Chapter Eighteen
‘How is married life, my friend?’
‘It’s fine.’ Ralston sat across from Adler at Jonathan’s Coffee-House the following afternoon.
It was their usual day to meet, and the place was bustling.
The Times, The Morning Post and The Chronicle had been delivered earlier, and the coffee house was busy with men reading newspapers, drinking the warm brew and gathering with friends.
Adler, it seemed, had other business on his mind. He stirred a lump of sugar into his coffee. ‘Truly? You appeared even more tense than usual at the House today.’
The earlier session had voted on two different bills. Ralston had avoided Lord Weber and his cronies afterwards in the antechamber. The man had a way of getting under his skin and he did not wish to give his nemesis the satisfaction of agitating him in public.
‘Weber is a thorn in my side.’ Ralston raised his coffee cup. It was too hot, and he scalded his tongue, adding to his frustration and bad mood.
Adler eyed him knowingly. ‘That’s not all that’s bothering you, is it?’
‘My wife is fine if that’s what you are implying.’
Adler arched an eyebrow. ‘She is fine. And beautiful. Why do I have the sense you are avoiding her bedchamber?’
Ralston’s spoon clattered on his saucer.
‘I’m not avoiding her bed. I already told you, it’s out of consideration.
’ They had been married only a short time.
Too many sleepless nights thinking of his wife in his bed.
He knew his friend was right. He had given her enough time to adjust to an unwanted marriage, hadn’t he?
Unbothered, Adler continued. ‘You are fooling yourself. Visit her chambers and soon. It will help you focus on the upcoming second reading of your bill. Your arguments must be sharp and leave little room for a snake like Lord Weber to strike. The man is no fool.’
Ralston did not need reminding of Weber’s skill.
By the time Ralston returned home, he was even more tense. Jenkins took his hat and greatcoat as Mrs Hanning approached.
‘Dinner will be served in your library, my lord,’ she said.
His brow furrowed in confusion. ‘The library? Is there something amiss in the dining room.’ Had Nora decided to redecorate?
He wouldn’t protest if she wanted to hire painters or a decorator.
As for dinner, he’d intended to have a tray delivered to his room to work.
His conversation with Adler had only added to his agitation.
His political work was at risk if Lord Weber gained more supporters.
As for his beautiful wife…she was never far from his mind.
His housekeeper’s face turned a shade pink. In all the years he’d known her, the competent woman had never blushed. ‘Lady Ralston has requested your presence in the library.’
This took him by surprise. Nora had arranged dinner in the library? Curious, he headed down the hall. When he stepped into the room, he froze.
His library had been transformed. A small table, elegantly dressed in white linen and fine china, sat before the hearth. Twin candelabras, flickering with warm candlelight, flanked a pair of covered silver salvers. A sideboard held a crystal decanter of claret and two glasses.
Nora stood beside the table, looking more lovely than he’d ever seen her.
Dressed in a simple gown of green muslin, the bodice drew attention to the soft curve of her breasts.
Her auburn hair had been left loose, held back by a matching green ribbon.
The colour of the dress accentuated her green eyes, and the candlelight caught the burnished highlights in her curls.
She smiled in welcome. He had to remind himself to breathe.
‘Ralston,’ she said, her voice warm. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’
He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving her.
At that moment, he wanted her more than ever before. ‘You arranged this?’ His own voice came low, hoarse with a tangle of disbelief and desire.
Her eyes sparked with mischief and some other emotion he couldn’t quite identify. ‘I have a surprise for you.’
His heart pounded. Whatever it is, it cannot rival the sight of you. He struggled to maintain his manners.
She lifted one of the silver covers, and a rich, spicy and unfamiliar aroma curled into the air. His mouth watered.
Her smile brightened the dim library. ‘I cooked for you.’
‘You…cooked?’ he repeated, dumbfounded. He knew his wife had talents. He’d seen her scientific notebook, but he’d never guessed she could also cook.
She nodded, her cheeks turning a charming shade of pink. ‘I’ve been learning. My father’s stepmother has been teaching me. Growing up, she was like an aunt to me. I want to please you. I remembered how fond you were of the dishes we shared at the tavern.’
‘You did all this for me?’ The words scraped out of his throat like dry parchment.
‘I did,’ she said, her blush deepening. ‘I shamefully admit that I thought cooking would be easy. I was wrong. I had many failed attempts and was about to concede defeat before I was successful. But I wanted to do this for you.’ She uncovered a small bowl on the table. ‘I even made hummus.’
