Page 124 of The Moonstone Pirate
“They always will, my butterfly. Never a doubt from the moment I met you.”
“Does this mean you are willing to hold another masquerade ball?” she teased.
He fell onto his back on the soft mattress and groaned. “Never.”
“Not even if Lady Claudia Needham helps plan it?” She snuggled against him and kissed him lightly on the chest.
He closed his eyes, groaned again, then opened one eye to stare at her. “You are smiling like a kitten who has just lapped up all the cream in her bowl. Dare I ask why?”
“Lady Claudia is here, you know. She arrived the day after you left.”
“Oh, Lord. Just shoot me now.”
Imogen giggled. “She was quite affronted by our small, hastily planned wedding—which no one bothered to tell her about—and most displeased by the fact you did not consult her before choosing your bride. However, she has decided I will suit, and—”
“Hah! Was there ever a doubt?”
“No, Draco. We both knew it at once. But now—”
“Can you imagine the greedy, manipulative creatures she would have chosen for me? I shudder to think.”
“Yes, my love. Fortunately, you escaped their clutches. But as I was saying, it is now Deandra’s turn, and Lady Claudia is determined to make a diamond out of her.”
He sat up in a shot. “She’s only sixteen. Far too young to be out in Society.”
“Well, that is what I said, but Lady Claudia insisted Deandra has a lot of work to do before she is ready to be introduced to anyone. To that end, she has decided to move in here and supervise Deandra’s training.”
“For her come-out? And you let her?” His groan deflated as it escaped his lips. “Deandra hasyou. She doesn’t need anyone else’s help.”
Imogen cleared her throat. “Well, I never made it to my debut, did I? I fell in love with a pirate before the Season started.”
“What are you suggesting? That Lady Claudia stays with us?”
Imogen nodded. “She’s lonely, I think. Probably feeling low in spirits since her husband passed away. She has no children. You are her closest family.”
“Holy mother of sea serpents. She’s moving in with us permanently? You are too soft-hearted, Imogen.”
“It will make for a happy household. You, me, Albert, and Deandra, and now we’ll have Lady Claudia, too. Parrot likes her, so she cannot be all bad.”
“Well, at least she’ll keep Deandra away from unsuitable pirates.”
“Such as yourself?” Imogen grinned. “Thank you, Draco. You are doing a very nice thing for her.”
“I leave for a week and look at what happens,” he grumbled. “I had better not leave you ever again.”
He rolled her under him and kissed her with hungry abandon. “I missed you, sweetheart. I truly did,” he whispered, raking a hand through her hair to brush back the still damp mane. He made love to her again, this time taking it slow to savor all of her, especially her breasts that were too beautiful for words and tasted like sweet cream on his tongue.
Well, everything with Imogen was sweet.
Her innocence. Her ardor. The way she gave him her whole heart.
They washed and dressed at midday, then gathered his family for an afternoon ride into Moonstone Landing and a visit to theAthena, which stood out among the other vessels in the harbor. His men adored Imogen, and had the good grace to say nothing about their early morning swim. Both Imogen and Deandra were delighted by the tour he gave them. “I’m going to marry a pirate, too,” Deandra declared.
“No,” he and Lady Claudia intoned at the same time.
“You are a very pretty girl, Deandra,” Lady Claudia said. “Nothing less than a duke will do for you, assuming you are diligent in your lessons and take to heart everything I say.”
A few minutes later, Draco noticed Deandra hold Imogen back and heard her whisper, “Hah! Some chance I will ever snare a duke. Who wants them anyway? Most are too puffed up and insufferably arrogant. Besides, I’m sure all the good ones are taken by now. Ella got the last one, I’m sure.”
