Page 21 of Papa's Desires
Chapter 9
Grayson House was larger and more lavish than Cynny could have ever imagined. Lord Grayson’s London residence was an impressive four story expanse with two wings, and though he’d yet to give her a full tour, she imagined it contained dozens upon dozens of rooms. Not little rooms either, but huge rooms with high ornate ceilings, if the rest of his house was anything like the room they currently occupied. In fact, the entirety of Talcott House could have fit into the drawing room, which is where they both now sat, enjoying a late afternoonluncheon.
She had thought her new papa might take her to his bedchamber immediately upon their arrival and teach her exactly what happens to married people, given the intimate turn their conversation had taken in the carriage, but when he’d heard her stomach growling loudly after they exited the carriage, he had insisted she take refreshment at once, hinting that she would “need her energy” with a waggle of hiseyebrows.
After he’d taken her into the drawing room, within minutes two servants had appeared with a tea tray that also contained little sandwiches, cakes, and other delicious morsels for them to dine upon. Though she was impatient to continue the intimacies they had started in the carriage, she was appreciative of the meal, as she’d been too nervous to take more than one bite duringbreakfast.
“Everything is quite delicious,” she said. “Thank you, Papa.” She took another sip of tea and smiled at him over the rim of hercup.
“I am glad you like it. Cook, as well as the rest of my staff, will be pleased there is finally a lady in house.” His eyes darkened. “But none will be so pleased asme.”
A heated flush spread up her neck and covered her entire face, and in a bout of shyness Cynny glanced down at her teacup.
“You’re adorable when you blush, little Cynny,” he said, addressing her by her nickname for the first time. “I think making you blush will be my new favorite activity.” He moved closer, and the heat of his body wafted against hers as the tension between them swelled. He took the cup from her suddenly trembling hands and set it on the table in front of thecouch.
She became aware of the moisture between her thighs when she squirmed in her seat and wished she’d worn a pair of drawers. She felt her face grow hotter, knowing her papa might soon discover the wetness in her kitty. He would take her clothes off soon, surely, now that they were husband and wife. She tried to remember everything Cammie’s letter said, but as she gazed up at her handsome papa, all coherent thought fled from hermind.
“As much as I want to strip off your gown and ravish you here on this couch, Cynny, I shall endeavor to not be so beastly. You are a sweet little girl and you deserve every bit of the patience and gentleness I have promised you. Though I will claim you soon as my wife in truth, it will be in my bed after we’ve both had some time to recover from ourtravels.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Papa. I-I suppose it would be nice to refreshmyself.”
“I’ve sent a maid upstairs to prepare your bedchamber, which is adjoined to mine. I will take you there now and she will help you prepare for the evening tocome.”
The evening to come.Her stomach did a little flip at the serious note in his words—four little words that held so much power and promise. She wondered how a man as large as Lord Grayson would manage to be gentle. Part of her wished he would treat her with a bit of roughness, though she couldn’t understand where such thoughts were coming from, particularly given that she had no experience in the maritalbed.
“I appreciate you and your staff making me welcome on such short notice,” shesaid.
He gave a playful tug on one of her curls. “The short notice is my fault. I should have stolen you away from Talcott House as my bride the first day I metyou.”
“Ah, but you told me your bride awaited you in London,” she said in a teasing tone, though she hoped he hadn’t been betrothed to a certain lady in particular and broken his engagement. She imagined such a faux pas would involve lots of scandal and she would have a difficult time as it was being accepted into polite society, though she planned to make every effort to build a rapport with Lord Grayson’s peers. Her heart pounded as she awaited hisexplanation.
“I want there to always be honesty between us, little Cynny. No secrets ever, and certainly no lies,” he replied with just enough sternness to make a quiver race across her bottom. “That is why I must confess to you that I never had a bride waiting for me in London. Not precisely. I went to London at the start of the season and I attended many balls and partnered with many ladies on the dance floor, in an attempt to find the young woman who would become Lady Grayson, but I found I could not stop thinking of you. Every time I blinked, I saw a vision of you sitting on the bench in the gardens of Talcott House, smiling and fidgeting with your hat, your golden curls gleaming in the sun and your blue eyes sparkling with life. I heard your laughter and your sweet, soft voice at the most inopportune of times, so frequently that several times I feared I was goingmad.”
His confession warmed her all over. She supposed she should be honest in return, at least when it came to her feelings toward him. She would decide how to resolve the situation with his pocket watch later, after she’d had more time to ponder her options. Stealing was one thing, but he apparently detested lies and secrets evenmore.
“Papa, your words please me more than you could imagine. In fact, I’ve had a similar problem since I first met you. Every time I thought of you—which was quite often—I felt warm and tingly. I’ve been harboring a secret, tender regard for you in my heart, and when you announced that you wanted to marry me it was the happiest moment of my life.” She leaned closer to him, inhaling his spicy masculine scent. “I hope we will make one another happy. I vow I will try my very best to be a good wife to you,anda good little girl foryou.”
He grasped her hands one at a time, sliding off the delicate lace gloves that matched her wedding gown. Then he gathered her hands in his, and the heat of his bare skin against hers made her gasp. She curled her fingers in his and stared at their joined hands, shaken by the intensity of her longing forhim.
“Come, my little bride, and I will escort you to yourroom.”
“Yes,Papa.”
* * *
Grayson surveyedthe large bedchamber that had always been intended for the future Lady Grayson with satisfaction. In a short matter of time, the maid, Mrs. Hennely, had prepared the room for Hyacinth’s arrival. Her trunks sat at the end of the bed, and he was glad she’d come into the marriage with a few belongings, since he’d had no time to make the proper provisions for a bride or commission a new wardrobe forher.
As soon as could be arranged, however, he would take her to the most fashionable shops on New Bond Street to get her outfitted in a wardrobe fit for a lady of her stature, and he would spare no expense in the process. He wanted to dote upon her, to give her the finest dresses, shoes, hats, and jewelry, and he found he was rather looking forward to dressing her up like the little china doll he’d compared her to when he’d first glimpsed her at TalcottHouse.
“Papa, is this really my room? It’s so big!” She walked ahead of him and stopped in the center of the room, then spun in a slow circle, her blue eyes widened and her mouth slightly parted. “It’s so beautiful, too!” She eyed the bed and a mischievous grin spread across her face. With unrestrained excitement, she ran full speed at the bed and jumped on it, bouncing on her bottom and then laying back and running her hands over thecoverlet.
Grayson’s heart swelled to see her so carefree and animated, like when he’d glimpsed her laughing and playing hopscotch, on that fateful day when his life changed forever. Meeting her had changed him. He’d once had a practical view of marriage and believed it to be the necessary next step in his life, now that he was the Earl of Shively, because he must fulfill his responsibilities to the earldom and produce an heir. But to have a sweet girl like Hyacinth by his side, to spend the rest of his days with, buoyed his spirits and left him eagerly anticipating all the moments they would share. Marriage was no longer a duty, but a pleasure. As he stared down at his beautiful little bride, still spread out on the bed and stroking the coverlet with a smile on her face, he silently vowed to make her as happy as she would no doubt makehim.
Mrs. Hennely emerged from the large closet, where she had apparently been cleaning something, and bobbed a curtsy. “My lord.” She rose up and took a deep breath. “On behalf of the entire household, I would like to offer you my most sincere congratulations on yournuptials.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hennely.” He moved to the bed and assisted a blushing Cynny to stand up, then guided her closer to the maid. “Hyacinth, I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Hennely. She is one of the most capable and valued members of my staff. She was my late mother’s lady’s maid, and now she shall beyours.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mrs.Hennely.”
