Page 73 of How to Tempt an Earl

He winked at her. “I didn’t want to wake you after last night. We were up very late.”

Devil.

She pushed her disheveled hair aside. “I must look a fright.”

He rested a knee on the side of the bed and gently kissed her lips. Her tight grip on the covers loosened.

“To the contrary, you look lovely. I have a mind to join you, but I’m thinking of your well-being. How do you feel?”

“Sore.”

“I apologize, but I do not regret our night in the library.” His lips brushed her forehead, then he stood and looked down at her. “A bath will ease any discomfort. I’ll instruct the servants to heat water and bring up a tub.”

“A bath sounds wonderful.”

“Yes, it does. Perhaps I’ll stay and bathe you myself.”

The erotic image made her pulse beat in her throat. She gathered her wits and pressed a palm against his chest. “We cannot. What will your new household staff think?”

“It’s the day after our wedding night. I told them not to disturb you.”

Her face heated even more. Her mind struggled with something to say to distract herself from the enticing man hovering above her. “How did you find an entire staff so quickly?”

He shrugged as if it were not a difficult challenge. “I’m resourceful when I need to be. I want you to be comfortable here, and I knew I needed more staff to see to your needs.”

Mrs. Smithson had told her he’d asked Adam about her preferences. Still, she was surprised at her husband’s consideration.

He left the side of the bed and went to the tray he’d placed on an end table, then returned with a cup of steaming chocolate and handed it to her. She cautiously took a sip, not wanting to burn her tongue. She was happy to find it was the perfect temperature and decadently delicious—not too sweet or too bitter. Just the way she liked it. She eyed him over the rim of her cup. Her thoughts whirled. How did he know she preferred chocolate over coffee in the morning?

She eyed him. “You talked with Adam.”

“Pardon?”

“My brother. You asked him what I prefer when we went to Gunter’s that day. You knew what colors I liked and had my bedchamber decorated accordingly. You also learned that I prefer chocolate over coffee in the morning.”

“I suppose I’m guilty of speaking with Adam. The boy is quite chatty.”

Adam wasn’t talkative. At least, not that she knew. Then again, her brother had been starved for male attention. He certainly wasn’t getting it from their father.

“Is it so terrible to want to please my wife?” he asked.

No. It wasn’t. If only he’d taken such care to discuss his plans for the Raven Club with her beforehand.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

As soon as she said the words, she regretted them. One night of lovemaking didn’t change their circumstances. If he was going to his casino, she didn’t need to know.

“I’m meeting Brooks at a coffeehouse. I want to discuss retaining a bookkeeper.”

“You’re jesting.”

“I’m not. Unless you are offering to take over the task.”

She would. If he owned any other business, she would gladly take on the work.

At her silence, he approached the bed again and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “You haven’t forgotten your promise to me, have you?”

“No. I will visit the Raven Club with you.”