He was speechless. No one, no woman had gone to such lengths to please him.
She had to be busy preparing her notes and presentation in anticipation of presenting to the London Scientific Society after her meeting with the scientist, Mr Collins.
Instead of focusing on her science, she’d taken time to learn how to cook for him.
‘I look forward to trying your dishes. But how did you do all this?’
‘Mrs Hanning helped me convince Cook to borrow her kitchen. Cook can be quite prickly.’
He chuckled softly. ‘You even bribed Cook?’
‘Not bribed,’ she said. ‘Negotiated.’
He could just imagine the scene. His cook could be most temperamental. He stepped towards the table and inhaled deeply. ‘It smells delicious. What is it?’
‘Dolma. Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with meat and rice and seasoned with herbs and spices. It’s one of my favorite dishes.’
His heart beat in his chest. Her time-consuming labor was far more intimate than a waltz at a ball, a shared trip to Gunther’s for ices or even a midnight garden rendezvous. His gaze met hers and her eyes shone in anticipation.
He held out a chair for her and his fingers itched to remove the pretty, green ribbon and bury his fingers in her long hair. He wanted her more than food. He took a deep breath to control his urge and sat across from her.
He watched as she served him and placed the food on his plate.
He picked up his fork and tasted the dish.
The food was delicious and different than the greasy fowl and chicken Cook would have prepared.
But it was Nora herself who kept arousing his senses.
She leaned forward, lips slightly parted, eagerly awaiting his reaction.
‘It’s delicious. I want to eat it all.’
Candlelight danced in her eyes. ‘Truly?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then let’s please eat.’ She picked up her own fork.
For the next half hour they ate and drank wine. The pleasantness of it was not lost on him. For not wanting to marry in haste, he’d never imagined enjoying time with a woman.
‘Tell me about your day,’ she said.
He wiped his mouth on a linen napkin. Since entering the room, he hadn’t thought once of his difficulties, but now they came back to him. ‘It wasn’t pleasant. This evening is precisely what I needed.’
She sipped her wine. ‘Is Lord Weber garnering more support?’
His jaw hardened and he nodded. ‘I fear so. If my bill fails—’
‘Then the poor children of London will suffer, yes.’
He took a deep breath. ‘It’s not just that. A selfish part of me knows that it will also be a blow to my political career.’
She set down her glass. ‘You are not selfish. You are a good man. If by chance your bill fails, and I don’t believe it will, then you will have kept your promise to fight for the children. Just like you have kept all your promises to me.’
Their eyes locked, and a charged silence fell between them. Her words of confidence struck him, and he stilled. ‘Nora, I—’
Leaning forward, she pressed a finger against his lips. ‘You have done more for me than I could ever have thought to ask or imagine.’ She lowered her hand.
Another pause. He drank in the sight of her. She was the most alluring woman he’d ever known. Intelligent and arousing.
‘Now, I have one more surprise, a small, savory delight to share.’ She served a pastry on a plate and set it before him. He picked up a fork.
‘No, with your fingers,’ she said, ‘but like this.’ She selected her own piece and took a small bite. ‘It’s a bit messy but worth it.’
He picked up the pastry and took a bite. His eyes widened at the combination of cheese and herbs. He consumed the rest in one bite. ‘Is there more?’
Her smile tugged at his chest. ‘Yes. I’m pleased you like it. It can be served as a mezza or hors d’oeuvre but I enjoy eating it as part of a main dish.’
His voice was gruff. ‘What is there not to like?’
A sensual moment passed between them. Then she reached for him, sliding her hand across the table and curling her fingers around his own. At the brief touch, a slow burn ignited in his chest.
‘There’s another reason for my invitation tonight,’ she said.
‘Oh?’
‘As I’ve said, you’ve kept your promises to me, my lord. Now I believe it’s my turn.’
‘And what promises do you refer to?’
Her pink lips curled in an enticing smile. ‘Since you’ve not visited my chambers, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands.’
His breath caught. She couldn’t mean…could she?
Then she did the most remarkable thing. She rose and walked to his side. Kneeling, she placed a hand on his thigh and kissed him.
At the first brush of her lips, heat surged through his veins and his heart pounded in his chest. The slight touch on his thigh made him grow instantly hard.
Her beauty was like a drug and his desire for her was overpowering.
He pushed back his chair and helped her to her feet.
Pulling her to him, he had her back in his arms in a flash.
He looked into her eyes. ‘Only one kiss?’