Annis nodded, kneading the handkerchief. “Is it so obvious?”
“Only to me. I was madly in love with the duke, too, before we were married. I was deathly afraid he was going to break my heart. Fortunately, he realized eventually that he also loved me, and everything was wonderful. My dear, Robert tells me Emrys is mad for you. What is distressing you so?”
“He loves his wife—it’s been too soon, I—”
“It is quick I grant you; I was surprised. But there is perhaps something you don’t know. Caroline betrayed him before she was killed. The children don’t know, of course, and we tried to hush up it after that unfortunate misunderstanding than led to Robert punching him in the eye. Particularly after she was killed so tragically. She broke his heart, poor lamb.”
Annis’s heart contracted.Why hadn’t he told her?“I didn’t know.”
“Well, there. So, you see it is perhaps not so surprising that he has fallen in love with you—”
“Oh, but he hasn’t! It’s all physical!” She flushed scarlet. “And being a gentleman and wanting to protect me and give the children a suitable mother. They’re fond of me, you see, and I of them. He has never pretended that he loves me, though.”
The duchess regarded her for a moment in silence. Then she patted her hands and squeezed them. “Give it time. One look at you in this gown and I expect he will lose his head entirely. With gentlemen the physical attraction often comes first.” She glanced at Annis sideways. “He’s not the handsomest of men. Are you attracted to him?”
Annis closed her eyes and whispered. “Oh, yes.” She swallowed. “His clothes don’t do him justice.”
Sarah blinked, flushing faintly. “I think, my dear, that might be a shade too much information. But I am glad you find him attractive, for that really is essential in building a lasting bond.”
The duchess then organized for her to have another bath and for her hair to be dressed by her own maid. She was dressed in the hastily refitted gown with all the accoutrements and led to the chapel by the waiting duke, where she found her soon-to-be stepdaughters had been pressed into service as flower girls. The whole household, including most of the servants, had turned out to witness her nuptials, and Annis had to fight tears all the way down the chapel’s short aisle to the point where the duke left her beside Emrys and took up his other role as Emrys’s groomsman.
Emrys was wearing that black silk evening jacket and breeches, for once his neckcloth was tied with precision, and his too long hair was confined with a black ribbon. He had shaved too. He looked quite resplendent, and to Annis’s partial eyes, as handsome as any man could be.
Emrys’s gaze widened at sight of her, and he flushed faintly as his eyes took in her gown and it’s low-cut, narrow bodice that threatened to spill her breasts free for all to see. She wore the pearls and the chain with her father’s ring which nestled it in the space between her breasts. When he took her hands, he murmured, “You look beautiful,” in a tone that made her blush.
She said breathlessly back, “Black suits you, my lord.”
The ceremony was short, and the whole thing passed in a blur for Annis. After signing the parish register, the party decamped to the ballroom, where tables had been set out for the whole household to eat, including the children and servants.
*
The duchess hadgiven them the rose suite for their wedding night and had all their belongings moved there. From the moment Emrys clapped eyes on Annis in that dress he’d been in a fever to get her alone. It seemed like hours before he was able to sweep her off upstairs and into their rooms.
Closing the door on the world, he set her on her feet and turned her in his embrace, staring down at her exposed bosom with hungry eyes. “At last! Do youknowhow delectable you look in that gown?” he asked hoarsely.
“About as delectable as you look in that suit,” she said softly with a delicate blush.
He groaned, “Annis! There is no comparison!”
“Well, it’s all the duchess’s fault! I would never have chosen anything so—so brazen. I feel half dressed!” she said with an exasperated smile.
“It is very different from your normally staid dresses. I think that is why I’m losing my mind.” He cupped her face. “It is going to be very difficult for me to restrain myself.” He kissed her softly and groaned again. “God, I’ve missed you, I feel like I’ve hardly seen you since we got back yesterday.”
Her delicious bosom heaved with a breath and made his already hard cock twitch. “It is true, we have hardly seen each other since then.”
“I missed you last night in my bed,” he confessed. “I like cuddling up to you.”
She smiled and blinked at him. “Really? Well, it might be something I can get used to, too.”
“I hope so. I don’t mean to sleep alone again. I don’t like it.” His eyes roved over her, devouring. He felt like a starving man at a feast, not knowing where to start. “You got my note about there being no body near the ruins, didn’t you?”
“I did. Thank you for that. It was—a big relief.” Her face showed a flicker of distress, and he drew her closer, stroking her back comfortingly.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t believe you killed him,” he said, kissing her hair. She smelled of roses.
“Perhaps not,” she said with a sigh. “But if that is the case, he is still out there.”
“Yes, but you have me now. And the protection of my name. As a viscountess he won’t be game to touch you.”
