Page 50 of The Miracle of Love
“And you are just too dense to admit there is beauty in love. I need my husband to be faithful. I think any woman you marry would be very unhappy if you were unfaithful to her.”
“You are wrong, Grace. Most would not say a word about it.”
“That is completely untrue. I certainly would open my mouth about it.”
He caressed her cheek. “I know you would.”
“And what is wrong with that? Any woman who truly loves you would do the same. But I suppose if they did not love you, then you would be free to do whatever you wished without a care. But why would you marry someone like that? Do you really want a woman who values your wealth more than she values you? Of course, this assumes you are wealthy. I expect you are since everyone knows Lady Miranda’s son, Finn, takes care of the Brayden family assets. Even though you are a leopard, you are still one of the family.”
“Grace, I am not a leopard. Good grief, will you get that out of your head? But Finn does take care of my investments.”
“I am a little acquainted with his wife, Belle. She and her sister run the Farthingale soap company. Their scented soaps are marvelous. I use them all the time. My favorite is–”
“Strawberry,” he said with a chuckle. “I know.” To prove his point, he lightly nuzzled her neck. “It is delicious on your skin. The sweetest nectar.”
“Dear heaven,” she said in a ragged whisper, “I thought you were going to behave yourself.”
“I am trying my best. You are far too tempting. No woman should look as pretty as you in the morning.”
She groaned, but made no move to draw away. “Are you going to put on your shirt or will you prance about our bedchamber half-dressed all day?”
He gave her chin a playful tweak. “It does not count as prancing unless one is completely naked. Happy to oblige if you are interested.”
The man was simply appalling. “I do not wish to see your horrid snake smiling back at me on your dimpled arse. Kindly stay fully clothed.”
He laughed. “All right, Grace. You win. I’ll order our breakfast brought up and then we can start reading the book. How’s that for a plan?”
She shook her head and smiled. “Yes, it is a very good one.”
But he did not toss on his shirt right away or leave for the common room. Instead, he stood there staring at her for the longest moment. “You truly are the prettiest thing in the morning,” he said, his voice deep and mingled with a soft growl. “Your eyes have a sleepy, starlight sparkle to them, and your hair is a wild tumble down your back. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone as lovely as you.”
She swallowed hard.
What was his point?
Was he going to kiss her again?
Her heart was already in palpitations from the delightful neck-nuzzling he had just given her.
“Do you think the book will explain why I find you so appealing even though you are buried under all those layers of wool and linen? I cannot stop staring at you.”
“In fact, it will. I know exactly why you cannot take your eyes off me.”
He appeared genuinely surprised. “You do? Tell me.”
“It is a rather long explanation.”
“Go ahead,” he said with a shrug, taking gentle hold of her shoulders as he regarded her with his soul-searing eyes. They were the anchors to a manly face, rugged in appearance since he had yet to shave the light stubble of beard that had grown on his chin overnight. “I have nowhere else to be.”
“Shouldn’t you order our breakfast first?”
“No, answer this first. I am utterly stymied.”
“All right. But you mustn’t laugh because what I am about to tell you is based on serious scientific observation.”
His lips twitched. “Go on.”
She took a deep breath. “Well, as you will find out when you read the first chapter, men have two brains.”
