Chapter One
Wycliffe House
Mayfair
London, England
“I can’t believe you are asking this of me.
” Amelia Harcourt—Viscountess of Wycliffe—wasn’t best pleased with her husband of two and a half years.
She narrowed her gaze on her husband, who’d been quite the scandalous bachelor before she’d wed him.
Oh, he’d changed a bit, but at his heart, he was still a very wicked man.
“I don’t understand why you want to leave London right now. ”
“Why not? Autumn is a wonderful time to leave Town, and the opportunity to take in the fresh air doesn’t come about often.”
She huffed with annoyance. “But Gideon is only one and a half years old. It’s a tender time for him. I don’t want to break our bond.” Tears welled in her eyes, for it would be the first time they’d leave their son for any reason more than a few hours.
“Don’t cry. You know the sight of your tears breaks me.
” Nicholas, her husband, perched on the arm of the chair she occupied in the drawing room.
“We won’t be gone forever. Just for a week-long house party with Marcus Chapman.
And I thought since I no longer have a country estate due to monetary problems, you might wish to take advantage of this boon. ”
With his black hair arranged in a popular style and his fathomless brown eyes, he was still every bit the devil’s consort she’d likened him to when she’d first met him, when she’d been a lady’s companion and he’d tried to seduce her young charge.
Of course, when she’d met him, his pockets were nearly to let, but through sound investments and financial advice from her charge’s husband—they’d remained in touch and friends through the years—his account ledgers were finally running in the black.
“I’ll admit, it would be lovely to get away from the congestion and pollution of Town…” She hadn’t been in the country since her father died peacefully in his sleep earlier in the spring.
“There, you see?” His grin was infectious and sent shivers of need down her spine.
“Marcus’ brother is hosting the house party with a ball to conclude it at the family’s hunting lodge in Berkshire.
” As he warmed to his subject, Nicholas took one of her hands in his.
“The nearest village is idyllically charming and on the River Thames. Oh, and there is the rumor that a ghost haunts the halls of a derelict abbey not far away on the moors.”
“Why do you wish to go so badly?” she asked as she brushed at the tears on her cheeks.
Marcus Chapman was her husband’s best friend and the fourth son of the Earl of Channingford. They saw him once a month while he was in Town.
“You and I need some time alone.” He put his lips close to her ear. The warmth of his breath skated along her cheek. “It’s been difficult to come by since Gideon was born. I adore my son, of course, but I married you, and I don’t wish to lose you to motherhood or domestic management.”
“Yet you wish to tear me away from our son.” Tears welled in her eyes again.
Of course, he’d already explained that her mother and one of her sisters would come to London from Landover Hall in Bedfordshire to look after the boy.
Her remaining sister would stay behind at the manor, for two other sisters were married and busy with their own lives.
“I don’t, of course.” He blew out a breath. “But I am concerned about your health. You need fresh air and socializing. You need dancing.” His body heat seeped into her. “Above all of that, you need to have wicked things done to you. Don’t you miss those carnal times between us?”
“Yes…” Warmth slapped at her cheeks, for their relationship had started volatile and with high friction and desire.
It hadn’t dimmed even after marriage… until their son was born, and she’d had other priorities in life than giving into her devilish husband’s scandalous whims. “Perhaps that time in my life is over.”
“Bite your tongue, Lady Wycliffe,” he said, with teasing in his voice and a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows. “You simply need a new perspective on your life.”
That prompted a faint smile on her part. “I suppose…” If she was honest with herself, she did miss that aspect of her married life, and Nicholas was a fantastic lover. He had a certain way about him that made it impossible to resist him. Drat him for employing it now.
“You adore the autumn with its brilliant colors and that crispness in the air,” he said, while lightly rubbing his fingertips along the inside of her wrist. Tingles flew over her skin in his wake.
“And if I can give that to you, why wouldn’t I?
” With a gleam in his eyes she didn’t quite trust, he continued, “I’m told there is an old folly on the property in an old orchard not far from the abbey.
No doubt it’ll prove handy to disappear into for some scandalous kisses during a walk.
” Again, his fingertips brushed her wrist, and she shivered.
“Do you remember when we used to walk through Hyde Park or even Vauxhall Gardens? Some of those visits ended with heated kisses whenever trees or shrubberies shielded us from prying eyes.”
