Page 19 of The Spy and His Lady Love
Chapter 6
“Haveyou received any correspondences from the Duke of Newbury?” Penelope asked as she entered Thomas’s study one afternoon only two weeks’ time from the nuptials. After the night at the opera when she called him Hugh, the only communication was a hot house delivery of four dozen blood red roses with a card in large letters signed, H A R R Y, underlined three times. She’d not found it humorous and had taken offense.
If she’d insulted him, he never should have sent Mr. Sinclair in his place to dance and pay attention to her. The fault lay completely on him. Served him right if she’d fallen for his cousin. Except, that wasn’t true. She felt attraction to Mr. Sinclair, but Harry intrigued her, made her want to know everything about him. And his kisses…she wanted more.”
“What has you blushing?”
Good Lord, she forgot she was in Thomas’s study. “Nothing. Have you heard from His Grace?”
“Yes. Just his morning. He said he’ll arrive at Stoney Cross Manor two days before the wedding.” He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, his chin leaning on his hands. “Did I make a mistake by allowing him to escort you home from the opera? Did something happen in the carriage? We’ve not heard from him or seen him or his cousin in over a month?”
Indeed, something did happen. In the heat of passion, she whispered the name of Hugh. Embarrassed beyond words, she could not admit such things to her brother. “Nothing that I know of. Perhaps he has taken ill?”
“Perhaps.” Thomas looked at her with intense blue eyes, nearly the same color as hers, seeking her secrets. And she fought to remain still.
“If you’ll excuse me, Thomas, I think I will spend time with my nephews in the nursery.”
He chuckled. “You best change into a dress you don’t mind ruining.”
Her heart lighter than when she entered his study, she made her way up two flights of stairs to the third floor and the nursery where she could hear laughter and squeals coming from inside. Leaning against the door jam, her heart warmed at the sight of the two boys sitting on the floor, climbing all over Emma who wore wide puffy trousers.
“I dare say, Your Grace, no one would recognize you in your attire.” Emma burst out laughing as the two mischievous boys tickled her tummy. Then she rolled them over and did the same thing until their laughter could, no doubt, be heard two floors down. Such a happy house they all lived in. Penelope’s breath tangled up inside her lungs. She won’t live in a happy house much longer.
They decided to take the boys out in the gardens and let them run off some of their endless energy before naptime. After their nurse tucked the boys into bed, both Emma and Penelope yawned. “I could use a nap myself,” Emma said as they descended the stairs. “Since it’s almost teatime, I believe I’ll change and hope the tea revives me.”
“Me as well,” Penelope said as she entered her bedchamber and rang for her maid. Revitalized and dressed in a lovely pale blue frock, she made her way down the stairs to the drawing room. Her feet came to a crashing stop just inside the doorway when she saw Newbury sitting in a chair, sipping tea, and animatedly conversing with Emma and Wentworth who sat opposite him on the pink velvet settee.
She must have gasped or made some sort of noise because suddenly three sets of eyes settled on her face. Putting her shock aside at finding the duke here, she forced a smile and made her way forward to join them. She curtsied before Newbury. “Your Grace, what a lovely surprise to see you.” As he reached for his cane, she waved him off. “Please stay seated.” After taking the chair beside his she reached for the tea cup Emma prepared for her and took a sip, hoping Newbury didn’t notice how her hand shook, causing the cup to clank against the saucer.
“We were just discussing the weather,” Thomas said as he cleared his throat after taking a swallow of tea. “How can anyone drink this dreadful stuff without sweetener.”He reached forward and plucked two sugar cubes from a bowl and dropped them into his tea with a loud plop.
Both Emma and Penelope laughed at Thomas, making Emma explain, “My husband tries to drink his tea with cream and no sugar but caves to adding two cubes. Amesbury and Myles have teased him relentlessly about not drinking tea like a man and saying only women add sugar. It is a sore subject and one that brings joy to those who watch him struggle with it.”
“Yes, well, I prefer coffee to tea any time of the day,” Newbury said as he placed his empty china cup and saucer on the table and picked up a biscuit.
“I agree,” Thomas said.”
“Your Grace,” Penelope began, did you come to discuss plans for our upcoming wedding?”
“Yes, I wanted to talk with you about our wedding day.” He paused and looked at her brother. “I was hoping, with your permission, Wentworth, to have a few moments alone with my intended to discuss our honeymoon.”
No sooner had the words left Newbury’s mouth than both Emma and Thomas stood and excused themselves from the room. Emma left the door to the room open barely an inch. Basically leaving the duke and her completely alone and with all the privacy they could want.Do I want to be in a private room with the duke? Not after what happened in the coach the night we attended the opera.
Before Penelope could come up with something to say, Newbury stood and made his way to look out a large picture window that overlooked the formal gardens out back. His cane stayed beside his chair and he walked, taking a step with his good leg and swinging his bad leg forward. Over and over until he reached the window. It was painfully awkward to watch him struggle. Although it didn’t seem to bother him and he made surprisingly quick progress.
“Would you mind joining me.”
It was presented as a statement, not a question. After placing her half-eaten biscuit on her plate, she rose and softly walked across the oriental rug to stand beside the duke. As her pulse soared and her palms dampened she tried to calm herself by inhaling and exhaling slow and steady.
“I beg forgiveness for my behavior the night we attended the opera,” Newbury said as he stared out the window as though something interesting held his attention. “I should have escorted you to the door. It was quite rude of me. There is no excuse for my poor judgment.”
She opened her mouth to speak several times before she could come up with something to say besides thank you. “There is no need to apologize. You did not hurt my feelings or insult me with your decision to stay inside the coach. I presumed your leg was bothering you. Besides, I believe, correct me if I’m wrong, that as a betrothed couple, are we not allowed to relax on certain formalities when not in public. And the same when we are finally wed.” From what she had observed from her married family members, they relaxed all formality when in the privacy of their homes and surrounded by family and close friends. She certainly hoped he didn’t want all the bowing, curtsying, and formality to exist between them when in the privacy of their home.
“Yes. But that night…” He paused, turned to look at her, and she gasped at the intensity in his deep blue eye and the thoughtful frown on his face. “I thought we made progress toward the intimacy we will share as husband and wife. I should have respected you and seen you properly inside your residence.”
Before she could stop herself she blurted out, “And I should not have called you Hugh.” She slapped her hand over her mouth and wished she could crawl beneath the carpet and hide forever. As she waited for him to say something…anything, heat scorched her cheeks, her body trembled, and tears pooled in her eyes. Whether from anger at herself, from shame, or embarrassment. Most definitely all three. What really bothered her was the pain she briefly witnessed before he buried his emotions to a blank look and stare. Time stood still as she waited and waited.
Finally, one side of his mouth quirked up into a smile and his eye softened as well as the rest of his features. She swore she could see the tension in his body ease as well. “If you forgive me for my rudeness, I’ll forgive you for calling out my cousin’s name…in the throes of passion.”
