Page 70 of Defending the Duke (The St. Clairs 4)

Chapter Twenty-One

Laurel woke.

Anthony was still here...

She hadn’t dreamed last night. He’d had stayed. All night. He’d told her he loved her. Joy filled her. She never knew such happiness could be possible.

At least she understood him better now. Her childhood may have been difficult but she’d always had her mother’s unconditional love. Hudson’s, too. Poor Anthony had no one. Even when Aunt Constance had taken him in, he hadn’t allowed her to get close to him. He’d held himself apart, thinking he wasn’t good enough because his bastard of a father had tossed him aside like rubbish.

Still, he had grown into a good man.

Her man.

He began to stir, his arm tightening about her possessively. His chest pressed into her back. She could feel his manhood beginning to stir as his lips caressed her neck. His hand stroked her belly and went lower. Lower.

“Oh,” she murmured.

Her husband made love to her very thoroughly. When he finished, he gathered her against him, his hand absently stroking her back.

“This is a very nice way to start our day,” she said.

“Perhaps the Duke and Duchess of Everton have the right idea after all.”

Laurel remembered she had told him Jeremy and Catherine slept together in one chamber.

“Would you like to follow their pattern?” he asked. “Turn your bedchamber in a dressing room and storage for your gowns? Then you could share my bed every night.” He kissed her. “That would make me happy. Very, very happy.”

“I know it is a wife’s job to make her husband happy,” Laurel teased. “How can I say no?”

He kissed her again. “You can’t.”

“I would like to redecorate some. It’s very dark and gloomy. Don’t worry. I won’t make it all full of feminine frills. It will still retain a manly look.”

“I don’t care. I won’t be looking at the room. I’ll only have eyes for the woman I love.”

They kissed again for long minutes and Laurel thought marriage couldn’t get any better than this. Her stomach gurgled noisily and his joined in. They laughed and rose.

“We definitely need some breakfast.”

She played valet to him and helped him dress and he returned the favor. They went to the breakfast room, their fingers entwined, and she was surprised to see Hannah there. Usually, the girl slept until noon and like Aunt Constance, had a tray in her room for her first meal of the day.

Immediately, Laurel saw Hannah noticed them holding hands because a smile spread across her face.

Anthony seated Laurel and said, “You’re up awfully early. Thinking about Brixley?”

“Yes,” Hannah admitted. “I couldn’t sleep any longer. I don’t know how I’ll pass all the hours until teatime.”

“Why don’t you accompany me to the orphanage?” Laurel suggested. “Catherine and I are going this morning at eleven o’clock. I wanted her to see some of the changes we’ve made.”

“You don’t think she’d mind?”

“Not at all. I’d like you to see it.” She looked to her husband. “You, too, Anthony.”

“I can’t today, love. Let me know the next time you’re going, though. I’ll be happy to see the place with you.”

They finished breakfast and Anthony excused himself. He bent and kissed her cheek and took a few steps away. Then he returned and kissed her on the mouth, a lovely, sweet kiss.

“I will see you both at tea with this vexing viscount.”

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