Page 67 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
He finally could not keep his mouth closed. “Do stop fussing, Lottie. It’s so sunny we will have to sit under the trees for shade.”
Charlotte straightened. Normally she would have come too, but she was with child again and got tired easily, especially having to look after their eighteen-month-old daughter, Elisa, as well.
“Don’t you let him fall in. Watch him every minute.”
Sin walked over and pulled Charlotte into his arms, soundly kissing her. Charlotte was a slightly overprotective mother, but then she’d waited so long to have a child. Sometimes he watched as she woke in the middle of the night and made her way to the nursery just to stand looking at the miracle of their children.
Sin hated to admit he worried about this pregnancy. Charlotte was now almost closer to forty than thirty, but she wanted this child so badly. He prayed this would be their last child. He could not bear to think of his life without Charlotte in it. Three blessed children were plenty, even if the third child was also a girl. He didn’t care about a spare. He cared about Charlotte’s health more than his title or his promise to his father.
He’d already decided, if Tarquin was his only son, he’d never put the pressure of ensuring the title survived on to him. He wanted his son to find someone to love and share his life with, regardless of duty. Love and happiness were more important than a title’s longevity.
“You must rest this afternoon. Elisa is sleeping and then Nanny can look after her. Flora and James and all their children arrive tomorrow. It’s going to be a very busy week.”
“Now who’s fussing?” but she pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“I love you,” he said, not caring Burton and the staff could hear.
“I love you too.”
“Come, Prince.” With his wife’s words warming his soul, he took Tarquin’s tiny hand in his and with his dog, Prince, in tow, they left to go catch dinner.
* * *
Charlotte woke just as dusk fell. Bella was curled in her basket by the window. She must have needed the rest, but she wondered where Sin was. Surely they were back from fishing. “Are you tired too, Bella?” Bella was sniffing Prince’s basket. The two dogs were usually inseparable, but Bella was getting on in years and had developed a limp, so she stayed behind on the longer trips now.
Just then, Bella’s head went up, and she gave a whine. The door opened and in bounded Prince. He ran straight to greet Bella. He licked her face and then Burton collected both dogs to feed them in the kitchens and let them out to relieve themselves.
Charlotte lay back on the bed and watched her very handsome husband enter the room and kick the door closed with his hessian clad foot.
Even though he was going grey at the temples and there were more laughter lines around his eyes, he still took her breath away. Her second marriage was so different from her first. Life with Clayton was a distant memory. She gave thanks every day for the wonderful life she shared with Sin and their children.
Her hand went to her stomach as she watched Sin removing his clothes. She hoped it was a boy for Tarquin’s sake, however, as long as her babe was healthy she would be thankful. She could hear Wilton, Sin’s valet, organizing a bath in the bathing chamber between the two suites.
“No kiss for your wife,” she purred.
He pulled his shirt over his head. “I stink of fish and horse. We caught quite a few. You should have seen Tarquin’s face at his first catch. It was tiny, so the boy insisted on throwing it back, saying it was too little. But he caught a full sized trout, and it was quite the battle. He has your determination.”
Tarquin had Sin’s looks, thank goodness. He’d be popular with the ladies when a young man. “I should see to Tarquin’s bath,” and she made to rise from the bed.
“Stay there. He was asleep in my arms on the ride home. Nanny is bathing him and putting him to bed. I’ve organized for Burton to arrange dinner in our room. This is the last night for a while that we will have the house to ourselves once the guests arrive. Besides, I want my wife to myself for a night.”
The promise in his eyes made her glad she’d had such a long rest this afternoon.
She waited until she heard Wilton leave and the splash of Sin in the bath, and in just her shift she wandered into the bathing chamber. Sin lay in the tub, his head back on the edge, his eyes closed. He looked tired. No wonder he wanted an early night. He and Lord Devlin had worked hard to pass an Act of Parliament that would improve the rights of mine workers. Specifically, to stop woman and children working down the mines for long hours. It was dangerous work.
She was proud of the fact that the Sniderville mine, as they had named their mine, employed only men to work in the pit. And they paid the best. It made their workforce steady and loyal. The mine had rebuilt Lord Devlin’s finances, becoming highly profitable.
She crouched by the tub and trailed her fingers into the water. “You never told me what happened with the latest vote in the House of Lords. I gather it didn’t pass, or you would have told me?”
His eyes opened, and he sighed. “Too many of the Lords are greedy. They don’t care about the dangers and safety of their workers. We’ll keep trying, but I think it’s unlikely to pass.”
“At least you tried, and I’m proud of you.”
He took the fingers trailing in the water and placed them on his chest. “How proud?” His sexy grin delighted and warmed her. Before she could reply, he pulled her into the tub with him, water sloshing all over the floor.
“You are overdressed for this activity,” and he lifted her soaking shift over her head. Soon she was lying naked in his arms. They lay together in the hot water, both lost in the sensation of skin to heated skin.
“Everyone thinks I am the hero for rescuing you from Sanders, but what they don’t understand is it was you who rescued me.”
