Scandalous Summer Nights (27 page)

“I wish you hadn’t.”

“I thought you’d be happy that we would begin our marriage together.”

“But I keep thinking about poor old Uncle Humphrey.”

“What does Humphrey have to do with any of this?”

“He never got to go on an expedition, never got to explore the world beyond the pages of his books. And when he talks about the opportunities he missed… well, his eyes look sad and haunted.”

“That’s because he drinks too much and spends far too much time in the company of his cats.”

“I think it’s because he never followed his dream. And I couldn’t bear it if one day, years from now, I saw the same haunted look in your eyes. I want you to be happy—truly happy.”

He tipped her chin up and smoothed the pad of his thumb along her jaw. “Well, the first thing that would make me happy is getting out of this miserable cabin.” He swept her into his arms, kicked the door back, and angled
her body through the opening. She nestled her head in the crook of his shoulder, and for the first time in a week, James exhaled.

He let out all the worry and fear and uncertainty and felt that empty space fill with love and hope and goodness.

He carried her to their spot by the river and set her on her feet before shrugging out of his jacket and laying it on the ground. “It’s not much of a blanket, but less itchy than sitting on the grass.”

She laughed as she sat, tucking her legs beneath her. “Grass does not bother me. In fact, after this week, little does.”

“Except for spiders.”

“Of course.”

Recalling the stones by the river, he asked, “Were you, perchance, digging during your stay here?”

“I might have done a little exploring of my own.” She grinned. “I found a bit of metal that looks like it might have been a cross—and more stones, too.”

He arched a brow. “You sound like an antiquarian.”

She shrugged her thin shoulders. “I needed something to fill my days. I have to admit it was… pleasant.”

“And maybe a little exciting?”

“Yes.” She nuzzled his neck, and his pulse leaped in response.

He beckoned his horse with the cluck of his tongue and untied the bag from his saddle. “I brought a few provisions.”

Olivia’s head perked up instantly. “You have food?”

“I do.” He handed her the bread and chuckled as she ate every last crumb. He gave her everything he’d brought, including the flask of wine.

While she ate, he retrieved the dress and chemise she’d been washing. He wrung them out once more before spreading each garment on a rock to dry.

As she licked a drop of apple juice from the back of her hand, she lay back and gazed happily at the sky. “That was the best meal I have ever had—especially the cake,” she sighed.

James sprawled beside her. “That was actually Ralph’s idea. He was walking around here this morning and thought he saw someone. And I wondered if it might have been you. I hoped.”

“Ah. I had a feeling I wasn’t alone this morning. I am glad to know it was your brother, and not the robber who I—Well, never mind.”

“You needn’t worry about him anymore.”

“How is your brother? And your mother?”

“They are fine. But right now, I want to talk about us.”

Olivia blinked and turned toward him. “I’ve made a mess of things, have I not?”

“No. I don’t think this”—he pressed his palm to hers—“qualifies as a mess at all.”

“Well, what would you call it?”

“I’d call it love. You braved a week in the wilderness in the hopes that I’d travel to Egypt. I scoured half of the English countryside searching for you because I can’t imagine a future without you in it.”

Hope curled in her belly, warm and sweet. “Then I suppose it’s a very good thing that you found me.”

“I love you, Olivia. More than a museum full of ancient artifacts and a desert full of unearthed relics.”

She quirked a brow at him. “High praise, indeed.”
More soberly, she added, “And I love you. More than a wardrobe full of exquisite gowns and a bakery full of hot cross buns. And I’m not saying that just because of your chest”—she ran her hand over the smooth broadcloth of his shirt—“although that
might
have something to do with it.”

James leaned in and touched his forehead to hers. “I was so worried about you.” The anguish in his voice nearly brought her to tears. “I thought—”

“Shhh.” She smoothed a fingertip over his full bottom lip. “I’m here. I’m fine. And I’m going to prove it to you.”

With that, she pressed him down onto his back, leaned over him, and touched her lips to his. For the briefest of moments, they were frozen just so. Only the two of them existed, their breath mingling in the warm summer air.

This
was what she had always wanted. The kind of love that could survive secrets and mistakes of huge proportions. The kind of love that took a hopeless situation and made it seem… well, right.

Desire flared and the kiss deepened. James groaned as he tugged at the blanket she’d wrapped around her. It fell away, leaving her completely bared to him. Greedily, he caressed her breasts, hips, and bottom, setting her on fire.

She pulled at his clothes, too, and soon the warm, hard planes of his chest and torso grazed her nipples, tantalizing and teasing them to aching points.

He slipped a hand between her legs and touched her entrance. She was wet already, and trembling with need. “James,” she breathed, “I lied in my letter. I’ve never stopped loving you. It’s always been you. It always will be.”

He rolled on top of her, slid his hands beneath her bottom, and looked at her with a tenderness that left her
breathless. “You’ve given my life meaning, Olivia. I was searching all over the place trying to find something… something that really mattered. You were right here, all along.”

She wrapped her legs around his hips, drawing him close. He looked into her eyes as he entered her slowly, their bodies joining perfectly.

They moved together, rocking until they were panting, hot, and desperate for release.

