Page 93 of Marigold and the Marquess
“Just the two of us, Leo.”
He cast her a wicked smile. “Care to join me in the bath?”
CHAPTER 16
MARIGOLD WAS CERTAINthey would have water stains along the parlor ceiling come morning. She and Leo had displaced so much of the bath water, there was hardly any of it left in the tub. Waves had sloshed over the lip and onto the floor while they had engaged in what could only be described as a Roman orgy rather than an actual attempt to wash up.
However, they were both spotlessly clean.
Leo’s marquess quarters were a sad, soggy disaster.
But it was all worth it, for something momentous had happened. She was now truly his wife in every respect. After their heated coupling, there was no possibility of annulment. In fact, it was quite possible she was carrying his child. She knew it was much too early to tell, but one could always hope. “Thank you, Leo.”
He laughed and wrapped her in his arms as they now relaxed in her bed, their bodies tangled around each other. The door between their bedchambers remained closed while Ethan, several footmen, and every available maid worked to mop up the spill in his chamber and dry out as much as they could of the carpet and floorboards.
Leo gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. “It was time I made you mine, wasn’t it?”
She nodded.
“It would have destroyed me ever to let you go, but I would have done it if this was the only way to protect you, Marigold. Is this not how love works? Sacrificing one’s happiness for the good of the other?”
Her breath hitched. “Leo, are you saying you love me?”
He laughed again, his voice a deep, gentle rumble. “I was lost to you from the moment I set eyes on you diving from one flower bed to another while you chased Mallow and that skull around my garden. You were a glorious ray of sunshine spreading your light into my very dark heart. However, I would have planned on a longer courtship, and not actually courted you until matters between me and my cousin were resolved. Besides, you did not wish to marry before you were twenty.”
He shifted so that she was now under him and his weight pressed lightly down on her. “Things did not go according to plan,” he admitted with a rakish smile. “I couldn’t keep my hands off you.” He kissed her lightly on the lips and then turned serious. “I should have waited until the danger had passed. I’m sorry I brought you into this.”
“It is done and there is no going back. I haven’t regretted a moment,” she said. “I love you so much, Leo. I just want to see you happy.”
“I don’t know that I am a cheerful soul, at heart. More of a grumpy bear, I suppose. Too arrogant and demanding. Not good at compromising. However, I like that you have the spine to stand up to me. You do it so gently, too. Firm in your resolve but never cruel. You are too good-natured ever to spew bile. And I am too besotted with you ever to hold my anger.”
She sighed. “We just have to get past this Cummings business.”
“We will, love.”
By the undercurrent of steel in his tone, Marigold knew he was uncompromising on this point. He meant to go after his cousin and nothing she was going to say or do would change his mind.
Had any of her pleading gotten through to him?
She wasn’t completely naive. Cummings was someone who needed to be watched closely. But if he had been in London and hired some killer to do Denby in, then Ian and his Crown agents would have him for murder since that hired man would not stay quiet and take the blame alone.
If it meant keeping Leo in her bed for the next few days to let the investigation run its course, then so be it. She and Leo were going to have a marathon bedroom romp. If the attention he lavished on her breasts was any indication, he would be receptive to the idea.
Therefore, it came as a complete surprise to her when she awoke the following morning to find Leo gone. Not merely from her bed. Gone from her bedchamber and gone from the house. She had just donned her robe and was about to ring for her maid when there came a knock at her door. She rushed to open it. “Oh, Jenny. I was just going to summon you.”
“Oh, my lady,” the girl appeared distressed as she handed Marigold a note. “Sterling is beside himself with worry.”
“Sterling?” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no. What has Lord Muir done? Has he said something to Sterling or Ethan?”
Jenny was shaking her head every which way so that Marigold could not tell if she was replying with a yes or a no, or she simply did not know. “I’m sure this will explain it better, m’lady. He told Sterling to have us take particularly good care of you because you were going to be very angry with him and might never speak to him again.”
Marigold’s heart was in her throat as she unfolded the missive and read it.
I love you with all my heart, Marigold. You are my beautiful, shimmering light. I beg your forgiveness if my actions in any way dim this light that I cherish with all my heart and soul. But you must see that I am too broken ever to heal. If you choose never to forgive me and we must part, I will understand and respect your wishes. However, I must finish this quest, no matter the outcome. I know how hurt you will be when I am not with you for the unveiling of your new exhibit. Whether I am present or not, shine brightly, my love.
Ever yours,
Leo
