To Desire a Wicked Duke (39 page)

“So did I,” Tess replied in heartfelt agreement.

It was perhaps two hours later when Ian found her again. “Are you ready, my love?”

“Yes,” she answered, before excusing herself to her guests. She and Ian had promised to bring Jamie a treat before his afternoon nap.

They stopped by the buffet tables to collect a plate of meringues baked in the shape of swans, then made their way upstairs to a much quieter wing of the house where the nursery was located.

“I am not sorry to escape the intense scrutiny,” Ian admitted. “Your friends have kept a close eye on me all afternoon, were you aware? No doubt they want to verify that I am adoring you properly.”

“I know,” Tess said with a smug smile. “They are highly protective of me. But they are coming to trust that you love me. And they are also grateful to you for helping Fanny by hiring Basil.”

“He is turning out to be a fairly admirable secretary,” Ian said before fixing her with a curious look. “I never did discover what came over him the afternoon
I returned from Cornwall. Eddowes offered to resign his post while proclaiming his steadfast loyalty to you.”

Remembering, Tess gave Ian a somewhat guilty glance. “I asked him where I could find your account books. I hoped to learn if you had made all those generous contributions while giving the credit to your solicitor. But Basil would not betray your trust and suggested that I confront you directly.”

Ian pursed his mouth in solemn thought. “Perhaps he is worth keeping on after all.”

Tess eyed him with concern. “You would not dismiss Basil now, would you?” When she recognized the glimmer of amusement in Ian’s eyes, understanding dawned. He was baiting her again—and enjoying it thoroughly. “You are trying to provoke me, aren’t you, your grace?”

“Of course. What did you expect?”

When an endearingly arrogant smile spread across his lips, Tess had to smile in return. “I would not have it any other way.”

They found Jamie in his bedchamber, in the company of his nurse, Mrs. Dixon. The toddler was eagerly awaiting their arrival, for he began jumping up and down as soon as they entered. “My grace, Miss Tess! You ’membered!”

“Of course we remembered you, scamp,” Ian said, ruffling the boy’s blond curls.

Jamie’s eyes grew huge when Tess offered him a swan. At first he didn’t want to eat the confection and destroy the delicate design, and at the same time, he exhibited his generous nature by making certain Mrs. Dixon got her own swan, too. Then, assured that he
could save one simply for viewing, he hungrily bit into the sweet.

When Mrs. Dixon worried aloud that he would spoil his appetite so that he wouldn’t eat his supper, Tess intervened.

“I believe we can make an exception just this once.”

When he had devoured two of the treats, Tess washed his sticky face. Then together, she and Ian put Jamie to bed.

Before snuggling under the covers, the child gave first Ian, then Tess an ardent hug—a loving gesture that brought a mist to her eyes.

Over Jamie’s head, Tess shared a poignant glance with Ian as happiness ran through her. They were a family now, and someday they would be tucking their own children in to sleep.

When Jamie obediently closed his eyes and Mrs. Dixon settled down to watch over him, they left the room quietly. Out in the corridor, Ian paused to claim a lingering kiss from Tess.

“It has been much too long since I last kissed you,” he complained before leading her back to their myriad guests.

Agreeing wholeheartedly, Tess refrained from mentioning that Ian had kissed her passionately just this morning before she left to join Fanny’s bridesmaids. Nor did Tess remind him of the hours of searing tenderness they’d spent in their marriage bed the previous night.

Upon returning to the ballroom, they spent the next several hours fulfilling their duties as host and hostess, including opening the dancing with a minuet.

Finally, with a glance at the glittering crowd, Ian suddenly took Tess’s hand and whisked her from the ballroom.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“Someplace where we may be private. I am famished for a taste of you.”

Anticipation and eagerness rippled through Tess. She was more than happy to slip away from the crowd to share an embrace with her stunningly sensual husband.

Finding a spot to be alone, however, proved difficult. In every corridor, they passed small knots of chattering guests and busy footmen carrying trays to and from the buffet tables.

After trying several rooms, which were also occupied, they discovered the library deserted. When they slipped inside, Ian shut the door firmly behind them. Instantly the gay sounds of the gathering became muted.

“Alone at last,” Ian said, taking Tess in his arms.

“Just what are your intentions, wicked sir?” she asked, laughing up into his eyes.

“I have yet to decide. How wicked would you like me to be, my love?”

“A little ravishment might be gratifying.”

“I might comply if you beg prettily enough.”

