“Do you believe that I want you yet?” he asked in a silky voice.
She chuckled and nodded. “I am convinced.”
“Good.”
To her pleasant surprise, he folded the sides of her nightdress across her bare body, fastening just one button to keep it in place. As if he were concerned about her getting cold.
She worried, however, that he might be about to pull away. Instead, he scooped her up off the bench and set her in his lap, his arms locked around her, his lips kissing her throat.
Holding onto him, she met his beautiful eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can,” he replied, turning his kiss to her shoulder.
“Will you be a faithful husband?”
It was a shame to ruin the mood, but she needed to know what the future held for her. She needed to prepare if she was going to have to share him. Especially now. Especially after that.
He glanced at her, saying nothing.
“If we are to lead separate lives,” she hurried to continue, “then you should tell me. You should not let me enter into thismarriage under false pretenses. Andifwe are to lead separate lives, then… we should at least be discreet and respect one another.”
He brushed his thumb across her cheek, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “Mary is gone, love,” he said. “She will not work or live here anymore.”
“Oh… oh, I see.”
She hadn’t disliked Mary, but it was something of a relief. So much so that she felt a little bad for being so delighted. But if it meant what she hoped it meant, then she would soon forgive herself.
Smiling, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him slowly, passionately. Not a rush or a frenzied crush, but a thing to savor and relish, melting into his embrace, so content and relaxed that she knew she would sleep well tonight.
What might have been five minutes or half an hour later, he pulled back, gazing at her. “We should get you inside before you start shivering.”
“I suppose so,” she replied, reaching back to collect her cloak.
Philip took it from her, draping it around her shoulders. He took great care to fasten it at her throat, and as he set her on the ground and stood up with her, he paused and brought her hand to his mouth.
“I am glad your father threatened to kill me if I didn’t take this very hand in marriage,” he said.
Selina laughed, her heart opening to the man before her. “I could not agree more.”
