to his
wardrobe. “Replacing our navy with a dirigible fleet would be disastrous and
the Crown cannot afford both.”
“Queen Victoria is wholly opposed to anything modern,” Evelyn said in
disgust. “What of Lord Palmerston? Our queen and prime minister have an
abhorrent dislike for each other.”
“In this, they have finally found common ground. They are both so
short-sighted, an attack from the skies is beyond their vision. Europe has been
at peace since Napoleon, but the advancement of airships elsewhere,
particularly in the East, leave our borders vulnerable on all fronts.” Devon
stripped his shirt and bent to remove his shoes. “One way or another, England
will have her Dirigible Fleet. I won’t stop until I see it done.”
Evelyn didn’t doubt it.
After she’d turned down her third and final proposal last season, her
father had ordered she reconsider or he’d reduce her allowance to a tuppence
and ship her off to live with Aunt Mary in the bowels of Surrey. To prove she’d
not be threatened into marriage, Evelyn had written her aunt of her own accord
and arranged to spend Christmas there. Her short adjourn was a study in irony,
since she’d returned early in January, betrothed to the duke next door. She’d
fallen heart over head in love with his sharp wit, kind blue eyes and devilish
grin.
He’d declared then and there that he had to have her and refused to
wait.
She’d insisted on a reasonable betrothal period and a summer wedding.
A whirlwind month later, she’d been wedded and thoroughly bedded to a
man who had a stubborn streak that was as devilish as his grin.
She’d lost her heart completely, but she wasn’t about to lose the rest
of herself in the fogbank of his autocratic whims. To use his sentiments, one
way or another , her husband would have to learn to appreciate the woman he
fell in love with.
Devon straightened and turned to her. Evelyn’s gaze slid over his
naked chest and lingered. He was tall and lean, and she could attest to every
inch of his body feeling as rock-hard as it looked.
“When you look at me like that,” he said, his voice low and gruff,
“you set fire to my blood.”
He advanced slowly, his eyes darkening with desire. He reached the end
of the bed and held out a hand to her.
Evelyn went willingly. Her wrap slipped forgotten to the floor as she
walked into his arms. His mouth descended over hers in a kiss that skittered
heat through her veins. She stretched her full length against him, pushing her
fingers through his short hair. She loved the feel of his body, hard and warm
through the sheer cotton of her nightgown.
When his kisses trailed down her throat, his bristled jaw raked
pleasure across her sensitive skin and she almost purred.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, his lips moving over the curve of
her shoulder. “I’ll never get my full.”
He pulled back, his arms looped around her waist, and looked deep into
her eyes. “I love you, darling. You embrace life with a passion that tripped my
heart the day we met and every new day I fall a little harder. You are my
world.”
His thigh nudged her legs apart and he lowered her backward over the
bed. Just in time, because his words seemed to have melted every bone in her
body.
“I love you, too,” she whispered as he came over her. “We’ll keep
falling together and never hit the ground.”
This, everything she was feeling right now, from her melted bones to
her bursting heart, made up the list of reasons why she didn’t want to be at
odds with her husband.
Chapter Five
S outh
and East London Assembly of Risqué Sports. The fairly innocuous banner had
been strung over the Sungate Lodge entrance of the new Battersea Park. Some of
Lily’s misgivings dissipated as they passed beneath and turned north onto the
perimeter carriage drive.
“You’ve been quiet all morning.” Evelyn gave her a sympathetic smile.
“Is your head still troubling you?”
Lily returned the
wardrobe. “Replacing our navy with a dirigible fleet would be disastrous and
the Crown cannot afford both.”
“Queen Victoria is wholly opposed to anything modern,” Evelyn said in
disgust. “What of Lord Palmerston? Our queen and prime minister have an
abhorrent dislike for each other.”
“In this, they have finally found common ground. They are both so
short-sighted, an attack from the skies is beyond their vision. Europe has been
at peace since Napoleon, but the advancement of airships elsewhere,
particularly in the East, leave our borders vulnerable on all fronts.” Devon
stripped his shirt and bent to remove his shoes. “One way or another, England
will have her Dirigible Fleet. I won’t stop until I see it done.”
Evelyn didn’t doubt it.
After she’d turned down her third and final proposal last season, her
father had ordered she reconsider or he’d reduce her allowance to a tuppence
and ship her off to live with Aunt Mary in the bowels of Surrey. To prove she’d
not be threatened into marriage, Evelyn had written her aunt of her own accord
and arranged to spend Christmas there. Her short adjourn was a study in irony,
since she’d returned early in January, betrothed to the duke next door. She’d
fallen heart over head in love with his sharp wit, kind blue eyes and devilish
grin.
He’d declared then and there that he had to have her and refused to
wait.
She’d insisted on a reasonable betrothal period and a summer wedding.
A whirlwind month later, she’d been wedded and thoroughly bedded to a
man who had a stubborn streak that was as devilish as his grin.
She’d lost her heart completely, but she wasn’t about to lose the rest
of herself in the fogbank of his autocratic whims. To use his sentiments, one
way or another , her husband would have to learn to appreciate the woman he
fell in love with.
Devon straightened and turned to her. Evelyn’s gaze slid over his
naked chest and lingered. He was tall and lean, and she could attest to every
inch of his body feeling as rock-hard as it looked.
“When you look at me like that,” he said, his voice low and gruff,
“you set fire to my blood.”
He advanced slowly, his eyes darkening with desire. He reached the end
of the bed and held out a hand to her.
Evelyn went willingly. Her wrap slipped forgotten to the floor as she
walked into his arms. His mouth descended over hers in a kiss that skittered
heat through her veins. She stretched her full length against him, pushing her
fingers through his short hair. She loved the feel of his body, hard and warm
through the sheer cotton of her nightgown.
When his kisses trailed down her throat, his bristled jaw raked
pleasure across her sensitive skin and she almost purred.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, his lips moving over the curve of
her shoulder. “I’ll never get my full.”
He pulled back, his arms looped around her waist, and looked deep into
her eyes. “I love you, darling. You embrace life with a passion that tripped my
heart the day we met and every new day I fall a little harder. You are my
world.”
His thigh nudged her legs apart and he lowered her backward over the
bed. Just in time, because his words seemed to have melted every bone in her
body.
“I love you, too,” she whispered as he came over her. “We’ll keep
falling together and never hit the ground.”
This, everything she was feeling right now, from her melted bones to
her bursting heart, made up the list of reasons why she didn’t want to be at
odds with her husband.
Chapter Five
S outh
and East London Assembly of Risqué Sports. The fairly innocuous banner had
been strung over the Sungate Lodge entrance of the new Battersea Park. Some of
Lily’s misgivings dissipated as they passed beneath and turned north onto the
perimeter carriage drive.
“You’ve been quiet all morning.” Evelyn gave her a sympathetic smile.
“Is your head still troubling you?”
Lily returned the
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