EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN COURTSHIP BY WAY OF VIOLETS

EPISODE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN

COURTSHIP BY WAY OF VIOLETS

T he next week was the happiest of Daisy s life. She and Miles took Belle with them everywhere: to the village in a pony cart, to the estate s tenant farmers in a carriage, to the trout river for fishing, and even into the kitchens and up to the attics.

Nothing Daisy knew of courting had prepared her for the delight of having a man stroll into her bedchamber in the morning and drop a handful of violets on her coverlet. And then squash all the blossoms because he d rolled on top of them during a kiss.

At the end of the week, Miles brought Daisy and Belle to a clearing deep into the woods where the grass was a dark acid-green with a carpet of violets hanging over every blade.

It s so lovely! Daisy cried, looking about.

Miles shook out a blanket and set Belle down. She promptly reached for a handful of flowers and stuck them into her mouth.

Don t eat those, Belle. They re better when candied, he told her, coming down on his knees and pulling a stem from her lips.

Belle frowned. Boo-boo, she said, snatching another fat little fistful of crumpled flowers.

You could teethe with this instead, Miles said enticingly, waving a silver rattle.

The baby grinned at him as she crammed the new bunch into her mouth, chomping down with all three teeth.

I find it ominous that her smile grows bigger when she s being disobedient, Miles remarked, still trying to convince her to take the rattle.

Daisy sat down beside her family, her heart thumping as she watched them. Her husband was wearing an exquisite white linen shirt-but no coat or cravat, so she could see his corded neck. He bore almost no resemblance to the elegant gentleman who strolled the House of Lords.

Belle might as well eat violets, she said. Nanny Plum says that she doesn t care for vegetables and throws them to the floor.

Miles shrugged and stretched out beside her, his eyes expressing smoldering interest. Have I told you recently how exquisite you are? Better than a violet.

Now and then, Daisy said, dimpling.

Are you certain you don t feel like impulsively inviting me to your bedchamber? His smile made desire burn in her core.

Behind him, Belle rolled to her back, meditatively chewing more violets as she stared at shifting leaves high above them. Daisy wasn t an experienced mother yet, but she recognized the look of a baby contemplating a nap.

Thank you for bringing me here, Daisy said, avoiding the question. I feel as if we re lying on a flowery mattress.

Miles propped himself up on one elbow and cocked an eyebrow. A purple mattress?

If only mattresses smelled like this, she said dreamily.

Miles sniffed loudly. Green wood with a touch of mushroom.

Before she could answer, he rolled back to his other side to make sure that Belle was all right. Not surprisingly, Miles had shown himself a wonderful father: loving, protective, endlessly celebratory. Everything that Daisy s father had not been.

She loved her husband. She believed that he loved her. Deep in the night she couldn t stop herself from gloating over the evidence: the longing in Miles s voice, the ferocity in his eyes when he threatened to kill Frederick, the intensity with which he regarded her, praised her, kissed her, touched her.

Our daughter is asleep, Miles said, gently picking up Belle and tucking her into her basket. He draped a piece of lace over the top to make sure that she wasn t bothered by an errant bee. Belle has grown so much that she won t fit her basket soon.

We ll keep it for her. They had already decided that when Belle was old enough, she would be told about the mother who had birthed her.

Naptime, Daisy said, throwing an arm over her eyes, which didn t hide her smile. She loved the game they were playing. Courtship was delicious.

Sure enough, her husband placed a heavy thigh over her legs. A spark of excitement went through her body. I m not sleepy. Miles s voice lowered to an intimate burr. His left hand curled around her cheek and tipped her face toward him. May I kiss you?

Yes, Daisy whispered.

Just to be honest, I live in hope that you will impulsively beg me to do more than kiss you.

Here? In the woods? Daisy managed a semi-scandalized tone. She already knew that given rein, her husband planned to make love to her in the drawing room, the carriage, and several other unlikely settings.

I ve been thinking about horseback, Miles said musingly, his eyes glowing with desire. And love. And possessiveness.

Daisy pulled him down to meet her lips. I do love you, she confessed, her heart overflowing with emotion that could not be corralled. I always loved you, even when you left me naked on the bed. I couldn t stop myself.

Miles s eyes fired. My only explanation is temporary insanity, he said, his mouth drifting over her cheek. The moment I climbed into the carriage I knew I d made the mistake of a lifetime.

You are the only man I will ever love, Daisy said from the depths of her heart.

I would die before I left you again, he told her. You-you and Belle-are my life. His voice ached with emotion.

