Page 57 of A Raven Reformed

“Are you sure I’m not crushing you?”

“I’m sure.” Belle smiled down at him, taking in every detail of his face. With her fingertip, she traced his perfect eyebrows and cheekbones. As she moved across his soft lips, she saw his throat work with a swallow. She was supposed to be talking, not seducing him, so she rested her hand on his chest, and didn’t move it.

“What’s bothering you, Michael?” she finally asked.

“I’m quite enjoying this, actually.”

Belle pressed her lips together. “That’s twice now that you’ve dodged my question. No secrets between us, remember?”

Michael let out a long sigh. “I suppose I don’t want to burden you with what’s on my mind.”

“I’m your wife, Michael, and I—” She almost said I love you, but although she knew that was true, the last thing she wanted to do right now was scare him off, so she quickly changed direction. “I want to know what you’re thinking.”

“Well.” His eyes flicked around as he sifted through the thoughts in his head, no doubt, deciding what to tell her.

“Out with it, Michael. I’m not a china doll. I can handle whatever it is that’s eating at you.”

“The truth is, I’m feeling a bit lost. I think perhaps I was naive believing we might be able to live our life here in Raven Row. The most obvious reason being we can’t raise the next Earl of Dalinridge here in this townhouse. So, presuming we are eventually blessed with children, this doesn’t work. In addition, I have a responsibility to the earldom that I’ve been neglecting for far too long.” Michael reached up and wrapped his fingers around her hand that lay on his chest.

“But there’s a selfish part of me that doesn’t want to give up The Raven’s Den. Ash and Patrick are my dearest friends, and working with them brings me so much joy, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment.”

He paused for a moment and then looked up into her eyes with a sigh. “But perhaps it’s time for me to become a man and put away childish things.”

Belle wrapped her arm around his head and pulled him against her bosom. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, leaning into her. He seemed to enjoy their closeness as much as she did. “Those aren’t childish things, Michael.”

“Aren’t they?”

Belle shook her head. “Just because something brings you joy, doesn’t make it childish. Surely, you can have responsibilities to yourself and to your friends in addition to the title. Besides, there might be an obvious solution to this problem.”

Michael huffed out a laugh. “Perhaps it’s obvious to you, my lady.”

“You’ve been so wrapped up in trying to balance everything, you’ve just never taken a step back to see that someone else is probably in the same boat as you.”

Michael furrowed his brow. “I still don’t understand.”

Belle chuckled. How did he not see it? “Well, she hasn’t said as much, but I’m quite certain Rosie is with child. I’ve been in their flat, and there is certainly no place for a nursery.”

Michael closed his eyes, his whole body slumping in defeat. “But that’s only worse, because that means Patrick will need to leave, as well. I don’t know why I hadn’t realized that before. Perhaps because he doesn’t actually hold the title.”

“Oh, Michael. My dear, sweet Michael. How can you be so brilliant and so obtuse at the same time?”

Michael choked on a laugh. “And how can you, my dear, sweet wife, manage to both compliment and insult me so spectacularly in a single sentence?”

Mirth bubbled up within her. “Now you’re making me second-guess my solution. But it seems to me, now that Giles has joined your group, the obvious answer for you and Patrick would be to take turns. You could each split your time between Raven Row and your estates.”

“You know,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips. “You may be onto something.” Belle could practically hear his mind turning as he pressed kisses over her hand. “But what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Will you be disappointed to go back to Glenwood?”

“No. In fact, if I’m honest, I’ve been getting a bit bored here,” she said with a shrug. “And all this talk of responsibilities makes me realize I’ve never really seen to mine, as your wife.”

“Oh, you’ve seen to your wifely duties just fine, love.” Michael grinned devilishly.

Belle swatted his chest playfully. “I mean, my duties as the Countess of Dalinridge; overseeing the household and making sure the tenants have all that they should. That kind of thing. I may not have been born to the role, but I know that I am, in fact, expected to perform certain functions.”

“Although the estate has run without one for a very long time, I’m sure everyone would be glad to have the lady in residence again.”

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