Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN

A fter a scrumptious breakfast, which was had in bed, Harrison took his leave and Phee readied for the day. As she dressed, she found herself humming the tune of the waltz that they had danced to the night before, and while gathering her things to inspect the hives, a smile pulled at her lips as she recalled every touch and word from their evening. Joy filled every reservoir of her body, buzzing through her veins like the bees in her hives.

The skirts of her blue gown swished as she walked to the hives, their bounce joyful against the walking path. Mildred followed behind, stopping every few steps to inspect a fallen leaf or blade of grass before scurrying to catch up. The dear had forgiven her after only five minutes of playing fetch with her stuffed rat, and relief had filled Phee. Perhaps, if she and Harrison were to continue their nightly shenanigans, they should find a better occupation for the kitten.

The hives were abuzz when she arrived, even the angry one busily working away as bees flew in and out gathering pollen. When the cold eventually began to creep into London, Phee would have to worry about whether their honey production would be enough to get them through the winter, but with the warm summer days ahead, they needed little help from her in fortifying their reserves.

“Good morning, bees,” Phee said, pulling on her padded gloves and adjusting the mesh cloth to cover around her head and neck. “I hope you all had a lovely evening.”

The bees buzzed, their response undecipherable, but Phee continued on. “The ball last evening was crowded and stuffy, but Lord Everly and I danced a most beautiful waltz and when I had reached the limit of my interaction, we returned home with him giving little fuss about leaving the event early. My mother used to prattle on about what the ton would think were we to exit an engagement to soon, but Harrison seemed to understand.”

Leaning forward to inspect for rat droppings, Phee smiled as she remembered Harrison’s insistence that she tell him if she had even a moment of discomfort.

“Let’s see, what other gossip do I have for you?” she asked, her brow furrowing. The gossip sheets had been rather sparse that morning with only insinuations into the ongoings of the ton, and whether the bees cared for the current scuttlebutt or not, Phee had read that telling the bees the happenings of the world was a sure way to have a healthy hive. Considering there was no downside to the tip, she did not see any harm in following it.

Biting her lip, Phee moved onto the next hive, examining the ground around it. While it was true that there was little ton gossip, it could not be said that there was not gossip going on within her own home. Looking around the garden, Phee sighed when she found it empty. Turning back to the hive before her, she took a deep breath. “Lord Everly and I consummated our marriage last night.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks and a smile took over her lips. “Twice,” she said.

The bees continued their busy buzzing, uncaring of her admission, but once the words had begun there was very little use in stopping. “He was so caring and thoughtful. And captivating,” she said. “Utterly captivating and alluring. His hands were masterful and skilled and his mouth was sensuous and soft and so intoxicating that I thought I’d perish. If that is what the physical aspect of a marriage is like, then I now truly understand why ladies marry. Surely if not for every day societal requirements they would be engaging in the activity constantly. I know I would.”

Phee paused before a lavender bush as her mind replayed the gentleness Harrison had shown after. He had cleaned her of his seed, carried her to a fresh bed and helped her to dress in a new nightgown without her having to say a word. It was such a fascinating facet of the man who only moments before had brought her to such exquisite pleasure, her body shaking with release. And then, as if he were caring for Mildred or a small bird, he had switched into a gentle role, tucking her into the covers and pulling her close to keep her warm. He was an enigma in the best way and it only made her long to be around him more.

She smiled. He had said he was fond of his wife as if it were the simplest thing, knowledge that was readily known and available to those who asked.

A multifaceted man was this husband of hers.

“I like him a lot,” Phee said to the bees, her admission floating over their buzzing and filling the air around her as her eyes caught sight of the very man she talked about.

Removing one of her padded gloves, Phee walked to him, the tether that linked them pulling her toward him even as her mind questioned at her stability. “Hello,” she said over the buzz of her bees.

Harrison raised a brow at her and took a step closer, lifting her veil and bestowing a soft kiss on her lips that left her insides clenching. “Hello,” he said, the word low and sultry.

“Careful,” Phee said, pushing him back a few steps. “I don’t want you to be stung.”

Harrison lowered her veil and smiled at her. “Lady Everly, are you worried for me?”

Phee wrinkled her brow. “No, I’m worried over my bees. They die if they sting you, and I think that is a waste.”

Harrison raised his hand to his heart as if he had been stung through the chest. “You wound me,” he said, dramatically staggering back.

“You’ll recover.” Following him, Phee stopped at the steps that led to the upper portion of the garden, grabbing Harrison’s hand and pulling him to a stop. “I thought you were to have another lesson with Mr. Williams.”

Harrison shook his head, his hand gripping hers through the monstrous glove that covered her fingers. “I paid him for his visit and then informed him he had the afternoon off.”

“Just like that?”

Stepping closer to her, he pulled the glove from her hand and placed it on his cheek, the bristle of his beard growth tickling her palm. “Just like that. I’m much too excited to spend this time with my wife.”

“Truly?” she asked.

“Is there anything I can help with?” he asked, kissing her wrist, and her eyes closed at the press of his mouth.

The question went unanswered as he placed another kiss on her wrist before moving his lips higher up the inside of her arm and bestowing another, then another.

“Phoebe?”

“Hmm?”

“Is there anything you need help with?” he asked, a mischievous smile taking over his lips.

“Oh,” she said, her brow furrowing. “I-I don’t think so. I’ve already played with Mildred, and the bees are sorted.” She looked around the garden.

“Well then, since your daily chores are finished, perhaps I can tempt you to other diversions.”

Phee swallowed, the heat his words stoked relighting the fire that had burned so brazenly the night before. She wanted to race him to the house and strip herself of her clothes, repeat everything they had done and then do some more. But if they were to do so, they would no doubt never leave, and the idea of browsing a bookstore tickled a very different part of her brain. The part where she wanted to spend the entire day with him talking and laughing. The part where she could pretend they had courted and fallen in love instead of marrying as a business arrangement.

Removing the hat from her head, Phee slipped into his arms and wrapping her own about his waist. Pushing onto her toes, she kissed his jaw. “Outing first and then diversions.”

Harrison chuckled, his lips falling to the top of her head.

Taking her hand in his, Harrison intertwined his fingers with hers. Following behind him, Phee looked back to the hives and the sleeping cat who lounged in a sunny spot on a nearby bench.

“Mildred, come along, pet,” she said, calling to the kitten who had once again become a side character in their story.

Harrison stopped at her words and spun around, walking them to the bench where the sleepy Mildred sat yawning. Scooping her into his free arm, Harrison rubbed his nose against her fur, turned, and began walking once more to the house.

It was that simple. That easy.

Phee smiled as she happily trailed behind the pair, delight coursing through her veins. This man was a treasure and he was all hers.

Well, hers and Mildred’s.

Phee giggled at the thought before picking up her skirts and quickening her steps to keep pace with them. She should not doddle, after all. She had an afternoon to spend with her husband.