Page 242 of Storm of Bells
Eating unnecessarily excessive food?
Consuming alcoholic beverages?
Listening to people laughingand…joking?
That sort of outrageous waste of precioustime was enough to make me want to grind my teeth. Or, at least, itshould have been. Yes, it most definitely should have been. And itwould have been on any other day. Yet, as I sat there and secondafter valuable second ticked by, I couldn’t bring myself to care.Every time I glanced at the woman beside me and saw the wide,bright smile on her face, I couldn’t bring myself to even thinkabout it. It didn’t even bother me when several of my lady wife’sfriends stood up to deliver a series of…colourful toasts. All thiswent on until the sun began to sink beyond the trees, and Istilldidn’t mind. What in the name of King Midas waswrongwith me?
Before I could find an answer to thatquestion, I heard a contented sigh from right next to me and,glancing sideways, saw my wife slumped in her seat. Judging by herbulging belly, she either had developed pre-emptive pregnancy, orshe hadreallyenjoyed her food. Leaning back, she foldedher hands over her stomach with a broad, but definitely sleepysmile on her face.
‘I think,’ I stated, leaning over towardsher, ‘it is time for us to retire to our home for the night, don’tyou?’
‘Yes.’ She yawned. ‘I’m rather tired.’
Tired?
I felt something flare inside me. Suddenly,looking at her as she languidly slumped against me, almost as ifready for bed, I did not feel as patient anymore as I had a momentearlier. ‘I’m not. Not at all.’
She blinked up at me in drowsy confusion thatmade me want to grab her and kiss the life out of her.
‘You there!’ Rising to my feet while keepinga steadying arm around my lady wife, I gestured to one of the boyswho had been scurrying about between the tables, distributingdesserts. ‘Get the carriage ready, will you?’
‘Yes, My Lord! Right away, My Lord!’
One finger twitching in annoyance at the useof that title, I stared daggers at the retreating boy’s back.Luckily, he didn’t waste my time, and soon, the carriage rolled upthe gravel road and came to a stop across the meadow.
‘Come on.’ I tightened my arm around mysleepy wife and helped her to her feet. Yawning, she let herself beled to the carriage, seeming not to notice the whistles andcatcalls rising behind us. Ididnotice, however, andmentally noted down all their names to pass on to Karim later.
‘My Lady?’
Some man who, in my opinion, was far toopolite for his own good, held open the carriage door for my wife.Manoeuvring her past him swiftly, I helped her into the carriageand gently settled her down onto the upholstery. Climbing in afterher, I pulled shut the door just in time to see the new Mrs Ambrosegazing out of the window, blinking confusedly at her bridesmaidsoutside.
‘What are they waiting for?’ she yawned.
I gave a low snort. ‘They aren’t coming.’
Still blinking tiredly, she glanced over atme. ‘Why?’
Does she truly not realize?
I almost felt tempted to smirk. Almost.
Leaning over towards her, I gently touchedher cheeks. ‘I assume it is because they wish to give us someprivacy,Mrs Ambrose.’
I could see her eyes widen at the use of hernew name.
Adequate. It is about time she realizes whoshe belongs to.
‘Who says I’ll be the one to change my name?’She protested. ‘Maybe you should—’
My mouth cut her off mid-sentence.Instinctively, she reached for me, but I grabbed her wrists and,slamming them into the padded backrest of the bench, I pushed heragainst it. Of all the ways to silence protest, this had turned outto be by far the most effective one. Oh, and pleasurable aswell.
‘Did you want to say something,MrsAmbrose?’ I growled against her mouth.
‘You…you should let go of—’
My lips firmly sealed hers before she couldfinish. I kissed her without remorse, without mercy, without theslightest hint of hesitation. I kissed her knowing that soon, Iwould do so, so much more. Every twist of my tongue, every caresson her soft lips was proof of that. When I finally decided to breakthe kiss, she gasped for breath.
‘Now, tell me again…’ My eyes bored into her,pinning her in place. ‘What did you want to say to me?’
