Chapter Six
There was a decided autumnal chill in the air as the house party guests gathered outside on the terrace for a luncheon alfresco.
Mia didn’t mind, for being out in sunshine, breathing in the crispness while reveling in the changing colors of the leaves on trees and shrubberies was a lovely way to spend the next couple of hours.
And having her attentive husband by her side made the day perfect.
Sunlight winked off the silverware and crystal.
China plates decorated the white cloth-covered tabletops.
As the various courses were brought out, she talked to the other six people who shared the large, round table.
Nicholas didn’t say much and neither did he employ his usual charm, but then, he’d had a busy time of it these past few days.
In fact, he’d gone hunting again early this morning, which required him to rise from their bed well before dawn, and since they’d gotten up to scandal after dinner the night before, the poor man was probably deficient on his sleep.
When the breeze blew over her skin, a shiver went up her spine, and she pulled a thin ivory shawl closer across her shoulders.
Nicholas leaned over and put his lips to the shell of her ear. “Are you enjoying yourself, sweeting?”
“I am. Very much so.” She nodded with a smile.
“It’s making me look forward to All Hallow’s Eve later in the month.
I think Gideon will have such fun with the celebrations, especially if we go to Landover Hall for them.
” It would be bittersweet since her father was no longer alive, but they could keep up the traditions.
“There is nothing else I would rather do.” His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before he met her gaze again. “Enjoying the luncheon?”
“Very much so.” She was unable to say more, for Mr. Chapman stood up from his chair at their table, and with a speaking glance at Nicholas, he lifted a hand.
“If I could have everyone’s attention please?”
A low murmur went through the assembled guests seated around the collection of five tables.
With a nod, Mr. Chapman flashed a grin around the company.
“Firstly, let’s all thank my brother, for without him, this house party as well as the hunt wouldn’t have occurred.
” He paused while the company offered up polite applause.
“And secondly, there is something I must say, for I can’t keep it to myself any longer. ”
Excitement tripped down Mia’s spine, and she wasn’t even the one who occupied Mr. Chapman’s attention. With a wildly pounding heart, she laid a hand on Nicholas’ thigh beneath the tablecloth. “Oh, dear, is this truly happening?”
“I’ll wager it is,” he whispered with a wink at her.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chapman wandered over to where Miss Parker sat with a group of young women around her age.
“There are times in a man’s life that change him, make him see the world—and himself—as what it, and he, could be instead of what they are currently.
And one of those things happened to me recently.
” He paused near Miss Parker’s location.
She looked at him in confusion. “What are you doing?” she asked in a fierce whisper.
“Something I should have done a few months ago.” His grin was this side of cheeky as he sank to one knee before her chair. “My dear Miss Parker, we met three months ago in London at a society event. You turned my world on its head at the time, and since then, you’ve led me on a merry chase.”
Several of the ladies on the terrace looked on with expressions of envy and anticipation.
“I’m afraid I’ve been a bit of a nodcock about where I wanted my future to go, and that caused unnecessary delays and despair.
” As he shrugged, Mr. Chapman focused solely on Miss Parker.
In fact, it seemed he generally didn’t believe anyone else existed on that terrace.
“However, a close friend of mine took me aside recently and talked sense into me. He helped put things into perspective for me, and that’s why I’ve arrived here now. ”
If he paused for affect, it was a good move on his part, for every guest on that terrace hung on his every word. To be fair, he cut a rather dashing figure in his jacket of bottle green superfine that showcased his broad shoulders, with his windswept brown hair running riot over his head.
“Goodness,” Mia whispered to her husband, who merely uttered a soft chuckle.
Mr. Chapman took one of Miss Parker’s hands in his.
“All of that to say, I have fallen in love with you,” he told her in a softer voice than he’d used before.
“Such an occasion took me by surprise and left me reeling for a bit, but now that I’m thinking more clearly, I know exactly what I want in my life, and that is you. ”
“Me?” she squeaked, with shock marching across her round face.
“Yes.” When Mr. Chapman grinned, a secondhand thrill went down Mia’s spine. This was always such a wonderful moment in any woman’s life, and she was witnessing it! “Would you make me the happiest of men and marry me? Spend the rest of your life with me?”
Several ladies present sighed, and she quite agreed. It was a highly romantic scene.
Miss Parker burst into tears, but to be fair, she was no doubt overly emotional due to her pregnancy. “Of course I will marry you, for I have fallen in love with you too.”
Applause broke out amidst the guests. Some even stood up from their chairs and approached the happy couple as they embraced and shared a kiss.
From beside her, Nicholas gave a shout of congratulations. He beamed from his chair as if he were a proud papa.
Mia turned to him. “Can I assume this your doing?” she asked in a whispered voice, while the newly engaged couple accepted well wishes and hearty handshakes.
“It might have been.” Though he grinned, her husband shrugged and remained mysterious. “I only put a bug in Marcus’ ear that she’s a good catch.” Then he winked. “And I might have said that Miss Parker had caught the eye of a couple of potential suitors during this house party.”
“Oh, Nicholas.” Mia softly snorted in amusement. “Has she?”
“I wouldn’t know, for my attention has been wholly taken up with my own bride.
” The grin he gave her sent tingles of need through her lower belly.
“However, those words made Chapman face his truth and puzzle out exactly how he felt about Miss Parker.” When the couple shared another hug, he chuckled.
“It got the job done, wouldn’t you say?”
“I do.” She nodded. “Perhaps you are a secret romantic, hmm?”
“That is always a possibility, but I won’t confirm or deny it.”
A light-hearted laugh escaped her. “Ah, but I’ll know.
” Beneath the table and hidden by the white tablecloth, Mia drew her hand along his thigh, dipped between his splayed legs to caress his shaft through his breeches.
When he sucked in a surprised breath, she smiled.
“I hope they have a love-filled union like ours.”
“As do I.” He took her hand, removed it from his person, and threaded their fingers together. “Punctuated with enough spice and friction to keep the relationship interesting.”
“Agreed.” While Mia nodded, she gasped when he brought her hand to his lips, then kissed the inside of her wrist despite the guests at their table.
Too bad he wouldn’t let her linger or stroke him off to see him come undone in a public setting where he couldn’t do anything about it.
“The best of all marriages has a mix of all those things.” Because she couldn’t help herself, she leaned close to him.
“And having a husband who remains devilishly devoted even after having a child makes all the difference.”
Wicked promise reflected in his dark eyes. “As if I could be anything else.” Slowly as he lifted her hand once more to his lips, he gave her another wink. “Meet me at the folly while everyone is busy after the luncheon ends?”
“Of course.” Heat went through her cheeks, and an answering throb of need made itself known in her core. “I thought you’d never ask, Wycliffe.”
Married life might prove busy, especially when motherhood was added, but the trick to keeping the romance alive was remembering the love and the exciting passion that had been there in the beginning.
After all, once the children were grown, the couple would still have each other, and that was the point of falling in love to begin with.
The End