Terri Brisbin (21 page)

“Only if you stop looking for husbands for me,” she said.

“There is and shall be only one husband for you, Your Grace. And he is here to take you home.”

“When Sophie described this to me, I simply had no understanding of it.”

They lay together in his bed at Windmere Park and she knew they would not be leaving his chambers anytime soon. Once she had explained about the strange occurrences that a woman “in a delicate condition” experienced, he wanted proof. So in the middle of the night, when the urge came upon her, she sent him in search of the items needed.

“And now?” he asked. “What order is it this time?”

“You. No, the clotted cream…” She paused and shook her head. Tasting the melted chocolate on her fingers, she nodded. “You with the chocolate and clotted cream.”

He laughed and licked her fingers clean, sending all sorts of wonderful sensations through her body. And when he sucked them into his mouth and teased them with his tongue and teeth, she wanted him to do that to other places, too.

“And when do we get to
my
urgings and cravings?” he asked.

Before she could answer, he provided his own. He bent over and took her breast in his mouth. Adrian stopped for a moment, took a handful of the clotted cream from the bowl he’d brought into bed and smeared it on her breasts and belly and other places.

“This could work. I could get to like you in this delicate condition if you promise to continue with these
urgings—” he licked from one nipple to the other “—and cravings.” He kissed a path down her belly and between her thighs. Soon she could not remember which craving belonged to whom. She did discover that he liked the chocolate even more than the cream, and that she liked it in whichever order he wanted.

And the Duke of Windmere proved to his duchess that night why she needed only one husband in her life.

“W
hat name do you give this child?” Reverend Grayson’s voice intoned deeply. A shiver traveled down Miranda’s spine as she watched this momentous occasion from her place in the family pew.

“Alexander Thomas Geoffrey Warfield.” Smiling, the Earl of Harbridge and the Duke of Sommerfield, his godfathers, answered together.

The rector took the child from his godmother’s arms and, holding the still-sleeping infant over the font, poured a measure of the baptismal water over his head. Alex stirred, but did not cry out, pleasing Miranda in some newly-acquired motherly fashion. Then, as the cold water spilled over his head, his hardy cry echoed through the church and evoked the knowing smiles and sighs of those attending.

The one that lit her husband’s face was nothing subtle. Adrian laughed loudly at the disgruntled look on his
son’s face. That they had reached this place in their lives was still a miracle to both of them, something they cherished and enjoyed every moment they could.

Miranda stood with the rest of the congregation to hear the minister’s final words declaring her son to be part of the community and exhorting them to guide him during his life. Then, a bit sooner than might be considered seemly, Adrian lifted the baby from the arms of the minister and held him close, drying his head with a piece of linen and soothing him in a hushed whisper of a voice. That brought additional smiles and sighs as more than one person near her commented on the duke’s obvious affection for his son…and heir. The one person who did not react was the dowager who sat stiff and silent at Miranda’s side.

In spite of his strident and loud objections, Adrian had finally relented and allowed Miranda to invite his mother to the ceremony. The dowager had accepted the invitation because to do otherwise would have been both impolite and imprudent considering who held her purse strings. But Miranda did not fool herself into thinking that her presence meant anything more than that. And, if she were honest with her own feelings on the matter, Miranda was not ready for anything more than that.

The final words were spoken and Adrian carried their son to her, placing the squirming bundle into her open arms. With her gentle rocking, the babe quieted and they left the church to return to a breakfast at Windmere House.

“I think the marquess handled himself admirably well through that,” Adrian said as they settled into the coach seat with the baby’s nurse across from them.

“His good breeding is evident even at this early age,” she replied.

Adrian burst out laughing and she joined him. “That is one perspective on it.” He reached over and touched the babe’s cheek. “Perhaps he was sated and warm and comfortable and only protested when roused from that state.”

Just when she began to chuckle, he met her gaze and she saw the fire within his eyes. “I know that if I were sated and warm and in your arms, I would protest any interruption,” he whispered in her ear so that the nurse did not hear his words.

Miranda felt the heat creep up into her cheeks as he now touched her lips with the tip of his finger. They had not yet resumed all of their marital activities, but it did not stop them from wanting to. Mrs. James had suggested that she needed a few more weeks to completely heal from the birth of her son and so they would wait before they joined. But Adrian’s impertinent comment referred to the marital activities that they had resumed…just last evening.

“Nor would I, Your Grace.”

She glanced at the young woman who was doing her best to ignore the personal behavior going on between her employers. From the brightness of her eyes, Miranda knew Adrian’s words had been overheard. Well, this
was certainly not the first time they had been so obvious in her presence and Miranda knew there would be many more times if Clarissa remained to care for their son.

“Later then, Your Grace?” he asked in the seductive whisper that promised so much pleasure.

“As you wish.” She pressed a brief kiss on his mouth and then leaned away. Her body had responded to his invitation and she needed some space to gain control before they arrived back at the house and she needed to be the duchess again.

“Are you pleased with your son?”

“As much as I am pleased that you gave him to me.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her hand. “As much as it pleases me that you are my wife…” He kissed her hand again. “As much as it pleases me that you are my duchess.” This time he slid his fingers between hers and clasped her hand in his.

The coach arrived at the house and servants stood ready to assist them and their guests. Adrian motioned for the nurse to step out first and then handed the baby out to her. When she thought he would offer his hand to her, Adrian surprised her by pulling the door of the coach closed behind him and taking her into his arms. When she was breathless from his kisses, he released her and watched her reaction.

“What was that for?” she asked as she replaced the wisps of hair dislodged by his ardent attentions. He rearranged his trousers so she knew he was just as affected by it.

“To remind you that you will only need one husband and that I am he.”

“I only ever wanted one husband. Truth be told, I have only ever wanted you to be that man,” she said, her throat tightening with the emotion she felt in her heart for him.

“Now that we agree on that, shall we go in for breakfast with our guests?” Adrian turned the knob and pushed the door of the carriage open. “Cook told me of a new chocolate concoction that she is presenting for the first time in honor of Alexander’s christening.”

“Chocolate?” Miranda asked, smiling at his obvious temptation. “I like chocolate.” She could not help how her voice grew husky just thinking about him…and chocolate.

“Cook promises to reserve a portion of it for us to enjoy in private,” he said holding out his hand to assist her from the coach.

“Well, Your Grace,” she said, smoothing her dress as she stood at his side, “I suppose the sooner we begin this, the sooner it ends.”

Her attempts to remain unmoved and to retain her sense of dignity failed and she broke out laughing at his expression as he realized just how much longer they would have to endure the company of others.

“If we hurry?” he asked.

“If we sneak away,” she offered, as he tugged her along, hurrying them and their guests into the house to begin their meal.

And, if the Duke and Duchess of Windmere seemed to hurry a bit or if they could not be found for a brief time later in the morning, their friends knowingly smiled over their eccentric personal ways and continued to celebrate the birth of the new heir to the Warfield family fortune, titles and estates until the couple returned.