Page 73 of The Meaning of Love
He smiled, the gesture chilling. “Patience.” Soon, his path ahead would be clear, and he could concentrate on pulling the strings that, ultimately, would give him access to the earldom’s coffers.
And that would be so very satisfying.
It would be the pinnacle of his life’s achievements.
He considered the prospect, then nodded to himself. “Playing a long game always works.”
Five days after the wedding—after four days of blissful married life—Melissa rode beside Julian as they returned to the stable at the end of their morning ride.
They clattered into the yard and drew rein. She waited, watching appreciatively as Julian, who had ridden Argus, his fabulous black Arab, lithely swung down from the saddle. After handing Argus’s reins to Mitchell, the middle-aged groom who’d come out to attend them, Julian walked to the side of Melissa’s neat bay mare. She freed her boots from her side-saddle’s stirrup. He caught her gaze as he reached up, closed his hands about the midnight-blue velvet encasing her waist, and lifted her down.
As he set her on her feet, she beamed at him. “Every time we go riding, I’m grateful all over again for your gift.” Rosa, the bay mare, had been one of his wedding gifts to her.
A slow smile broke over his handsome face. He raised a hand and plucked a piece of bark from her hair. “I know. Just as I know that, at some point in the day, I’ll find myself exceedingly grateful for your gratitude.”
She humphed and hoped she wasn’t blushing.
“Come back here, you wretched beast!”
They both turned to see Ulysses scampering toward her as fast as his stubby legs would carry him with Hockey and two stable lads in hot pursuit.
They’d left the puppy confined in a stall after he’d twice tried to track her after she’d ridden out, causing consternation among the staff, who had had to catch and carry him back.
Ulysses reached her and reared up to place his paws on her skirt.
Melissa crouched and patted him. “It’s all right.” She smiled up at Hockey as he came to a puffing halt. “He’s found me.”
His hands on his hips as he caught his breath, Hockey apologized. “He heard Rosa’s hoofbeats, and I swear he knew it was you coming in. Squirmed between two boards and got out of the stall, and then nothing would do for it but that he had to come racing out to you.”
Melissa smiled at the puppy, who was trying to crawl into her lap, and stroked his silky head. “You’re a clever one.”
Hockey huffed. “Don’t encourage him.” He fished in his pocket and hauled out a length of rein. “Here.” He held it out. “I fashioned a ring clip on the end to go around his neck—I can let it out as he grows—and there’s a loop for you to hold at the other end. That way, you can take him for walks in the garden without him scenting a rabbit and getting away from you again. I made it long enough to allow him to run a bit, but if he gets in trouble, you’ll be able to haul him back.”
“Thank you.” Smiling gratefully, Melissa took the leading rein, swiftly examined it, then crouched and fastened the makeshift collar around Ulysses’s neck, avoiding the puppy’s attempts to catch and chew the leather. Once the collar was secure, she rose and let the lead play out. Ulysses sat for a moment as if catching his breath, possibly contemplating what the strange thing around his neck was, then he streaked off to fling himself on Julian’s boots.
Julian laughed, bent, and patted the golden bundle, then straightened and waved Melissa toward the house. “Let’s see how he behaves on the rein.”
With a last smile for Hockey, Melissa swept up the train of her velvet riding skirt into the crook of one arm, then let the rein play out and walked beside Julian along the path that led to the castle’s side terrace.
They strolled, allowing Ulysses to scamper about. He quickly learned the limits of the rein, and by the time they reached the terrace steps, he was more or less keeping pace with Melissa, stopping to sniff and snuffle, but responding to the lightest tug, entirely happy to remain within her orbit.
Melissa halted before the steps and looked assessingly at Ulysses. “I was going to go up and change, but I suspect he’s been napping while we were out. It might be best to take him for his walk now.”
Julian nodded. “That might also assist in fixing the notion of being on a lead into his doggy brain.”
Melissa laughed, then cocked her head and looked at him questioningly. “Are you going to join us?”
He hesitated, clearly torn, then sighed. “Hagerson sent up some contracts I need to review and sign and get back to him as soon as possible. I’d better get started on them before lunch, or I won’t get through them today, and I really should.”
“Never mind. Ulysses will keep me safe.” She saw concern infuse the clear gray of Julian’s eyes and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. We’ll stick to the gardens and be back within the half hour.” She looked at Ulysses. “His little legs probably won’t last even that long.”
Julian nodded. “All right. Stay safe.” He bent his head, and she lifted hers, and they exchanged a swift, sweet kiss.
Then she smiled, waved, and stepped out along the path around the terrace to the lawn beyond.
She felt Julian’s gaze resting on her, then heard the sound of his boots go quickly up the steps. A second later, the terrace door clicked shut.
Ulysses had scampered ahead, but now came gamboling back.
