“I wonder if you know how much I love you.” Matt had never required a woman to complete him before. Yet he needed Grace. Not just to make love to. Though her responsiveness called to his inner beast and soothed it. He was driven to protect and cherish her. Matt had never wanted a woman who did everything well all by herself. Even though Anna and Phoebe were good friends, and he valued them, Grace was different, a strong woman who still required him. Giving him his purpose in life.
He shifted her around, pulled up her gown and petticoats, then retied her laces. Would she finally tell him what had been bothering her? Though he was sure Anna had been correct, Matt wanted Grace to trust him enough to say it. “Sweetheart, are you all right? There’s been some constraint between us recently.”
“It was something my aunt said.” She nuzzled against him. “I’ll try not to let it worry me.”
“If you want to tell me?”
“No. It’s not a concern that need bother you.”
But he wanted her to tell him. How could he make her happy if he didn’t know? “If you insist.”
She laughed. “I do.”
Matt tried to hold her closer, to let her know she could trust him. He tried again. “I would like to know.”
She shook her head. “It’s not important.”
The hell it wasn’t. It had made them both miserable. He’d find out what it was later. “My cousin Merton arrived today begging a room. I told him I didn’t know how long he could stay, that I needed to discuss it with you first. I’m happy to kick him out on his ear, if you wish.”
“How bad is he?”
“Completely insufferable. He never fails to get my ire up, and you’ll hear my sisters refer to him as ‘his marquisship.’”
Grace pursed her lips. “I have trouble picturing Patience allowing that.”
“Normally she would not, however, he didn’t endear himself to her, either. He came to visit us a few years ago, all puffed up in his own consequence. Thought everyone should be impressed that he was a marquis and acted as if he was making a duty visit to poor relations.” Matt smiled. “He assured us that, as the head of the family, he would always be willing to help.”
“Is he?” Grace’s brow furrowed. “The head of your family, I mean. How could that even be?”
“No, my ancestor married a lady who held the title. After she died, their son became the earl. Merton’s side of the family has never got over the fact that our side of the family became a new house.”
“I do not understand. If he usually comes to Town for the Season, why must he reside with you?”
He wished Merton wasn’t staying with them. “He was supposed to go on his Grand Tour, but his mother sent him to Town to find a wife.”
Grace frowned. “How old is he?”
Settling her back against him, he said, “Twenty-eight. You haven’t met my aunt Merton.”
She twisted around. “I beg your pardon, my lord, but I have. She’s actually some sort of relation of mine, and not at all a dragon.” Grace screwed her face up for a moment. “Is not his family name Bradford?”
“Yes. My ancestor took his wife’s surname. The gentlemen in my line will do almost anything for the ladies they love.” Matt resumed the original topic. “Could be they heard about us, and he doesn’t want me to get the jump on him in setting up my nursery.” He kissed her forehead and couldn’t resist holding one of her breasts in his hand.
Grace blushed delightfully. “Maybe, though the news would have had to have traveled terribly quickly.”
Enough about his cousin. “Do you know you’re even more beautiful when you blush?”
The deep rose in her face deepened. “It is not necessary for you to pay me compliments.”
“You’re out there, my lady, it is essential.” Matt captured her lips again.
Grace lay back in his arms, her eyes glazed with desire. “In that case, do you know how handsome you are with your hair tousled?”
He cruised her jaw with his tongue.
“You should invite him to join us for dinner.”
“Grace, he’s a bore.”
