Page 71 of A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love

She laughed softly, and did not censure his eagerness. “I am not. Though people certainly will talk. You still lack patience, Colonel Halstead.”

“I will learn it for you. After we have wed. I promise.”

The joy in her eyes erased any concern he felt over rushing the whole thing. They had lived together for nearly two months, butting heads almost daily about Daphne’s freedoms, agreeing and disagreeing on thousands of things, and he did not want to spend many more days unable to kiss her after a disagreement, afternoons without her seated by him at these infernal visits, evenings without her by his side at balls, nights without her curled up beside him. Not when they were both so in love. Not when they could easily remove the barriers to such intimacies through a single act.

“We cannot go to the theater,” Felicity said quietly, bringing him out of his excitable thoughts. “So if you are not averse to it, I would like to sit with you in the library.”

He arched a brow. “The library? You seemed little impressed with it when I showed it to you last.”

“There is a new settee,” she said, lips curving slightly. “I ordered it directly after you showed me the room—on your account, I’m afraid.”

Edward couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Of course you did. Daphne helped me order shelves and shelves’ worth of books.”

“She does enjoy reading.” Felicity smiled, looping her arm through his. “Will you lead the way, Colonel?”

“I will, Captain,” he teased, the title he had suggested giving her from the early days of their acquaintance making them both grin like young fools.

In short order he had the library warm with lamplight, the fire burning low in the hearth. As she had said, a new settee had been placed near the bookshelves, its fabric a rich navy, its cushions plush and inviting. Not masculine as his study was, not feminine like the fripperies of a teahouse. Something their own.

Edward grinned as he took it in. “You intend to fill my cold, empty home the way you filled my cold and empty heart?”

“Indeed. I do.” Without hesitation Felicity sat, curling her legs up beside her, settling comfortably as if this were already her home.

And really, it was.

Edward watched her, something deep and profound settling in his chest. She was his home, now; she was already an essential part of his life. She had been since the moment she walked into it.

Felicity suddenly laughed, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

He arched a brow, amused. “What is so funny?”

She looked up at him, eyes glinting with mischief. “Mrs. Norman,” she revealed, grinning. “Rose, she has given me leave to call her.”

Edward came closer to the settee. “What about her?”

“She suspected something between us, ever since the picnic in Hyde Park,” Felicity admitted, leaning back against the cushions. “And I very much hope she will come to the wedding.” She held her hand out to him and he took it. Their hands, intertwined; as their lives had been, and now always would remain.

Edward’s chest warmed. “So do I,” he murmured, settling beside her.

And as the fire crackled, as Felicity leaned against him, he knew: this was where she belonged. With him. Now.

Always.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Felicity had never been nervous about many things in her life. She had stood firm against Society’s judgments, helped her brother raise Daphne with unyielding devotion, riled against her own brother’s will when it came to her niece’s choice of guardian, and challenged Edward Halstead at every turn without a second thought.

And yet, this morning, she was nervous.

She sat at the breakfast table, hands clasped in her lap, willing herself to feel at ease. She was engaged. Engaged. Engaged to be married.

It should not feel so strange to say it, to think it, but it was. Even as happiness bubbled up inside of her, it was all so new.

Edward was sitting at the head of the table, immediately to her left, spreading butter onto his toast with his usual military efficiency, as if nothing monumental had happened between them the night before. But something had…and now they had to tell Daphne.

Felicity inhaled slowly, reaching for her teacup. “Do you think she will be happy for me? For us?”

Edward glanced up at her, brow slightly furrowed, as if confused by the question.