Page 78 of Darling Duke
Bo reached his side and trailed a hand over her sleeping daughter’s soft, rosy cheek, before pressing a kiss to her silky auburn hair. “I am sorry that it took me so long this evening,” she said, careful to keep her voice hushed lest she wake Elizabeth.
“How did it go?” he asked.
She leaned in to kiss him next, a quick press of her lips to his that sent the languorous slide of heat straight through her. “My speech was quite well-received. I do think we may be able to drum up enough support to get another resolution before the House of Commons.”
“Wonderful, my love.” His green eyes glowed into hers, shining with love. “I am so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” She kissed him again, unable to help herself. “Mmm. You smell so wonderful. I missed you terribly.”
“You were gone for all of three hours, darling.” Amusement laced his voice.
“Three hours too many,” she said, caressing the slash of his cheekbone, loving the abrasion of his whiskers on her skin. “How did I get so fortunate to have the best husband in all England and the sweetest, most beautiful daughter?”
“You trespassed in my library to read a bawdy book one day.” His grin deepened. “And the rest is history.”
Her heart ached looking at Spencer cradling Elizabeth with such loving protection in his arms. Bo was so happy, so ridiculously, wonderfully happy. Their love had grown over the last year and a half, and they were closer than ever. Spencer’s ice was long melted, and in its place burned a steady, magnificent warmth. Even his dragon of a mother had softened, ceasing all attempts at drowning Bo in fish.
It was almost too good to be true, this life she lived.
She could not seem to stop smiling or drinking in the sight of her husband. “Thank heavens for bawdy books.”
“Thank heavens for you, my love.” He caught her hand and raised it to his lips for a worshipful kiss. “You saved me, and you have given me the most precious gifts a man could ever ask for: our daughter and your heart.”
She stared at him, love bursting in her heart, and the news she had been waiting to impart would not be contained a moment more. “There will be one more gift to add to that list soon.”
His gaze sharpened. “Surely not another pocket watch from my favorite horse thief?”
Bo shook her head. “No. This is the sort of gift that takes many months to arrive.”
“Another babe?” he asked, hope lacing his voice.
“Yes.” She studied him, pressing a hand to her abdomen where the new life they had created already grew. “Are you happy, Spencer?”
“My God.” He rose to his feet, taking care to bounce Elizabeth in a soothing motion lest she wake, and then hauled her to his side with one arm. “I am happy beyond words.” He kissed the crown of her head.
She slid her arm around his lean waist, cuddling nearer to him as his pine scent enveloped her. “As am I, my love. I could not ask for more.” She paused and for old time’s sake, she could not resist asking him one more question. “And then?”
He smiled down into her eyes. “And then they put their daughter down to sleep for the night, and they went to their chamber and spent the rest of the evening making love.”
Bo raised a brow. “That sounds like the sort of story I would like to read.”
