Page 107 of What's an Earl Gotta Do?
They were still smiling as she helped him finish undressing and ease himself into the tub.
“As soon as I saw that knife at your throat, I knew,” she said as she lathered his back. “I knew, and I felt like such a fool for not having realized it until I was going to lose you. After the incident at the picnic, I told myself it didn’t matter that you felt nothing for me but friendship, because that was what I felt for you, too. And I repeated that to myself so many times, I managed to convince myself it was true. I see now that it was really denial. You’ve always been in a separate category from everyone else. You’re my best friend, my favorite person, the one I can’t live without, the very finest man I know.”
She was now rubbing the washcloth over his chest, and that look of supreme masculine satisfaction settled over his features. “Please, go on,” he said, leaning back. “As exhausted as I am, I find that I could listen to your praise for several more hours. Preferably whilst you continue to give me a sponge bath.”
“If there was even one inch of you that wasn’t covered in bruises, I would poke you there. But my point is, I’ve felt that way about you for so long, I had come to think of it as ‘the way I feel about Michael.’ It wasn’t until that horrible moment that I realized that ‘the way I feel about Michael’ isn’t just friendship. It’s love.” She laughed. “I’ve loved you for years, Michael. Certainly, since that summer when we were fifteen. I just didn’t admit it to myself until tonight.”
He groaned with pleasure as she began to lather his hair. “Then I am glad to have been beaten black and blue and held at knifepoint. If that’s what it took to make you realize that you love me, I would do it all again.”
“Oh, God, never again—I was so terrified, Michael. I honestly don’t know how I made that shot. If you could have seen how much my hands were shaking—”
“I never doubted you. I knew you would save me.”
“You were actually what gave me the confidence to take the shot. I saw in your eyes that you believed in me, and—I somehow knew I could do it.”
“Of course you could. It’s something I’ve noticed—you don’t seem to understand how amazing you are. But don’t worry, I intend to remind you of it every day for the rest of our lives. Now, there are two things that we need to do before we can go to bed and sleep for the next twelve hours.”
“Oh? And what would those be?”
“You need a bath, and we need to make love. Conveniently, we can accomplish them both at the same time,” he said, reaching for the ties of her dress.
“Is that so?’ she asked. She tried to make her expression stern, but couldn’t suppress her smile. “I don’t think we’ll both fit in that tub. Indeed, you don’t even fit in that tub.”
“Which is why you will have to climb on top of me,” he said with a wolfish grin, “for your sponge bath, and for what will immediately follow.” He winced and rubbed his back ruefully. “I’m not moving as well as I’d like. I fear you’re going to have to be on top for the better part of a week.”
She smiled as she peeled off the remainder of her garments and climbed on top of him. “My darling Michael,” she said, smoothing her hands over his chest, “I have absolutely no objections.”
Chapter 41
The day Michael finally married Anne was exceptionally beautiful, with crisp blue skies and a soft spring breeze. It was as if even the English weather did not dare deny him his perfect day. As they alighted from the carriage, he even heard a woodlark singing nearby (a woodlark—in London!).
Anne wore a white gown that Caro informed him was embellished with Honiton lace and seed pearls (although she could’ve worn sack cloth and he still would’ve thought she looked perfect). On her head she wore a crown of blush-pink roses, rich with greenery. Pinkerton sent Michael to the altar in a coat of midnight blue with a dove grey waistcoat and cream breeches. A week had passed since their clash with Lord Scudamore and his thugs, and although Michael’s eye was still more purple than not, at least it was no longer swollen shut.
And the moment Michael kissed his bride, and at long last made Anne his wife?
Well, there could never be any words to describe what he felt in that moment. But Anne could read his face, so she knew.
After the ceremony, their friends and family mingled at the back of the church. Caro gave Anne a congratulatory kiss on the cheek, then glanced around. “Is this a wedding, or a meeting of the Ladies’ Society? I believe the entire board is present.”
It was true. Expanding the Ladies’ Society’s board had been part of Michael’s plan, and everyone Anne had asked to take on a new role had accepted with pleasure.
“Vice president of fundraising,” Caro mused. “I cannot wait to get started. I daresay I will raise more in six months than you ever raised in a year, Anne. Just see if I don’t.”
“You very well might, darling,” Lady Cheltenham said, strolling over. “But don’t forget that Anne has appointed two vice presidents of fundraising. And if you think you’ll be able to raise more than me, you are in for a very unpleasant surprise.”
Instead of one vice president, Anne’s society now had eight: Caro and Lady Cheltenham as vice presidents of fundraising, Cecilia Chenoweth in charge of special events, Archibald Nettlethorpe-Ogilvy overseeing employment, Samuel Branton in charge of legal affairs, Michael overseeing construction, Mrs. Wriothesley as vice president of operations, and Lord Graverley as vice president general.
Beside him, Anne was tearing up. “Truly, I cannot thank you all enough for helping me. Especially you, Mrs. Wriothesley. I fear you will come to regret it when you see what a commitment it will be.”
“My dear girl,” Mrs. Wriothesley said, “it is my pleasure. Well do I remember what it’s like when you’re first starting a family. You have been so selfless these past four years, but you won’t have time for that now. Meanwhile my youngest daughter married three years ago, which has left me with too much time on my hands and too little to occupy it. I am glad to become more involved.”
“So, let’s see,” Thetford said, taking his wife’s arm, “there are two vice presidents of fundraising, and one each of operations, special events, employment, legal affairs, and construction. What does that make you?” he asked Graverley.
“I am vice president general,” Graverley said.
“And what exactly do you do?” Thetford pressed.
“Lady Morsley,” Graverley said, “if you would be so kind as to remind me—what was the effect on subscriptions when you announced me as your new vice president?”
