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Ethan chortled. “Of course. Emma said it would teach me to think and to plan astrat … e … gy.” He drew out the word carefully.
“Do you know what it means to plan a strategy?” Richard asked him.
“It means to play smarter than yourop … po … nent.” The boy sounded out cautiously.
Richard smiled down at the boy, an errant rush of warmth causing him to raise his hand to affectionately ruffle the silky locks of his …child. “That it does, Ethan. That it does. Who is Emma?”
The boy looked at him oddly. “Emma is … Emma.” Ethan frowned slightly, then elaborated. “She is mycuz-zin. And my friend.”
Richard winced, but quickly cleared his face to smile at the boy. Might he have been too hasty ripping the boy from his family? Should he have collected the child himself? Perhaps spent a few days with the boy’s family and come to know them, and this Emma, and the life that Ethan had led? Had he been arrogant to send his man of business to collect the boy and make the arrangements?
He was not accustomed to knowing how to treat family matters such as this and feared he may have been ruthless in his single-minded focus to claim his son.
He raised his head to stare at Sophia. She raised her eyebrows in question, but he could not talk about it in front of the boy.
Radcliffe entered the room accompanied by a short, young maid with a wide, pleasant face and dark brown hair scraped back in a bun. Richard thought she might be new.
“Milord, this is Daisy. She has come to work with us from one of your Somerset estates, and she has several younger brothers and sisters. I arranged for her to act as a nursemaid until permanent arrangements can be made.”
Richard was relieved as he stood up. He needed to accustom himself to his changed circumstances, so a temporary reprieve was in order.
“Perhaps we can walk with Ethan up to the nursery to see him settled, Richard?”
Accepting Sophia’s guidance in the matter, he gave a nod. Taking Ethan by his small hand, he smiled down. “You want to see your rooms, son?”
Ethan grinned and nodded. The boy was sociable and inquisitive. He chattered about the books Sophia would show him later as he tugged Richard into a walk.
Sophia followed them while they walked up the stairs to find the nursery. She looked around with keen interest, and Richard sensed she was noting the rooms and their contents in order to make improvements. Once Ethan started yawning, no doubt the effect of his long journey and hearty meal, she encouraged him to sleep. The boy nodded, swiftly dozing off on his small bed while Sophia quietly instructed Daisy about his belongings, meals, and recreations, along with arranging a time for his promised game of chess with his papa.
Finally, they left the nursery to walk back downstairs.
“Do you mind if I make arrangements to remodel the nursery? I will want to make purchases.”
Richard shook his head. “Of course not. I did not expect you to be involved, but I would appreciate your input.”
“I think we will need to ensure we spend quite a bit of time with Ethan. It sounds like he has come from a large family and will not be occupied with only a nursemaid to keep him company. I think we should find a nursemaid who is educated and can discuss his books with him. Or even a governess who might continue his studies until he is a little older?”
“I bow to your insights, wife. We will find my man of business so he may begin searching for someone appropriate. You mentioned a tutor might be needed sooner rather than later, so we will discuss our needs with Johnson, but perhaps a governess would be a good start, considering he keeps mentioning this Emma. It is not the done thing, but as you pointed out, we no longer need to concern ourselves with that.”
Sophia smiled up at him, her arm woven around his while they walked down together. “This is quite a turn of events. Last week I was a mere ward in my uncle’s house, and this week I am a bride and I guess I am standing in as a mother. Who would have predicted such a change in circumstances?”
It was eerie to hear his earlier thoughts echoed, but he smiled at her pleased expression. His eyes lingered on her lips, and he wondered when they might find an opportunity to make her his wife in truth. It did not seem like the day presented much possibility, but the memory of her fingers slowly exploring his body had returned the moment they closed the door on the nursery. Her interest in his son and the grace of her acceptance increased his frustrated desire. He wished he could drag her into one of the chambers they were passing to have his way with her.
CHAPTER9
Richard led Sophia down to his study, closing the door once they entered. He guided her to an armchair where, to her surprise, he took a seat. She stood by hesitantly, unsure what to do. Suddenly, she felt his hands at her waist as he picked her up and settled her down on his lap.
Squeaking, she looked at him in surprise, noting the rather pleasant experience of feeling his hard thighs pressed against her buttocks. He buried his face in her neck and breathed in deeply.
“You smell so sweet,” he groaned into her skin, his lips grazing up to her ear, where he unexpectedly drew a lobe into his mouth and suckled. Shivering in delight, she arched to the side to give him better access while raising a hand to rest it on his defined chest. His mouth explored her, tracing over to her cheek and then pressing against her lips in agonizing stillness. She moaned and leaned in to kiss him, which he quickly took advantage of by slipping his tongue into her mouth to tangle against her own while his large hand idly grazed up and down the flare of her hip. His deep, drugging kisses intoxicated her senses while breathing in his spicy male scent made time itself stand still.
Slowly, he pulled back, giving her sweet kisses before withdrawing to look at her. She opened her eyes and found herself enthralled by his gaze.
“Why did you marry me?”
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. “You intrigued me.”
“Yes, but that first time you dissuaded my interest with that vapid act of yours—it was very effective, by the way. When I danced with you the second time, you showed no interest. What changed?”
