Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Maggie mumbled in her sleep, and Algernon couldn’t tear his eyes away from her and the glimpse of her beautiful naked body. He had never seen her face in slumber. Her lips soft, her lashes thick on her cheeks, her dark hair wild across the pillow.
They were together, and his heart was full. Their lovemaking was all he could ask for. There had been a connection between them since childhood, and now it was amplified by their lovemaking as adults.
Maggie was the right choice, if he’d ever had a say in who he loved.
The only question left to decide was where and when to marry her.
He considered a fast London wedding, or perhaps waiting to reach home and marry at Ravenswood, where they’d first met.
But Algernon was not sure he could wait for the banns.
He wanted to openly call her his wife, and for it to be true this time.
Algernon rested his head upon his bent arm, watching her until he could bear it no more. He slid a hand toward her under the sheet, poking her softly to see if she’d wake quickly or slow.
Maggie only twitched and then muttered something he didn’t quite catch. She grew still again, so he pushed out his foot to touch hers.
She drew her legs up, her mutterings louder than ever. She said his name in a complaining tone.
He reached out and found her hand to hold. “It’s morning.”
“I can tell by the brightness.” She pulled the covers over her head, though.
He leaned closer. “Do we want Sims to find us like this?”
The covers lowered slowly. “Probably not a good idea.”
She sat up, then glanced down at her chest, her eyes widening. “I have never slept without clothes before.”
“No?”
“No.” She glanced his way. “I probably should be more shocked at us.”
“I sleep naked all the time,” he warned her.
An odd look crossed Maggie’s face, and she blushed. He lowered the sheet a little more, and her eyes tracked his movement. Her lips parted as he showed her how excited she made him by just looking at him.
He laughed at her and drew her down for a long delicious kiss. Loving Maggie was so easy. However had he waited so long?
But he must take things slow with her this morning. She’d lost her innocence to him last night, and although she hadn’t revealed any signs of pain, she might not yet be ready for a second tumble between the sheets so soon.
Besides, they had to talk, and he did that better with his clothes on.
Algernon tumbled about on the bed with her, though, distracted by the novelty of almost having a wife to hold.
He brought her beneath him and kissed the tip of her nose. “Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning to you, too.” She stared up at him, then cupped his face. A gentle smile touched her lips. “Algernon, what happens now?”
“We go back. Home.”
Maggie sat up, frowning. “You want to take me home with you?”
“I was always taking you home to Ravenswood,” he insisted.
“Won’t your family object?”
“Not if they have any sense,” Algernon climbed out of bed and started picking up his scattered clothes. “They can either accept you as my wife or find somewhere else to live.”
“Wife?”
He turned to look at her. “Maggie, why do you sound so surprised? Of course, I’m going to marry you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “But you never said the words.”
He tapped the bridge of his nose several times, berating himself. “So last night you invited me to share your bed, imagining you were to be my mistress or just a temporary lover I might discard? You said you did not want to be either.”
“You said we were to discuss terms today,” she protested.
“For the marriage contract that we will sign,” he said, finding this situation highly amusing. “Are you going to deny me my heart’s desire to make you my duchess?”
“I…” Maggie gulped and stared at him, clearly stunned enough not to form words.
“Good God, Maggie Black has been rendered speechless.”
“I am.” She stared at him and then a smile teased her lips. “Algernon, have you thought about this properly and what it means for you? For your debts.”
“Hmm, not at all,” he drawled, and shook his head. “That’s all I’ve thought about since we met. How to have you, not have funds to spare, and ensure the succession.”
“Well, I know Lady Kent’s behavior with her servant is beyond the pale, but there surely must be another heiress somewhere you could charm.”
Algernon approached Maggie and got down on one knee.
“I, Algernon Sweet, fifth Duke of Ravenswood, do solemnly vow to love and cherish Miss Maggie Black for the rest of my life. Maggie, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife and my duchess?”
“Algernon! You’re naked,” she said, glancing at him in astonishment.
“Naked or dressed, I cannot marry anyone but you. I will not. You said you needed the words and I will not allow another moment of doubt on your part. Maggie, I love you. More than life itself. More than even Ravenswood.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she reached for his hands. “And I love you, dear Algernon, but I would have been content with only your kisses.”
