Page 115 of The Duke's Inconvenient Bride
She hesitated. “Really?”
Perhaps he didn’t realize how many books they would be taking home if she had free rein. But he just grinned.
“I’m a rich man, and I emptied the box in the carriage before I called on you. I mean it, Emma. You may buy whatever takes your fancy.”
Emma had always thought that if there was one moment in her life when she’d feel like a fairy-tale princess, it would be her wedding. But she’d been wrong. Now, surrounded by books—whole worlds she could dive into—with a husband willing to indulge her, she could believe she’d stepped into a fairy tale.
“May I help you?” the proprietress asked.
Emma shook her head absently. “I’m happy looking, thank you.”
In fact, she spent the next hour doing just that. Fortunately, Vaughan didn’t seem to mind, and when they left with a stack of books practically taller than he was, he just smiled and carted them out to the carriage.
Emma was buzzing, eager to get home and explore her new finds, but she was also torn about where to put them. She loved bookcases, and she needed to set one up for her books, but not at Carlisle House. She wasn’t sure where the best locationwould be. Perhaps Ashford Hall. She should discuss it later with Vaughan.
“Where to now?” she asked as they rolled down the street, away from the bookstore.
“To get ice cream,” he said.
If she’d thought the day couldn’t improve any, she’d been wrong.
“I remember how much you enjoyed it when we went to the confectioner’s for ice cream while I was courting Violet,” he said. “I should have known then that I was pursuing the wrong sister.”
“It didn’t put you off me?” she asked. “Mother always said that men don’t like greedy women.”
Vaughan laughed. “Any man who’d seen you eating that ice cream would be the opposite of put off.” He sent her a sidelong look. “It was strangely erotic.”
Her cheeks heated. She’d had no idea he’d even noticed her then, beyond her role as a chaperone, but to know he’d found her enticing even while near the renowned beauty who was her sister… It was balm for her self-esteem.
When they arrived at the confectioners, Emma eagerly reviewed the options as they waited to be served. She chose a raspberry ice while Vaughan chose lemonade. They sat in the dim back corner of the establishment and smiled at each other across the table while they enjoyed their sweets.
Emma’s ice cream was sublime, that wonderful combination of tart and sweet she so adored. When it was gone, and her mouth was no doubt dyed red on the inside, she placed her hands one on top of the other and met Vaughan’s gaze.
“What are you about with this outing?” she asked. He was enacting some kind of plan, and it made her nervous not to know what it was.
His gray gaze softened, and he laid one of his hands on top of hers. “I was remiss before we got married. I never wooed youas I should have. Frankly, I behaved like an entitled ass, so I’m rectifying the situation.”
“You’re…wooing me?”
“Yes.”
She frowned. “But we’re already married.”
He stroked his thumb along the side of her hand. “That doesn’t mean I own your heart, and I want it. Freely given. Just as I intend to give mine to you.”
As if it knew he was talking about it, her heart squeezed. She bit her lip. If she wasn’t careful, this man would be the end of her. But maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.
He straightened and removed his hand from hers. She silently mourned the loss.
“May I escort you to the opera tomorrow?” he asked.
A smile spread across her face.
CHAPTER 27
When Emma appearedat the top of the stairs in Carlisle House, wearing a luscious blue velvet dress, Vaughan forgot how to breathe. With her golden hair, porcelain skin, and those eyes that could look directly to the heart of him, she was undoubtedly the most stunning woman he’d ever seen.
How had he ever seen her beside Violet and considered Violet to be the better prospect?
