Chapter Ten #2
Squelching an irrational disappointment, she said, ‘I won’t neglect to finish my duties before doing any reading, I promise.
And I could never forget about you. Oh, Rafe, this—’ she gestured to the books they’d selected, almost too overcome with gratitude and wonder to speak ‘—all of them are so amazing! You are amazing. And kind. And indulgent, to allow me time to read and study. I imagine few husbands would even understand a wife’s zeal to study, much less encourage it. How can I thank you enough?’
He smiled down at her, his expression once again tender. ‘I love to see you happy. You are, aren’t you? I know you had…reservations about marrying me.’
‘I am happy. How could I not be?’ she replied, ruthlessly suppressing the little niggle of sadness that ‘kind’ was the warmest emotion she could hope for from him.
‘If I’d known you were going to be this excited about the library, I should have introduced you to it much sooner.’
‘I shall try to show my appreciation…in every way I can,’ she promised, leaning up to give him a kiss.
In every way he valued, anyway. With her lips, her hands and her body.
Not, never, with her heart.
He stilled, letting her direct the kiss, opening his mouth to the caress of her tongue, lifting his chin to the nip of her teeth against his neck. ‘This, and more,’ she whispered.
‘I shall very much look forward to it.’
The mantel clock struck, and he straightened. ‘Back to tedious reality,’ he said with a sigh. ‘I must hasten to the stables if I’m not to be late meeting Sterling at the Crandall farm.’
‘Go, then. I promise not to be lured into reading before I make sure dinner will be ready and the mending and cleaning of the unoccupied bedrooms progressing as planned.’
‘I’ll have a footman carry the books up to your chamber. Where I’m sure I will find you later, oblivious to the world.’
‘Never oblivious to you.’ Which, alas, was becoming all too true for her peace of mind.
‘I must run.’ He jumped up, then leaned down to give her nose a quick kiss before striding out.
Hugging the Bewick to her chest, Juliana watched him go. How could she even think of being disappointed, when she had this—her gaze swept over the selected volumes again. All this, her work at Thornthwaite, and Rafe in her bed.
No, she had no reason to repine, she told herself firmly.
A week later, Juliana rode out with a groom to meet Rafe, who’d gone with Sterling earlier to meet some tenants in one of the willow woods.
All the trees had been coppiced in late spring, but it was time to thin the new shoots so they would have light and space to grow properly for the next year’s harvest. She’d persuaded him that after he finished inspecting the work, he should join her for a picnic and some fishing, the activity he’d told her had become a favourite during his time with the army, but which during the busy spring season he’d not yet taken time to do.
Unfortunately, she thought with a sigh, it would be only a picnic and fishing.
On Sterling’s recommendation, Rafe had had the field on the far side of the swimming spot cleared to allow grass to grow to provide pasturage for the additional cows he’d purchased.
Though it was unlikely any farm boys would come through the field during the afternoon, it was still possible.
As uninhibited as her husband had been in trysting with her in the river, she didn’t think she could lure him to it again if there was the least chance they might be observed.
They could have a long private chat, though.
She’d become increasingly mindful of the clock ticking off the days in her head; soon, with the crops in and spring chores completed, there’d be no further excuse to delay having him go to London to attend Parliament.
Though they’d not yet discussed the matter since that first, sharp exchange, she knew soon he’d be likely press her again to accompany him.
Much as she still disliked the prospect, she had to admit her opposition was wavering.
Still, the idyll they’d been enjoying in the country, most often just the two of them for breakfasts and dinners, with long rides in between to view farms or fields, when she’d had him all to herself to talk with, tease…
and seduce, would almost certainly cease if she did go with him to London.
At the very least, he would leave her to attend Parliament.
Doubtless he would also encounter friends from university or the army, like his soldiering compatriot, the Duke of Fenniston.
He’d want to spend time with them at their clubs and other venues like Tattersalls where such men gathered.
Then there would be balls, musical evenings, and other sorts of social events like the ones that had filled Aggie’s Season, during which she would see little of him.
During which she would fade into the walls with the bluestockings and dowagers, the elegant Society matrons giving her patronizing smiles while whispering behind her back about how regrettable it was the new earl had wed so unprepossessing a countess.