Tess flashed him an arch smile. “You are still laboring under a severe misapprehension, your grace. I would be delighted to have you ravish me, but I will not beg you, prettily or otherwise.”

His half-lidded gaze was amused. “I seem to recall you reneging on that vow on several occasions … 
although I admit, you have had me pleading for mercy once or twice.”

Her eyebrow lifted. “Only once or twice?”

“Well, perhaps somewhat more frequently than that.”

“Yes,
much
more frequently. Your memory is sadly lacking, I fear.”

“Then by all means, we must remedy my deficiency.”

Thankfully, Ian bent to kiss her, his mouth hot and tasting of passion. That exquisitely hard, hungry mouth could drive her wild and fill her with pleasure, Tess thought as his tongue tangled and dueled with hers. So could his hands. When those marvelous hands rose to caress her breasts through her gown, she moaned at the delicious sensations streaking through her.

She was only vaguely aware of the library door opening moments later.

“There you are,” a haughty female voice suddenly interrupted. “I should have known I would find you trysting.”

They broke apart and turned to face Tess’s disapproving godmother.

“Honestly, Rotham,” Lady Wingate complained. “Can you never manage to quell your sinful urges in public?”

Unperturbed, Ian slid an arm around Tess’s waist. “I have every right to tryst with my wife in my own home, Lady Wingate,” he said mildly. “We have been wed for more than six weeks now, in large part thanks to you.”

“Perhaps so, but it is deplorable, the way you disregard propriety when there are so many witnesses present. And you, my dear,” she said, fixing her gaze on Tess. “Have I taught you nothing about proper behavior in all these years?”

Despite her godmother’s avowed dismay, Tess suspected that Lady Wingate’s expression of shocked rectitude was largely feigned.

Her own tone turned wry when she replied. “I think you protest a bit too much, my lady. You were quite glad to catch us in an illicit embrace at your house party, since you could demand that Rotham marry me. It all worked out exactly as you hoped. Come now, admit it.”

The hint of a pleased smile on Lady Wingate’s lips confirmed that she was only pretending to be scandalized now. “I admit that I was clever enough to take advantage of the opportunity you presented.”

Ian answered for Tess. “You were indeed clever, my lady. And you are also astute enough to know when you are unwanted … as you are presently.”

Lady Wingate pursed her mouth for a moment but gave in with good grace. “Very well, I will leave you to your shameless dalliances. I want a god-grandchild to keep young Jamie company. But I trust you will not make a habit of exposing Tess to scandal every time you venture out in public together, Rotham.”

“Not every time,” Ian pledged. “Only now and then.”

Tess stifled a laugh as the baroness shook her head in exasperation.

When the noblewoman had left the library and shut the door firmly behind her, Ian turned to Tess.
“Now where were we?” he asked, drawing her against him again.

“I believe you were kissing me witless.”

Tess thought he would resume his delightful attentions, but he hesitated. “She does have a point,” he observed. “Jamie needs a playmate or two to keep him company.”

Tess completely agreed. She was coming to love Ian’s young ward and knew he would make a wonderful older brother to their own children someday … hopefully someday soon.

“What are you suggesting, dear husband?” she asked innocently.

“That I endeavor harder to sire an heir—merely to please your godmother, of course.”

Tess laughed softly, feeling a sunburst of joy inside her. “Of course. But I would like nothing better than to bear your children, my beloved Ian.”

Catching his hands with her own, she held them to her breast, where her heart thrummed with love for him.

Naturally, her gesture earned Tess another heated kiss that sent shuddering thrills through her pleasure-flushed veins and made her hurt with longing.

“You were right,” she panted when he finally raised his head. “We do owe Lady Wingate our thanks for bringing us together.”

“I am not so certain,” Ian responded, short of breath himself. “She gave us a decided push weeks ago, but in the end, I would have eventually married you.”

“Would you now?” Tess asked, delighted by the thought.

“Yes. My heart was captured long ago by a beautiful romantic who fascinates me, arouses me, inspires me.…”

Ian claimed her mouth in another cherishing kiss, letting her feel the fierce burn of his love.

Tess melted into his embrace.
Her
heart had been captured by a vexingly arrogant duke who fired her emotions and challenged her to reach for depths of passion she had never known were possible.

After a lengthy interval, Tess drew back far enough to murmur against his lips. “Love me forever, Ian.”

“I will, I swear it,” he promised—and then proceeded to show her precisely how he intended to keep his vow.