“Apart from redecorating the house?” she said playfully.
He nodded, smiling. Annis’s ability to make everything fun was one of the things he liked about her.
“Getting better acquainted with the servants and the way this house is run. Sarah is going to take me shopping for dresses on Friday, which will save you that chore. I know it’s not something you would relish.”
“Thank you, Sarah,” he said, shoving back the covers and rolling his legs out of bed.
“Yes, as reluctant as I am to deck myself in finery, even I recognize I can’t go out in public in my governess dresses. And I can’t keep borrowing Sarah’s clothes!”
“I like your governess dresses,” he protested. “Don’t get rid of all of them. You can wear one in private for my libidinous fantasies.”
She laughed, rolling out the other side of the bed. “Really?”
He came round the bed and wrapped his arms about her. “Yes, really. I told you the prim and proper cut of the bodice drove me mad.”
“You did,” she admitted.
“Well, now I know what’s underneath, I like the idea of you wearing them to continue to drive me mad. Because I can have the pleasure of revealing your lovely bosom to my gaze slowly and torturously.” He cupped her breasts and massaged them through her semitransparent nightgown. “They are by far my favorite of your assets,” he said, bending and kissing first one and then the other.
“I don’t have assets!” she protested.
“Oh, yes, you do!”
“I was never a beauty, even when I was young.”
“You are beautiful to me, Annis,” he said softly and kissed her lips. “And you aren’tnotyoung!” he scolded, letting her go and striding over to the water jug to wash and shave. He used not to bother shaving daily, but he didn’t want to scratch his wife’s soft skin with his stubble, so he had begun to adopt the habit.Perhaps I will get my hair cut, too. It is getting very long.
*
After breakfasting withher husband and their joint morning visit with the children and Mrs. Green, Annis repaired to the servants’ quarters to consult on the logistics of rearranging their sleeping arrangements. After that, she sent a note round to Sarah, asking if she could recommend someone to consult on redecorating the house. The duchess had mentioned that she was slowly making changes to The Castle and the London house.
The duke and duchess had followed them to town and arrived yesterday. Sarah had her sister Deborah with her, whom she was planning on presenting in the little season that was about to begin. As she would be taking Deborah for dress fittings, she had generously offered to include Annis. Annis suspected the duchess knew that she hadn’t a clue how to go about selecting a fashionable wardrobe, and that, unlike many more dandified husbands, Emrys would be no use whatsoever in that endeavor.
Annis had been adjusting to her new status since the wedding. Spending the better part of a month at The Castle had helped to ease her into it, but she was woefully aware of her shortcomings and quite dreading going out into society. She was more than grateful for the duchess’s guiding hand.
Having sent off her note, she returned upstairs to relieve Mrs. Green of the children and institute the first of her daily lessons with them. She had discussed this with Emrys and pointed out that while they could engage a governess and a tutor for Ewen, and probably should when the children were older, she wanted to initiate their lessons herself to begin with.
“For the girls have been without a governess for too long—you said so yourself, Emrys—and that will not stand them in good stead later. I can teach all the foundational skills the girls and Ewen will need, for I was taught mathematics and science aswell as the arts, history, languages, and literature. And I would love to do it. Please say I may.”
“Of course, if you want to, but won’t it be a lot of work?”
“A labor of love,” she smiled. And it was true, but she didn’t reveal that she had an ulterior motive. She needed to keep up her skills, for if something went wrong... She didn’t want to think of it. She was so deliriously happy at present. But the fear that her nemesis would suddenly reappear and rob her of her happiness persisted, no matter how hard she tried to suppress it.
And when things like this morning happened, she was reminded of how much Emrys loved Caroline and how far away was her secret dream of earning his love for herself. His tears had wrung her heart. But a little flame of hope burned persistently still. For he was fond of her—his open affection made that blatantly obvious, and he wanted her physically in the most powerful way. She could only hope that with time, Caroline’s hold over him would fade and leave room for him to love her a little.Perhaps if I bear his child...
She swallowed and wiped her eyes. It would not do to dwell on that. She stopped outside the nursery door to compose herself before opening it and stepping inside to be rapidly enveloped in the squeals and hugs of Emrys’s children, who were her own now. That felicity alone was enough to cement her heart and commitment to Emrys, for she loved the darlings so much. Each day was a revelation as she came to know them better and understand their individual personalities and quirks, their likes and dislikes.
To all intents and purposes, she had her dream come true, if only she could be sure of her place in Emrys’s heart.
*
Emrys spent themorning with his secretary, catching up on correspondence and the list for the House of Lords that was now in session. He supposed he would have to put in an appearance. But not today. This afternoon he was going to take his wife riding. He had continued her riding lessons while at The Castle, and it was time to show her off in Hyde Park.
He had visited Tattersall’s yesterday and purchased a gentle mare for her. The beast had just been delivered to the mews behind the house. It was a surprise, and he looked forward to her reaction.
Going in search of her, he found her in the morning room, writing letters. He supposed they must be the ones she began this morning that he had interrupted.
“There you are,” he said coming in and going to her side. She looked up and smiled. They had dined together at lunchtime but spent the morning and the two hours since occupied about their own business, she with the children, he with his secretary.Why did it seem so long a time? Really my dependence on her is extraordinary. It hadn’t been like this with Caro, had it? Even in the beginning? I can’t remember. I don’t think so.
