Page 91 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
“I wish you had,” Miles said with feeling.“Nothing tainted your name.When the Fosters announced George’s death, they didn’t mention you.And they’ve both passed on since.The only people who know what happened are me and whoever you’ve told.”
“I wasn’t trumpeting my youthful stupidity.”Self-derision edged her voice.“Hugo knows.And Sylvie.”
“Your friend?”
“Yes.But she’ll never betray my secret.”
“Athene,” Hugo said, speaking from the depths of his heart, “I will love you forever, scandal or no scandal.”
“Oh, my darling…” His declaration made her eyes brighten with tears, and she squeezed his hand.Her slender throat moved, as she swallowed.She swallowed again and strove for her familiar ironic tone.“I know you will.From the day we met, you’ve been absurdly and self-destructively set on ignoring my checkered past.I cherish you for it, even if it always made me question your common sense.”
Hugo smiled at her with all the thankfulness in his heart.“How could I blame you for the events that made you the person you are?But this news makes our marriage much more straightforward.Sir Hugo Brinsmead can announce his wedding to Lady Athene Colton-Heath without anyone blinking an eye.Except perhaps for thinking that such a highborn bride could choose a duke instead of a mere baronet.”
With a clogged laugh, Athene brought his fingers up for a kiss.“A mere baronet is perfect for me.But what about the people who saw me in London?”
Hugo shrugged.“The bride was an eccentric who pursued a literary career.They’ll say my wife is an original.I can live with that.”
He watched the truth sink in that their future looked rosy.Against all the odds.“I am an original, and don’t you forget it, my good man.”
He surged forward, unable to resist kissing her.If Miles wasn’t here and if she wasn’t in such a parlous physical state, he’d kiss her properly.But he made do with skimming his lips across hers.That would suffice for now.There was no rush.They had years together ahead, years where they’d build the life they wanted, full of love and trust and happiness.“We’re going to marry and have a family and settle into dull respectability.”
“That sounds like heaven.”Smiling, Athene lifted her good hand to stroke his face.“I can’t wait.”
***
The day Hugo brought Athene to Hampden Crags was one of the proudest moments of his life.As his stylish curricle bowled across the estate, Athene cuddled into his side.On either side of the road, his lands spread out around them.
The proudest moment?Maybe not.Of late, his list of proud moments had lengthened by the hour.He frowned at the trotting horses and decided that his proudest moment had instead occurred a little over eight weeks ago.On the day when with her arm in a sling, his darling stood beside him in the inn’s parlor and became his wife.
Or perhaps…
“You’re very quiet, Hugo,” Athene said softly.“You can’t be nervous.You must know I’ll like your home.”
He did.Now that she wasn’t hiding her origins, she made no secret of her love for Yorkshire’s dramatic landscapes.He must have had an inkling when they met that this was no soft Southerner.He’d straightaway pictured her striding across the hills, as at home in this expansive landscape as the lapwings and the skylarks.
Since her accident, they’d stayed in York, leaving the inn after a week and returning to the rented house and their loyal staff.All four servants now had places at Hampden Crags.
Athene had recovered well from her accident.She no longer wore her sling, and her ribs had healed.While she mightn’t yet be up to hillwalking, she wasn’t far off.The only relic from her ordeal was the charming coiffure of cropped dark curls that framed her remarkable face.
“I’m trying to work out my favorite,” he said in a thoughtful tone.
That sparked a gurgle of amusement.“I hope it’s me, given we’ve been married a scant few weeks.You can’t be tired of me already.”
Hugo smiled at her and dared to negotiate her large and fashionable bonnet to place a kiss on her lips.He didn’t linger.The risk was too great.He was so famished for her, he was ready to explode.Athene’s injuries had dictated a very sedate honeymoon.
Not that he minded.Fate gave him this chance to woo her, as he would if they’d met under more conventional circumstances.They’d had time to talk about the casual things that created the groundwork for a life together.Their childhoods.Their interests.Books.Music.Art.Family.They’d come together in such a hectic rush that they still had so much to learn about each other.
But two months into married life, Hugo was jumping out of his skin with frustration.Having his darling snuggled up against him like this only worsened his torture.His arm curved around her willowy waist.Her soft breast pressed into his side.Her rich smoky scent tormented his senses.
Wanting her this way made him feel like a barbarian.He’d won.She was his wife.He should be happy to wait for her full recovery before he started bouncing around on top of her.He concentrated on the road and told himself he’d spend the rest of his life with Athene.A few weeks of abstinence at the beginning was insignificant.
Nonetheless, it was an effort to respond to her teasing.“No, you’re definitely my favorite.”
“Pleased to hear it.”She straightened and stared at the view.He was grateful that it was one of those rare perfect February days, promising a sparkling spring ahead.
“I was putting all our recent events in order of preference.I’ve decided the best day was our wedding.”
Athene tilted her head to survey him.Her expression was soft as it mostly was these days.The rigid control of her London days belonged to the past.“That was marvelous, wasn’t it?And I’m so glad Miles was there.”
