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He was silent, watching her with icy green eyes.
“Wife.”
Her eyes took in the light sheen of sweat on his skin, the beauty of his body, his appealing maleness. “You are quite magnificent, husband.” The brutal power of his body, all muscle and sinew, was the most appealing image she had ever seen. Her fingers itched for a paintbrush and canvas to capture the raw, beautiful imagery of her husband. “I want to paint you,” she said huskily. “Just like this.” Livvie trailed her fingers over his chest.
He stared at her, seemingly transfixed, and he didn’t make a sound.
She moved closer to him. “What is it that you are practicing?”
At first, she thought he would ignore her, then he exhaled and tugged her to him.
“Boxing.”
He spun, his movements so fluid and graceful, so that she was facing away from him and her back nestled against his chest. He dipped his head and inhaled at her neck, and her heart tripped in pleasure.
“Whenever I…I feel with too much intensity, I find a quiet place and I practice.” He nuzzled her neck.
“Will you teach me?”
She felt his smile against her.
“Perhaps,” he murmured.
He shaped her fingers so that she spread her hands wide with his. Tobias pushed her forward and flowed in a rhythm, controlling her movements. It felt natural to dip with him, to allow him to lead her in the gentle but somehow sensual and provocative movements.
“I feel as if we are dancing,” she said softly.
They moved together for a few minutes until her motions seemed more fluid. She tipped her head to the night sky, the chill in the air forgotten as a slow burn started to build in her blood. She felt relaxed and stirred in the same breath. “Have you forgiven Francie?”
“Is there truly anything to forgive?”
“Perhaps not. It is sad she is so heartbroken. I could hear her weeping from her chamber. It takes bravery to go against family and society’s expectation for love.”
He sighed.
“No blistering retort declaring that love is nonsense?”
He spun her to face him. “No. There is something between my sister and Mr. Browning. Is it love? I do not know. When I first saw them in the parlor, a part of me wished I could leave them be. Even though I wanted to crush him for the heartache I knew she would endure. I desperately wished his circumstances had changed in the three years since I hired him, as I realized Francie would be content
to live with him here for the rest of their lives.”
“The poor misguided fool,” Livvie said softly.
“He wept when I informed him he could never see my sister or speak with her again, he wept unashamedly,” Tobias murmured.
“And…and how will the scandal be weathered?”
“As how I’ve weathered all of them since I understood the cogs that kept society turning. With power, influence, and a good deal of thick hide.”
She rested the side of her face against his chest. “And I shall weather it with you.”
“I am glad you came with me.”
“You are?”
“Yes, I am certain If I had been alone, I would have beaten Mr. Browning to a pulp and then discarded his body somewhere,” he said lightly.
“And I am certain you are underestimating your honor. I do not think you have to fear from your temper. The very fact that you want to guard others against your anger, speaks much of your character.”
