Page 100 of In Need of a Duke
“An elephant?” she asked, quickly wiping at her eyes. “Can you imagine?”
He could envision many things now that Charlotte was back in his life. Why not elephants?
“Elephants and John Ducrow will be performing tonight. Another one of his poses plastiques.”
The crowd buzzed around them until a box was set out in the middle of the ring, and the inside of the amphitheater fell to a quiet hush.
Charlotte leaned forward in her seat, watching intently. And though he should have been doing the same, he was watching his wife instead. For too many years, she had hidden away or worse, suffering in the company of thetonwhile he was away. That playful wonder he had fallen in love with the first night they met hadn’t disappeared after all.
He grabbed the orange he had bought at the stall outside and gently pressed his thumb into the thick rind, perfuming the sawdust-heavy air with the bright zing. Slowly, he unpeeled the piece of fruit,dropping the pieces at his boots, before separating the segmented flesh and offering Charlotte a piece.
She leaned close, allowing him to slip a piece into her mouth. With a laugh, a small dribble of juice ran down her chin. He wished to lean over and lick it off, struck once again with such a deep want for her. Instead, he reached over and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. Charlotte reached for his thigh, giving it a gentle pat as she remained transfixed at the curious sight unfolding in front of them in the ring.
A few attendants scurried around the box until one side fell away, revealing a Punch marionette.
“What’s going to happen?” Charlotte whispered.
A little boy who sat with his family beside Ian gasped as a clown on stilts emerged and lumbered toward the box. The clown bent down and pulled a string, lifting the marionette’s left arm, then another string to lift his right arm.
Ian ate another piece of orange, smiling at Charlotte before the marionette stood.
“That’s Ducrow,” he whispered, but his voice was nearly drowned out as the crowd cheered when the clown began leading the marionette around the ring. “Watch, Lottie.”
A beautiful horse was led out next, and Charlotte grabbed his hand, a smile still pinned to her face, her eyes bright and wide.
It was rather masterful to watch. The clown next led Ducrow onto the horse.
“He can’t be…?” Charlotte squeezed Ian’s hand before the marionette flapped his arms and squeaked like a rusty trumpet before the horse slowly trotted around the ring.
Ducrow suddenly threw off his marionette costume, and Charlotte gasped, clasping her hands together. The riding master emerged next, and his speed around the ring nearly doubled as he began performing tricks on horseback.
“Can you imagine?” Charlotte asked Ian. “Oh, this is so wonderful.”
He laughed, shaking his head as she bent her head next to his. “Thank you,” she whispered against his ear before pressing a soft kissagainst his jaw, stealing another slice of orange, and returning her attention to the show.
Could he imagine?
With her? Yes. But certainly, he hadn’t dared to dream it ever being like this again for some time—so easy and comfortable. He never wished this evening to end.
His heart felt a lot like the magical madness unfolding before them and the rest of London.
CHAPTER 29
Ian peekedup from lifting another stone while completing the wall at Stonehurst.
Charlotte was sprawled on a blanket under the large elm tree in the field, nibbling on strawberries and reading.
It was almost July now, and the wall was nearly rebuilt. He wished, secretly, that he never had to stop. Especially since Charlotte had recently spent her mornings with him during his work.
Everything would change in time. But maybe because he was selfish, he wanted to remain like this, forever. Her easy smiles, her warm laugh, the way she teased him. Something had changed within Ian and for the first time in his life, he felt unburdened.
“You are anything but subtle, duke,” she said, flipping another page.
He chuckled, setting down the rock and then striding up to her, instantly hardening at the sight of his wife looking like a strawberry tart good enough to eat.
When she didn’t look up, he dropped to his knees and cupped her face in his rough hands. “You’ve a spot of juice there.” He licked it off as she closed her eyes and sighed.
“If you would like a strawberry, I can give you one. You don’t have to lick it off my face.”
