“Wasn’t it too much, though?” he asked, brushing her shift back down. He pulled her into his arms, making sure his erection was concealed by the bedsheets. “Would you tell me if it was too much?”
“Darling, don’t frown so. Of course I would.” She snuggled closer to him. “I enjoyed last night, as strange as it sounds. There’s something exciting about surrendering myself to your secret whims.”
“Even if it hurts you?”
“Especially when it hurts me,” she answered, flirting shamelessly.
“Dear girl.” He ran a palm across her bottom. “I only worry you’ll grow tired of fulfilling those whims.”
“Don’t worry about that. Sometimes you behave like a guilty child. You pleased me last night, particularly at the end of things.” Shyness flitted across her features. “Surely you recall how brazen I was by the…er…finale. I’m nearly ashamed of it.”
“You mustn’t be ashamed.” Of all things, he couldn’t bear that. “You mustn’t be ashamed,” he repeated with even more emphasis. “It’s never you. It’s always me behaving badly. Remember that.”
“Oh Marlow, what’s all this?” She sat up in bed, in her lacy, innocent sleeping gown, and took his face between her hands. “You mustn’t be morose today of all days. We’re to make our fabulous debut this evening. I shall be in my new gown, and you in your smart outfit. It’s going to be so grand.”
“Of course. I’m excited for it.”
“Me too. So please, you must not dwell on these things, these faults of yours.” She let go of his face and took his hands, squeezing them tight. “I love you. I love everything about you, but since we’ve married, you’ve seemed more worried than happy. Have I given you any reason to believe I’m not satisfied to be your wife?”
“No, sweeting. You’ve been utterly perfect. So perfect.” He sighed, stroking her hair back. “Far more perfect than me.”
“Are we to have a competition then, of who’s more perfect?” Her gaze danced with hilarity. “Why bother, when I would always win? Come now. You must not be glum, today of all days. I shall have a problem sitting down at the ball, yes, but we both agreed that would be perverse and delicious.”
“We did, didn’t we? Though I must take responsibility for putting the notion in your head.” He kissed her gently on the forehead, then upon her soft lips. “If you’re certain you’ve survived last night’s frivolities with minor damage, I’ll stop worrying and look forward instead to dancing with you tonight.”
“Yes, it will be glorious.” His wife seemed beside herself with excitement. How precious she was. How bright and loving. Before the ball tonight, he would go buy her flowers. His parents’ house would overflow with flowers, but he wanted to buy some for just her, flowers as sweet-smelling, soft, and beautiful as she was.
But first, he intended to make love to her, gently this time. Well, as gently as he was able. She hummed with pleasure and embraced him as he pushed her back upon the bed. Of all the reasons to sleep naked, this was his favorite. He helped pull off her shift as she spread her legs…
He was still thinking of her later, as he strolled down Marlborough Street on his way to the florist in Maynard Square. How civilized he’d become, how absolutely domestic with his fine hat and cane, walking out to buy armfuls of blooms for his beloved. He must have roses for his Rosalind. Ivory or pale pink roses would be just the thing.
*
Rosalind started preparing for the ball early, just after teatime. She’d budgeted three hours for her ladies to curl and coif her hair and assemble her outfit and accessories. After that, she and Marlow planned to leave early for his parents’ home, to be there before the first of the guests arrived.
“Oh, it is exquisite,” said Rosalind, investigating her finished ensemble in the full-length mirror. Her ballgown shone in the light still coming through the windows, going alternately silver and blue. Her hair sparkled with jewels and her lips had been painted modestly for the occasion. “Though I suppose it’s not the thing to gush over one’s own appearance.”
“You ought to send for Lord Marlow,” advised her lady’s maid, clasping her hands together with pleasure. “He’ll give you all the compliments you could want, for you look a very sight. Everyone will stare at the both of you.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” She spun in front of the mirror, feeling light with happiness. “We’re making our married debut.”
Her maids bid her well as she left to search for her husband. He wasn’t in his bedroom, nor the adjoining parlor. She noticed with some irritation that his outfit for the ball still hung in his dressing room. She peeked into the “secret” room in case he was waiting in there, intending to give her a pre-ball spanking. Her heart beat faster at the thought, but he was not there either.
Well, they would not get to his parents’ home on time if he was off gallivanting about town, today of all days. His valet confirmed he had never arrived home from his morning walk to the florist. Perhaps he’d gone on some other errands or stopped by his parents’ to help set things up for the festivities. She decided that was just the sort of helpful thing he might do, and that he must have been too busy to send word.
“I’ll go to the Warrens’ home now,” she told his valet. “And I’ll tell Marlow to return to you at once to get ready.”
“Indeed, my lady. I’ll be waiting.”
“Very good.” Rosalind forced a smile for the kind, dapper servant, but inside she felt worried. They’d made plans to ride over together. It wasn’t like him to be careless like this.
Or was it?
Perhaps, now that they were back in London, he’d begun to backslide into that undependable, undesirable marriage prospect everyone had warned her about. Careless in his habits, wild in his behavior…
She shook her head. No. She refused to give those kinds of doubts any space in her mind. She knew him. He wouldn’t backslide or disappoint her, not if he could help it. She must assume he’d lost track of time. She walked to the courtyard, where Marlow’s carriage had already been brought around for the trip to his parents’ town house.
But when she arrived at the Warrens’ home, she saw no sign of Marlow among the bustle of preparations.