Nor had she ever told him that she loved him.
Yet, keeping silent did not change the fact that she did love him.
Had she been wrong to deny him the privileges of their marriage bed?
She clasped her hands together as they began to shake.
Was it time to take that leap?
CHAPTER 17
OCTAVIAN SENSED SOMETHINGwas amiss when he returned to the Huntsford townhouse that evening and saw Syd pacing in the entry hall while awaiting his arrival. “Love, what’s wrong?”
She surprised him by rushing into his arms. “Nothing is wrong. I missed you.”
He emitted a rumble of laughter as he gathered her in his embrace. “Now I am certain something is wrong.”
She smiled as she looked up at him. “Actually, something is very right. I saw my friends today.”
He gave her cheek a light caress. “You did? I’m glad. How are they? Do you wish to throw a dinner party and have them all join us? I should have mentioned it sooner, but we each got involved in catching up on the work waiting for us here in London. You with your forensic research and me with my navy assignment. It took me days of just writing reports. I’ve only now started to make a dent in the other work piled on my desk.”
She reached up and kissed him on the lips. “A dinner party would be lovely. Will this coming Saturday do? I know it is short notice, but I would not invite many people. I’ll show you my list before I send out invitations.”
“Not necessary. I trust your judgement.”
She burst out laughing. “Dear heaven, I never thought to hear those words spill from your lips. You must be more exhausted than I realized.”
He joined her in a chuckle. “You can be obstinate, at times. But mostly you are perfect and wonderful.”
“Oh, I am not. Octavian, I have been so unfair to you.” She dragged him upstairs because she did not wish the Huntsford servants to overhear their conversation. She was about to seduce Octavian and did not care for anyone to listen in. Not that she really needed to say anything other thantake me now.
He would drop everything and carry her to bed.
“Syd?” He arched an eyebrow in question once she got him in their bedchamber and locked the door.
A smile tugged at his lips when she tossed him what she hoped was a sultry smile. “What are you doing, Syd?”
She considered slinking toward him, but how exactly did one slink and still look alluring? “Am I not permitted a private moment with my husband?”
“Private, as in talking to me in private? Or private as in…?” He glanced toward their bed.
She pointed to the bed and emitted a shaky breath.
His expression gentled the moment he realized what she was doing. “Oh, Syd. Come here, love.”
She ran into his arms when he held them out to her. “I’ve been so stupid, Octavian.”
“No, love. You’ve been in pain.” It was disconcerting how well he understood her.
But it also proved how strongly they were connected. “Would you mind if we had supper in our bedchamber tonight?”
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her with aching tenderness. “An excellent idea. May I ask what has put you in this amorous mood?” But he now turned serious. “Are you truly ready to take this next step in our marriage?”
She nodded.
He said nothing for the longest moment, and then released a breath in obvious relief. “Dare I ask, what changed your mind?”
“The way I spoke about you to my friends.” Not to mention, her friends beating sense into her. Marigold had burst into tearswhile chattering about the endurance of love. She was right. Love mattered. Love could not be denied.
