Page 101 of More or Less a Countess
“What did you think? I don’t want any more secrets between us.” She tried to look away, but Nick tilted her face up to his with a fingertip on her chin. “Violet?”
“It’s just that you’ve been so secretive lately, and then there was this sudden trip to London, and you didn’t come to me last night. When I saw the papers, I…well, I put all those things together, and assumed the worst.”
“I didn’t come to you, sweet, because you were unwell. I’m not such a brute I’d force my attentions on my ill, exhausted wife. Though perhaps I am a brute, after all, because I nearly yielded to temptation a dozen times that night. I had to move to another bedchamber, because it was driving me mad knowing you were just on the other side of the connecting door.”
She flushed, but her eyes were sparkling. “I’m never too ill to receive your attentions, my lord.”
“No?” His gaze dropped to her lips just before he lowered his mouth to hers, his kiss tender and demanding at once. When they broke apart at last, they were both breathless. “As far as my being secretive, well…I’ve been working on something for you. A gift.”
Violet’s eyes widened. “A gift? You mean the whispering with Gibbs and the sneaking about the house was all because you were planning a gift for me?”
“Yes. I have part of it here with me, but you’ll have to wait until we return to Ashdown Park to see the rest of it.” Nick urged her to sit down in the chair again, then fetched the leather satchel he’d dragged all the way back to London and pulled a large, paper-wrapped package from it.
Violet eyed it with interest. “It’s heavy.”
Nick grinned. “I know. I’ve carried it to London and back twice now. Open it.”
He laid it carefully in her lap, and Violet slid her fingers under a flap in the paper covering and smoothed it back. “Oh, my,” she breathed when she lifted the book from the wrappings. “It’s so fine.” She smoothed her palm over the dark green leather binding and traced a reverent finger over the gilt-edged pages.
“I think you’ll like the frontispiece.” Nick knelt next to her chair and opened the book to the title page.
Violet gasped softly, then reached up to press a shaking hand against her mouth. “Oh, my goodness. Oh,Nick.”
He brushed his lips over her ear. “Read it to me, sweet.”
It took Violet a moment to catch her breath, but at last she whispered, “A Treatise on London for Bluestockings and Adventuresses.”
“All your essays, and your sketches.” Nick turned over a few pages until he reached a page entitledList of Illustrations. “Cockpit Steps and Execution Dock—they’re all here. The publisher, John Murray, was astounded at how much information you’d gathered. He’s already asked to see your next work, and…Violet? Don’tcry, sweetheart.”
She looked up at him, her lower lip trembling. “I just…I can’t believe you did this for me.”
He looked surprised. “But…don’t you know, Violet? I’d do anything for you.”
Violet stared down at the book on her lap, running her fingertips over the page, her eyes swimming with tears.
Nick tipped her face up and caught the drops on his fingertips. “More tears? What’s the matter, sweet? Don’t you like it?”
Violet turned her face to press a soggy kiss into his palm. “I love it. I loveyou, so much, Nick. More than I can ever tell you.”
“Oh, love. You don’t need to tell me.” He brushed a soft kiss on her lips, then lay his hand gently on her belly. “You’ve already shown me.”
Chapter Twenty-four
“It smells like paper, and fresh ink. Have you given me my own library?” Violet reached behind her head and tried to tug off the scarf Nick had tied around her eyes. “Take this off, Nick! You’ve made me wait long enough to see it.”
Nick, afraid an immediate return journey to West Sussex would exhaust her, had insisted they remain at Lady Chase’s for the night, and Violet had spent the entire carriage ride from Bedford Square to Ashdown Park teasing him to tell her about her surprise.
Nick took her by the shoulders and guided her across the room. “It’s not a library, but perhaps it will be, someday. And you’ve waited less than a day to see it, sweet,” he added with a chuckle. “You only found out about it last night. I don’t recall you ever being this impatient before.”
“I’m only impatient for surprises from my husband, and if this is anything like my book, then I can’t wait another moment!”
“Do as I say and you won’t have to. Stand here. This corner has the best vantage point. Yes, good. Are you ready?”
Violet let out a little squeal of anticipation. “Yes! I’ve been ready!”
He chuckled again and pressed a kiss behind her ear, then reached up, untied the knot, and slid the blindfold away.
“Oh, my goodness.” Violet’s voice was hushed, and for a long moment she seemed unable to move. She didn’t utter another word, but stood quietly, her gaze sweeping from one end of the room to the other, her hand over her mouth. At last she took a step forward, but then she stopped again, as if she weren’t sure what to touch first.
