Page 85 of Distracting the Duke

“I thank the gods for you,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “For you, and for our children.”

Then his lips met hers, and, for a blessed eternity, they remained locked in a soul-deep kiss.

The sound of running feet brought them suddenly back to earth, and a moment later Marcus had effected an impressive dive to rescue the Pajou Venus where it wobbled on its pedestal.

Clara looked down, straight into the eyes of little Georgie.

“I’m sorry, Auntie,” he exclaimed. “Kitty was running away from me!”

“You must look where you’re going,” Marcus admonished with a twinkle in his eye, “You nearly broke something very special.”

“Oh, that’s all right, Uncle,” the boy told him. “Nurse says nothing’s ever so broken it can’t be mended.”

Clara met her husband’s eye and saw him smile. Georgie, already bored with the conversation, scurried back into the depths of the house in search of his kitten.

“Is this what it’s going to be like when we have a family of our own? Constant interruptions at just the wrong moment?” Marcus inquired, quirking an eyebrow at her.

She nodded. “I fear we may have to think of another location for these two works of art.”

“I can think of a good location for these living works of art,” he said with a feral grin. “Just up those stairs and down the end of the corridor.”

A delicious tingle shot through her body. “But Your Grace, we’ve barely been out of bed an hour!”

“That’s an hour too long,” he said, and held out his arms to her.

Laughing, Clara stepped into his embrace and clung to him, and the sunlight from the oculus flooded down, gilding their faces, their smiles, and their tears, and blessed them both with its golden glow.