11. Lonely No More

CHAPTER 11

LONELY NO MORE

M eanwhile, in the library

With the flames in the fireplace barely licking the last of the logs, Robert Strathford raised his gaze from an old book and allowed a sigh. His glass of brandy had been empty for nearly an hour, but he had no desire for another. He felt tired enough to sleep, but the events of the day had his mind in a whirl.

Ivy had his mind in a whirl.

Their dinner hadn’t been the least bit awkward—not like they usually were when he returned to London for the Season. She was the one who was comfortable and in charge there, the servants loyal to her, and she in her element as a countess in good standing with the ladies of the ton . He always felt like an intruder, as if his mere presence upset the daily life of the townhouse in Mayfair.

Here at Ritchfield Park, things were obviously different. The servants hadn’t expected either one of them to come for Christmas, and although they did his bidding, they seemed devoted to her .

Probably because she brings them presents , he considered on a sigh. Then he chided himself for the uncharitable thought.

Would she have one for him? He rolled his eyes at the reminder he didn’t have one for her. Once again, the holiday had sneaked up on him, and he hadn’t the time to have something made for her.

He stood from the leather chair and stretched, his attention going to the door at the opposite end of the room. Earlier that evening, he had been aware of movement out in the corridor. Not because he heard anything exactly, but more likely because he had felt it in the floorboards. Careful steps. Like those of a servant not wishing to disturb the master of the house.

Then he remembered Ivy’s comment over dinner. That she had given her new lady’s maid permission to use one of the apartments on the first floor.

On this floor.

Robert blew out the candle lamp he had been using to light the pages of his book and made his way to the library door. Somewhere nearby, a couple was in bed and engaged in who knew what manner of lovemaking, no doubt warm and cozy in each other’s arms.

A glance at the clock on the mantel had him amending his thought—they were probably sound asleep given how early they rose in the morning. Still, the jealousy he experienced—he would be going to a cold bed while they were warm in each other’s arms—bothered him.

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, he had a thought to simply join Ivy in her bedchamber.

Would she put voice to a protest?

He paused in front of her door.

Given how she had looked at him when he bade her good-night earlier, he didn’t think she would. But with tomorrow’s schedule—he could imagine how involved she would be with decorating the house for Christmas—he moved on to his bedchamber door and went in.

The room was warm, the fire still strong in the fireplace, but no candle lamps were lit near the bed. In the dim light, he thought it odd the bedding hadn’t been turned down, the silhouettes of several decorative pillows evident in the gloom.

Having dismissed Graves earlier by saying he could undress himself, Robert did so now. He undid buttons and fastenings and draped his clothes over chairs as he removed each article. Given how cold he expected the room to be in the morning, he pulled on a night shirt and moved to the side of the bed.

About to climb in, he paused and leaned down closer to discover the lumps he had assumed were pillows were actually a body.

Under the covers.

Ivy?

He gingerly pulled back the covers and slipped into the bed linens, a soft chuckle sounding when he realized it was indeed Ivy. She wasn’t naked, but she wasn’t wearing a night rail, either, her gown’s fabric soft and slippery. Her even breathing was a sign she was asleep.

Before he was completely settled on the mattress, she snuggled against him, one leg moving between his and an arm draping onto his chest as he threaded an arm beneath her shoulders and pulled her closer.

He realized her coppery hair wasn’t bound into a braid when waves of it settled onto his chest. Tipping up his head, he planted a kiss atop hers and settled into the pillow with a sigh.

He needn’t have worried about climbing into a cold bed. Ivy’s body was soft and warm, and although he had a last thought about what he’d like to be doing with that body to create even more warmth, he was soon fast asleep.