Page 19 of Pursuing a Duke
“Blackstone,” Caldwell’s low voice came from nearby. “People are coming.”
“Smooth out your skirts and your hair. We are about to be descended upon.” He kissed her quickly. “I’m so glad I thought to have Caldwell stand guard,” Andrew said softly as he walked to the other side of the gazebo, straightening his jacket and cravat and adjusting his breeches. Caldwell, his feet landing with a thud, joined them in the structure just before several people appeared on the walkway.
“Thank you,” she heard Andrew whisper to Caldwell.
“You can return the favor for me sometime.”
Laughter rang out. “I’ve been watching your arse for years, keeping you from the parson’s noose.”
“So very true,” agreed Caldwell with a smile.
“Your Grace, Emmeline. Mr. Caldwell. What a lovely surprise to come upon you,” Claire said with a smile, her arm linked with her husband’s. Catherine and her husband followed close behind.
“Your gardens are lovely, and this gazebo belongs in a fairytale,” Emmeline said. “I recently commissioned a small one for my garden and look forward to it being finished.”
“My dear husband built it for me for a wedding present,” Claire said, glancing lovingly at the marquess.
This caused Emmeline to experience a twinge of sadness and envy. She wanted to be able to look at Andrew and claim him in front of everyone. Let the world know she loved him without having to keep her emotions hidden. “Did he build it himself?” She would be surprised if he had. But then again, she did not know the marquess all that well.
Claire and her husband joined them in the gazebo. “He did,” she replied, her face beaming with pride and love.
“Really?” Andrew said as he inspected the craftsmanship. “I’m impressed. You are talented, Lord Waterford. Have you built anything else?”
Andrew and Caldwell exited the structure and went outside to study how it was built.
“Yes,” the marquess answered. “I built the orangery, although with help since that was a much larger project. I must get back to our guests, but perhaps I could give you a tour tomorrow?”
“Most definitely,” Andrew said.
The others drifted off, and once Emmeline and Andrew found themselves alone again, they walked arm and arm leisurely back toward the manor. They stopped at all the roses and beautiful flowers to smell and admire the blossoms. “The gardeners must spend all day keeping these gardens so pristine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more beautiful ones.”
“Perhaps someday I can show you Blackstone Hall,” Andrew said as he waved his arm. “The gardens there rival these. However, I need to commission someone to build me a gazebo. My father always talked about building one but never did. I need to remedy that.” He paused, and when he continued, his voice became deep and alluring, “Can you imagine what else we can do at my gazebo without anyone interrupting?”
Her feet barely touched the walkway as her heart pounded excitedly at the thought of visiting Blackstone Hall someday andwhat could happen in his private gazebo. She had to remind herself that Andrew had inherited his father’s title and estates. Some days, she still thought of him as the Earl of Quincy and not the Duke of Blackstone. He was a duke and needed to marry and produce heirs. Did she dare hope that he wanted her to be that person? Or was he merely toying with her before he found someone younger? The flames licking inside her body were extinguished in a sudden torrential rain as she lost sight of her determination to get him to fall in love with her.
*
Andrew escorted Emmelinethrough the gardens and back to the drawing room, and his body vibrated with awareness. Truthfully, it hadn’t stopped since the moment he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The memory of her soft, pliant lips and the feel of her tongue inside his mouth, teasing with his, had him nearly groaning out loud. He hadn’t lied when he said he’d dreamed of kissing her forever, because it was true. And finally, thank Christ, it had happened in such a magical place. He didn’t usually have flights of fancy. However, he had felt transported to a place where only they existed in a garden full of fairies. He chuckled at his thoughts as he tightened his hold on her. He never wanted to let her go.
His time with Emmeline in the gazebo would visit his dreams tonight. When he rubbed his leg against her womanhood, her eyes had glassed over while little pants and moans had escaped her delicious lips as she climaxed. He’d fought hard not to embarrass himself and come in his breeches. She had been a true vision. Never had he seen her look more vibrant and beautiful. He would spend every minute of every day giving her pleasure if he could.
His heart constricted. He had to tell Emmeline the truth of Aiden’s death. But he would push it off as long as possible, spend as much time with her as he could. Because once she knew what had really happened, she would despise him, and he wouldn’t blame her. So, for the time being, he would ignore the pain in his heart and his conscience and spend these two weeks with her, knowing it may be all the time they had.
“You are quiet,” Emmeline’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts. “Is something bothering you? Do you regret...?”
“No. Never will I ever regret the time I spend with you.” Bloody hell, he needed to rein in his emotions. “I hope we can spend every moment of this house party together.”
She gazed up at him, her face alight and happy. “So do I.”
They were back in the drawing room, which had thinned out. The other guests were off on their own since there were no scheduled events until dinner and dancing. But Andrew knew the billiards room was available to guests. “Would you care for a game of billiards?” He remembered from long ago that she played. He hoped she still did.
“I haven’t played in so long,” she said with a smile. “But, yes, I would love to.”
Leading the way to the game room, which Andrew had stumbled upon by accident earlier, he had to fight to keep his hands to himself. Since he’d touched her earlier and got a feel for her soft skin, he craved her even more. When they arrived, he found the Marquess of Hollingsworth and Caldwell playing.
“Caldwell,” he said with a smirk, “it didn’t take you long, after I mentioned a billiards room, for you to take over the table.”
Caldwell’s laughter spread throughout the room, “It was such a wonderful idea. I couldn’t let the suggestion pass.”
