Chapter Eighteen
Diana
Diana relished havingher husband by her side for the past two days while she had to mostly stay in bed. Graham saw to her every comfort. Her friends came to visit her and kept her company or she saw to various correspondence the few times she could convince Graham to go and stretch his legs.
But as she watched another day dawn, she had just about as much as she could stand of looking at the same four walls. And her confinement only made her long to go riding with Luna again. Graham was worried that she wouldn’t want to continue her lessons after her fall, but she loved riding too much to give it up. Although she agreed she wouldn’t take off on her own again without Graham.
Graham promised that some of her next lessons would include learning to handle a variety of stops and ways to respond to situations that could occur, so she would be better prepared if something ran out in front of her again. But it would be a couple weeks before she could attempt to ride again.
Graham stirred next to her. “Are you awake already?”
“I am eager to leave our room today, just like you promised, and feel a bit more normal. Plus, I enjoy watching you sleep.” She brushed his hair back from his brow and placed a gentle kiss on it.
“I agreed to tea in the drawing room, and I shall carry you there. If you try to do too much, I’m hauling you right back upstairs.”
Diana giggled and placed a quick kiss on her husband’s bare shoulder. “Perhaps that is what I wish for you to do.”
Her efforts to talk her husband into bending the rules a bit and thoroughly bedding her had failed since he was adamant she needed to be fully recovered. He was terrified of losing her, and she appreciated he loved her so much that he wouldn’t risk her well-being.
He gave her bottom a playful swat, then kissed her nose. “Don’t make me change my mind.”
“It’s too late now,” Diana teased. “I told Lady Harrowby she could join today when I wrote to thank her for the flowers. She’s been insistent on wanting to visit when I was well. If you want to tell the dragon she is no longer welcome for tea, be my guest.”
Graham shuddered. “You have me there. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
“I promise that I will be good the entire time,” she shifted so her lips brushed his ear. “And then I’m going to convince you to be quite bad.”
He groaned in response. “You don’t play fair. A man can only take so much.” He pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers, slipping his tongue inside when she parted for him.
And just when she thought he might cave, he broke the kiss. “I think you are in need of a good breakfast to start the day. Then we will get you dressed so you can break free. I’m a man of my word.”
She watched like a hungry lioness as he moved from the bed. She had memorized every single one of his muscles and couldn’t wait to touch and kiss each one.
But that would have to wait. Diana conceded and wrapped her dressing robe around herself and tied it tight. “Can we eat together by the fire?”
“You know I can deny you nothing.”
“Well, that is just not true.” She smirked at him and walked to the settee close to the fire to take her seat.
“I can deny you nothing that I don’t fear will harm your wellbeing.” He returned her smirk. “I do believe you are close to being back to your normal self now. We’ll see how your energy level is today when you are up and about. I’ll be staying close to you all day to ascertain for myself.”
“Is that a promise, my love?” She winked at him.
He groaned again. “You are going to be the death of me, darling. Although, I do have a little something in mind after you are properly fed, and I think you will quite enjoy it.”
The breakfast trays arrived, and they ate together by the warmth of the fire. She poured tea for each of them, and they chatted about some of the latest estate reports from Wilms. The property in Devon had sold and as soon as Diana was well, they were going to take their trip to begin implementing her changes.
Once they had finished eating, Graham pulled Diana to stand. “Close your eyes.”
She did as he asked and he kissed her forehead. He laced his fingers with hers and pulled her with him. He positioned her where he wanted her. “Open your eyes.”
Diana did as he commanded, and before her the tub was filled with hot water and two bath sheets on the hanger. She could smell the scent from the oils that had been placed in the water.
Graham pulled at the sash of her dressing robe to remove it. “I thought you might appreciate a proper bath.” He dropped her robe on the floor and pulled her night rail over her head.
“Only if you are joining me.” Diana slipped his banyan over his shoulders, and it fell to the floor. Graham scooped her up and cradled her in his arms as he stepped over the side of the tub and sat down in the water, settling her between his legs with her back leaned against his chest just as they had done many times.
Graham reached for the soap and kissed Diana’s neck while he lathered up her body. He tenderly washed her from head to toe,including her hair. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the care and tenderness that he lavished upon her body.
