Page 80 of Wicked Is the Duke
Henry smirked. "Mix business and pleasure?"
"Exactly," Norwood replied, then sighed. "Alice and Daisy can stay with us while you're gone."
"I'll speak with Anna about the trip. We could leave the day after this party she has planned."
"Won't you have guests from out of town?"
Henry shook his head. "No. Only local residents are being invited. Since the girls are assisting, Anna thought it best to keep it small and local."
"Smart idea."
"I'll mention to her about Paris tonight. Let's not mention it to Alice or Daisy until the details are worked out. With the progress Anna's beginning to make with them, I'd hate to see it ruined if something unexpected happened."
"Agreed."
Henry nudged his stallion forward. "Come, let's get a closer look."
***
Anna paced around thebedchamber, dressed in a cream nightgown as she waited on her husband. The evening had been relatively quiet, Daisy and Alice taking turns at the pianoforte, entertaining them with the classical pieces they knew their brother preferred.
A few minutes later, she heard the door and held her breath until she saw her husband's familiar figure. His dove gray cravat was untied, his shirt partially unbuttoned. The heat of his body permeated the thin fabric of his white shirt as she leaned into him and melted in his embrace.
"I apologize, but I needed to review some papers before morning."
"I understand," she replied quietly.
He tipped her chin up toward him. "I do have something I would like to discuss with you. I couldn't do it earlier because I don't want my sisters finding out about it just yet."
"Sounds intriguing."
He led her to the edge of the bed and sat down next to her. "An opportunity has presented itself. I find I need to travel to Paris. I thought perhaps, since we haven't had a proper honeymoon, you'd care to join me."
"Would this be instead of our autumn honeymoon?" she inquired demurely.
"No. I merely thought you'd enjoy the opportunity. The girls would stay with Jane and Norwood."
"Which they will love."
"They will I'm sure," he replied. "What do you think?"
"When would we leave? We do have our dinner party coming up next week."
"I thought we would leave the day after the party. We can go as far as Dover, spend the night, and leave the following day."
"Yes, I would love to go to Paris with you." She reached over and removed his cravat and let it drop to the floor.
He stood and quickly divested himself of his shirt; shoes and his trousers followed quickly, and Anna squealed as she quickly ducked under the covers. She felt the mattress give under his weight and felt his hand as he pulled her closer to him.
He gazed down at her hungrily.
"I thought you'd like to know Alice and Daisy helped address invitations today."
He chuckled. "Are you nervous, Lady Blackmont? You always seem to talk at the strangest times."
"I thought you'd like to know they are being civil and are quite excited being allowed to help plan the dinner party."
"Of course I want to know, but your timing is off, wife."
