When they reached the bedrooms, Grace turned to him. “Where are your sisters?”
“Taking lessons from your Miss Tallerton.”
“Where’s their governess?”
“For some reason, she didn’t come. Yesterday, Patience told me she had received a letter that the woman had taken another position closer to her family.” He and Grace had not discussed his sisters’ lessons. Would she share her governess? The best idea was to give her the choice. “I suppose I’ll have to hire a new one.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We don’t need two. Winters and Tallerton share the lessons. Her father was a cleric, and she was taught with her brothers as they prepared for Oxford. She also has all the usual accomplishments, drawing, harp, pianoforte, French and Italian. Winters has a degree in theology from Oxford. He is teaching them Latin, higher mathematics and alike.”
“I see.” To the best of his knowledge, his former governess didn’t have half those accomplishments. “As long as Miss Tallerton and Mr. Winters don’t object.”
“Why would they?” Grace shrugged. “The girls are all close to the same ages.”
Matt continued to follow until they reached the last room on their list. He opened the door to the countess’s parlor. It was clean, but obviously had not been used in years. On one side of the room was a door leading to a large dressing area, with another door to a bedchamber, with views of the back garden.
Grace turned to him. “Does your stepmother not use these rooms?”
“No.” He turned to Mrs. Thorton. “I think we can take it from here.”
She nodded. “Yes, my lord. My lady, I’ll put the lists in proper order.”
He closed the door. “The last person to use this apartment was my mother.”
Grace’s eyes grew wide with confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Drawing her gently into his arms, he kissed her lightly. “My father and mother were just about inseparable. In fact, I don’t remember them ever being apart, even overnight. After she died, he never slept in this bed or the one at Worthington Hall again. I have not slept in those rooms because I was waiting for a wife to share them with me.” Matt kissed her again. “Father told me once he married Patience because he was lonely. Yet she couldn’t fill the emptiness my mother’s death caused. He never brought Patience here because he didn’t love her.”
“My parents were very much in love as well. If Mama had died first, I can’t imagine Papa remarrying. I don’t know if I feel worse for Patience or your father.”
“I think I pity Patience more. My father had a chance to know deep, unending love. She was robbed of the opportunity.” Matt shook his head.Vivers men should only mate once.“There is no separate bedchamber for the countess.”
Grace’s arm circled his waist. “I understand.”
“Do you?”
She gazed up at him. “Indeed. My parents always shared a bedchamber. They couldn’t bear to sleep apart.”
Maybe now she’d tell him what Lady Herndon said, and he could make Grace understand she had nothing to worry about. “Do you love me like that, Grace? Because that’s how I love you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Yes, I love you exactly the same way.”
With nimble fingers he untied her bodice and pushed her gown down over her hips. The muslin made a softwhooshas it fell.
“Matt, what are you doing?”
“I need to see you. All of you.” He pulled off her petticoats. He would have liked to truly take his time and unwrap her like one of those Russian boxes, one piece of clothing at a time. After untying her chemise, he stepped back. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
The stays dropped to the floor, to join the rest of her clothes. Then he remembered to pick up her gown and put it over a chair.
Grace blushed but stood still, allowing him to look as he’d not been able to that first night. Her breasts were generous and firm. He traced one finger over her ribs to her waist then over the swell of her hips. The curls between her legs were the same color as her hair. She took his breath away.
He ached to possess her. To find his home inside her.
Matt gathered Grace into his arms and took the lips she offered him. She opened her mouth and her tongue drove him higher. His already swollen shaft ached and begged to be let free.
Her breath came in short gasps as she leaned back from him. “Do you have anywhere to go this afternoon?”
“No.” Matt smiled and untied his cravat.
