“I love you so very much,” he murmured, lifting his head and brushing a sweat-dampened lock of hair from her face.
She beamed. “I loveyouso very much.”
“I have never done that before,” he said with a grin.
“What?”
He was a man of experience. What could he have possibly done with her for the first time?
“Taken my pleasure,” he explained. “Completely and utterly.”
Her heart soared, overjoyed by the knowledge that she was not the only one discovering things for the first time.
“And if you would give me ten minutes or so, I shouldverymuch like to do that again,” he said with a dark chuckle. “Indeed, I don’t plan to leave this room until I have made you come at least four times more.”
Selina flushed with happiness and excitement, grateful that she had insisted on not waiting. “I can give you all night, my love.”
He seemed pleased by that, as he scooped her close and rolled them both onto their sides, where he held her tightly. Her head came to rest on his chest as he gently stroked her hair and kissed her brow, her locks, her nose, and down to her mouth.
If there wasa true paradise, then this had to be it. She had never felt contentment like this in all of her twenty years.
“Youwillbe at the church tomorrow, won’t you?” she asked, peering up at him.
He met her gaze. “Nothing could stop me, my love.”
“Good,” she murmured, nestling deeper into his embrace.
She was just beginning to feel a little sleepy when a loud bang jolted her head up and might have made her jump right out of Philip’s arms if they had not been so firmly wrapped around her.
“I swear to the Lord Almighty,” came the less-than-welcome voice of her father, “if you are in there unchaperoned with my daughter, I shall?—”
However, the rest of the threat remained a mystery as Philip slowly released her and got out of bed. Taking his time to pull on his trousers and shirt, Selina sat up and gathered the coverlets around her.
Meanwhile, she listened for the sound of muttering and mumbling in the hallway beyond the bedchamber. It wasn’t just her father out there.
Oh, heavens, is there an entire party?
“Ishalltell you what to do when you are being ridiculous!” her mother suddenly shouted. “John, come away from that door this instant. She does not need to be disturbed by you the day before her wedding.”
Oh, Mama.
At last, her mother had used her voice. At last, she had reminded her father that she had one.
“They are discussing the nuptials,” Reuben’s voice interjected. “I heard it from Lizzy myself. There is a maid in there with them.”
Selina clamped her lips shut to stifle a laugh. Of all the people who might have come to the rescue of her dignity, she had not expected it to be her mother and brother.
“Well, why did no one say that?” her father retorted, followed by the sound of footsteps retreating.
Philip sidled up to the door and pressed his ear against it as he tucked his shirt into his trousers.
A few minutes later, he returned to the bed with a smile on his face. “They are gone, but I am afraid I must depart too, before I get you into too much trouble.”
He leaned across the bed, his hand reaching out to cradle her cheek, and grazed a long and lingering kiss to her lips. She met it with a smile of her own, wondering how the meddlesome actions of a mysterious group of readers had brought her such good fortune.
They must be clairvoyants, truly.
“I shall see you at the wedding tomorrow,” she said as he pulled back. “Or else.”
