Page 20 of A Daring Mistletoe Kiss
The room fell into silence—for all but one second—before Nicholas made a grunting sound. It had the desired effect.
“Are you in pain?” Pippa grabbed his arm. “You should rest. Let me help you back to your chamber.”
Nancy scoffed. “Do not even try to hoodwink me. I want answers.”
“Pippa has agreed to become my wife,” Nicholas simply said. “Do you have any objections?”
She pursed her lips. “What if I do?”
Pippa stiffened in his arms, and Nicholas gave her a reassuring squeeze. He knew his sister too well. She mightnot look it, but Nancy was practically beaming imperceptible happiness.
“I suppose,” he said thoughtfully, “we shall then have to elope.”
“Don’t you dare!” Nancy exclaimed. “I shall never forgive you if I’m not included in your wedding!”
“You’re not disappointed?” Pippa asked.
“Of course not.” Nancy’s pout transformed into a wide grin. “You’ve always been my sister in heart, now you shall truly be family.”
Nicholas lowered his head to inhale the delicate scent of honey wafting from the arch of Pippa’s neck while Nancy nagged about their improper behavior and keeping her in the dark. Proper. Improper. He couldn’t care less about impropriety at this moment.
He had found his love.
He was never letting go.
Bonus Epilogue
One week after the wedding
A woman should make love in nature at least one in her lifetime.
—From the Diary of Lillian Wright
“This is madness. We are in the garden.”’
“The perfect place to be.”
“A stone is pressing into my arse.”
Pippa pecked her husband on the cheek. “Could you at least try to say something more romantic?”
“I can’t think of anything romantic while my arse is being ground by rocks.”
“Well, move your arse.”
“You’re becoming saucier with each passing day.” Pippa suddenly found herself being lifted by her waist while Chatteris squirmed into a better position before lowering her back on top of him. His sharp gaze narrowed. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re enjoying my discomfort?”
She pursed her lips but couldn’t hold back a burst of laughter. “I’m truly not.”
“Then let’s go inside.”
“Why? Is this not thrilling? Mother wrote that a woman should make love in a garden at least once.”
“Please don’t bring your mother into our bedroom matters. Men are visual beasts.”
Pippa blinked, before the meaning of his words sunk in. Marvelous. Now she could not help being implanted with an uninvited image of her mother doing the deed. “Point taken.”
“Then can we put this madness to rest? We have a perfectly comfortable bed in our chamber.”