“Don’t ever leave me again, Olivia,” he begged, cradling her head in his hand.

Her heart squeezed in her chest, and the pulsing between her legs spiraled. “I won’t. I pro—”

The word died on her lips as an unstoppable wave of pleasure surged through her. She arched her back, pulling James along with her.

He said her name as he came; he said it like a prayer.

And when the sweet tremors subsided at last, he rolled onto his side and gave her a grin that melted her insides like chocolate. Again.

He took a long curl that lay on her shoulder and wound it around his finger. “Tomorrow we will deal with our families and their questions and wedding plans. Tonight is just about you and me. And I can’t imagine anything more perfect.”

Olivia sighed happily, but it wasn’t
quite
perfect.

Luckily, she had an inkling of how to make it so.

J
ames hoped he was repeating the words correctly.

Each time he looked at Olivia, radiant and beautiful in a pale blue silk gown, he forgot where he was—namely, the tiny church in Haven Bridge, at his own wedding.

He dragged his eyes away from his lovely bride to Huntford, sitting in the first pew and swiping suspiciously at his eyes. The duke had been so relieved when Olivia was found that he’d agreed to her request to delay the wedding for two more weeks.

Anabelle may have had something to do with that. She said that Olivia needed to regain some weight before she wore the wedding gown that she had created for her. And she simply refused to alter it again.

The extra fortnight also allowed some of the relatives who’d left Haven Bridge after the first wedding attempt to return. Foxburn accompanied Daphne this time, and the earl looked more relaxed than James had ever seen him. He still wore a wry grin—the kind that mocked James for
being a lovesick sap. Which he was. Of course, Foxburn was equally smitten with his own lovely wife and James would remind him of that fact at the first opportunity.

Olivia’s sister, Rose, and half sister, Sophia, sat beside each other. They looked happy and… relieved. Perhaps they knew better than anyone how stubborn their sister could be.

James’s mother and brother were sitting in the front pew behind him. Ralph wore a smart jacket and cravat and beamed proudly. His mother dabbed at her eyes. She’d casually worked the subject of grandchildren into the conversation no less than three times in the past two weeks.

Uncle Humphrey was sandwiched between two of Olivia’s great-aunts. He’d cut back on the brandy for the last several days and vowed that he’d be fit enough to haul himself out of his chair and attend the wedding. Sure enough, he had, and some of the older ladies had even declared him to be utterly charming.

“Mr. Averill?”

James jerked his gaze to the vicar’s face and shot him an apologetic smile. “I take this woman to be my wife…”

An hour later, he and the wedding guests were milling about the lawn behind one of the cottages Huntford had rented, enjoying a small but elegant breakfast that Olivia’s family had arranged.

Olivia and Daphne sat beside Ralph, and the three were deep in conversation about their plans to arrange outings for the children at the foundling home. Olivia had suggested enlisting Ralph’s help with the project, and he was delighted to be involved.

“Autumn will be the perfect time for a picnic in the
countryside,” Daphne said. “We can have the girls bring journals and write notes about the plant life and animals they observe. I must brush up on the Latin names so that the girls will have the correct nomenclature.”

Olivia rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. “The whole point of the outing is to get their noses out of books for a few hours. It shall be an afternoon
without
Latin!”

“But we must make the most of this learning opportunity.” Daphne turned to Ralph, looking for support.

“P-perhaps the girls could collect a few s-specimens and look up their names when they’re back at the foundling home. An activity for a rainy d-day.”

Olivia stood and kissed Ralph squarely on the cheek. “You are both diplomatic and brilliant—just like your brother.”

She cast James wicked glances as she flitted between the guests, thanking them for coming and graciously accepting their good wishes. Her cheeks were no longer hollow and her stunning gown revealed that her lush curves had returned. With her hair piled on top of her head and her flowing dress, she resembled a classic Greek beauty.

Best of all, she had a lovely twinkle in her eyes that could mean either that she was very happy or up to something.

He suspected both.

She walked to a table, grabbed a silver fork, and tinged it against her champagne glass. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention.” She cast a heart-stopping smile in his direction. “Especially yours, Mr. Averill.”

The small crowd chuckled, and he inclined his head politely, wondering what the hell his beautiful wife had in store for him.

“I realize it’s not customary for the bride to give a speech, but it comes as no shock to most that I’m not a customary sort of person. I want to first apologize to those of you who went out of your way to attend our wedding not once, but twice. I am truly sorry for the unnecessary effort and worry I caused you.

“The reason I fled was not because my feelings for James wavered. On the contrary, I knew that I loved him beyond anything, and I thought that if I convinced him I didn’t want this marriage, he’d be free to pursue his dream of going on an archaeological expedition.”

James shook his head, unsure why she’d revisit the matter.
She
was his dream, above all else. He opened his mouth to tell her so, but she held up a hand and continued.

“James was willing to give up that adventure so we could be together. Only, it occurred to me that perhaps he didn’t have to choose.”

He sidled up to her, leaned toward her ear, and whispered, “I thought we’d settled this, Olivia. Can we discuss it later, please?”

