“Dash! My darling boy,” she cooed, lifting the puppy into her arms. “How are you? Oh, my love. You must have been so worried when you didn’t see me at all today.”
“I thought as much. So, I had them bring him over to assuage both your concerns,” Richard said, pulling a dressing gown out of his wardrobe and gently draping it over her shoulders.
Then he pulled on a pair of trousers, waiting until she had covered herself up. Once she tied the dressing gown over her body, Nancy opened her arms to her husband, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek when he embraced her.
“Thank you.”
He smiled down at her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear as he told her sincerely, his eyes gleaming, “Anytime.”
They sat together on a chaise in the drawing room, feeding each other from the lovely spread that had been provided for them.
Nancy had never felt so content or at peace in her entire life.
She had thought her desires were fleeting and that the moments they had been fulfilled, she would be satisfied. But every time Richard’s fingers traced her skin, sparks danced beneath his touch.
Each time their lips met, her heart felt so full that she thought it would burst. She did not understand these terrifying emotions swirling within her. Still, she was delighted to bask in them until she did.
Nancy turned to her right, where Dash had been seated, watching as he trotted over to Richard, sitting at his feet with an innocently cheerful expression.
“Utterly spoiled. That is what you are,” he mused, putting some sausages in an empty plate and setting it on the carpet in front of Dash.
The puppy gave a yap of gratitude and shifted his attention back to his meal. As soon as his plate was empty, he moved closer to Richard, standing up on his hind legs and resting his front paws on the Duke’s thigh, clearly asking for attention.
“Oh, Dash—” Nancy attempted to call him back to her side, only to fall silent when Richard’s hands came down to gently stroke the puppy’s fur.
“Such a baby,” he teased, ruffling Dash’s fur, making faces at the dog when it became evident his ministrations were greatly enjoyed.
Nancy watched them silently for a moment, taking in how Dash held every bit of Richard’s attention, how much care shone in her husband’s eyes as he played with the dog, and how sweet his one-sided conversation with Dash was.
“You’re really good with him,” she remarked gently, smiling reassuringly at Richard when he turned to look at her. “You’re affectionate and gentle. I think you would make a great father, Richard.”
Her husband’s expression dimmed, and she worried she might have upset him, but then he spoke up, changing the subject.
“Ah, I nearly forgot.” He gently tugged her back. “I spoke with Lord Suttington during the ball.”
She felt herself frown but decided against pressing the matter further. They’d only just managed to come close to one another. The subject of children could be raised another time.
“Really? What did he say?” she asked.
“Far too much rubbish, I’m afraid. The man is as selfish as he is greedy and intent on robbing us of what your family’s rightfully owed.”
Richard sighed, looking as though thinking about it made him feel tired all over again.
“I will keep up my efforts with him for the sake of providing for your mother and your sisters,” he said.
Nancy felt that familiar tug of adoration in her heart and wrapped her arms around her husband. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Richard.”
His hands were warm as they stroked her hair, and he quietly placed a kiss on her temple as a response.
After their meal, Nancy proposed that they take a stroll in the gardens.
“Are you sure you would not rather return to bed?” Richard grinned cheekily, pulling her close to him and pressing kisses down the column of her throat.
“As—as tempting as that sounds, dear husband,” she gasped, barely managing to free herself from his grasp, “some fresh air would do our bodies some good. We… we can return to our other… activities after.”
“All right,” Richard conceded, tugging her close once more to kiss her deeply until she was panting against him.
He licked his lips, his eyes dark as he stepped away from her and said, “I will see you in the foyer shortly.”
