath the one about a man from Newington Butts who claims to have created a perpetual motion machine.”

Hugh paused, arrested. “And did he?”

Daphne rolled her eyes.

Hugh continued, undaunted. “You can’t wish to leave London so soon. Don’t you want to flaunt me before all your competitors and gloat while they gnash their teeth in frustrated anguish?”

She stifled a giant yawn with one white-gloved hand.

Hugh threw back his head and laughed. “You are demolishing my self-esteem,” he accused, pulling her onto his lap and attempting to peer down the bodice of her pretty blue gown. “Why is it that I have the strongest urge to wreck another of your garments, Lady Ramsay?” He leaned low to lick the top of one breast. He could not seem to get close enough to her; the urge to be wrapped around her body and inside her was all consuming. She giggled at his nuzzling and Hugh pulled back in shock.

“Did my scholarly wife just giggle?” He held her at arm’s length and stared in stunned surprise.

“Absolutely not.” She tipped her chin so he could continue his kissing of her neck. “I’ve never giggled in my life.”

“I should hope not,” he murmured, dragging his tongue across the hollow at the base of her throat before pausing at her collarbone, molding his lips over the delicate skin. “If there is to be any giggling done in this family, I believe I should be the one to do it. You have no experience in that area, while my giggling is legendary.” He slid a finger beneath her bodice and pulled it down so he could more easily explore with his tongue.

Daphne moaned and wiggled deeper into his lap.

“Good God!” he muttered as she ground against his aching organ. “I feel like I’ve already waited a lifetime. I fear I cannot wait until we get home,” Hugh confessed, reaching for the hem of her gown and running his hand up one leg as he pushed her bodice down further.

“We are less than two minutes from home,” she murmured, her words utterly lacking in conviction.

“Too long.”

“Mmm,” she breathed, her hand moving down his chest to his tight breeches, feeling the truth of what he said for herself. “I should say just long enough.”

“Lady Ramsay!”

Daphne gave a low chuckle. “I have not made love in a carriage before, my lord.” She traced the length of him while her other hand unfastened the buttons of his breeches.

“I know how much you enjoy research,” Hugh said hoarsely. He rapped on the roof and when the vent opened he shouted, “Once around the park!” He lowered his mouth to her rumpled bodice to resume his exploration. “Now, where was I?”

“Only once around the park, my lord?” Daphne nibbled at his earlobe and slid her hand around him.

“Twice around the park!” he bellowed, his voice cracking as her hand began to move.

This time he was positive he heard her giggle.