Awareness of him danced over her skin. How did he manage to seduce her so well even after two years of marriage?
“I remember.” She lifted her face to peer into his eyes.
“It might prove lovely to spend time with people around our own age, and talk about things that aren’t baby related.
” Ever since Gideon had been born, her world revolved around the baby and caring for him.
Though they’d hired a nursery maid and a wet nurse, Mia didn’t like to entrust her child to others; she had taken an active part in raising her son.
Because of that, she was often exhausted at the end of the day, and that left very little time to be with her husband.
Which meant she struggled with guilt. No matter which one of them she gave her attention to, she was neglecting the other. Those feelings were tearing her apart.
Nicholas raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “Since the hunting season will kick off with this house party, I’ll go out with Chapman and the others during the mornings—unless there is a night hunt—but the rest of the day I’ll belong to you.”
It sounded heavenly, yet she wasn’t ready to concede to him just yet. “What do I do while you’re gone?”
“Anything you want.” Her husband shrugged. “I’m sure there will be activities for the ladies. Nature walks, handicrafts, book discussions. Gossip. Whatever ladies get up to. Oh, and tea, I’m sure.”
“Ah.” Mia briefly rolled her gaze to the ceiling before focusing it on him. “Will I know anyone else invited?”
“That is difficult to say, but perhaps. Chapman and his brothers know many people, and since his brother became the earl last year, he has been waiting for an opportunity to show society that he’s not like his father used to be.
” Nicholas nudged her shoulder, let his fingers drift along her nape.
“Please say you’ll come, Amelia.” He implored her with his eyes, and she was in danger of falling into those dark pools.
“You and I need this time alone. It will help us, help our union, since we’ve been bickering for a bit. ”
This was true. It felt as if they’d been out of alignment for far too long. She huffed. “Whose fault is that? You are the one who usually starts those spats.”
“To see if I can pull you away, for one precious hour, to remember what we once had before everything changed.” Of course, he didn’t say it was because they’d had a child or she had the duties of a viscountess to attend, but she could hear those undercurrents, and what was more, she fully agreed.
“We had a child, Nicholas. That brings much responsibility.” If she sounded haughtier than she wished, she couldn’t help it.
“I’m aware, but there is so much more to life—to you—than being a mother.” His expression fell. A hint of vulnerability flitted through his expression. “To be honest, I miss my wife. I miss that closeness we used to share, and if I’m honest, I miss you in my bed.”
At least he was truthful enough to voice his concerns.
“You only want me for my body.”
Desire darkened his eyes. “Yes, of course, but I still want you in all the ways that matter, just as I told you when I asked you to marry me.” Then he shrugged. “To put it bluntly as well as simply, I just miss you.”
“Oh! I miss you as well.” As heat sank into her cheeks, Mia slowly nodded.
“You’re charming, I’ll give you that.” Of course, he wished to be with his friends, for domestic life had been confining of late, for them both.
While it was true that Nicholas was a lovely and doting father, she suspected he needed more from life, just as she did.
And as he’d said, they would only be away from London for a week.
That was highly doable, and Gideon would be well cared for by her family.
With a sigh, she gave him a smile. “You have always been the only one to break down my reserve. When do we leave?”
His grin held more than a bit of cheek. “In two days.”
“Two days? That’s hardly enough time to pack; there’s so much to do!”
“We’ll manage it. You’ll take your maid and I’ll bring my valet.” With a wink, he shoved off the armrest of the chair then tugged Amelia to her feet. “We’ll spend a week at Hollyhock Lodge, and hopefully, the time away will prove good for both of us.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Surely, her marriage wouldn’t fall apart at the seams so soon. Worry scudded through her belly at the thought.
“We won’t let it.” With a soft sound of victory, Nicholas bundled her into his arms and brushed his lips over hers. “Trust me, sweeting. This house party will bring the spontaneity and romance back into our lives.”
“I hope you’re right.” No matter what, she didn’t wish to lose him simply because other things in her life had taken away her focus.
Then, with a sigh, she slipped her hands up his chest to grasp his shoulders as he kissed her again.
“If this trip is successful, perhaps we could make it an annual event.”
“Ah, I like the way you think. I shall let the butler know of our plans. That should set everything into motion.” And he set out to apparently kiss her senseless.
She didn’t expect anything less from him.