Page 89 of Duchess in Diamonds

The summerhouse was nicely shielded from the garden by a hedge that Singleton had vowed to one day lower or have removed. When the folly’s doors were closed, anyone inside would be quite private.

“Very well, if you insist,” Eamon said in pretended resignation. He shut his notebook, returned his pencils to their case, folded his stool, and put all of this under his arm. “Lead on, my lady.”

Caro tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, and together they strolled unhurriedly toward the summerhouse, Eamon’s heartbeat far outracing their slow pace. No one noticed them go, which was to his satisfaction.

When they reached the folly, Caro led Eamon up the few steps to its entrance. From there, they had a view across the garden and down the line of fountains to the rear of the house, which stretched its Palladian arms across the green.

On one path, the dowager and McCormick encountered Louise, Jo, and Merry. Louise greeted them with her cool friendliness, Merry with a wide grin. By contrast, while Jo nodded respectfully to the dowager, she turned a frown on McCormick. The tall McCormick sent a bellicose stare down at her.

Jo said a few words to him that Eamon couldn’t hear, but from her expression he knew they were biting. McCormick, never one to be cowed, responded in turn. The dowager and Louise looked on in surprise, Merry with great amusement.

“Curious, do you not think?” Caro said softly next to him. “I believe your Mr. McCormick is smitten.”

“As is your princess,” Eamon returned.

He also had not missed the way Louise’s gaze strayed to Wolfe whenever he was near. She might pretend she was looking after her sons who hovered around him, but she’d turn her head to follow Wolfe’s progress. Wolfe returned the scrutiny when he believed no one was observing him.

“Nothing can come of anything between Jo and Mr. McCormick,” Caro said, her tone turning sad. “No one is allowed to court Jo, the poor girl.”

“There’s nothing to object to in McCormick,” Eamon said with conviction. “He’s the most honest man I’ve ever encountered.”

“He’s a paragon,” Caro agreed. “But it will take more than that to surmount the barriers around Jo.”

“McCormick is also resourceful.” Eamon took Caro’s hand and pulled her into the summerhouse. “I think we should leave them to it for now.”

Caro sent a last glance toward her friends then followed Eamon inside.

Eamon had been right that the folly gave them privacy. Singleton had obviously been in here with his new army, cleaning in anticipation of its possible need for the wedding breakfast. The seats that lined the windows were free of dust, some of the cushions new. Several folding tables waited compactly against one wall.

Eamon set down his sketching things and closed the double doors before he led Caro to the bench with newest cushions.

All restraint of the past days fell away. Eamon divested Caro of her bonnet, catching her tumbling hair in his hands. He pulled her to him for a fierce kiss, which she returned as fiercely.

They fumbled at laces, buttons, and hooks, until items of clothing floated down to rest on the newly swept floor.

The bench was wide enough for Eamon to sit on and have Caro wrap herself around him on his lap. The window behind them gave out into thick, pathless woods, the aristocratic idea of wild country.

The view assured Eamon that no one would observe them as he lowered Caro onto his waiting hardness, that none would hear their groans of pleasure as he began to thrust in the dim silence.

Caro was warm and lush, her cries of passion unrestrained. Eamon answered her with his own, calling her Love, Caro.

True to her word, Caro wore the diamond necklace he’d given her. Eamon kissed her breasts beneath it, enjoying the velvet taste of her nipple before he licked the chain and raised his head for more kisses.

“I love you, my duchess.”

“Eamon.” Caro touched his face, her eyes heavy with desire. “I love you. You have given me everything.”

“In return, I have you.” Eamon rocked against her, speech becoming difficult. “Mine is the best of the bargain, I think.”

“Hardly.” Caro kissed his mouth. “We did it together. Always. Together …” Her words faded as need overpowered her.

“Always,” Eamon promised, and it was the truest statement he’d ever uttered.

Caro cried out as Eamon’s thrusts sped, and his voice joined hers.

The joy of the moment with his duchess in diamonds wound through Eamon, erasing the emptiness of his past and promising a future of love stretching endlessly before them.