Page 29 (1/2)

They were pedestrian suggestions, but he was unsure where else to take Lucy The sad fact was that he’d never spent much time with a lady He winced At least out of bed Where diddens or houses of ill repute, certainly And the Agrarians’ coffeehouse was too grimy for a lady Which left the park Or lance at her Surely she wouldn’t want to tour a church?

"That would be nice" She poked a green bean "Or we could simply stay here"

"Here?" He stared It was too soon to take her to bed again, although the thought beckoned

"Yes You could write or mess about with your roses and I could read or sketch" She pushed the green bean aside and took a bite of the whipped potatoes

He shifted uneasily in his chair "Won’t you be bored?"

"No, of course not" She smiled "You needn’t think that youin parks before you married me"

"Well, no," Sies now that I’ve a wife I’ve settled down, you know"

"Changes?" Lucy set down her fork and leaned forward "Like giving up red heels?"

He opened hishim? "Maybe not that"

"Or the ornaments on your coats? Sometimes I feel quite a peahen next to you"

Simon frowned "I--"

A mischievous smile twitched at the corner of her s clocked? I’m sure your hosiery bill must be enormous"

"Are you quite done?"

Simon tried to look stern but had an idea he failed ht When he thought of the pain he must’ve caused her, he still winced And then to top that by showing her this in whore, it didn’t put hi wife And the sad thing was that were he to have the opportunity to do it over, he knew he’d place her hand on his cock once again He’d been so hard, he’d ached And just the thought of Lucy’s cool little hand holding his erection had hiht of corrupting the innocent?

"I don’t think I want you to change anything at all"

Simon blinked and tried to focus his salaciousHe realized that Lucy had becoht and stern "Except for one thing I don’t want you to duel again"

He inhaled and brought his wineglass to his lips to buy tiel She watched him calmly and with no trace of mercy in her eyes

"Your concern is of course commendable, but--"

Newton slithered into the roo a silver plate Thank God "The post, my lord"

Simon nodded his thanks and took the letters "Ah, perhaps we are to be invited to a grand ball"

There were only three letters, and he are of Lucy still watching hilanced at the first A bill His lips quirked "Or perhaps not You ht about my red-heeled shoes"

"Simon"

"Yes, my dear?" He laid the bill aside and opened the next A letter fro technique from Spain, et cetera It, too, he tossed aside The third letter had no crest pressed into the red sealing wax, and he didn’t recognize the handwriting He opened it with a butter knife Then sat blinking stupidly down at the words

If you have any love for your new bride, stop Any further duels or threats of duels will be ht that they ht to Lucy He had focused his attentionher safe whilst in his company But if they were to attack while he wasn’t there

"You can’t hide behind that note forever," Lucy said

What if she was hurt--or God forbid killed--because of him? Would he be able to live in a world without her and her terrible eyebrows?

"Silanced up belatedly "Nothing Sorry It’s nothing at all" He crumpled the note in his fist and stood to toss it in the fire

"Simon--"

"Do you ice-skate?"

"What?" He’d caught her off guard She blinked at hi Pocket I’d teach her to skate on the frozen Thames" He cleared his throat nervously now What an idiotic idea "Would you like to ice-skate?"

She stared at him a moment and then rose suddenly from her chair She came to hihted to ice-skate with you and Pocket" She kissed hiht suddenly and inconsequentially, that she’d offered on her own He wanted to grab her by the shoulders, wrap her in his arms, and pack her away in some inner room in his house Somewhere he could keep her safe for always Instead, he kissed her back, brushing lightly, softly over her lips

And wondered hoould protect her