Page 83 of Duchess By Accident
“Oh?” she looked up at him, a sparkle in her eyes.
“The ton have had enough of you. It is high time we make the most of our honeymoon.” He let out a growl and swept her into his arms.
Laughing, they swept from the room and he felt lighter than he had in years.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Five more minutes.” Natalie muttered, rolling over and burying herself in the covers. “Tell them to go away.”
The knocking continued, and Natalie opened her eyes. She was lying in a large four poster bed, sunlight streaming through the window. She reached out to touch the empty spot beside her, breathing in the familiar scent of Adrian’s cologne.
It had been a fortnight since they had returned to Blackwood castle, and they had not spent a night apart since their first kiss in London. After the first few days of her trying to sneak back to her rooms in the dead of night, Adrian had suggested that she move her things into the rooms beside his.
The rooms that handily were connected by a secret corridor.
“Your Grace? His Grace said that we were to wake you at eleven and to bring you breakfast in bed.” A muffled voice called from behind the door.
“It cannot be eleven already? Surely not!” Natalie leapt out of bed, hastily drawing her dressing gown around her.
“Your Grace? May I come in?” the voice said.
Natalie was fairly certain it was Julia. Hastily, she tried to compose herself. “Yes.”
Julia entered a moment later and placed a laden breakfast tray on the table. “Had you given any thought to the dress you wish to wear today?”
“Not really. I suppose it depends on what activities I wish to pursue today. Did my husband mention anything to you when he instructed you to wake me?” Natalie sat on the small sofa near the coffee table as Julia placed the breakfast tray in front of her.
“Only that he would be in the garden with Lady Melody if you wished to find him.” Julia answered.
Natalie glanced out of the window, nodding thoughtfully to herself. “Then something suitable to be out of doors in. Perhaps my riding habit, it has been a long time since I have been out and I feel the need for a good canter about the estate.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Shall I fetch the dress now?” Julia moved towards the hidden door that led to the passage between Adrian’s rooms and Natalie’s new ones.
“I shall dress in my rooms. The light in Adrian’s is awful. And I swear his looking glass makes me look about three times larger.” Natalie scowled at the thing. “I will make him get rid of it if it is the last thing I do.”
“I doubt he will put up much of a fight, Your Grace. Not lovestruck as he is.” Julia gave her a knowing smile and Natalie felt her cheeks flush even deeper.
“Is there honey with the porridge?” she asked, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear and avoiding her maid’s eyes. “Oh yes, there it is. And sugar for the tea?”
“Of course, Your Grace. And cinnamon too, for your porridge. His Grace ordered it a few days ago.” Julia’s voice held a quiet edge of amusement. “He said it only stood to reason that his wife would take her porridge as spiced as she was.”
“The man is utterly incorrigible, and I will make him pay for that.” Natalie took a mouthful of her porridge. “I only happened to mention in passing that I missed cinnamon on my porridge.”
He remembered.Natalie tried to look irritated even as she felt her heart melting. Any time she had mentioned something she missed or enjoyed, within a few days, Adrian would arrange for whatever it was to be at the castle.
“Sometimes I feel like I am living in the most wonderful dream.” Natalie sighed and took another bite of her porridge. “It feels as though I could fly. I did not think it possible to be this happy.”
“That is what it is to be in love, You Grace. And I must say, I feel it suits you rather well.” Julia squeezed her hand.
“I feel much the same way.” Natalie beamed at her. “Though I do worry I am beginning to sound rather a lot like my twin.”
“Lord Peter is a romantic, and so are you. Enjoy it.” Julia shrugged. “There is nothing quite like being young and in the arms of love.”
“I know. I know. It is all so wonderfully overwhelming.” Natalie gestured with her spoon without thinking, accidentally flinging porridge onto the floor. “Sometimes I feel like I will burst into song just to let out these feelings. Or flames or both.”
“Well let us hope for song rather than flame.” Julia grinned at her. “You deserve this happiness. And you timed it perfectly.”
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked, a spoonful of porridge to her lips.
