Page 159 of The Lyon Whisperer
“Truly?”
“Truly. I fought it, fought it with everything in me, but I never stood a chance. I was yours before I walked out your father’s door the first time.”
“Oh, Chase, I do love you so.”
She rose onto her tiptoes to kiss him.
He pulled out of reach. “Your promise, madam wife?”
“I promise, my lord, never again.”
“Now, we need to discuss you venturing into the stews for your strays.”
This time, when she rose up on her toes to kiss him, she refused to be denied. “Later, my love.” She pressed her lips to his and let him show her without words how very much he loved her, indeed.
Epilogue
Three months later.
Amelia lounged onthe chaise in her husband’s office, reading and rereading the same few pages of the latest novel chosen by the Ladies’ Literary Society,Mansfield Park,by Miss Jane Austin. She adored the novel, but her mind could not stay focused. It kept straying to the conversation which had taken place this afternoon at the emergency meeting of The Ladies’ Literary Society at number 7 Dove Street.
She lay the novel face down on her chest and contemplated Roddy, curled into a ball and snoozing on the floor beside her. His paws jerked as if he dreamed of running, likely chasing after one of the sticks her husband loved to toss for him.
Idly, she smoothed her fingertips over his soft ear and glanced at the closed door. She wondered, not for the first time, when Chase might return from his luncheon with his uncle and his uncle’s man-of-affairs. She had something delicate to discuss with him.
One of their honorary members, Mrs. Gwendolyn Barnes, had arrived in town days ago and was currently a house guest of Lady Harriet and Margaret. Hailing from the north, she was a widow of three or so years, and Georgina’s longstanding editor—not that anyone outside the Ladies’ Literary Society could know that Georgina was G.T. Arlington.
Poor Mrs. Barnes had recently suffered the loss of her dear father. With no family left to speak of in the vicinity, and hoping to make a fresh start, she’d packed up all her worldly belongings and made for London where she planned to relocate.
A woman of some means, thanks to several inheritances, she planned to purchase a publishing house which she would manage and where she would function as the editor-in-chief. But in her endeavor, she had encountered certain obstacles.
Amelia had a plan to help her, but before she proceeded, she had to first speak with her husband. She allowed herself a small smile. How pleased he would be that she knew better now than to go off on one of her schemes without at least consulting him—and so she would remind him when he balked, as he was sure to do.
The sound of the front door opening and closing, and muted voices in the foyer, her husband’s rumbling baritone among them, had her leaping to her feet. Roddy, too, snapped awake and bounded onto his four legs, alert and ready to greet his master.
The office door opened. Chase stepped inside, closing the door behind him as his gaze sought and found her. His dark eyes warmed and a smile played at his full mouth. “This is a pleasant homecoming. I thought you had a meeting planned with your literary club, today.”
“I did. I hurried home to speak with you about a somewhat urgent matter.” As always, beholding her beloved husband, her breath caught, and her insides bubbled with delicious warmth.
Roddy, evidently, experienced a similar joy. His tail thumped heavily against the carpets.
“Urgent?” Frowning, Chase started toward them. “What’s happened?”
“Oh, well, perhaps ‘urgent’ is putting the matter too strongly. The thing is, one of our honorary members has moved to town, Mrs. Gwendolyn Barnes.”
“And?” Nearing them, he stretched one hand to pat Roddy and lifted his other in preparation for embracing Amelia.
Neither she nor Roddy could wait a second longer for him to reach them. She and the adoring hound closed the distance between them. She twined her arms around Chase’s warm neck as Roddy pressed his muzzle into his hand and his body against both their legs.
Happiness welled up inside her. She chuckled and lifted on tiptoe to rub the tip of her nose under her husband’s strong jaw, enjoying the scrape of stubble already in evidence at not quite two in the afternoon. “Now. About what I wish to tell you…”
“In a moment.” Chase lowered his head to claim her mouth in a lingering kiss that turned her bones liquid.
When he straightened, she blinked, trying to gather her thoughts.Dear Heaven.She swatted at him, playfully. “You’ve thoroughly distracted me, sir.”
He traced his fingertips over her cheek. “Only fair, madam, as I live in a constant state of befuddlement, thanks to you.”
“Oh?” She could hear the smile in her own voice.