Maggie tugged him up to his feet and hugged him tight. It was a glorious naked embrace that instantly aroused him. But there was plenty of time for lovemaking later.
“It was always marriage or nothing for me.” He kissed her brow. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to shower you with jewels and expensive new carriages, but I have lots of books and two full libraries. I promise to make you the happiest woman on earth.”
“You already have,” Maggie promised, burrowing deeper into his arms and wiping away more tears. “And I don’t like jewels anyway.”
“So, your answer, my love? I must hear it now or my heart will break.”
“Yes, yes!” she cried, peppering his face with kisses. “A thousand times, yes.”
He squeezed her tightly against him, heart soaring with excitement. They would be together and happy, and nothing would ever come between them.
They kissed deeply to seal their bargain, and then he gently pushed her back, only to see tears in her eyes. “What is this? Tears?”
“I thought I’d lose you to marriage,” she admitted, sobbing anew.
He dragged a corner of the sheet toward them to dry her eyes. “No, my love. You gain me in marriage. Poor thing.”
She gazed up at him and laughed. “You always know the right thing to say to amuse me.”
Algernon beamed and kissed her cheeks. “Now, as much as I’d like to remain naked with you all day and make you laugh, it is time to put on your new clothes, and fix your hair so you’ll be ready to meet one of my oldest friends this morning.”
She looked up at him, clearly startled. “What new clothes? Algernon… Oh. Did you lie to me at the dressmaker about those fabrics?”
“I never said who the gowns were for, so I did not actually lie to you. But I don’t know what the dressmaker might have told you about the purchase,” he said, smiling cheekily.
She punched him lightly and then kissed his lips to forgive him. “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“That is just the start of what’s to come, Maggie.”
A great boom sounded through the house the next minute, and Algernon rushed to the window to peek outside. “Varley must really want to lease the town house for his mama-in-law to live in. He’s earlier than he would usually call on me here. We’d best get dressed to meet him.”
Maggie paled.
Algernon gave her a long, proper kiss to bring some color back to her cheeks and made her promise to join him downstairs soon. He would start small, introducing her to a few of his friends so she wasn’t overwhelmed.
He hurried to his bedchamber, closing the door behind him to give Maggie privacy, and discovered Sims was already there, waiting with news of their visitor. He ignored Algernon’s nakedness, but his gaze darted to the duchess’ bedchamber door.
“Sims,” Algernon called, and the man hurried into his dressing closet after him. But the look on his face clearly revealed his disapproval.
“Make sure Miss Black has the help of a maid this morning to dress in those new gowns I bought for her. When she’s ready, escort her downstairs to the library with the maid as chaperone to meet with me and Varley.”
“It’s a little late for a chaperone, don’t you think?” Sims muttered under his breath.
Algernon faced his valet after he’d thrown a shirt over his head. “Maggie will have no choice but to accept the help of a maid now. We are to marry.”
Sims’ face burst into a huge smile at the news. “About time!”
“Indeed, it is, but keep it to yourself for now,” Algernon managed to control his grin.
“Congratulations, Your Grace. She’ll make a remarkable duchess.”
“Thank you.”
Algernon finished dressing and hurried downstairs to meet Varley and found him using Maggie’s eyeglasses to try to read the book she’d been holding last night, when Algernon had come home.
“I had no idea your eyesight had grown so bad, Ravenswood. We used to be able to share eyeglasses, but these are impossible.”
Algernon quickly took Maggie’s eyeglasses away from him and put them in his pocket. “Your note sounded urgent, but not this bad.”
“Oh, it is. My mama-in-law put a foolish notion in my eldest daughter’s head that she could make her debut next season.”
Algernon frowned. “Isn’t she too young for that?”
“By two years at least!” Varley exclaimed. “And because my wife refused to consider the idea of an early season, the other girls are all in an uproar in support of their elder sibling. My wife has become the enemy at home and was in tears again this morning. I will not have that.”
Algernon nodded. “A separation of mother and daughter is definitely in order.”
Varley came closer. “So about the town house…”
“My only question is if it’s far enough away?”
Varley huffed. “It will do for the immediate future.”
Algernon named a monthly figure he hoped was not too high to be unacceptable.
Varley agreed without a qualm, and they shook hands.
A scuff of a shoe alerted Algernon that someone had arrived. He smiled and turned around, but he was not prepared fully for Maggie’s arrival.