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“You don’t expect to stay here tonight, do you?” He smiled. It was a devilish, naughty smile that sent a bolt of desire spearing through her.
Heat flared in her face and tingled in the tips of her ears. She was married now, and her home was with her husband. “I won’t be a moment,” she at last replied, startled to hear her voice come out a low, throaty husk. Turning, she followed her parents into the house. Had she been less concerned with preserving her dignity, she would have taken the stairs two at a time.
Percy would tomorrow morning face off in a duel to defend her honor, but tonight was hers. He was hers.
The next quarter of an hour was spent in frantic activity as she and several maids rushed to and fro. Clothing and various other items were gathered and thrown into two small cases. The footman then hauled them down to the waiting carriage.
“I’ll send for my solicitor upon arriving home,” she heard Percy saying as she descended the stairs. “Everything will be drawn up tonight and I’ll sign before I leave.” On spying her, he held out his hand and drew her down the last two steps to stand at his side. “I’ve told them about the plan to adopt Thomas should it become necessary. They’ve agreed.”
“I hope it won’t come to that,” said her papa. In the light, his face now appeared drawn and haggard.
“As do we all,” agreed Percy.
On impulse, Eden stepped forward and embraced her father as she had not done in many years. “Farewell, Papa.” Before she could release him and pull away, his arms came up around her.
“Only for a while, I pray,” he replied, his voice suspiciously thick. He drew back and looked into her face. “Can you find it in your heart to forgive me, as well? I know I’m at fault for—”
“It is behind us,” she interrupted, pressing a kiss against his whiskered cheek. The sweet scent of his pipe tobacco clung to him. She inhaled deeply, knowing it was for the last time. As a married lady, she would never again hug her father like this. Childhood memories flooded back, happy ones from when Mama had still been with them, when he’d been her handsome, dashing Papa, the man she’d so idolized.
It was time to move on. A new life awaited her, as it did her father. Releasing him, she looked to her stepmother. “Good-
bye, Catherine. I truly hope the future sees us being friends again.”
“As do I.” A tear spilled over to run down Catherine’s face. “More than you can imagine. You really are the daughter of my heart, you know. I won’t say good-bye. I will instead pray for better—that tomorrow I shall be able to again say hello in joy.”
Though Eden’s heart still burned—this woman was essentially the reason her husband had to risk his life tomorrow—she stepped forward and embraced her. As she held her stepmother’s trembling shoulders, the hard shell forming around her heart unexpectedly softened. Forgiveness had been given, but not truly felt until now.
As soon as Eden released her, Percy held out his arm. Without looking back, Lady Tavistoke took it and stepped with her husband out into the night.
The carriage ride home was not wasted in conversation. The instant the door shut out the world, their arms were around each other. Eden drowned in sensation as her husband’s lips sought out hers in a searing kiss, a kiss that by its tender passion reaffirmed his earlier words.
I did not expect to fall in love with her…
The heart within her soared on the wings of that memory.
“Eden, my Eden,” he rasped at her ear, his lips trailing fire down her neck and across her collarbone. “I’ve waited so long for you. Now that you’re mine, I’m never letting go.” His arms tightened around her.
“You’ve waited approximately ten days,” she teased, kissing him again and thrilling to the feel of firm muscle beneath the silk of his coat sleeve.
“Practically a lifetime to a starving man, but that’s not what I meant,” he growled against her mouth. He drew back and framed her face between his warm, dry palms. “I don’t know what made me act like such a fool for so long, but I do know that part of my life is over. You may consider me well and truly reformed, madam.”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “I should hope so, because I have no intention of sharing.”
His smile returned, but only briefly. “Eden, there is so much I have to tell you, so much you need to know.”
“Not tonight,” she begged, running her hands across the slight roughness of his cheeks and putting a finger across his lips. “This is our wedding night. You can tell me everything tomorrow.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. “Or perhaps the day after that.” She did it again. “Or maybe next week…”
“Wanton woman,” he laughed, pulling her onto his lap.
So absorbed was she in learning the finer points of kissing her husband that Eden did not even notice when their conveyance came to a stop. The door opened, and she let out a squeak of dismay, wrenching her skirts back down. Her cheeks were aflame as she stepped out and pointedly ignored the stone-faced footman holding the door open for her.
Perfect. The servants’ first impression of their new mistress was of a lustful wench. Against her will, Eden’s lips curved up just a little. He’d called her a wanton woman. She supposed it was only fitting that The Terror of the Ton should marry such.
“Lady Tavistoke’s luggage is to be placed in my chamber,” commanded Percy, sweeping her past the man. “Tell the staff introductions are to be postponed until morning, due to the late hour.”
The door opened, and a dour looking man took her husband’s cloak and then her own. Eden marked that he did not even bat an eyelash at her presence.
“Eden, this is Seamus, my valet,” said Percy. “Seamus, this is Lady Tavistoke.”
