Page 94 of The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter
“Yes, it is.” She kept the cloth pressed to his back. “I argued just as strongly with your son about his marriage proposal. I refused to consider it at first because I did not think I would make a good viscountess. It may be that I never will. But I have come to realize I will make your son a very good wife. He said I was his sunlight. Can you believe it? I cannot think of a lovelier compliment. To put lightness in his heart after his years of grief is something quite special, don’t you think?”
His father grunted again.
“I have no idea what he sees in me, but it must be something. Your son is no fool. In fact, he is one of the wisest, most thoughtful men I know. I suppose I don’t know very many, but I have seen enough fools pass through the vicarage to understand the difference.”
“I suppose you think I am among one of the biggest fools to pass through your door.”
“No, my lord. You love your son and think you are protecting him. But all you are doing is hurting him by questioning his intelligence and foisting society’s standards on him when he has never cared for, nor abided, by their rules. He is also your heir and you are no doubt concerned that my common blood will now taint your noble bloodline.”
“Do I not have the right to be concerned?”
“You do. But answer me this, how am I worse than any of those debutantes who attended the house party? One of them maliciously tried to trap your son in a compromising position. Another one walked around with her Lambykins doll and spoke like a baby the entire weekend. The third attempted to use your son to make a duke jealous. And you expect your son to prefer one of those ladies who will never make him happy in a million years?”
“They would have brought powerful alliances. Increased our wealth and holdings.”
“You are right. Alex would have had all that and been miserable every day of his life. You of all people should understand this. What would your life have been without a woman as wonderful as your wife by your side? Thirty-five happy years together is a blessing. Why would you want to deprive Alex of this same joy?”
“I do want him to have this.”
“Then start listening to his heart instead of your wrongheaded rules for him.”
She said no more to his father and was disappointed when he did not seem to warm to her in the least. Well, she would leave him to Alex now. But she was so disappointed that she hadn’t budged him off his position at all. Not for her sake, but for that of his son.
It did not take Alex long to return with the wagon and several footmen to assist him in carrying his father onto the mattress stuffed atop the wagon bed. He issued instructions to the footmen, but surprised Viola by remaining behind with her. “Should you not return with your father?”
“No, my mother will see to him. I’m sorry I had to leave him alone with you. Was he awful to you?”
“I endured. Besides, he was in too much pain to say very much. I did most of the talking, but I doubt he was persuaded to like me any better.”
Alex put his arms around her. “Well, I like you. I hope that counts for something.”
She smiled up at him. “Yes, it is everything.”
He kissed her on the lips, an encompassing sort of kiss that expressed desire along with something deeper and everlasting. It was not so much a lover’s kiss as that of two souls bonding for life.
She kissed him back with all her heart, realizing something quite miraculous in this moment. This is what marriage to him would be like, the two of them sharing trials and joys that would strengthen their bond until it was unbreakable.
Even now, it was stronger than she had realized.
Alex had known this is how it would be between them.
He wanted her.
She no longer questioned the reasons.
She wanted him so badly, too.
A fiery ache spread through her as he deepened the kiss. She felt the strength and passion behind it, and could not wait to experience their union on their wedding night.
She thought of Sally and the kitchen maids chattering and giggling over him.
Rippling muscles.
Hot, taut body.
She wanted to touch his skin and feel the weight of him on her as he claimed her.
She hadn’t known anything about what men and women did together, certainly not the intimate details, until Sally had run into the kitchen in a dither over Alex’s body. From that moment on, the talk had turned quite bawdy.
