Page 45 of Lady Petra and the Wolf

“Like is too paltry a word. This is the best thing anyone has ever done for me.” She waved her arm before her. “This can benefit so many people.”

Ever since Petra had mentioned that she was teaching some of the women who were interested how to read, the idea had taken seed in Wolf. After consulting with Cecile, he had ordered the work done in one of the older small stages when Petra wasn’t there. And when she was there…

“This was why Cecile kept warning me of the wasp nest in here, wasn’t it? Of course I would stay away!”

“She knew you would, you do despise wasps.”

Petra shook her head with complete earnestness. “I love all animals but I do not understand why they exist.”

“They could be another possible means of murder.” Wolf tilted his head to the side so that he could best appreciate his wife in her element.

“Ooh, yes, a mysterious swarm of wasps.” A wicked gleam filled her eyes, one that he adored, especially when she turned it on him. She began to stroll through the small library, reading the book titles as she walked.

“Where did you obtain these books?” she asked, peeking her head out from behind a shelf. “Some of them are practical for women looking for work but some of them are novels.”

“I bought some and the rest are from the family seat. I judged that way people could read for both pleasure and for usefulness.”

Turning back to him, the expression on her face could have lit up the entire library

“You thought of everything.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes suddenly glassy.

His own eyes feeling a bit damp, he coughed before he spoke again. “I just thought you might like it. And whoever came to stay here might as well.”

Hurrying forward, Petra looped her arms around his neck and kissed him fully on the lips. In that kiss he tasted love and tears. And that essence that was uniquely her: sweetness with hidden depths. Pulling back, she attempted to wipe her eyes with her gloves. “If I did not say it enough before, thank you. Thank you, Jules. I cannot believe you did this.”

Taking her gloved hand in his, he slowly kissed her knuckles. “I love you, Petra. More than anything or anyone in the world. I would do anything for you.”

Biting her lip, Petra gazed back up at him, now with heat in those brown depths. “I think we may need to hurry home, my lord. I have, uh, something else I may need your assistance with.”

After nipping at her lip, he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. “As you wish, my lady.”

* * *

Lord and Lady Wolfridge maintained a mannered sense of propriety and decorum as he helped her up into the carriage.

The second the door shut, however…

Skirts were shoved up. Petticoats were cursed.

“Too many layers,” Wolf grumbled.

“Oh, please, Jules.” Petra whimpered as he swallowed her plea with a hot kiss, his hands locating that slit in her drawers as she bit his lip in pleasure.

Wolf stroked, then teased, then circled the bundle of nerves at the center of her sex. When they got home, he would–

“Oh, Jules!” Petra cried in ecstasy, rolling off of him and sinking into the leather squab beneath them.

“What do you think they would say, when they find out?” she asked in a husky voice that made Wolf wish to roar from male pride.

“Who is that, my love?” he asked, cursing women’s day fashion for the number of buttons as he searched for a way to quickly touch more of her skin.

“Jillian and John.”

They turned the corner to Wolfridge House just then, as Wolf replaced his gloves and the carriage jostled, sending the curtains flying. Opening his mouth to respond, something caught his eye just outside of the carriage window. Wolf could not have been more shocked at the sight before him if Petra had told him she was to be the next Prime Minister. Not that she could not have filled such an office if called upon, but times were what they were.

Standing in front of his townhouse were indeed John and Jillian. Holding hands.

“Childhood friend, my arse,” Wolf muttered with indignant glee.