“I cannot,” his niece said. “Edward…” She sighed. “He does not like him very much.”
“I won’t tell him. I promise.”
Edward found himself leaning forward, desperate to hear what was said, just as his stomach tightened with worry because he suspected who that man might be, and he was determined to be proven wrong.Please…
Frustratingly, his slight movement caught the eye of Celestine, and she sat up, turned, and cocked an eyebrow at him.
“What do we have here?” she said. “Eve’s dropping, are we, Edward?”
Millicent’s eyes widened and she cleared her throat as if she was choking.
“I am doing no such thing.” Edward swept into the room, making straight for his wife. “I only just arrived home.”
“I thought you were working tonight?” Millicent asked as if to accuse him of something nefarious.”
“I meant to,” he said with a shrug. He came behind Celestine and rested his hands on her bare shoulders. She turned stiff at his touch and then relaxed as he began to squeeze. “But I thought it a good idea to be home. Worried, I was, of what might happen if I left the two of you alone.”
Millicent scoffed. “So that you could spy on us.”
“Is there anything worth spying on?”
“No,” she said quickly, and then shot a look at Celestine. “We were speaking of Lord Ironvale’s garden party, is all.”
“Ah, yes…” Edward looked at her knowingly. “I am sure that’s all it was.”
The two women shared another look and while Edward wanted to press, he was also careful not to overstep. He liked that they were getting along, and he did not want to get in the way. Better that Celestine gained Millicent’s trust because he knew that if anything was wrong, she would tell him.
“Well, I am off to bed…” Slowly, Millicent rose from the table. “And Celestine, thank you for your advice.”
“Tomorrow,” Celestine said. “Let us see those two gowns.”
“I cannot wait.”
They watched the young girl exit the room. Once she was gone, Edward stepped around Celestine, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet.
“Anything I need to be concerned with?” he asked her.
She laughed. “Not at all. Besides, there are some things that an uncle ought to not know. But know that she is in safe hands.”
He took her other hand, held it tight, and looked at her with infatuation. “I have no doubt.”
For a moment, they simply stood and looked at one another. Holding hands. Alone in the room. Their stares met and held, no need to say what was on their minds, and Edward was beyond pleased that he had decided to leave work early. Being home with his wife promised to be far more enjoyable…
“The night is still young,” he purred as he looked into her eyes. “Far too early for bed.”
“Oh, is that right.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Whatever shall we do to pass the time.”
“I am sure we can come up with something…”
“I am all ears.”
He stepped into her and kissed her on the lips. He held that kiss, keeping it simple and not too hungry, while letting her know exactly what he wanted. As expected, she returned it in kind. They were of the same mind, as was often the case this last week, and it made for a truly wonderful start to their marriage.
“Shall we…” He started to lead her from the dining room.
“I am all yours,” she said.
“Not yet, you aren’t,” he fired back with a grin. “But you will be soon.”