The prospect sent her spirits spiraling lower.
Taking a deep breath, she shook off the dismal reflections. She’d wouldn’t allow worry about London to spoil the time they would have together today. When one isn’t sure what the future holds, one must enjoy every second of the here and now.
The sound of chopping mingled with male voices and laughter as they approached the willow wood.
In the distance, she spied about a dozen men engaged in cutting away some of the shoots sprouting from the recently coppiced willows, most of the men stripped to the waist against the warmth of the late May sun.
One of them was her husband.
Having signalled her horse to halt, Juliana froze, the breath catching in her throat.
Warmth filled her as she gazed at the hard, lithe body she knew so well.
His booted feet planted wide to maintain his balance, his bare shoulders glistening in the sun, his muscled arms rippled as he bent and straightened, bent and straightened, his knife flashing as he cut off a stem at its base, then rose in a swift motion to toss the cuttings into the stack beside him before bending down again.
His eyes focused on his work, Rafe didn’t notice her approach, so she was able to watch him for some minutes. Desire spiraled in her belly, intensifying her regret that there could be no tryst at the swimming site. Perhaps they might pass a more private grove on ride back…
He looked up then, spied her and smiled. Handing his knife to one of the other workers, he walked over to greet her.
‘You see, I’m earning my leisure this afternoon.’
Pulling her mind from its sensual haze, she said, ‘You’re sure you haven’t done this before? You seem…quite skilled.’
‘As I suspected, my years wielding a sword have proven useful after all. Chopping down with a knife isn’t nearly as tiring as slashing with a heavy saber. Let me grab my shirt and jacket, and we can be off.’
‘Don’t put on your shirt on my behalf,’ she murmured, giving his torso a lingering glance that should leave him no doubt about her appreciation of his body—or her desire to see more.
His eyes darkened, as if he knew she was thinking of trysting. ‘I suppose the field north of the bend in the river is fully cut, Sterling?’ he asked, turning back to the working party.
‘Aye, m’lord. The men finished it just last week. With the land more open to the sun, we should get a good new growth of grass. We’ve already pastured some cows on it,’ he replied before pacing off to answer a question from one of the workmen.
‘More’s the pity,’ Rafe murmured, turning back towards Juliana. ‘I suppose it will have to be fishing after all. Just fishing.’
‘We’ll share a meal, too. Jane has become rather proficient at putting together cold ham, cheese, bread and ale.’
He scanned her body with a hot glance. ‘You know what I’d rather have for lunch…’
The heat spiraling within her intensified. She would have to look very carefully at the groves they passed riding home. Trying to put that imagining out of mind, she said, ‘None of that until later, naughty man.’
‘Later I should like to be very naughty.’
‘Ooh, is that a promise?’ she teased.
‘Count on it.’ Turning towards Sterling, he called out, ‘Will the men finish up the coppicing soon?’
‘In about an hour,’ the supervisor said, walking back to them. ‘But you’ve done your part, though you had no need to! Good luck with fishing.’
‘I like to be useful. I like to know how to do the work of the people who work for me. As I always did in the army.’
‘Which made you a fine officer, I’m sure,’ Sterling said. ‘Enjoy your afternoon, my lord, my lady.’ With a bow, he walked off to rejoin the workers.
To Juliana’s disappointment—once they reached the river, she could have at least played her fingers over his bare back and stomach and tracked the soft hair down his chest until it disappeared in his breeches—Rafe tossed his shirt over his head and shrugged back into his jacket.
‘Ready, my sweet?’
‘More than ready.’ Like a glutton about to be offered a sumptuous meal, she intended to devour every morsel of time alone with him, all too aware of how soon such private afternoons would end.
After giving the groom who’d accompanied her leave to return to the stables, Rafe mounted his gelding and set off with her.
‘Did you gather as many branches as Sterling hoped?’ she asked as the horses trotted along.
‘Yes, we made a fine haul. Sterling will parcel them out to the farms at the eastern edge of Thornthwaite and to the cottages below the sheep crofts. There’s little growing there from which they can fashion thatch of their own.’
She sighed. ‘I am sorry Sterling chose to cut the woods by the river.’
He turned to grin at her. ‘Thereby limiting our activities?’