Page 36 of In Want of a Wife
She shrugged.
“Let’s find out.” He drummed his fingers together deviously.
“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t feel as if we should go through their belongings.”
“We are on a mission.” He tossed her the jacket. “Check the pockets.”
He unpacked a top hat next and placed it on his head, then ruffled around to discover another jacket… this time in a bright velvet magenta. “Well, a man about town. Look at this…” He shrugged on the jacket and tipped his hat toward her.
Lily laughed. “Good evening, sir.”
“Good evening.” He waggled his brows before diving in to discover yet another top hat and tossed it to Lily.
She placed it on her head and shrugged on the jacket. “How is Mayfair this time of year?” she asked in her best man-around-town voice.
“Oh, it’s fine I suppose. But I was traveling. I am a man of the world. I just returned from the most incredible trip to the Greek isles. The water is the clearest blue you will ever lay eyes on.”
“I have always wished to see Venice.”
“It’s beautiful.” The silliness dropped from his voice, and suddenly he was wistful.
She walked around him to rest on the edge of the bed.
“I would be there now.” The top hat slid forward a bit, blocking her view of Rafe.
He came to sit down beside her, and she felt the heat radiating off his body. The smell of his bay rum cologne washed over her, and she closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled, feeling everything within her relax.
“That rotter.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it around Rafe. It was perhaps the first time in her life that she felt completely at ease with someone. As if the walls she had meticulously built around her and her heart after all these years suddenly had bits of light slipping through the cracks.
She rested her head against his shoulder.
“You will get there someday. I am sure of it.”
“Do you think Henry will wish to go to Venice for our honeymoon?”
Rafe waited for a beat before answering. “Henry is rather preoccupiedwith renovations at Cliffstone Manor and sorting out the estate. I don’t know if he’ll ever travel to the Continent. He wishes to stay home most of the time. I am surprised he left London. But then again, he has always valued upholding one’s duty.”
“That’s very honorable.”
“Hmm.”
“And what about you? Do you like to travel?”
“I’ve been off at sea for most of my life, and I’ve certainly seen plenty.”
“What has been your favorite place? Tell me.” She sat up and turned to meet his burning stare. Everything melted inside of her under his gaze. Suddenly, she didn’t wish for him to go.
“I had a sailboat once that I built with my father. I’ve wanted to be a shipbuilder all my life. I much prefer… Well, I don’t know anymore. I’ve been helping Henry manage the house and assist him with the tenants since leaving London last autumn, and I’m to select a post in a few weeks’ time.”
“Why did you leave London?”
Rafe bent his knees and rested his arms on top. His brows furrowed for a moment before he scratched his jaw and returned her patient gaze.
“Henry asked if I would help after he inherited his title.” He swallowed, his shoulders visibly tensing. “Well, that was some of it. I landed myself into some trouble in London, and there’s talk I might be promoted to captain. A change of scenery was necessary.”
Lily wished to press more. She didn’t miss him avoiding her first question, and her curiosity was certainly piqued about what happened in London, but she could already feel him pulling away. “Managing Cliffstone sounds like a lot of responsibility.”
