Page 53 of Pursuing Mr. Mattingly

“Perhaps, but I meant what I said. She will have a well-rounded education. At least I can do that much for her.”

“Yes.” A ball of unshed tears lodged in her throat. Oliver would no doubt go on to do great things in his role as an ambassador. Hannah would grow into a wise and well-traveled young lady whose mind would be opened seeing the world. Truly, she would become a force to be reckoned with, and she would have to do that without her mother’s support.

“It makes me sad all over again that the two of you will have adventures without me, but at the same time, I’m glad you’ll have each other.” She looked away, for she didn’t want him to see her with tears.

Again.

“I cannot imagine how this time must be for you,” he said in a low voice. “Certainly bittersweet but regretful.”

“Yes.” She released her hold on his arm. Moving away from him, she concentrated on the meadow grass and the slight dampness of her hem. The walking dress of ivory muslin stamped with raspberry-colored rosebuds was another favorite and made her look a bit more youthful than her one and forty years. “Don’t forget me, Oliver.”

That sounded like the worst thing in the world. Had she made enough of an impression on him that he would always hold her in his mind with fondness?

“As if that is even possible.” Quickly, he caught her up, took possession of her hand, and promptly kissed the back. When he met her gaze, the intensity of his stole her breath. “Sweeting, you are imprinted on my soul, my heart, my brain. There is not chance on this Earth that I will ever forget you or what you’ve meant to me in the short time we’ve known each other.”

Her chin trembled. “I appreciate that, but it only means you’ll hurt longer and harder once I’m gone, and that was something I wished to avoid.”

“It will mean I loved you to the best of my ability, and that I used my heart instead of letting it linger fallow.” He tugged her into a loose embrace. The picnic basket jostled against her hip. “And it will be my pain, for I will miss you fiercely, but at least I was able to love you for as long as I could.”

Before she could reply, he claimed her lips with a kiss so tender and romantic that it brought tears into her eyes. Gently, he made love to her mouth right there in the meadow where anyone passing in a carriage might see them, and it was one of the best moments she’d ever passed. All too soon, he pulled away merely to peer into her face.

“I guess Hannah was right.” A self-conscious chuckle escaped him, but his eyes had darkened slightly behind his spectacle lenses. “I’ve already been distracted by kissing you and we haven’t even reached our picnic destination.”

Heat infused her cheeks. How had she fallen so hard so fast for this man who lit her soul and fired her imagination? To say nothing of how he’d smashed down the walls around her heart like a hero with a sword of old. “Then perhaps we shouldn’t linger here, for the sooner we set out our blanket, the sooner we can return to kissing before Hannah returns.”

“In this we are of one mind.” Oliver slipped an arm about her waist and set them into motion once more.

Sophia relaxed into his side. He was strong and wonderful, and he smelled so good! “Do you believe that the heat and passion between us would have been this powerful if I wasn’t due to die soon?”

“That might have had a little to do with it, but truly, as soon as I saw you, I knew you would be my wife.” He squeezed his fingers at her waist. “Sometimes, two people are just attracted to each other regardless of the circumstances.”

“Perhaps.” Unbidden, her mind jumped back to the masquerade ball two nights prior. After blatantly teasing him with her words, they’d had removed upstairs for a quick, frantic bout of intercourse that set her heart to racing dangerously fast. Afterward, she’d taken the opportunity to rest, and in that it wasn’t a lie, for when her mother had come up to check on her, she’d truly been exhausted and lying beneath the bedclothes.

The fact she’d corrupted her husband into doing such things had only made him appeal to her more. And love making was such a delicious way to pass the time. Hers was limited so why not throw caution to the wind?

She came back to the present with a sigh. There was no cause to worry over any of it, for she would leave this mortal coil soon enough. Would he eventually marry again? He was still young enough that he might wish for children later in his life. The thought sent a swift stab of jealousy through her chest. If things had been different, that could have been her, but in looking back over her life as she’d spent it, there were no regrets. She’d loved both of her previous husbands to distraction; it was no different with Oliver.

Fate was fickle and oftentimes unforgiving, and it was up to each of them to enjoy the time they were given.

Eventually, they arrived at the creek, and just as he’d predicted, it had swollen its banks from the recent rains. A fairly strong current moved the muddy waters, but it was a lovely area. Beneath a stand of oak trees, Oliver began the task of spreading out a worn quilt whose colors had faded in places and was stained in the others while she stood at the edge of the water and peered into those muddled depths. That rushing current called to her, whispered into her ear, beckoned to her to investigate, but for the time being, she ignored it.

When he called to her, Sophia gladly joined him on the quilt. The gorgeous day plus his company and the sound of the gurgling creek waters worked together to relax her.

“This is exactly what I needed today.” She smiled as Oliver rested his back against the stout trunk of an oak tree. He’d been very much in the same repose that seemingly long-ago day when she’d told Hannah of her heart condition, the day he’d given the child the kittens. Then, as well as now, he had the power to settle her nerves and usher in a feeling of calm.

And oh, how she loved him!

“I’m always glad to be of service.” He stretched out legs encased in tight-fitting trousers in a brown color. The slight scuff on the left toe of his boot and the brown tweed of his waistcoat—obviously a favorite—put her in mind of a gentleman of leisure, when he was anything but. “I brought one of those Gothic novels that are your favorite in the event you’d like for me to read a couple of chapters aloud.”

“So romantic.” She hitched up her skirts and crawled over to his location. “I still cannot fathom why some other woman didn’t snap you up.”

He rolled his eyes. “If she had, then you and I would never have met.” One hand rested on the edge of the picnic basket. “Also, your superior cook has put a few of your favorites as well as Hannah’s into our lunch. There is even a carafe of tea, though I rather doubt it has retained its warmth, but even cold tea is preferable to none. Isn’t that the English way of thinking?”

“Oh, you adorable thing.” Unable or unwilling to remain parted from him, Sophia climbed into his lap, straddling him with her skirts bunched between them.

Immediately, his arms went around her, and she relieved him of his top hat, tossing it to the side. “Or we could spend a few minutes doing other things that have nothing to do with luncheon.”

“That is perfectly acceptable. Might as well since once Hannah returns, we’ll have no choice but to act proper.”

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