Page 69 of A Wicked Business

“Hush!” Felix said, looking as though he didn’t know whether to laugh or scold her. “Wicked girl. Keep your voice down. Of course I want to take you to bed, but there’s no need to tell everyone.”

Belinda snorted and leaned in, whispering in his ear. “I think they know,” she said, before erupting into giggles.

“Good Lord,” Felix said with a sigh. “How much champagne have you had?”

Belinda frowned and counted on her fingers.

“Never mind,” he told her. “I’ll sober you up soon enough.”

They left the celebration with cheers and cries of good luck. Belinda discovered her father looked quite tearful and but did not know whether she was relieved or terrified when she saw the Duchess of Bedwin take hold of his arm and guide him back inside, a determined look on her face.

“Oh dear,” Belinda said anxiously.

“Don’t worry, love. Now he’s part of the family, Aunt Prue has decided she must convert him to her way of thinking. I’m afraid your father doesn’t stand a chance.”

Belinda looked askance but Felix only laughed and patted her hand.

“Your father is the one in trouble, Belle, I promise you.”

Assured by his confidence, Belinda sat back as the carriage pulled away and Felix let out a sigh of relief as Grosvenor Square disappeared from view.

“Alone at last,” he said in relief, drawing down the blinds before reaching over and hauling Belinda into his lap.

Belinda laughed, subsiding with a great ruffle and swish of skirts and petticoats, though her laughter was smothered by the press of his mouth, warm and urgent upon hers. Though he had kissed her passionately before, there was an added potency in his kisses now, as though he would devour her if he could. He stole her breath and her wits and succeeded in sobering her up somewhat, just as he promised.

“Felix!” she replied breathlessly, once he deigned to let her go. She traced the outline of her lips with wonder. They tingled with the desperate desire for more. “You never kissed me like that before,” she said reproachfully.

“I should think not. I would have got us both into all sorts of trouble,” he told her, his eyes glittering with mirth.

“Sounds rather fun,” she said, looking at him from under her lashes.

“Oh, it is, I promise you, but less so when one is being pursued by an irate father. Still, now we are married, I can do what I like with you,” he added, waggling his eyebrows at her.

“Oh, can you indeed, Mr Knight?”

“I can indeed, Lady Knight. It’s written in law.”

Belinda’s face darkened momentarily. “Yes, well, that’s something I intend to lobby Parliament about and—”

Another kiss smothered her indignation, and she sighed, melting against him and coiling her arms about his neck.

“You’ll have my full support, love,” he murmured against her ear. “But let's not discuss it now, eh?”

“Discuss what?” Belinda said dreamily and pulled his head back down again.

They were to spend the next week at Claridge’s, on the recommendation of Gabriel Knight, who had arranged and paid for their stay, as they did not yet have a home of their own and Felix’s bachelor apartments were deemed unsuitable. The only problem with this arrangement, in Belinda’s opinion, was that it was only just around the corner, and things had just begun to get interesting when the carriage rumbled to a halt.

“Drat,” she said crossly as Felix removed her arms from his neck and sat her back in her seat.

“Don’t worry, love. We’ll be alone in just a few moments.”

Happily, Felix was proven correct, as his father’s usual efficiency meant they were swept through the hotel and upstairs to the best suite of room.

Belinda exclaimed with delight as she discovered a bright airy room filled with flowers and arrangements of exotic fruits and sweetmeats. Champagne chilled on ice with two glasses at the ready and the manager, once assured that everything was perfect, made a swift exit.

“Oh, Felix, it’s just beautiful,” she said, moving about the room and exclaiming over the lovely wall hangings and the pretty bedcovers and elegant furniture.

“I’m glad you like it,” Felix said, watching with amusement as she flitted about like an effervescent butterfly. She had seemed to sparkle with joy from the moment he had seen her walking down the aisle towards him and, despite his apparent nonchalance, he was feeling a little overwhelmed by the good fortune with which he’d been blessed.