Chapter Eleven #3
“No—it is not how things are done.” Dominic sounded mature beyond his years, likely repeating something he’d likely heard often from the adults in his life. “Besides,” the boy added, “he is not usually home for supper.”
Victoria emitted a thoughtful sound. It wasn’t as if she were ignorant of the customs of the upper classes; even in America, young children did not take meals with the adults when there were guests.
Her father, however, had always made sure to include his children whenever possible.
If he was entertaining friends and colleagues, then Victoria and Luke would frequently share in the meal.
There was never a question that they would all dine together as a family on quiet nights—much like the one they would be having that evening.
She did not see why at least Dominic could not dine with her and Rafe, and it would certainly go a long way toward allowing them all to get to know one another.
She made a silent promise that she would add it to her list of things she wished to address with her new husband.
“If not at supper, then perhaps tomorrow? I would like to have the opportunity to get to know you.”
Dominic eyed her with a mixture of wariness and curiosity before finally lifting his shoulders in a negligent response.
That would have to do.
Victoria lifted her hand to Nan in a silent goodbye before exiting the nursery…and running straight into her husband.
It was like colliding with a brick wall.
She released a surprised “oof” as his fingers wrapped around her shoulders and steadied her stumble.
“Victoria?” Was it her imagination, or was his voice a little breathless when he said her name? “What are you doing here?”
It was impossible for her not to notice the heat of his body and his intoxicating scent.
She’d been so confused and distraught that day that it had been relatively easy for her to set aside her newfound carnal knowledge.
Now, however, as close as they stood in the narrow hallway, it all came rushing back to her.
She could only pray the lack of windows would help disguise the sudden flush she felt creeping up her throat.
“I—I thought to look in on the children…” Her eyes flitted to the deepening furrow between his dark brows.
“Or…do you not wish for me to know them?” She hadn’t considered that possibility.
He had certainly gone to great lengths to disguise their existence thus far; what if he actually desired to continue to keep these parts of his life separate?
Had the day not been so emotionally exhausting, Victoria might have laughed at the rapid shifting of expressions on his face—confusion suddenly morphed into pleasure.
“No! It is quite alright. I would like very much for all of you to become familiar.” He paused and cleared his throat, tempering his voice when he asked, “Were you speaking with Dominic? How is he faring?”
“Still in punishment. Still miserable.” With each passing second, she was becoming more aware that Rafe still had not released her; in fact, his thumbs moved ever so slightly along the bare skin of her collarbone revealed by the neckline of her gown.
“And we really must invest in less-slippery footwear for him; it will probably save us a great many shattered vases and other damaged housewares.” Her tone was serious, but Rafe knew her well enough at that point to catch onto her jest. His laughter was a relief—the evaporation of some of the built-up tension between them. It helped usher in some normalcy.
Victoria smiled softly and prepared to excuse herself but was stopped when his hands tightened ever so slightly.
“Victoria…” Rafe started and stopped, his eyes dancing over her features.
“Victoria, please know how sorry I am that everything came out as it did.” Her heart began to pound more forcefully in her breast. “I should have told you about the children, and I hope we might speak more on our situation and our future this evening.”
It was Victoria’s turn to feel a little breathless. She could only nod after a brief hesitation. She interpreted the softening of the tension around his eyes as an expression of relief.
“Are your chambers up to scratch?” he asked, changing the subject.
“They are fine,” she replied, making sure to add that the staff did a remarkable job in such a short span of time.
While her words of praise seemed to please him, there was resignation in his tone when he said, “I will escort you on a shopping excursion tomorrow for anything you might need or desire for the space. It is the least I can do for canceling our honeymoon trip so suddenly.” The caress of his thumbs began again, and it was all she could do not to emit a delighted shiver from the contact.
Waves of warmth echoed out from those little points of contact, gaining heat and power as they rippled throughout her body.
“I understand it needed to happen,” she said as steadily as possible. “I can hardly blame you when there was an ill child involved.”
This seemed to unburden his conscience enough for the time being, and he was finally willing to allow her to leave.
“Then you will join me for supper?” Pleased when she nodded in the affirmative, Rafe released her and turned to enter the nursery.
“I must have one more conversation with my nephew before he is released from his prison sentence,” Rafe said lightly, the most charming tilt to his lips.
“Since you’ll not be running off on us just yet, he needs a gentle reminder that he should not comment on a lady’s manner of speech, no matter how odd and foreign it may be. ”
Victoria released an affronted gasp, but Rafe was already turning away.
His parting chuckle unleashed another ripple of awareness to break out across her body.
She did her best not to ponder how her skin tingled in the absence of her husband’s touch, but she was also the first to admit she did a poor job of it.