Page 39 of A Necessary Wife

Samuel frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want more?”

“No, I don’t and nor does she.”

“A pity. She suits you better than your first wife ever did.”

Samuel turned away, disappearing into the woods and leaving Milo quaking in his boots, full of anger and dread. It had been an accident, his first wife’s death, but there’d been more than one moment when Milo had wished he could escape the misery of their marriage by any means.

“I never wanted her dead,” he told himself…but the moments following her fall, he’d felt a surge of relief that there was an end to the torture of a failed love and ongoing betrayal.

He shook off the bad memory and hurried after Amelia and his children. He found them waiting a short distance away. The sight of Amelia steadied him, cut through the chill and made the future seem not so bleak.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

“I was happy to wait.” Amelia looked around one last time. “This place could be so pretty if the gardens were brought to life. It would be a great deal of work—but the reward would be limitless. I can see why Samuel chose to stay here and not take up residence in an ale house.”

He nodded. Concern about Samuel had lessened considerably after their conversation. Staying at Stapleton had lost much of its appeal for him, too, thanks to Samuel’s reminder of his failure.

Amelia heaved a heavy sigh. “I can also understand why he’d like nothing better than to have a place like this for his own. But after your brother spends more time alone, I’m sure he will crave to share his life with someone he can care about again.”

“I hope so, too. Devon will feel like home soon enough for you. But I want to discuss something my brother hinted at.”

She glanced at Adam pointedly. “Adam, could you run ahead? I think I see a gardener picking flowers. Would you like to give some to the duchess today?”

Adam nodded quickly and ran off to pester the gardener to cut flowers. Milo was relieved that Lucy followed him immediately.

Amelia glanced up at him. “You don’t have to discuss your first marriage anymore.”

“I should explain⁠—”

“No one in your family expected you to marry a second time,” she said. “I understand, and I’m not offended by their lack of enthusiasm for my company. Your brother lashes out because his heart is still healing. I cannot hold a grudge against him.”

“Well, I will. I have no regrets about you.”

“Nor I, you.” She moved closer, eyes suddenly skimming down his body. “None at all.”

His senses came alert in a way he found disconcerting at first. He knew that look, but had not expected to see it from his new wife. “Lady Chatham?”

She wet her lips. “There is something I wish to ask you that might be considered scandalous.”

“You can ask me anything,” he promised.

She put her hand on his arm, then touched his chest. Her fingers trembled. “Are you as well built as your brother under all this finery?”

He covered her hand with his own. Amelia had not yet seen him naked. He’d not wanted to shock her. “I suppose so.”

“I thought you must be. You seem of similar proportions.”

Milo shivered as her eyes skimmed down his body again, her gaze speculative but shy. He was flattered by her interest. “Would you like to see me like that?”

“Yes. I’ve seen my share of young men out in the fields, covered in sweat. But it’s you that interests me. I married you, and I want to know more about you.”

He drew her close, pleased to feel she trembled at the discussion of further intimacy, and when she dragged her fingers down his chest, he felt the stirring of desire. “What would you think if you saw me like that now?” he whispered. “Naked and covered in sweat.”

She looked up at him slowly. “I think I would like it, but I won’t know for sure until it happens.”

The warmth in her gaze drowned out the chill of his brother’s unpleasant reminders about the past. He surrendered his caution and let his hand touch her hip—and then he stepped closer and moved it lower still, and around to cup her derriere.

Amelia was no longer a virgin. Was this the second chance he desperately needed with his wife? Only a fool would refuse her second seduction, if that were so.