“But I would like to know as early as possible so that I can be prepared,” he added. “If I know that such a thing is coming, I can feel more comfortable with it at the time. It will not be such a shock.”
“Of course,” she agreed, and there was something about the look on her face, something about…her.
His arm wrapped around her waist seemingly of its own accord, and he was suddenly drawing her closer, her face so near to his.
His eyes were drawn to her lips, and all he wanted was to know what they would feel like beneath his own. What it would be like to kiss her—toreallykiss her. Not the brief kiss that had sealed their marriage vows, but something… romantic.
“Matthew?” she breathed as she stared up at him, her eyes wide.
Diana simply stood there. Waiting. Watching him. And for a long moment, he wanted to close those last couple of inches and press his lips to hers.
But that was preposterous.
Matthew quickly took a step back, releasing all but her arm so that they could continue down the path.
And if he felt disappointed in himself because he hadn’t kissed her… well, that was just something he would have to deal with.
Chapter Twelve
“Welcome back, My Lady,” Margaret acknowledged as she entered her personal sitting room. “Is everything all right, My Lady?” Margaret asked, her gaze concerned as she caught the look on Diana’s face.
“Everything is quite all right, Margaret,” she replied, feeling the way her face flushed at the memory of Mathew holding her, staring at her … she had felt certain that he would kiss her … but …
“There is something, My Lady. What is it?” Margaret asked shrewdly and she sighed.
“He was … so different today. All those things that I’ve read about him … what I’ve experienced so far since we’ve been married … he was … kind … open. It was … I felt …” but she had no real words for what she felt. And Margaret seemed to realize that. A smile spread across Margarets face but she didn’t push.
“And the houses?”
“Oh, there was nothing like what we wanted,” she replied flippantly. “But we have made an accord.”
“Is that so?” Margaret asked, her eyebrow raised.
“We are to have a party,” she announced, eyes sparkling with pleasure.
“His Grace has allowed a party?” Margaret sounded confused and she laughed lightly, feeling … almost giddy at the excitement of it all.
“He did,” she agreed. “And so will need to get started. It shall be small, but we shall finally have a party of our own!”
She immediately snatched up a piece of paper to start making a list of the people she would invite.
“That is truly something,” was the response and she smiled without looking up from her paper. “Shall you begin the planning of it immediately?” Margaret asked, smiling indulgently from her place across the room.
“I do not wish to forget anything,” Diana replied, jotting several more notes.
And in fact, over the next several days she jotted a great number more notes, always thinking of something else she wanted to do or some better way of executing her plans.
“Diana?”
She had been just going back to her room from lunch when she was brought up short by his voice. But it was certainly not unwelcome, just a surprise.
“Mathew. I have not seen much of you these last several days.”
“I have been busy. But I hear tell so have you.”
She positively beamed at him, excited to share the details of the party she had planned but at the same time she held back, concerned that sharing too much of her big plans would frighten him off. What if he changed his mind?
“I have been planning a party. It shall be small, as we agreed. Just our families, but it shall be a wonderful event.”
