Chapter Eight
Three nights had passed since Caleb had made plans to secretly see Angelica at the dower house once the month of May had expired.
Since then, he and the duchess enjoyed the days in each other’s company both in the manor house and out of it.
Half of each day they were apart to keep up appearances, but after dinner, they both retired to the drawing room for reading or to play cards while having casual conversation that had nothing to do with intimate topics lest the servants overhear.
But in the middle of the day? They met clandestinely at the dower house or in the woods where the hours passed in bliss or merely quiet.
On one of the warmer days, they went swimming in a pond on the property, which led to the most delectable pleasuring of each other orally.
Now, since he wished to do something special for her because their time together was running out, he’d mentioned in passing after luncheon that she should meet him at moonlight in the place where the bluebells bloom, and that she should wear a gown as if she were attending a society event.
As the rendezvous came closer, he made his way outside and into the wooded area to await her arrival with a bit of nerves, which surprised him.
He was old enough to know such a reaction wasn’t warranted, but where Angelica was concerned, nothing had been the same since he’d first kissed her.
Yes, it almost made him sick that he couldn’t have her in his life in all the ways that mattered, but he refused to waste what time they had left.
Then he shoved the thoughts from his mind.
He’d hung a few fairy lanterns in some of the nearby trees while other lanterns had been placed about the meadow where the bluebells had closed for the night.
Instead of a picnic luncheon, he’d brought out a small, round table and two delicate chairs from the dower house, and he’d brought a basket full of wine, fruit, cheese, bread, and some cold cuts he’d charmed out of Cook.
Though he suspected that matronly woman knew that he was secretly courting the duchess and she supported it, he refused to show his hand in the event he was wrong.
“Caleb, why did you ask me to meet you here…?” Angelica’s words trailed away as she glanced around the clearing.
His pulse accelerated as he turned in the shadow-filled clearing. “Dear God, Angelica, you’re a vision.”
There was nothing to do but drink in the picture she made in a moss-green gown that brought out those same hues in her eyes.
A golden sash encircled her slim waist and a bow sat at the small of her back.
With every movement, golden scrolled embroidery at the hem and bodice sparkled in the candlelight.
Matching satin slippers peeked out from beneath the silken gown.
A rope of pearls gleamed at her throat while pearl earbobs decorated her earlobes.
“Thank you. I quite appreciate seeing a man’s approval and you speaking it aloud.” A soft smile curved her kissable lips. “My husband has never once complimented me on anything.”
“Then he is a nodcock of the first order.” He met her in the middle of the meadow and held out a hand. “He should also let you host events and move within society without him. You are certain to draw all eyes.”
Tiny, barely discernable golden flecks floated inside her mossy irises as she slipped a hand into his. “I don’t know about that.” She took in his efforts to make a romantic space in the middle of the woods, and when her gaze met his once more, her smile widened. “Did you do this?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” Caleb shrugged. “I’ve seen how you’ve been treated for the past twenty years, I’ve seen what you’ve missed out on, and I told myself that I would do this tonight so that you might feel wanted, cherished, special for a few hours because you deserve it.”
The hint of a blush went through her cheeks. “Why, though? You have already made me feel that this week.”
“It doesn’t make up for years of neglect.” He tugged her over to the table where a bottle of the wine waited as well as two pieces of delicate stemware. “Would you like a glass before I lead you out into a waltz?”
“Yes, please.”
“Good.” He lifted her hand to his lips then kissed the back. “I wanted the chance to romance you before… Well, before things change.”
Angelica nodded. “I know.” Such sadness went through her expression that his chest tightened. “This past week has been…” She pressed her lips together. “Well, I will remember this for the rest of my life.”
So much emotion threaded through those words that the same crowded in his throat. His hand shook as he poured a measure of the red wine into each glass. “I’ll admit the time with you has been life changing for me.”
When she accepted one of the glasses and their fingers brushed, intense need streaked through his veins. “Yes, and in many ways, we shouldn’t have done what we did… but I wouldn’t change that for anything.”
“Neither would I.” After he clinked his glass with hers, he took a hearty sip of the wine.
Fruit and a bit of spices exploded on his tongue, and the slight tartness helped to focus his attention.
