Page 87 of When the Duke Met His Match

“I wish for nothing less,” he hummed, brushing a finger beneath her chin to direct her eyes to meet his. “From the thorn in my side to the soul I can’t bear to be without, you are my undoing and salvation in equal measure.”

“Spoken like a poet,” she returned softly, eyes moving between his steadily. “I will never tire of your confessions.”

Theophilus grinned down at her, his heart lighter than it had ever been before. “Our union is the perfect arrangement, then. There is much more to come.”

Odette gazed at him as if he were the only man left in the entire world, and he took it as his sign to lean down and hover his lips above hers. She leaned closer as if drawn to his mouth, and he hesitated as a means to tease her with a pestering smile on his lips.

A gentle breath left her lips from the anticipation, and she narrowed her eyes at him. Not standing for his nonsense, she tore away from him and picked up her skirts, hurrying toward the open door.

“Odette!” he called after her with amusement in his tone. He followed her, running across the gravel until he reached the pristine stone steps and climbed them.

Her joyous laughter traveled across the courtyard, making his heart swell. He could die happy surrounded by that beautiful sound, full of pride for being the one to pull it from her soft lips.

The two of them ran inside the spacious house, narrowly dodging one of the house staff carrying a vase that had been passed down through his family for years. The moment Odette reached the middle of the room, Theophilus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest, laughing with strained breaths.

“I’ve got you now,” he murmured, smiling down at the woman who carried his heart in her hands wherever she went.

“Just how I want it,” she returned with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

Before he could stop himself, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, savoring the exchange that made his heart swell. Odette melted into his arms, deepening the kiss with everything she felt in return.

Mindful of the staff around them, he pulled back so she could stand properly. Still holding one hand, he gestured toward the door leading to the garden.

“We can’t forget about our guests waiting for us, now can we?”

Grinning back at him, Odette nodded, and they began through the entry until they reached the outdoors once more.

The garden was a well-manicured plot of land with various flower beds, trimmed hedges, and rolling hills that went as far as the eye could see. The warm spring breeze moved with them as they found their family and friends outside, either seated around a table of fine pastries and drinks or taking part in a rowdy game of pall mall.

Odette smiled as her parents participated in the game with Theophilus’ cousins, joyously playing to their hearts’ content.

His parents were sat by the table, watching with pleased expressions. His mother fanned herself while his father ate his fair share of lemon cakes, not concerned about how much he consumed.

“Look,” Theophilus murmured, pointing to a wandering couple arm-in-arm as they went for a turn around the garden.

She gasped to herself, watching with astonishment. “Is that Eric?”

“With my cousin Mary,” he chuckled, watching as his old friend seemed to be aglow with giddiness. He knew for some time that Eric had eyes for her, ever since his eyes lit up at the sight of Mary at the wedding. It didn’t take much to shake the information from him. “He’ll hear about this.”

Odette snickered to herself, waving off the baseless threat. “We both know it delights you too much for you to interfere. He seems happy.”

Pulling a smile of admiration, he knew she was correct. “For their sake, I’ll let it continue.”

Sharing their hushed laughter, the pair moved toward his parents and were given gentle looks as they sat.

“It’s a beautiful day, don’t you think?” his mother asked, smiling beneath the shade of a magnificent tree.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Theophilus replied, unable to stop the constant looks of satisfaction that claimed his features. “Pall-mall seems to be a hit this afternoon.”

His father chuckled. “Indeed. I believe the stakes have been raised. There has been a fair amount of cheering and shouts of protest.”

“Your mother has already won her fair share,” Odette’s mother-in-law murmured with a warm gleam in her gaze.

“I’m sure to hear about it for the rest of the day,” Odette returned, humored by the thought.

“Your cousins have requested your audience for a makeshift play they have been rehearsing for some weeks now,” his father began, reaching for another pastry. “They are quite proud of it.”

Theophilus’ brows raised at the idea. “A play just for us?”