“I will do nothing you do not wish for me to do… We are married, but we have all the time in the world to consummate our union when you are more certain of things between us.”
Instantly she relaxed. “You must think me foolish.”
“Innocence is not foolish. The need to trust someone before granting such liberties is not foolish… and over time, I will gain your trust by doing only what you wish. And today, you have expressed a wish for a kiss, and that is what you will have.”
To that end, Felix took her lips in a gentle, claiming kiss. It was not chaste in nature. It was hungry, pushing the boundariesof what “just a kiss” could be. And when it ended, she was trembling against him, and he was less than steady himself. His pulse was rapid, his blood heated from their brief exchange, and he wanted more. So much more. But he’d given her his word, and he would not press her for anything she was not only willing but eager to yield.
“I liked that,” she confessed softly. “Very much so.”
“I hope you will like more than just my kisses. I know many women view the marriage bed as a chore to be endured, but it is my most fervent wish that you will not view it thusly.”
“I can almost promise you that I will not. Even now, I’m struggling to think of why I should resist at all.”
“If you still feel that way later, we will revisit the terms of our agreement,” he replied. “Perhaps if you permit more kisses throughout the day, your certainty will increase.”
She hadn’t missed the teasing note in his voice, as evidenced by her slight smile. “Well, it should certainly take more than once to make a well-informed decision, don’t you think?”
“Indeed, I do,” he said, and drew her closer to kiss her yet again. And that was how they spent the duration of the drive, slowly exploring one another and the strange attraction that existed between them. A seemingly fated one.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Caris rolled overin bed as Felix settled himself on the edge of it. “Where did you go?”
“A missive was delivered from Mr. Fitzsimmons… and Mrs. Fitzsimmons.”
Caris blinked in surprise, her sleepiness vanished. “I wasn’t aware such a person existed!”
“Well, they have only recently taken up the role… as of yesterday, I think. And you are quite familiar with the newly minted missus. It’s none other than Grace Burnham. She and Fitz married by common license yesterday at St. Michael’s Highgate. And apparently there was a bit of scandal which prompted the action.”
Caris sat up fully then, heedless of the sheet falling away and revealing the very, very sheer night rail she wore. “Oh… I have a theory about the Gray Lady. And now, that theory makes even more sense! Either Grace or Mr. Fitzsimmons must be connected to the Hayton family. It’s the only possible explanation.”
He nodded. “Indeed. I have had much the same thought and that is why I hired someone to look into the matter… it seems that Mr. Fitzsimmons’ mother is a distant relation born on thewrong side of the blanket. But he does have a blood connection to Hayton House and thus the Gray Lady.”
Caris sat back, quietly satisfied.
Felix continued. “I understand Fitz being at the house, since he often takes care of matters there for us… but why was Miss Burnham there?”
He was too astute for her good, she thought. “I sent her there… I made up an excuse because I knew Mr. Fitzsimmons would be there. Just as I knew that Grace had no small amount of admiration for him.”
“That was rather underhanded of you,” he remarked. “Brilliant and unscrupulous.”
“It’s only unscrupulous if I had ill intent. And I had only the best of intentions… They belong together. In fact, they are perfect for one another.”
He smiled suddenly, the wide grin making his eyes crinkle ever so slightly. Then he began to laugh. “You did to them precisely what Aunt Edith did to us.”
“Yes, I did. But look how marvelously it has worked out for us.”
He leaned over, planting a kiss on her lips. “I have work to do.” He kissed her again, this time on the curve of her jaw. “There are account books demanding my attention.” His lips coasted to her neck, just below her ear. “Merchants and vendors to be paid.” He pressed a soft kiss to her bare shoulder. “Always so distracting.”
“You’re the one with wandering lips,” she replied, a sly smile curving her own. “We should invite Grace and Mr. Fitzsimmons for a visit.”
“Must we? Must we really?” Felix asked, pressing her back onto the bed and lying down beside her, one leg thrown over hers and his very eager hands moving over her in a way that illustrated perfectly well what was on his mind.
“Yes,” she said. “I want to see a couple happy and in love!”
He drew back. “Look to your left.”
