Page 64 of A Necessary Wife

She was suddenly captured from behind.

“There you are,” Chatham whispered in her ear, hugging her close.

And there he remained, his arms tight around her middle, holding her in his embrace as if she were dear to him and sorely missed.

She closed her eyes at how good it felt, how deeply her encounters with Chatham filled her soul with peace. With him, she sometimes felt she belonged—and yet, quite often, she was sure he felt the opposite.

She stroked his arms, hoping the action did not seem too affectionate. “The children were with your father earlier,” she whispered. “I was about to join them outside.”

“You were staring out the window for a long time.”

“Debating which doorway to use. I swear they move faster than any other children I’ve ever known.”

“One day, they won’t know the manor better than you, I promise.” His lips nuzzled her neck. “The servants are going to take them down in the kitchen for the housekeeper to spoil them with ice cream or some other treat soon. My father’s idea.”

“He did that yesterday.”

“He’ll do it again tomorrow, too, I expect. Don’t worry about him. He spoils every child he encounters in some way or another,” Chatham murmured.

She thought he would suggest they follow, yet his attention remained on kissing her neck, and despite her best efforts not to be, Amelia was becoming aroused by the attention.

She stood there helplessly. There was not much she could do to ignore her husband’s appeal. She leaned into him a little harder, pushing the duke from her mind in favor of spoiling herself with a husband’s attention.

However, she could not forget they were in a public place. Someone could come along, and they could be embarrassed. “How have you been since I saw you last?” she whispered.

“Better. I have been wandering the house. Remembering. Reordering my thoughts about the past.”

She nodded but noticed no mention of encountering his most ardent admirer, Lady Ashcroft Ashcroft. Their earlier discussion about the death of his first wife had been necessary and might have caused him to feel awkward around Amelia now. But that did not seem the case.

His first wife had been a dark shadow between them, a weight on his back for so long. Now, she hoped he could feel better about the woman he’d loved and lost.

She turned to face him. “I’m glad,” she whispered.

Chatham smiled a little sheepishly. “This is better. Us,” he clarified. “What would I have done without you?”

“You might have suffered,” she told him, smirking a little. “But not anymore.”

“No, not anymore. I’m free now,” he promised.

And Amelia hoped that was true.

She lowered her eyes and smoothed her hands over his wide chest. Chatham was a solid man. She liked that about him.

He lowered his lips to her cheek and kissed her there. “My father declared that dinner will be taken outside tonight,” he whispered. “There will be candles and music and dancing under the stars. All the family is coming to join us again,” he said, as his fingers slid up her arm to rest on her shoulder. Very gently, he started to nudge her gown off the tip of her shoulder. “We will dance,” he decided.

“We might,” she countered, wondering if he would ever learn to ask.

She met his gaze and saw the devilish gleam was back in his eyes now. His fingers caressed her back. He raised a brow.

“I should catch up with the children,” she warned him, but it wasn’t what she really wanted right now. She’d rather stay with her husband in this mood. Alone. Close. She had come to enjoy being with him and would relish any opportunity for improving their marriage.

Yet the proprieties had to be maintained. They were dining with the family tonight, and she needed time to prepare. They were being quite wicked right now as it was, stealing time alone. She’d promised to cause no scandals.

Chatham’s lips lowered to her shoulder. “I think you and I should find somewhere more private instead to talk,” he murmured. “I have a lot to make up for.”

“You owe me nothing.”

“But I want to give you what you need anyway.” His fingers moved along her neckline, tormenting her skin, then drew patterns over her bodice…until they were circling her nipple.