Chapter Nineteen
Lord Oliver, Duke of Hayesford
The air was unusually warm as Amelia, and I left my house. Her father’s house was across the park from mine, and I led her down the gravel path. Spring had arrived, and the flowers were in full bloom.
“Your grandmother seems to be in good spirits.” She gave me a careful smile as if gauging my reception to her comment.
“She is anxious to see us wed.” After my tryst with Noah, my confidence level had increased and if fate hadn’t intervened, I would be having another encounter with him.
However, the doctor had told Grandmama that if she wished to attend the festivities, she’d have to leave for the country tomorrow and get a few days rest before the wedding.
Which meant I would have to leave London as well.
“I must admit to agreeing with her on that score. The sooner I can marry you, the happier I will be.”
She snapped her head up, eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Indeed?”
“Indeed.” I slowed my steps and turned to face her.
We were alone in the park with my footman and her maid following at a discreet distance.
I might have to forgo my affair with Noah, but I was still blessed with Amelia’s company.
Our engaged status gave us license to be affectionate.
I pulled her close and pressed a kiss on the tip of her nose.
The familiar sweet floral scent of her perfume mimicked the nature surrounding us.
She rose onto her toes, the heat of her breath touching my lips.
I used my knuckle to tilt her chin, angling my head to play my lips over her pliant ones.
A touch of desire sparked my blood, giving me hope.
I drew her closer to my body. Soft curves melted into me, adding to my sense of contentment.
Amelia was my past and present; no matter where life took me, she’d be my future.
I pulled back, smiling at her pleased grin. “I had best get you home.”
“Home for only four more days. Then my home will be behind us, not in front of us,” she said, holding my arm close to her side as we began to stroll once more.
“I can hardly wait to run my own household, although I must admit, it is intimidating. From what your grandmother says, I will need at least two, if not three, assistants just to run the estates.”
“You are up to the task, Amelia.” In her own way, she was just as formidable as my grandmother.
She’d never realized her full potential because she’d been living under the yoke of her mother’s oppression.
I had a feeling she’d thrive as duchess.
Grandmama certainly had faith in Amelia; otherwise, she wouldn’t have pushed for the union.
“I have faith in you. How was your dress fitting?”
She worried her bottom lip. “Oliver, I have a confession to make, and it pains me to say it.”
I slowed my steps, waiting for her to speak. Amelia wasn’t one to be rushed. From the color on her cheeks, she was about to tell me something embarrassing.
“I hate the dress.” She exhaled a long breath and squeezed my bicep with her gloved hand.
“You hate which dress?” I asked. Amelia and her mother often fought over her wardrobe. Amelia had bold tastes and prior to wearing the drab hues of mourning garb, liked bright colors. Her mother forced pastels on her.
“My mother’s wedding dress. The one I insisted on wearing.” She released a trill of light laughter. “I tried it on, and it’s hideous on me.”
“But you said you always dreamed of getting married in it at Hayesford Chapel.” She’d been vocal about her plans and had never veered off course until now.
The fact she was questioning her dream made me suspicious.
I had been afraid to ask for her hand because of my insecurities and sensed she had her own reservations.
I hesitated in asking, but I had to know the answer. “Have you changed your mind about us?”
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant,” she said, taking my hand in hers and holding it close to her heart.
“I have changed my mind about the dress in its current state. The modiste is removing the lace and using it to embellish my veil, so I will have something old, something new, something borrowed, and a sixpence in my shoe.”
“A sixpence in your shoe? That sounds uncomfortable,” I said, kissing her temple.
Laughter met my comment. She’d been so serious of late; it was a pleasure to see. I hadn’t helped matters by not proposing on the promised day. “I daresay it will. However, it is supposed to bring me good fortune.”
“Marrying me is enough good fortune,” I said with a tongue-in-cheek grin as we passed one of the large trees that lined the walk. We were moving deeper into the shadows of the park.
“Now you sound like Noah.” Amelia leaned her head against my arm, the ornament on her hat tickling my cheek. “You two have been thick as thieves of late.”
“He’s my friend.” And lover. I was glad for the darkness because she could surely see the rush of heat that burned its way up my neck.
The magical night I’d spent with him in my study still held my imagination and since I’d be cancelling our tryst, those memories would have to last me a lifetime. “And yours.”
“He is. I, um, well, I will miss him because of the boys. I will miss the boys. And Noah, I suppose.” She righted herself, tension in her slender shoulders.
The way she fumbled her words was telling. I had noticed the way she looked at him. The man oozed appeal, and it was natural for her to be enamored of him. “You can always visit them whenever you wish.”
“That’s what I told Ethan. He wants you to come live with us,” she said, releasing a telling breath before she shook her head. “It broke my heart to tell him no.”
“Perhaps Ethan and the boys could stay with us at the country estate for a while,” I suggested, knowing it was foolish to even offer.
Being in close quarters with Noah would be a temptation unto itself, and I couldn’t continue the affair with him after the wedding.
That would be the height of selfishness to disrespect Amelia in her own home.
I pulled Amelia behind the closest tree, earning a squeak of surprise from her.
It was time I followed Noah’s advice and focused my desires on my bride-to-be.
I caught her mouth, snagging her around the waist. She slipped her arms around my neck, her breasts a soft cushion against my chest. “Oliver, whatever has gotten into you?” she said between slow, sultry kisses.
“We are engaged, Amelia.” My heart continued to race, the stirring in my blood a promising start.
She parted her lips, and I slanted my mouth more fully against hers.
She tasted of sultry woman, her silky smooth tongue gliding along my own.
Amelia had been the one to instigate our first kiss.
She’d always been bolder than me and often led me on a merry chase.
Desire continued to spark my blood, and I pressed her back to the tree, my thigh coming to rest between hers. The skirt hampered my ability to get closer to her tantalizing frame. If tonight was any indication, my desire for her would only grow.
Someone nearby cleared their throat. I pulled back, glancing around for the intruder. A man walked out of the shadows, a plume of cigar smoke following him.
I turned my back to Amelia, intent on protecting her, when I recognized the intruder. “Noah, why are you lurking about?” I asked, my pulse increasing to a full-out gallop.
“I’m not lurking, I’m simply out for a smoke. Is that Amelia you are ravishing?” he asked with a mocking tone bordering on sarcasm. He sounded upset. Perhaps he was jealous of Amelia and me. Last night he was the one I was kissing.
“Who else would it be?” she asked with a breathy laugh, moving from behind me to stand by my side. Her hat was askew.
“Who indeed?” Noah dropped the cigar and crushed it under his heel.
Silence followed his comment, heavy with expectation. I felt a blush coming on, and I was unsure why. She was my fiancée, after all. “I was walking Amelia home.”
“I want to see the boys before they fall asleep.” Amelia slipped her hand into mine and tugged me forward. I didn’t protest the opportunity to be with two of my favorite people.
“Come with us,” she said to Noah, holding out her other hand to him. She tucked it into the crook of his arm.
He fell into step beside Amelia. “Ethan went to bed early. It would seem he stole four cherry tarts from the kitchen and now has an upset stomach.”
“He’s upset over me moving out,” Amelia said, her mouth turned down. She adored her nephews and was a very attentive aunt. Soon, she’d bear my children and be able to shower them with love.
“It is unavoidable, but you live close enough that he’ll see you every day.
” Noah met my gaze over her head, sadness, along with resignation, reflected in his eyes.
He would miss her as much as his children would.
I wanted to comfort him, yet it wasn’t my right.
He had his own path to follow, and I had mine.