Page 116 of Marigold and the Marquess
He climbed in after her and instructed Collins to drive them home. Only then did he turn to her, his eyebrows arched in curiosity as the carriage drew away. “What has Gory told you? I would not believe half her stories. She has quite the ghoulish imagination.”
Marigold blushed and cleared her throat. “It is not about dead things. It is about indiscreet liaisons incarriages.”
He laughed. “Sex in a carriage, Marigold? What would any of you know about that? But isn’t that an interesting idea?”
“No,” she cried, now aghast and her eyes round in surprise. “It is shocking and utterly impractical. What if one were to arrive at one’s destination early and hadn’t…finishedyet?”
He laughed again and drew her onto his lap. “Yes, that would be awkward.”
She nestled against him. “And what if one were caught by the footman as he opened the door to receive the surprise of his life?”
“I am sure any experienced footman will have seen far worse.”
“Worse than a lady who had no time to fix her gown or hair? I shudder to think of the spillage. And what of the man caught with his breeches down around his ankles?”
“And his bare arse pasted to the leather seat bench. That would be extremely uncomfortable in the heat of summer. He’d have to peel his naked arse off the hot leather.”
“Ugh, Leo! Not to mention, who would ever want to sit there knowing he’d…ew?”
“So does this mean we are never to engage in a naughty liaison in a carriage?” He kissed her lightly on the lips and then kissed her slender throat. “Because I think we would be clever enough to do it right. There’s something to be said for the bouncing that goes on when one is–”
“Leo!”
“Never mind, sweetheart. Forget I said anything. It shall never be mentioned again. Nor shall I think of it on our next trip to Devonshire.”
“You would join me in Devonshire?”
“Of course.” He grinned wickedly. “I’ll take you in my carriage. It is a very long ride. Plenty of time to indiscreetly–”
“Leo!” She playfully swatted his arm. “Do not tease me, you wretched man.”
“Wouldn’t think of it, love.” When they returned home, he helped her out of the carriage and then led her upstairs to their quarters. Ethan and Jenny awaited them, but Leo ordered them to leave and not return until it was time to prepare for the Huntsford soiree.
“We are dead on our feet after last night’s excitement,” Marigold explained, although no explanation was required. By the look onhisface, neither Jenny nor Ethan believed she would get a wink of sleep.
They bowed, keeping their heads down to hide their smirks, no doubt.
Leo tried to keep his hands off Marigold because she was tired and so was he.
The struggle was useless.
Similarly, she tried to keep her hands off him.
They spent the next two hours nakedly pawing each other.
But the hour of sleep they did manage was enough to hold them through the soiree.
Leo kissed Marigold on the cheek when they arrived at the Huntsford residence and she went off with her friends. Gory had some odd looking dead thing to show the ladies.
Dear heaven.
He retired to the cards room with Huntsford, his brothers, and Eloise’s grandsons, Graelem and Gabrield Dayne.
Graelem was married to Marigold’s cousin Laurel, and had been married longest of all of them. They had all been drinking, and Graelem now decided to spout his words of husbandly wisdom. “Men and women do not speak the same language, my friends. This is the secret to a long and happy marriage. Learn to take the cues and disappear into your study whenever you hear your wife respond to you with the following words:Fine. Nothing. Go ahead. Really? Whatever.”
“Not that lecture again.” Gabriel was grinning from ear to ear. “Graelem, you do realize you are drunk.”
“Yes, completely potted,” Graelem agreed, “but also very happily married. These rules apply no matter the condition of the husband. Whether drunk or sober, always remember these words and be immediately wary if you hear your wife utter them. Take the wordfine. What does it mean when your wife tells you something isfine?”
