Page 80 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
His loins tightened, thinking of her in that bed, her golden hair spread against the white sheet. Her face, twisted in ecstasy, as he brought her to the brink, once again. Three times he had satisfied her, before he had taken his own fulfilment. By that time, he had been ravenous with need.
He grinned. Marriage was provingverysatisfactory. Very satisfactory, indeed.
“Awake at last, Lady Comerford?” he said loudly, just to see her flush. She knew the gardener would be lurking somewhere, as did he.
Ara shot him a dirty look, smoothing out the creases in her gown. “So it would seem, Lord Comerford.” She paused. “Shall we head to the stables?”
His grin widened. He should have known that was the first thing that she would want to do. It usually was.
He held out his hand to her. “It would be my pleasure, wife.”
She sighed deeply, taking his hand. Together, they walked down the path, towards the stables.
“Will you ride Hero today, or Pem?” he asked casually, tightening his grip on her hand.
She frowned slightly. “I think it will be Hero today, my lord,” she said slowly. “I feel like stretching his legs a bit.” She tossed back her shoulders, a challenging look in her eyes. “Let us see if you can keep up with me today, husband. You lagged behind, just a little, on yesterday’s ride.”
Miles laughed. “Indeed, my lady. But then, there are not many as skilled on horseback as my wife.”
It was true. Ara’s talent with horses was something to behold. He had thought himself an excellent horseman, but she lived and breathed the pastime. She wasn’t interested at all in staying indoors, embroidering and doing domestic duties, as so many women did. If she was housebound at all she would grow increasingly restless, until there was a chance for her to escape outdoors.
And he wouldn’t have it any other way. He loved her, just the way that she was.
He had thought it impossible to love her any more than when he had first fallen in love with her. But each day, it grew stronger. He didn’t desire to be anywhere than Wallington House, now. Sometimes they travelled to London together, but it bored him as much as it did her. He couldn’t wait to get back to their country idyll.
He took a deep breath. “Is everything ready for the party, on Friday night, my sweet?”
Ara glanced at him. “As ready as it is ever going to be!” She shrugged. “I have discussed the menu with Cook, and you have ordered the wine…there isn’t anything else that I should do, is there?”
He laughed. “I love how casual you are about it, Ara! Most women would be tearing their hair out, going over all the trivial details, but you just take it in your stride.”
She shrugged again. “It is only a small gathering, for our families. What is there to fuss about? And besides, it bores me. I do not see the point in carrying on, getting myself into a state, about things like whether we should serve duck or partridge. As long as everyone is fed, and the drinks flow, who cares?”
He laughed harder, pulling her into his arms. Tenderly, he kissed the top of her head.
“You are a wonder, did you know that?” he whispered huskily. “How I love you, my lady.”
She smiled, embracing him tightly for a moment. “And I love you, my lord.” Suddenly, she pulled away, running ahead, her dark eyes sparkling. “Come on! We are wasting precious riding time, husband!”
***
Miles gazed around the table, with an air of satisfaction. Everyone was conversing with ease. The air was filled with the sound of laughter and talking.
He sipped his wine, taking note of the beautiful table arrangement. Despite Ara’s vehemence that domestic matters bored her to tears, she had dressed the table with care and skill. A large crystal vase was the centrepiece, overflowing with flowers picked fresh from their own garden. It was simple, yet elegant.
The menu had been a delight as well. Mrs. Armstrong, their cook, had surpassed herself, but he knew that she had been challenged by Ara to create dishes to impress their guests. The chicken fricassee had been so tender it had melted in the mouth, and the chocolate mousse rich and velvety. All in all, their family dinner party was a great success.
He gazed at their guests, sitting around the table. Andrew was here, sitting opposite Ruth, casting smouldering glances her way. Miles knew that his brother had been spending a lot of time in residence at Thorn House, and Ara had told him that most of that time was spent calling on Rudwick House.
He smiled. It seemed that his brother was smitten with Ara’s cousin. But Andrew wasn’t the type to kiss and tell, so he had no idea if it was a passing flirtation or something more serious. Ara had informed him that Ruth hadn’t confided in her about it, either. They were both in the dark as to what was going on between the two. But Ara secretly hoped that it was something special.
“I so want Ruth to find happiness,” she had told him one night, when they had been lying in each other’s arms. “I want her to find the happiness that I have found with you, Miles. She feels the need to marry so keenly, because of her situation…and if she must, then I just hope and pray it is to someone she truly loves, and who truly loves and values her. It would be a crying shame if she gives up all hope and marries out of convenience.”
Miles had nodded. “I feel the same way about Andrew,” he had replied. “My brother is at a crossroads. He is heartily sick of the bachelor life, and more than ready to settle down. But because he is Duke of Lancaster, it is hard for him to know if the young ladies really do care forhim, rather than the title….”
Ara had swatted him lightly. “I am well aware ofthatfact, my lord! How could I ever forget it!”
They had kissed, then, long and lingering, both remembering how they had met, and his deception, pretending to be the Duke. It had almost cost him her heart, and he would never stop being grateful for the fact that she had seen fit to forgive him and give him a second chance.
