Chapter Twenty
As the two approached the country manor, they could see Arabella sitting in the garden working on her watercolors.
Benedict had been toying with multiple variations of how to present the news to the younger one, but in the end, he took the approach that would lead to the most smiles.
As they neared Arabella, he called out to her. Then he snatched Amelia’s hand in his and thrust their clasped hands in the air.
It took all of a dropped paintbrush, a clattered paint palette, and a shriek of delight from Arabella for Amelia to smile up at him.
Just to make her blush, he kissed her cheek. This of course, only caused Arabella to squeal in a slightly higher pitch and with increasing volume.
Dashing over to them, she wrapped Amelia in a hug.
The two sisters tittered back and forth with paths of tears mingling between them as they embraced.
He only caught a few snippets from the now hushed conversation, but the most important part was that he heard Arabella proclaim, more than once, how happy she was for her sister.
This was perfect. Exactly as it should be.
Arabella pulled back and studied the happy couple before letting out one last long whoop.
“I knew it all along. Not to insult you, Benedict—”
“Not to worry—”
“But from the moment I met you. I knew. I could see how you two were eyeing each other. And then the water coloring. And,” she rested her hands on her hips in mock fury, “how long did it take for you two to even notice that I left you alone on that walk?”
Benedict caught a glimpse of the deep blush staining Amelia’s cheeks. Undoubtedly at the unspoken admission that it took far too long to notice her sister’s absence than it should have.
Undeterred, Arabella continued. “But aren’t you glad I left you two alone?”
“Very.” Benedict smiled.
“Benedict!” Amelia chided.
“See?” Arabella made a point to catch Amelia’s eyes. “I told you it would all work out, didn’t I? And my test proved it, didn’t it?”
“What test?” Benedict surveyed the sisters.
“It was nothing—” Amelia started.
“It was perfection. When Amelia grabbed her—”
“Alright. That’s enough Arabella.” Amelia’s face was fully flushed now, and her eyes were half gleaming with joy and warning to her sister.
“Fine. I suppose he doesn’t need to know everything.” She clapped loudly, “Alright, you two. Now you have some planning to do.”
“Thank you, Arabella. You are the best sister I could ask for. But I can’t plan anything without knowing that you’re taken care of first—”
Hands on her hips, Arabella’s voice dropped into a firm command.
Well, as firm a command as a younger sister could take to her older sister and a duke.
“Amelia. If you don’t go inside right now and plan your wedding first, I’ll…
I’ll—” Arabella reached down to pick up her fallen paintbrush and pointed it at her sister.
“I’ll paint you.” She lunged forward and Amelia jumped back in laughter.
“Alright, alright. I’ll go. Although it seems a bit backward to plan the wedding before he’s even asked me.”
Arabella quipped dryly, “Don’t worry. He will.”
Benedict took Amelia on his arm, feeling like the proudest lion of the…pride. Yes. He was that level of proud.
But the second they entered the house, he knew he wasn’t going to last in a room alone with her.
“I’ll just change my clothes—” she yelped as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled in for a hungry kiss. He loved the way her body melted into his. Plied against him. Soft and yielding.
“I want you, Amelia.”
“Now?” she whimpered. “Again?”
“Right. Now.”
“My room?” she asked, panting, as he nibbled on her ear and traced his tongue down her neck.
“No time.” Pulling her with him, he took a few steps backward into the drawing room and locked the door. “Are you sore, darling?”
“No.” Her soft words fluttered through the air.
“Because if you are, I’ll take you in a different way. Focus on your pleasure.”
Her eyes widened at his offer. “I want you, too, Benedict. I’m not sore.”
Then he released a low growl for her ears only. He hauled her skirts up to her waist and pushed her back against the door. When he lifted her, she instinctively wrapped her legs around him while he unbuttoned his breeches.
“I’m so hard for you, Amelia. This is going to be quick.”
“Yes. Give it all to me, Benedict.”
And he did. Thrusting into her over and over again. Claiming her. Marking her. Taking her.
When he felt her clench around him, he chased after her and released into her.
“Oh my God, woman. I’m ruined.” His forehead rested against hers. “I’m going to need you again.”
A soft laughter shook her shoulders. “That’s a good thing to hear because I’m going to need you again. I think we make a good pair.”
“I can agree with that.” He lowered her slowly to the ground. “Should we go change now?”
“Just sit with me first.”
She led him over to the settee where she pushed him to sit down. Then she crawled on top of him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Tell me how you see this wedding going.”
“Lots of tulips and chocolate cake.”
He loved the feel of her laughter reverberating through him.
“You mean vanilla.”
“I’m thinking chocolate.”
She pulled to sit up straight, but he kept a tight grip on her hips.
“Oh. So now all of a sudden you have an opinion?”
“I’m more invested in this one.” And he knew that was the right thing to say because she kissed him.
Her lips were perfect. She was perfect. How had he ever thought he could resist her? Her and her indomitable spirit. Unyielding determination. And her striking beauty.
Yes. This time around it would be different. It would be perfect. He knew in his heart that he was meant for this. For her. And she was meant for him. Nothing could go wrong.