Page 187 of Dukes Are Forever
It was several days after the city's fire crews and Nighthawks had managed to get the fires under control. Malloryn had only allowed her out of bed this morning, as her coughing had finally subsided to the occasional bout, and Adele had insisted upon getting out of the house.
One small carriage ride, she'd begged.
Which suited his purposes perfectly.
They stood before the ruins of the tower, watching as workmen cleared the rubble under harsh lights. It would take months to clear the worksite completely, and they'd been working through the night.
"Do you know—despite the verbal thrashing I received from the queen—I actually think I'm quite glad to see its fall," Malloryn murmured as a sliver of light lit the east. From the ashes, a new London could be rebuilt.
All those who'd held back its progress were gone.
He'd handed over the membership lists of Angel's Fall to Barrons, and the few remaining members of the Rising Sons had been rounded up and either executed or imprisoned.
Balfour was finally dead, and his schemes with him.
And Malloryn could finally lay to rest the ghosts of his past.
Adele glanced up, resting her gloved hand on top of his, and he sensed her quick mind trying to chase down his reasons.
"Because it was a product of the prince consort's reign?"
"Precisely. He had it built—he and Balfour—to remind the citizens of London that they were forever in its shadow. When we overthrew the prince consort, his legacy ended, and yet it somehow remained. Watching. Looming. I could never walk the tower's halls without seeing his and Balfour's hand in every piece of it."
"How utterly phallic of them."
He flashed her a smile. "Men do that, I'm told."
"Worship their manhood?"
He brushed a kiss against her cheek. "As for myself, I'd prefer to leave such adoration in your capable hands."
Adele blushed.
They hadn't been intimate since she'd woken, as the doctor had warned Adele against exertion until her lungs had fully healed, but he was enjoying this newfound affection between them.
He hadn't felt this free in years.
"My hands?" she whispered. "Or my mouth? As I recall, you seemed to enjoy that very much."
"Behave," he teased. "We're in public. And such behavior is only to be found in the bedroom."
"Or the carriage. Or the library. Or your study...."
"Yes, well. When one's wife is pushing you to the brink, you make do with what you can."
"I hereby promise to push you to the brink on a regular basis."
"What more could any husband desire?"
Malloryn stepped down over an immense block of white marble, then turned and reached up to lift her down. Dawn was definitely on the horizon, which meant he'd have to hurry.
Adele's hands slid over his shoulders, and when he set her on her feet she lingered there, her skirts caressing the tightly pleated folds of his trousers. "What now? The queen has forgiven you?"
"It seems she's in a forgiving mood," he replied, enjoying the brisk whisper of the breeze through his hair. "Something to do with her holiday to Sir Gideon's house. Though I'm not quite certain what precisely went on there."
Adele's laugh was low and husky.
"Will she rebuild?"
