Page 82 of My Darling Rogue
“We both must, sugarplum. Together, of course.” Gabriel took her hand, pulling her up from the bed. Turning her around, he began slipping the buttons of her gown from the moorings.
“I have Katie to see to this, my lord.” Her voice trembled, but she allowed him to silently continue. His fingers were deft, and soon, the gown fell away from her bosom.
“Your maid is of no use to you right now, Celia. Nor to me. This is just between us.”
With her gown loosened, Gabriel began working on the laces of her corset.
Encouraged to step forward from the puddle of clothes left behind on the floor, Gabriel held her hand and helped her hop back up onto the edge of the mattress. Kneeling before her, he untied the laces to the delicate heeled boots she wore, slipped them from her feet, then slid her stockings down her legs as well.
Celia allowed him these liberties, but when she was left in nothing but her chemise and undergarments, she stopped him by placing her hands on his shoulders.
“I can remove the rest of my clothing, Gabriel.” Her eyes were shiny with surrender. “I want to do what pleases you.”
He stared up at her for a long moment, then shrugged out of his riding coat. “And so you shall, pet. But not tonight. Tonight, you will rest and we shall address these matters tomorrow.”
She stuttered in disbelief. “You mean you aren’t… I mean, we will not—”
“What kind of husband would I be if I took advantage of your weakness right now? But do not fret, sweet wife. I will administer your correction tomorrow, and you will certainly remember the lesson. Now, keep your chemise on until I can retrieve your nightrail from the lady’s chamber adjoining this one. I believe Katie is already there putting away your belongings.”
Celia watched silently as he padded to the door connecting the two suites together and disappeared. He returned very quickly with a flimsy concoction of soft pink muslin.
“I will not complain if you were to visit Madam Maurer’s shop in the near future,” he murmured, slipping the garment over Celia’s head.
“What do you know of Madam Maurer?” Celia asked, a hint of amusement in her voice as he began pulling the pins from her hair.
“What every other red-blooded male in London knows, of course. Her creations for women’s lingerie are sinful and certainly more to my liking than these virginal gowns you possess. I give you full rein to purchase whatever strikes your fancy there. In fact, I insist upon it. I’ve already set aside pin money for your use, but whatever the cost, I will cover all of your expenses.”
“Would you go with me?” Celia asked breathlessly, touching Gabriel’s arm with the tips of her fingers. She gripped his muscles as he swung back the bedclothes, encouraging her to slide beneath them.
“Would you like me to?” When she nodded, Gabriel teased her, “How scandalous of you, Lady Rosenthorne. I think I would enjoy it as well. Perhaps after I’ve concluded my meetings in the House of Lords, we can arrange a day to spend together in the city.”
The anxiety he’d sensed in her earlier was easing away. She smiled up at him as he kissed her forehead. “I’d like that very much, Gabriel. I truly would.”
“Then we shall do as you wish.”
CHAPTER34
Gabriel did as he promised. He simply held her during that first night at Rosenthorne Hall. Celia did not know what well of strength the man drew from when it came to his self-imposed abstinence, but she could not manage the same restraint.
Her body practically buzzed with awareness of her husband. Every move Gabriel made had her skin tightening in response. When he nuzzled her hair, she could not help from wiggling back into him, her bottom nestled against the tops of his thighs. She ached for him, and not having him was frustration amplified a hundred times over.
As he dressed the following morning, Gabriel laughed at her interest in helping him. It was an excuse to touch him, and he knew it. Still without a valet and with no intention of employing one, he quickly dressed himself.
“You’ve more experience in the intricacies of women’s fashions than I have in men’s clothing, Gabriel,” Celia grumbled, giving up and plopping into a high-backed chair near the fireplace. “I find it most vexing to discover I’ve no skill at all when it comes to something as simple as tying your cravat. A woman should know such things, don’t you think?”
“I think it is far more important to know howtoremovesuch items,” Gabriel said with a sly grin. He shrugged into a russet brown coat and straightened its edges. “You will not overexert yourself today while I am gone. Explore as you will, but no lifting and no moving of furniture or anything of that nature. I do wish I could be here with you for this as I must learn the layout as well, but Mister Harold and the housekeeper, Mrs. Chason, will show you around. Then you can give me the tour, personally.”
Celia drank him in. Her husband was so incredibly handsome. Even if his hair was a bit shaggier than the average lord and the brawny width of his shoulders might be considered beastly by some. He had shaved away the fine stubble on his chin, but by the next morning, he would be forced to do the same again. It was one of his concessions in looking the part as the new Marquess of Rosenthorne. Civilized brutality mingling with the potency of savage, male beauty.
Seeing his arms bulging even beneath the fine cloth of his coat, Celia remembered how they’d wrapped around her during the night when she woke from a frightening nightmare. It’d been years since she’d had one so intense, but Gabriel had taken immediate control, soothing her back to sleep.
She woke that morning with dark circles under her eyes and the understanding she must confront Bryan. Convince him that he could not possibly work for the marquess and be so close to her. It was for his own safety and her sanity. Should Gabriel become aware of just who was working in his stables, he would likely exterminate the man without a second thought. The thought of even talking to Bryan made her nauseous, but it must be done.
Swallowing down the sickness, Celia smiled at her husband from the middle of the enormous bed. He pulled on a shirt, his fingers nimbly fastening the buttons.
“You look so very handsome, Gabriel.”
For all his natural confidence, Celia knew he was nervous. The strangest emotion melted through her, swelling her heart until she recognized it for what it was. Pride. Pride that he was her husband. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to ensure his success when it came to being part of her world. Even if she must hide certain things from him, things like the existence of Bryan Flannigan and what he’d done so many years ago. The scandal would ruin Gabriel before he even had a chance of establishing his dominance of theton.And she could not let that night in her father’s stables ruin everything her husband deserved to have in his life.
