Page 63 of Wedded to the Beastly Duke
She had promised her mother and sister that she would do her best to return home, but as the days lengthened and warmed, and as she and Adam learned how to live with one another, it felt very much as though this was already home.
The household was hers to command, although she largely left it in Mrs. Pentwhistle’s capable hands. She had the freedom that she had been denied in her mother’s home, not being married or its mistress.
And here she had Adam.
Her stomach fluttered a little at the thought. The way he had looked at her earlier… She had been convinced that perhaps he might have had his fill of her when he hadn’t visited her bedchamber, but that look proved how wrong she was.
At home, she had not known the joys that could come from lying with a man. If she had, she would not have been so quick to dismiss marriage as a potential path she could take.
If not for Adam, perhaps she would never have known the pleasure of intimacy. And they had not yet been fully intimate. That slow pace was to be expected, considering they were still learning more about each other, but she was tired of waiting.
Returning home as her family wanted meant relinquishing all ofthis.
She was not sure she could do it. No longer sure she wanted to.
When all this had happened, she was unsure. Even at the ball, she had been determined to find her way back to London and out of his house. But now…
Well, now things had changed. And although she was not sure preciselywhenthey had changed, all she knew was that they had, and she would have to pay for the consequences in time.
Eventually, Adam made his way back to her. The basket had a new selection of bold red strawberries. Most weren’t quite ripe yet, but enough were that it would make a pleasing addition to their picnic.
“I noted you took no part in that,” he said, offering her a strawberry.
She accepted and bit into it, noting the way his eyes flicked immediately to her mouth. “Why should I play a part in it? I had such fun watching you squabble like little children.”
His thumb came to wipe away the juice that gathered on her lower lip. Heat bloomed in her belly. “Perhaps, but I would have enjoyed having you near.”
“Do you not enjoy this?”
“I do,” he admitted quietly, his eyes still on her mouth. She took another bite, and she could have sworn she saw his throat bob. “I would enjoy it still more if we were alone.”
“Now then.” She pushed at his shoulders, trying to bite back a laugh. “How could you be so cruel to your brother?”
“He is hardly hanging on my every word,” Adam said dryly. “He has quite the argumentative spirit once he ceases to be afraid.”
“A spirit which you no doubt foster.”
“Perhaps.” The creases at the corners of his eyes deepened with his smile. “It does not take much.”
“It seems you were made to be brothers, then,” she retorted. “Admit it, you like him.”
“Very well,” he said, his blue eyes still on her. There was something disconcertingly direct about them, and her stomach churned with anticipation she could hardly name. “I like him. Does that satisfy you, wife?”
“It does,” she said boldly.
“But as much as I like him, and as much as I have endeavored to forgive him for our father’s crimes, there are certain things I would rather he not be here for.” He bent his head as though to kiss her, and her breath caught in her throat. But before his mouth landed on hers, he stopped, and that almost smile touched his lips again. “I see I am not alone in my desire for it.”
“Wretch,” she said, smacking his arm. “Go back to your brother and leave me in peace.”
“No, no,” Rickard said, approaching them with a smile. Ever since the truth had come out, even though that had only been a handful of days ago, he had visibly relaxed in their presence. “I am waiting for you to lead us to your picnic spot. No doubt you have somewhere wonderful in mind.”
Emmeline bit her lip as she tried not to smile. “As a matter of fact, I have.”
They walked together, Adam slowing his long strides to match her pace. The dust from the path had nearly ruined her skirts; if anyone had seen them crossing the countryside, no doubt they would have been hard-pressed to accept that they were witnessing a duke and his duchess tramp about the land.
It was the happiest Emmeline had ever been. Adam and Rickard continued to bicker good-naturedly, this time talking about Irish whiskey versus scotch, and she drank up the peace that came from being with them like this, the soft heat from the sun sinking into her, her legs stretched from the exercise, and the fields rolling around them in all directions.
Eventually, they crossed a stile, and she led them up a small incline to where she had intended to stop for the picnic. By then, they were all a little hot and tired, and it was only through wheedling that she convinced Adam to make it to the top.
