Thorton opened the door and bowed. “My lady, welcome to your new home.”
“Thank you, Thorton.”
After that, Mrs. Thorton came to greet her. Did they have to take so long? Matt should have given his butler and housekeeper the day off so that he and Grace could be alone.
Scowling, he pulled at her hand and started up the stairs.
Thorton bowed again. “We shall be standing by in the event you require anything, my lady.”
Matt was almost positive he’d seen his butler’s lips twitch.
A few moments later, they were in his chamber—no—their chamber. He closed the door and faced her. His heart thudded. Finally she was his, and he couldn’t think of a thing to say. The silence was only broken by the crackling of the fire.
Grace stood before Matt staring at him. “I know it’s foolish, but I feel shy for some reason.”
He touched her face lightly with the tips of his fingers, cupping her cheek. Heat spread through her, and she leaned into his hand. With a turn of her head, she kissed his palm.
Bending down, he kissed her lips lightly. “It’s only because this is the first time we’ve planned it.”
Grace shook her head slowly. He was wrong. “No. The first time, I planned for it to happen.”
“Indeed?” Feathering soft kisses on her jaw, Worthington made his way back to her lips. “You may have, but I didn’t.”
She lifted her eyes to his warm lapis gaze. “No?”
He drew her closer, like he had the night at the inn. “No. When you kissed me, I knew you’d never been touched and had every intention of asking you to marry me before we made love.”
“That was the reason you left me at my chamber. Was the kiss that bad?”
Worthington wrapped his arms around her. “It was innocent and perfect. I knew I was falling in love with you.”
Grace relaxed, relishing the feeling of love and safety. This was what she wanted for the rest of her life.
“Grace, why did you come to me?” He kissed the top of her head. “Why take such a risk?”
Her throat closed in pain. “I—I’d never planned to marry.”
Caressing her back, Matt asked, “Because of the children?”
She put her arms around his neck and nodded. “I thought if I could have just one night with you that would be enough. Then I could go back home, take care of the children, and not care if I never married.”
He grinned ruefully. “But once would never have been enough for me. I had to find you.” Kissing her lightly on the lips, he held her tighter. “Brown denied you were there. If I’d been alone, I might have thought you were a phantom. Thankfully, my groom was with me. I searched for you all along the road home.”
The cold tears and despair seemed so long ago. “I cried until I arrived at Stanwood House.”
He held her back a little and captured her eyes. “You should have stayed, Grace. I was so lonely without you.”
Tears filled her eyes. She had to tell him, if she didn’t do it now, she might never say it, and it would stand between them. Swallowing, she tried to straighten her shoulders, but she couldn’t look at him. “I—I want you to know that I understand this—this passion may not last.” She closed her eyes and forced herself to continue. “That—that when it is over, you will take mistresses.” Her voice failed and tears started to roll down her cheeks.
There it was, at least she was finally telling him. “You think I’ll take another woman? Whatever gave you an idea like that? Or should I ask whom?”
“My aunt said that even the best of gentlemen . . .”
All he wanted to do was comfort her, but he needed to hear it, and she needed to say it. “What else did she say?”
“That—that you would lose interest in the children.”
Damn all well-meaning aunts.
