“Only nice?”
She tilted her head to give him better access. “Verynice.”
“I can see that after we’re wed, I’ll have to work hard to merit superlatives from you.”
“Afterward?”
His tongue moved down over her neck. “You did say you wished to wait.”
Oh Lord. She was blushing again. This was so unfair. Couldn’t he see she wanted him to stay with her? “Yes. No. I mean—” He’d moved to her chin. A smile hovered around his lips. “Drat you. You are going to make me say it.”
His lips touched the corner of her mouth. “Say what?”
That was enough. He was making a game of her. She hauled one arm back and punched him on the shoulder, and all the brute did was laugh. She hid her face against his coat. “You could make this easier.”
Wivenly’s chest rumbled a bit as if he held back a chuckle. “Are you inviting me to spend the night? Is that the reason your maid gave me such a look? You told her not to wait up for you?”
She nodded, rubbing her cheek against the smooth fabric of his jacket. “Yes, that was it exactly.”
“I’d be honored, my love, but we really must work on overcoming your hesitation in saying what you want.” Will sent a prayer of thanks to the Deity.
That brought her head back up. Eugénie’s luscious lips formed a perfect O. “You mean you want me to . . .”
“Trust me. It will make our love making that much better.”
For the third time, her face turned a lovely shade of rose. It was a pity they had dinner plans. He kissed each finger one by one. When Will got to the fourth finger of her right hand, he remembered why he’d come to her rooms. “Give me a moment.” He pulled out the ring from a waistcoat pocket. “As I didn’t know I’d be getting married, I neglected to bring a family ring. He slipped the one he’d bought over the finger of her right hand. “I hope you like it. I thought, because you like to wear knit gloves, a ring with no protruding stones would be better.”
“It’s beautiful.” She held her hand, fluttering her fingers a bit. Gold, opals, and diamonds formed an alternating pattern. “And I’ll be able to wear it while sailing.” Eugénie raised her gaze to his. “I love it. Thank you.”
A bell rang from somewhere above. “What is that?”
“The signal bell. It’s more efficient than having servants running up and down the stairs. Each of us is assigned a number of chimes.” She donned her gloves and tucked her hand in his. “Shall we, my lord?”
“What is yours?”
She tilted her head and grinned. “One, of course.”
“From oldest to youngest?”
“Yes, my brother wanted to be number one as he is the boy”—her voice became wistful—“but Papa said no.”
“You miss him a great deal.”
“I do. I hope he is looking after all of us from above.”
A chill raced down Will’s back and he said in an undervoice, “Not too closely, I hope.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I’m sure he is.” He led her up the stairs on the side of the house, marveling once again how the walls surrounding the house and gardens hid a small world from prying eyes. They had nothing like this at home. “My love, I’d like to take your mother and sisters back to England with us. Yet before I mention it to Aunt Sidonie, I want your opinion.”
“I think it is the best idea.” She paused for a moment. “Where will they live?”
“With us, if you wish, or with your grandmother Wivenly. If neither of those choices pleases your mother, then I’m sure my father has a suitable property.”
“I do not think it is possible for all of them to reside with Grandmamma.” Eugénie’s lips formed amoue. “She lives in a cottage. Which I do not understand, considering how well off Grandpapa was.”
The only time he’d seen his mother do anything as vulgar as roll her eyes was when his great-great-aunt Wivenly referred to her house as a cottage. “Only if you can call a manor house with above thirty main rooms a cottage.”
