Page 27 of A Gentleman Never Surrenders
“Milly, sweetheart, I fully admit that thinking about getting you flat on your back is the only thing that has crossed my mind since we left bed this morning.”
A lock of hair escaped her elegant coiffure and fell into her eyes. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening.
“Really?” she whispered.
He sensed there was a danger to this answer, as though if he said sex was the only thing he thought about, it would upset her, but he knew that women also wanted to know they were desired. Deciding to brave his little harpy’s wrath, he walked around the table to gently take the beater from her. After it was deposited on the reading table, he cupped her face in his hands and leaned in to press a feathery kiss to her lips before speaking. He smiled when her lashes fluttered closed for a brief instant as she lost herself to his kiss.
“My point is, you are all I think about, in bed and out. I haven’t had this much fun in ages; tearing through the house with you and spending time with you has been wonderful.”
Her striking blue eyes widened and her lips parted. “You’re not just saying that? I thought I might have bored you when we were talking over supper last night.”
“Bored me? Heavens no, I loved hearing you talk.”
He’d listened to her talk for almost an hour about her dreams, about how she longed to teach underprivileged children, especially girls, to read. It had shocked him at first, to hear that a highborn woman of her pedigree would be interested in stooping to teaching village children, but then when he thought about it and her more closely, he realized he was understanding her better and better. She wanted freedom, she wanted a life outside of being a wife, and he couldn’t fault her for that. But she always wanted to give that freedom to other girls. Increasing literacy would certainly give those young children a chance to grow up and live better lives than their parents had. If someone had tried to clip his wings, he would have felt suffocated and he didn’t wish that fate upon anyone, especially not his wife.
“I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you. You are free to always talk to me about anything.”
She lowered her lashes and curled her fingers around his wrists as he still held her face in his hands. A blush stained her cheeks and she smiled. It was a warm smile, not a coy or cold one and it made his heart leap.
I might stand a chance to win her after all…
“Why don’t we leave the curtains for another day? I think we deserve a bit of a reprieve, don’t you?” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“That would be nice,” she replied. Unable to still the excited beat of his heart, he curled an arm around her waist and escorted her from the library. Tonight, before dinner, he could return and collect a few books for her to read. He might just read them with her. For the first time in ages, Owen was struck by a sense of hope. Everything might yet turn out all right.
I may have muddled the beginning but I believe things are finally going well.
* * *
“Good heavens, he is a shaggy little fellow, isn’t he?” Milly stayed a step or two behind Owen as they approached the plump, wooly coated sheep. They’d abandoned the library and the dusty curtains in favor of a walk outside for rest and fresh air.
“He’s a fine example of the Cotswold lion.” Owen waved her to step closer.
The sheep continued to munch on the plot of greenish brown grass about ten feet away.
“And how many of these lions do you have roaming about the estate?” Milly tucked her scarf around her neck and dared to come closer.
“We have close to a hundred here on Wesden property, and the tenant farmers on the surrounding lands have their own smaller flocks. It will likely grow in spring if the breeding is successful.” Owen turned back to her and walked over, offering the crook of his elbow to her. He’d shown her much of the house already in the last week while they were cleaning and she’d begun an official list of everything she found fault with that would need to be addressed. The house needed more servants, food in its larders, and the rooms redecorated. The list was endless.
But she’d been surprised that he did in fact help her. She had expected him to leave her alone after their first night in bed and run off to London to escape the backbreaking work of fixing Wesden Heath. Yet he’d stayed…For an entire week they had worked together, side by side, often fighting, but eventually coming to an agreement and fixing whatever they were trying to repair.
Being around Owen was no longer a chore, nor did it make her nervous. She was feeling more relaxed and more herself than she had in a long time. And in the morning…when he made love to her, it left her giddy and blushing like a schoolgirl but she couldn’t help it. Part of her was afraid to trust this growing affection she had for him, but she also knew it was inevitable—she was going to fall in love with her husband. She buried the fear of losing her freedom and control of her life each time he smiled at her and kissed her.
“We could go into town if you like. The ride is quite pleasant.”
He didn’t own a car—only hired one when he needed it—but Milly knew they could certainly afford one now; she’d have to find a clever way of convincing him of this. Despite his need for her money, she sensed he was a bit of a slim spender.
“I’d like that. It has been ages since I’ve been on a horse.”
She and Owen walked back across the fields, reaching a waist-high stone wall. He easily hopped the wall and then reached back over to pick her up by the waist, carrying her across the fence and then setting her down. All of the practical skirts she’d packed were most useful. Sadly, she guessed her lovely gowns for evening balls would rarely be worn. Such a pity, she did so love balls, even though she’d had no real chance to enjoy them. Avoiding suitors had been necessary but it had deprived her of the joys of dancing, laughing, being herself.
“What are you thinking about?” Owen asked as they entered the gardens in front of the house.
She answered honestly. “Dancing. I miss dancing.”
His bark of laughter made her bristle.
“You could have fooled me. I distinctly recall you telling Hampton off when he asked you to dance.”
