Page 21 of Invitation to Pleasure
Georgiana considered what Rheda said. The logic was there. Why had her mother not listened to her father? Georgiana always took her Grandfather’s advice. She would have listened if he’d had doubts about Daniel.
“So what you are saying is that I should ask for help from those I trust and then trust what my own thoughts on the matter become.”
“Isn’t that all we can do? Trust is having faith in someone or something. We can’t see faith, we can only feel it.” Rheda smiled. “My brother loves you. He is only three and twenty. He had no notion of taking a wife for many years. But fate has thrown you in his path and he has fallen hard.” She watched Rheda’s eyes widen. “And he is not after your money. In fact, he’ll hate the fact you have money as he has too much pride to use it. Rufus and I have offered him money many times, but he is determined to make a success of his horse stud on his own.”
Rheda’s words rang true. Georgiana’s inner voice was talking rather loudly inside her head. When Daniel first helped her—both with Apollo and then Colton, he didn’t even know about her trust fund. Money was not driving him.
She jumped to her feet and kissed Rheda soundly on both cheeks. “I owe your brother an apology.”
“He’s in the west wing. Take the stairs, two floors up, and his room is the first on the right. He’ll be dressing for dinner. Which is at eight.”
Joy gave her wings as she all but flew up the stairs. Her heart was full to bursting. She stopped outside Daniel’s bedchamber and composed herself. Running a hand over her hair she took a deep breath and let herself into his room. To her disappointment it was empty.
Then she heard whistling from an adjacent dressing room and she strode into the room only to stop dead. Daniel was bathing, and goodness the sight took her breath away. He was so beautiful.
Luckily it took him a few moments to realize she was there, so she could look her fill. His whistling faded as his eyes swept over her.
She stepped forward, her heart hammering in her chest. What if she had ruined everything with her cowardice? She walked to stand at the edge of the tub. “I came to say I love you, and I’m sorry for how I reacted earlier.”
He said nothing for a moment and her legs began to tremble. Then all of a sudden the most glorious smile broke over his lips, and in one quick tug, she was in the water with him and he was kissing her soundly.
Her world spun and she wanted to cry with joy. She’d never experienced a feeling quite like it—love. Love for Daniel filled her until she almost choked on it. And it felt wonderful.
Finally he let her catch her breath. “I’m all wet,” she laughed. “And your sister is expecting us at dinner by eight.”
Daniel began undoing the hooks on the front of her gown. “That leaves me an hour to show you exactly how much I love you.”
Hearing Daniel say he loved her made her dizzy with desire, and suddenly being late for dinner was no longer a concern
Chapter 9
Christmas Day
Georgiana could barely hearherself think over the excited squeals and talking, as the two children raced to open their gifts. The Yule log was burning brightly in the grate, the table was full of food, and the day was progressing beautifully. The luxury of the moment was overpowered by the love swirling through the room. Rheda and Rufus, with their children, were the perfect antidote to her doubts. The love they obviously shared… she would have that too with Daniel and their children to come. She could have been in a shack and she would never have been happier.
Her mother, Judith, sat next to her in a chair overlooking the back garden and the light dusting of snow overnight made the world outside this room look magical. Still trapped in her own world, Judith seemed to sense that she was safe here. Judith still didn’t interact with anyone, but she was content to sit quietly watching everyone have a lovely day.
It was the happiest Christmas Georgiana had ever had. And the best was yet to come. She had decided on an additional gift for Daniel, and she was waiting for the children to finish with their gifts, before giving it to him. At the moment they were crawling all over Daniel, who was letting them ride him like a horse. Finally he collapsed and Rheda said, “Samantha and Wilton, please let your uncle catch his breath. Come and have something to eat and then nurse will come and take you to have a sleep.”
Georgiana smiled at the children’s groans. They did not like the idea of a nap, and she wondered how Rheda could stand looking at their little disappointed faces. As if sensing her thoughts Rheda winked. “I have to stay strong or they will be incorrigible tonight.”
Daniel came over and sat at Georgiana’s feet resting his head on her knees. “Those two will be the death of me today.” He grinned and added, “Especially as you kept me up half the night.”
She didn’t even bother to deny it. She was comfortably sore from their lovemaking. She simply pressed a kiss to his hair. “Then I shall sleep alone tonight and let you get your rest,” she teased.
Daniel simply growled low in his throat. Then he handed her a small box. “Merry Christmas, my darling.” She knew it wasn’t a ring. He’d promised to take her to the House of Garrard in London in the coming month, so she could pick a ring. She’d worried about the expense but he’d insisted he was not that poor.
Her fingers eagerly undid the wrapping. It was a velvet box, which she slowly opened. Inside lay the most beautiful silver, with pearl inlay, locket. “I thought you could put a picture of your mother inside, or even our children when they are born.”
Her eyes welled with tears. It was such a simple gift but so heartfelt. It spoke of his commitment to a life together, a true partnership. She didn’t know how she’d gotten so lucky.
He reached up and wiped a tear away. “I love you, Lady Georgiana Marsh.”
Heedless of the company, she flung her arms around his shoulders and kissed him.
She extracted herself from his embrace so she could pull out a parchment that had been burning a hole in her pocket all morning. Without words she handed it to him.
He looked down at her hand. “You’ve already given me so much. Your love was all I needed this Christmas. Plus you gave me the flask. It’s just what I need on a winters day when I’m out with the horses.”
