Page 103 of A Duke for Adela
His mind was already awhirl, dreaming up the fascinating lectures Adela and her friends could put together surrounding this discovery. And why not a special series of lectures for children, too?
His brothers would have a hearty laugh over the change in him.
He had closed himself off very early in his life, needing to adopt a reclusive nature as a shield. No one but Adela had ever breached that barrier. However, his position in Society also offered him many comforts, and he was too often smug about accepting those as though it were his due.
For every door open to him, Adela had met with a similar door shut in her face. But it did not deter her. He marveled at her enthusiasm and spirit, her persistence when others would have given up hope.
Later that night, as they lay in bed and made plans for the following day, he wrapped her in his arms. “I thought you would be exhausted and only think of sleep. But your eyes are shimmering starlight and I think you will chatter for hours.”
She nestled against him. “I shall spare you my prattling, but I am thrilled to pieces. Aren’t you? I was afraid Devonshire would never match up to Greece or Italy in your mind. But I think we did all right for the start of our honeymoon, don’t you?”
“More than all right, love.” He kissed her on the forehead, a little distracted by his own thoughts.
She lifted onto one elbow to study his expression. “Are you worried we have already reached the high point in our marriage and it will be dull from here on out?”
He kissed her again. “The thought never crossed my mind. If you must know, I was thinking about how every day will bring something new and interesting because of you. I never looked at life the way you do. You see importance in the smallest things and they suddenly shine brightly because of you.”
She rested her hand atop his chest and gently played with the sprinkle of hair across it. “That is a very nice thing to say.”
“You are good for me, Adela. Until you came along, I looked at everything from my high perch. It is a lofty view and one can miss a lot from that height.”
“And I pulled you down to plant your two feet firmly on the ground,” she teased.
He laughed. “What you did was make me open my eyes and see what others saw. We are a good fit, you and I. Not only in the bedchamber.”
He shifted in order to roll her under him. “However, I would not like to overlook our explorations in the bedchamber.”
“What about you? Areyounot exhausted and achy from all that digging you did today?” She was smiling and the warm glow in her eyes was inviting.
“Thoroughly, love. But you are impossible to resist.” He began to kiss his way along her lithe, little body and her full breasts that utterly beguiled and fascinated him. He loved how sweetly she received his advances.
They coupled only the once because they were to rise early on the morrow to continue their dig, but their love-making was most satisfying.
Adela fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Being with Adela was indescribably good.
There was something precious in the way they were getting to know each other, in the way they were growing together as a couple, and at the same time, keeping true to themselves.
This bond forming between them was a palpable thing that one could almost reach out and touch. They were two very different people, but would now move together as one through life, like a moon and planet forever connected in their orbit. Separate, and yet always bound.
Yes, Adela would like that description.
She would also be thrilled when she and her fellow explorers came up with a name for the creature whose giant bone they had found.
Adelus dragonus?
Adelasaurus?
He kissed her softly on her smiling lips and then fell asleep holding her in his arms.
What treasures would they find tomorrow?
Not that it mattered to him anymore.
He had found his treasure and she was sleeping right beside him.
A duke for Adela, her father had once said.
