Page 34 of Pursuing Mr. Mattingly

Chapter Ten

Where the devilis Oliver?

Dinner had been over and done with two hours ago, and though he’d gone off with her brothers and nephew, she had assumed he might be anxious to join her. In the meantime, she’d cheerfully made certain Hannah had been tucked into bed—given a few books to read if she wasn’t tired—and had handed down strict orders not to wander the halls tonight.

The last thing Sophia needed was for her daughter to creep into her room while she was involved in wicked things with her new husband.

Yet for that to happen, said husband needed to make an appearance.

Common sense told her that she should wait to share such intimacies with him, for she barely knew him, but with the time allotted to her dwindling, she’d meant every word she’d said to him when they’d become engaged. She wanted a husband in every sense of the word, a chance to enjoy being in a man’s arms once more. And if she were honest with herself, she enjoyed intercourse all too much to let this opportunity slip by.

Already, the purpling shadows of twilight had given way to the navy darkness of the night. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. The silk of the thin, Chinese-style dressing gown in shades of green slipped over her skin as she paced to the window. Below was the sloping back lawn of Ettesmere Park. Off to the left, the darkened gardens waited and beyond, the hedge maze.

When the sound of the latch to the adjoining door of her dressing room echoed in the silence, Sophia caught her breath and slowly turned as her heartbeat raced. He’s here! “Oliver.”

“I apologize for the delay,” he said as he came into the room. “Your brothers kept offering up toasts followed by stories.” Her new husband shook his head as a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I have learned all too much about the two of them and their marriages.” His chuckle reverberated in her chest and set off an avalanche of tingles down her spine. “To say nothing of Arthur’s undisguised interest in his bride-to-be.”

A giggle escaped her. “Well, he is quite enamored of Julianna. It’s rather adorable.” Would she eventually come to love Oliver in that same way? If she were allowed enough time?

“Anyone can see that, but it’s Lord Yeardly—Gilbert, rather—I’m worried about.” With a glance about the room, he removed his satin sash, and with care folded it before resting it into a drawer of the nightstand. Then he shrugged out of his dinner jacket and draped the garment over the back of a chair. “He is terribly bitter regarding his union, and I’m beginning to wonder when he last saw his wife. His stories were not complementary as a whole.”

“That is my worry too.” Gilbert could clean up his own mess. She had other things to occupy her attention. When he removed his cuffs and collar, she stifled a sigh. There was something so erotic about watching a man undress. “I’m glad you are bonding with my family, though. That will help when I… At the end when… Well, when things happen,” she finished lamely with a lump in her throat.

“We needn’t talk about that now.” After tugging off his cravat, Oliver threw it atop his jacket and then joined her at the window. “Especially since the purpose of us marrying is to take your mind off that eventuality. Nothing but happy days, remember.”

“I know, but it lurks in the background waiting to pounce.”

The heat of him seeped into her. “It’s a nice view here. My room is—was, I suppose I should say—on the other side of the house and overlooks the drive.”

“Yes.” Sophia peeked out the window. “When I was a young girl around Hannah’s age, I often took refuge from the storms of life in that maze. My father was tickled I treated it as my own personal play area. Then, when Mama usurped the heart for her gardening purposes, I let her have it, for I’d already been married the first time.”

“Is it still the bastion of solitude it used to be?”

“Oh, yes. Upon arriving at Ettesmere Park and knowing I could—can—expire at any time, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time there.” A sigh escaped her. “Often, I bring an old quilt with me when I’m not caring for the roses. At times I’ll read a book or attempt to sketch, but mostly I let my mind wander. Revisit things, dare to hope for others.”

Never had she told anyone that before.

“That is understandable.”

For whatever reason, she felt that he did indeed grasp what she struggled with. Perhaps she’d been strong for far too long by herself, for when he slipped his arms around her, she uttered a shuddering sigh and leaned into him with her palms resting on his chest. His scent wafted to her nose as a distraction, and for a few seconds, she closed her eyes and merely let herself enjoy the moment. They were here and on the verge of something wonderful. “I still can hardly believe I’m married to you.”

He pulled slightly away in order to peer into her face. “Do you have regrets?”

“Of course not.” She let her fingers drift around to his back and with a few tugs, had the ties of his waistcoat undone. “I didn’t think I would have the opportunity again to have a third husband.”

“Then it’s fortunate I accidentally came to visit when I did.” The stormy depths of his eyes darkened as he cupped her cheek and brushed his lips against hers. “Imagine you marrying a different man, one who might not wish to live to make your last days enjoyable.”

“Imagine.” The truth was, she didn’t want to. He was here, and there was no doubt he’d been meant to be so. Longing shuddered through her; she lifted up onto her toes and kissed him back. Gentle, tender, light, none of them tipped her into passion but they did light tiny fires in her blood. When she broke the kiss, she grinned. “If you don’t wish to go forward tonight, I’ll understand.”

“One thing you’ll learn about me is that I never back down from a challenge.” In a twinkling, he removed his waistcoat and threw it in the direction of another chair. “However, so you don’t think I’m going to be England’s best lover immediately, I have never… uh…”

Poor, dear man.“You’ve already mentioned you were inexperienced. But have you truly never bedded a woman? Not even during your salad days?” It hadn’t occurred to her that a man could still be considered an innocent at his age.

“No.” A flush rushed up his neck. “It’s pathetic, I know, so please don’t tell your brothers. They would think less of me. To say nothing about teasing me incessantly. I put on a decent act around them tonight and made them think I knew more than I do.”

That brought out another giggle. “Of course, I won’t. There is nothing to be ashamed of, though.” She took his hand and drew him away from the window. “Were you not interested in relations with women before?” They would have a different issue entirely if he were attracted to men, but she would still welcome him as her husband.

And his sacrifice to marry her would be even larger.

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