God, surely it was scandalous the way he felt about the duchess.
Yes, his body burned for her touch, but those sensations went deeper.
In her he had found a companion he wished to walk beside for the rest of his life.
Unfortunately, she was married to another, but that couldn’t be helped.
Perhaps if fate was kind, eventually she would become free.
Perhaps. It wasn’t likely, for the duke was in good health.
“Caleb…” Quickly, she drained her glass.
“You don’t need to say anything.” He leaned close as he took the empty glass from her hand. “Additionally, if you continue to look at me like that, Duchess, we might have the next scandal in the making right here.” Then he snorted, for everything they’d done this week had been scandalous.
Amusement twinkled in her eyes. “How am I looking at you?”
As if either of them could deny how they felt. Quickly setting both their glasses on the table, he grinned. “Like you want nothing more than to devour me.”
“What if I do?”
A low growl escaped him as he tugged her close. “I’ll let you, but first, we’re going to enjoy a waltz together.”
“Why?”
“Because I won’t have the opportunity to do so in public, and I’ve dreamed of doing just that.” He waved his free hand to encompass the area. “I hope this is romantic enough. I was rather pressed for time and resources without giving too much away.”
“It’s perfect.” When she rested a palm to the side of his head, he was nearly lost. “You are truly a marvel.”
“Mmm.” He slipped an arm about her waist and held her close. “I rather think it’s time to usher in the wicked portion of our night.”
Angelica smiled as she let her hand drift to his shoulder. “That sounds lovely, but does that mean you’ve forgone the waltz?”
“Absolutely not. That is a certainty.”
“Yet we don’t have music.”
“We don’t need it, for there is far too much attraction between us that we won’t need it; our hearts already make the sound.”
“You are entirely too charming for your own good.”
“I don’t know about that, but I am reckless with you in my arms,” he said with a certain masculine satisfaction in his voice and a grin he hoped would make her knees weak.
“You are sweet, and I adore it.” When she trembled in his embrace, he pulled her closer and moved them away from the table and chairs.
“That is good to know.” He leaned into her and nipped at her earlobe. “I desperately wish to coerce you out of that wonderful gown and see your form in the moonlight.”
“Do hush, Mr. Marsden. How scandalous you are.” A blush filled her cheeks, but clearly, she was pleased with his teasing.
Gently, quietly, he escorted her further into the clearing, beyond the bluebells, nestled within the trees and a bit away from the lantern illumination.
Already it was an enchanting night that buzzed with the distant sounds of insects and birds calling as they settled into their nighttime business.
The scent of a spring heavy with growing things hung on the air, but every now and again, the floral essence of her teased his nose and ramped his need for her.
“Caleb?” Her voice sounded overly loud in the sudden hush around them.
“Hmm?”
“I thought you said we would waltz?”
“Oh, we will.”
“What if that isn’t the sort of exercise I wish to share with you tonight?”
A chuckle escaped him, for she was quite bold, and he adored that about her.
“Why shouldn’t we do both?” He pulled at her hand, tugging her through the trees until they reached a light path.
“We’ll start here and waltz our way back to our romantic hideaway for a repast before beginning the remainder of our night. ”
“I appreciate all that you’ve done for me, over and above the intimacies we’ve shared.” The catch in her voice went straight to his heart. “It’s meant so much. You’ll probably never know…”
“Hush, now, sweeting. No maudlin feelings tonight. There is plenty of time for all that later.” He certainly had shoved his own emotions deep down.
Something in the shadows frightened the hell out of him, and he flinched. “How the hell did I miss that statue?” Seated within the trees and shrubberies was marble statue depicting Eros, the god of love. Moss and lichen partially covered the stone.
A giggle escaped her. “Years ago, Tittleford scattered a host of Roman statues about the property. He wished to imbue some class to the acreage.” She squeezed his hand. “Perhaps you were distracted the last time we were out here… and it was raining.”
“Distracted, indeed.” Then he peered more closely at the face of the statue in the shadows. “Eros. How apropos, don’t you think?”
“For us or for the duke? Perhaps he had his mistress in mind.” Bitterness hung on her words.
Again, he burned for the treatment she’d endured at the hands of her husband. “For us. Tittleford has no place in what we share.”