“Hmm. You know, that is a very good question.”
His stomach rumbled. “Are you hungry?”
Even if she weren’t, she would have said yes, only because he was. “I am.”
Kit pushed himself off the bed. “Wait here.” Grabbing his banyan from the floor, he padded into the other room. “We have been provided for.” A few moments later, he returned with a large tray. “At least they were not going to make us ask for food.”
Cold meats, more cheese, fruit, and fresh bread were arranged on the tray. He placed it on the bed, then went back to the parlor. This time he came back with wine and lemonade.
She picked up a serviette and realized she had no clothing to protect.
“Whatever you drop on yourself, I’ll be more than happy to clean off.” Kit gave her a wicked smile, his deep blue eyes warm with desire.
Oh my God!That’s what it was. All the times he’d looked at her, and she hadn’t understood. Even to the point of thinking she had spilled something on her gown. What a pea goose she’d been.
Plucking a grape from the bunch, he held it out to her.
She took the fruit between her teeth, chewed, and swallowed. How decadent this was, being naked in bed with him while eating, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel the slightest bit of shame. “I’ll do the same for you.”
When she remembered how coldly she’d behaved toward Kit at times, Mary was amazed he had continued to court her. She believed now that he would have wooed her if she’d come to Town, and for reasons she didn’t understand, that gave her more confidence.
To-morrow, when they returned to Charlotte Square, she must remember to ask Anna about her book. Kit might like it as well.
For the second day in a row, Simon woke with Morna in his arms. He’d never allowed himself to think of them having a life together, and now he would fight to the death for her and their family.
She was still young enough, and she’d always got pregnant so easily, he wondered if they’d have a third child. One they would raise together. Not that it could lessen the love he had for Finella and Cormac. Simon’s heart was tied to them in ways he still didn’t fully understand.
“Good morning.” Beside him Morna smiled and stretched. “What time is it?”
“Around nine o’clock.” He debated making love to her again and delaying the day a while longer, or getting up and ensuring they left Scotland before her father could cause them problems. Duty won. “We have a lot to do to-day.”
Her countenance shifted from happy to solemn. “You’re right. There are things I’d like to get from MacDiarmid Keep. Do you have any good ideas about how I should go about it?”
“If you trust your lady’s maid, I’ll send my groom to help her arrange the packing and transport.”
She gazed at him, a seductive glint in her eyes. “And what, my lord, will I do for a maid while she’s gone?”
Simon pulled her to him. “I’ve always been held to be a quick study.”
“That you are.” She raised her brows. “I’m well aware you can get me out of my gowns. The question is, can you get me into them?”
He rolled her under him. “We won’t know until we try.”
A knock came at the door. “My lord. Her ladyship asks you to attend her in the breakfast room.”
“We’ll be down as soon as we’re dressed.”
“Very good, my lord.”
“This will have to wait until later,” he said, slapping her gently on her bottom. He rolled out of the bed before he got distracted again.
Twenty minutes later, Simon and Morna were in the breakfast room. Theo handed him a letter. He opened the seal, spreading the sheet out. “My ship is in Musselburgh.”
“Why there and not at Leith?” Titus asked.
“There was a problem with the mainsail, and the captain pulled in there.” That might have been a better choice at any rate. Freskin would definitely not look in the small fishing village. He’d have to have the trunks sent down there.
Simon read down further, looking for when the ship would be ready to sail again. “He expects to be ready to sail in two days.”