Ignoring him, she went on. “So, with a little help from Uncle Humphrey, I’ve arranged for us to have a wedding trip… to Egypt.”

He blinked. “What?”

“We’ll meet the team in Cairo. It won’t be as long as the expedition you had planned,” she said excitedly. “Just six months. I thought that might be enough time for us to do a fair amount of digging and sketching.”

“But… I don’t—”

“We leave tomorrow.” She squeezed his hand and looked up at him, eyes shining. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

Their family and friends clapped and cheered.

He felt like he was on the stage of some strangely realistic theater performance. “That’s very sweet, Olivia,” he said softly, “but I can’t imagine that your brother is going to—”

“I’ve already spoken with him about it. I had thought we should take a year to travel, but he convinced me to return within six months.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “I don’t know which of us—you or me—he’s going to miss more. He’s forgiven you, you know, even if he won’t admit it.”

James shook his head. “So, we are going to Egypt?”

“Tomorrow,” she repeated. “Uncle Humphrey wrote to one of his colleagues, and together they made the arrangements. Humphrey tells me our living conditions won’t be as luxurious as my bedchamber in St. James Square, but on the other hand, they’re sure to be more comfortable than a deserted cabin.”

Egypt. He’d convinced himself he didn’t want to go. And the truth was that as long as Olivia was by his side, he didn’t give a damn where he was. But he couldn’t deny the excitement that he felt at the prospect of an adventure—with her.

He swooped her into his arms and spun her around, heedless of the pruny expressions on the faces of her great-aunts. “You couldn’t have given me a better wedding gift,” he said, setting her feet on the ground again. “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome, my dear husband.”

Husband
. He liked the sound of that.

“I have an announcement as well.” Humphrey coughed and wiped his brow with a handkerchief. He stood shakily, and James rushed to his side to support him.

“What is it, Uncle? You shouldn’t strain yourself.”

“Nonsense. It’s high time I did.” Addressing the entire gathering, he said, “James is like the son I never had. And now he has a beautiful bride who already feels like a daughter to me. They’ve reminded me of what it was like to be young and in love. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a couple more in love.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Humphrey nodded. “I have a gift for both of you. It’s not riches or jewels, but it is special nonetheless. I want you to have the land by the river. It’s yours to explore and enjoy to your heart’s content.”

Olivia gasped. “Uncle Humphrey, we couldn’t.”

“Of course you could. And if you must know, I have an ulterior motive. I’m hoping you—and someday your children—will visit me here in Haven Bridge.”

James shook his hand and embraced him at the same time. “We would visit you regardless, you know.”

“This way I’ll be sure.”

“You’ve been like a father to me. That’s the best gift of all.”

Humphrey nodded and swiped at his face. “Damn insect flew into my eye.”

With a chuckle, James helped him settle back into his chair. Then he went to Olivia and scooped up her hand in his. “Though it’s not nearly as grand, I have something for you as well.”

“You do?”

“Yes.” He swallowed, then dropped to one knee, hoping he didn’t bumble this. Olivia had always wanted a romantic proposal, and by God, she deserved one.

Even if it was a little late.

“Olivia, I’m not adept with words unless they pertain
to contracts and the like. Legal matters do not pose a problem for me”—Good Lord, this wasn’t starting out well—“but feelings are a different matter entirely.” He swallowed and she nodded, giving him the courage to continue. “You burst into my life like a hummingbird, zipping here and there, demanding more from me. Challenging everything I thought I knew about myself and making me realize that the greatest treasures do not come from the past but from the present. From the friends and family who have shared in our lives and made them richer. With you, life will always be an adventure, and every chapter will be sweeter than the last. I am the luckiest man alive to have you as my wife.”

Olivia blinked like she was holding back tears and several women sighed. Huntford grunted.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” James dug into his pocket, pulled out the ring, and held it out to her.

Olivia clapped her hands over her chest. “But that’s my—How did you find it?”

He shrugged. “I suppose Fate has a way of taking care of these things.” He took her hand and began to slip the ring onto her finger.

“Just a minute,” Uncle Humphrey cried. “Before you put that on, let me see it.” He shuffled over, unceremoniously plucked the ring from James’s fingers, and squinted at it. “Eustace, let me borrow your lorgnette.”

Aunt Eustace handed it over, and everyone watched as Humphrey examined the gold band through the lenses. His eyes focused, then grew wide.

“What is it?” Olivia asked.

“There’s an inscription on the inside,” Humphrey said. “Look.”

Olivia held the ring close to her face. “ ‘
Amor vincit omnia
.’ My Latin is not up to snuff, but I think it means—”

“Love conquers all,” said James, rising to his feet. He put the ring on her finger and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

“Yes,” she breathed. “It certainly has.”

As everyone cheered and clapped, he leaned close to her ear. “Do you still have the Cleopatra costume?”

She raised a brow. “I might.”

“Be sure to pack it.”

“As you wish.” Her eyes were full of promise—and love.

“On second thought”—he nipped lightly at her lobe—“I think you should wear it tonight.”

She gave him a sultry smile. “I can’t wait.”

Jesus. He was already counting the minutes.