least.”
“Everyone’s fast asleep, William…”
“We’re not.” If he didn’t want her to as much as waltz with one of his friends, did she really imagine that he might be all right with one of them seeing her in a state of deshabille?
“It’s what I’ve done in the past whenever I can’t sleep.”
“Even in winter?” He couldn’t imagine that she was that irresponsible, but he had to ask all the same.
“Of course not.” She seemed annoyed by the question. “When it was too cold to go outside, I’d merely roam the house.”
“Ah.” He studied her for a moment, and felt another wave of heat crash over him. “You’re not going anywhere dressed like that, not even if you’re covered up by your dressing gown. If you’d like something to calm your nerves and lull you to sleep, however, I will be happy to offer you a glass of excellent brandy as well as my charmingly good company.” He saw that her lips had begun to twitch in response to what he’d said. A moment later, she actually laughed, and when she did, it was as if her whole face lit up. William felt his heart swell with inexplicable pleasure.
“Very well then,” she acquiesced, “but if you don’t live up to your claim, I shall be thoroughly displeased.”
William found himself smiling as he waved her through to his bedroom. He’d always hoped for a wife with a sense of humor and couldn’t help but wonder what other charming attributes Lucy might possess. She’d apparently forgotten all about her dressing gown now that she wouldn’t be venturing outside, and as hard as he tried to refrain from ogling her, he simply couldn’t keep his eyes from taking the occasional peak at her breasts. It clearly hadn’t occurred to her that her nightgown might be rather see-through, for if it had he very much doubted that she’d be acting quite so casually. “Have a seat,” he offered as he headed over to his dresser and filled an extra glass with brandy. He took a deep breath and then forced the air back out again before turning back to face her, closing the distance between them with a few swift steps.
Once seated comfortably, his legs firmly crossed in the hopes of concealing any further attraction he might feel for her, he raised his glass to hers. “To new beginnings,” he said as their two glasses clinked together.
She smiled in response—a genuine smile, meant only for him, and it filled his heart with hope. “To new beginnings.” She hesitated a moment after taking a sip, then said, “I’m sorry about earlier, William. I hope I didn’t embarrass you too much in front of your friends, but when you insinuated that marriage was such a terrible thing to subject oneself to…I have to admit that it hurt.”
He stared at her in befuddlement. He’d thought she would ignore the issue entirely and pretend it never happened; he certainly hadn’t expected an explanation or an apology, and while he hadn’t understood her actions at the time, he felt like a complete cad now that he did. “I should be the one apologizing, Lucy. I only meant that Andrew and Charles are hoping to maintain their state of bachelorhood. It wasn’t a jibe directed at you.”
“I know that now.” She let out a bit of a shaky sigh and offered him a shy smile. “You know, I actually think you’re a rather wonderful man, when you’re not so busy hating me—quite dashing too.”
William grinned. Oh she did, did she? “You’re not so bad yourself, as far as accidental brides go.” She immediately smiled. “And I don’t hate you, Lucy. I just don’t like having important decisions in my life, like marriage for instance, decided by someone else. But everyone seems quite determined to sing your praises, so I dare say I’ve become a bit eager myself to discover what you’re really like.” And with a little more effort at gallantry on his part, he hoped she might soon grant him the opportunity to sample what she was presently keeping on such
“Everyone’s fast asleep, William…”
“We’re not.” If he didn’t want her to as much as waltz with one of his friends, did she really imagine that he might be all right with one of them seeing her in a state of deshabille?
“It’s what I’ve done in the past whenever I can’t sleep.”
“Even in winter?” He couldn’t imagine that she was that irresponsible, but he had to ask all the same.
“Of course not.” She seemed annoyed by the question. “When it was too cold to go outside, I’d merely roam the house.”
“Ah.” He studied her for a moment, and felt another wave of heat crash over him. “You’re not going anywhere dressed like that, not even if you’re covered up by your dressing gown. If you’d like something to calm your nerves and lull you to sleep, however, I will be happy to offer you a glass of excellent brandy as well as my charmingly good company.” He saw that her lips had begun to twitch in response to what he’d said. A moment later, she actually laughed, and when she did, it was as if her whole face lit up. William felt his heart swell with inexplicable pleasure.
“Very well then,” she acquiesced, “but if you don’t live up to your claim, I shall be thoroughly displeased.”
William found himself smiling as he waved her through to his bedroom. He’d always hoped for a wife with a sense of humor and couldn’t help but wonder what other charming attributes Lucy might possess. She’d apparently forgotten all about her dressing gown now that she wouldn’t be venturing outside, and as hard as he tried to refrain from ogling her, he simply couldn’t keep his eyes from taking the occasional peak at her breasts. It clearly hadn’t occurred to her that her nightgown might be rather see-through, for if it had he very much doubted that she’d be acting quite so casually. “Have a seat,” he offered as he headed over to his dresser and filled an extra glass with brandy. He took a deep breath and then forced the air back out again before turning back to face her, closing the distance between them with a few swift steps.
Once seated comfortably, his legs firmly crossed in the hopes of concealing any further attraction he might feel for her, he raised his glass to hers. “To new beginnings,” he said as their two glasses clinked together.
She smiled in response—a genuine smile, meant only for him, and it filled his heart with hope. “To new beginnings.” She hesitated a moment after taking a sip, then said, “I’m sorry about earlier, William. I hope I didn’t embarrass you too much in front of your friends, but when you insinuated that marriage was such a terrible thing to subject oneself to…I have to admit that it hurt.”
He stared at her in befuddlement. He’d thought she would ignore the issue entirely and pretend it never happened; he certainly hadn’t expected an explanation or an apology, and while he hadn’t understood her actions at the time, he felt like a complete cad now that he did. “I should be the one apologizing, Lucy. I only meant that Andrew and Charles are hoping to maintain their state of bachelorhood. It wasn’t a jibe directed at you.”
“I know that now.” She let out a bit of a shaky sigh and offered him a shy smile. “You know, I actually think you’re a rather wonderful man, when you’re not so busy hating me—quite dashing too.”
William grinned. Oh she did, did she? “You’re not so bad yourself, as far as accidental brides go.” She immediately smiled. “And I don’t hate you, Lucy. I just don’t like having important decisions in my life, like marriage for instance, decided by someone else. But everyone seems quite determined to sing your praises, so I dare say I’ve become a bit eager myself to discover what you’re really like.” And with a little more effort at gallantry on his part, he hoped she might soon grant him the opportunity to sample what she was presently keeping on such
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