A large hand ran up her thigh. Please beg me, Daisy. His tongue danced with hers until a raw male sound broke from his lips. His hand trailed up her leg to the top of her silk stocking, pausing to tease and seduce.

Ma, Belle said drowsily.

Miles turned his head, reached over, and plucked up the lace fichu. She s still asleep.

You re such a wonderful father. Daisy couldn t help a smile so wide that her cheeks hurt. Everything my father wasn t. Loving and protective.

Our daughter is blessed to have you as a mother.

Miles levered himself away and rose to his knees. A ring sat on his palm.

Will you marry me, Daisy?

A shaft of light came through the leafy roof above them and caught a large jewel that danced with purple flecks.

I love you. I have loved you for more than a year. I can think of no greater blessing than to be able to live with you and Belle, to be yours, to have children with you, to grow old with you. His eyes searched hers, dark with tenderness and love.

Daisy came to her knees, feeling drunk with happiness. Yes. And then, as the hint of uncertainty disappeared from his eyes, Yes, Miles. Always yes. It s always been you.

I m devilishly bad-tempered when I m tired, but I swear that I will never knowingly hurt you. I will never walk out of the house in a rage.

He picked up her left hand and slid off her wedding ring, replacing it with a ring graced with an outrageously large diamond that was violet, with dusky purple depths. I sent to London for a violet that will never wilt.

Oh, Miles. Tears pricked Daisy s eyes as she reached up to kiss him. I love this ring.

Do I need to say something about how my love will never wilt? I m not poetic. But my love will never wilt , Daisy. Never.

She believed him. Miles was on his knees, his heart and soul stripped bare. His face shone with love and desperate desire, the two so intertwined that they couldn t be separated.

Their molten, loving kisses made a joke of begging. Words were superfluous when two people can say so much without them. As fierce need sprang up between them, Daisy melted backward onto the blanket.

She took a deep breath. Will you please share my bed tonight, Miles? Make love to me?

His smile was blinding. Make our vows legal? So that you re mine until death?

Daisy nodded.

He picked up her left hand and slid her wedding ring back in place. It would be my honor.

I should tell you something first she said awkwardly.

Miles looked at her with his heart in his eyes. I don t care what you tell me, Daisy though I might as well warn you that if you have another husband, I ll kill him and then marry you again.

A giggle burst from Daisy s lips. I haven t!

Then?

She forced the words out quickly. Perhaps we might adopt my other half-siblings.

Damn it, you scared the hell out of me, Miles groaned, pulling her closer. Of course. I already have a Bow Street Runner working on it. The man will find them, and we ll bring them home.

There may be several children, Daisy said, shamed again by her father s behavior.

Miles rubbed his nose against hers. Our children. All of them.

I m particularly worried about the girl who s my age, she confessed. My mother said she looked just like me.

So beautiful as to be vulnerable, Miles said, nodding. The Chelsea Orphanage is not a terrible place to grow up, Daisy. She may be working as a perfectly respectable lady s maid.

My mother thought it was too much to ask you, that I would be taking advantage of you.

Please take advantage of me, Miles said, grinning. His fingers sank into her thigh.

Daisy nipped his bottom lip, which led to a crushing kiss, his hand ever sliding ever higher. The ache between her legs tightened.

How do I take advantage of you? she whispered when his fingers were toying with the curl of hair between her legs. A cry caught in her throat. Miles!

Just by allowing me to touch you. His voice was low and greedy. A broad finger slid into Daisy s slick warmth.

She gasped as heat swept up her legs. They were still kissing, but Daisy couldn t concentrate. Her hands curled around his biceps, but her attention was focused on the broad, callused finger that was gently, oh so gently, sending heat surging through her body.

Miles, she gasped, tearing her mouth away from his. His caress was so soft that it was driving her mad.

Tell me, he growled, eyes on hers.

The air seized in Daisy s lungs. She couldn t say-it was so unladylike-so Harder, she whispered, her voice aching and desperate. Oh, please, please , Miles. Her hips arched up against his hands.

He cursed in a low voice, and a second finger slid inside her, filling her. He moved down her body, pulling up her gown. She scarcely noticed, her toes curling, bliss just out of reach.

This doesn t hurt? he growled.

No, no, no. Daisy arched her hips again, forcing his fingers deeper, wider.

With a male grunt of satisfaction, a third finger filled her. Miles nipped her thigh and before she could prop herself up to see what he was doing, his tongue lashed her core.

Sensual delight crashed over her head, tossing her into a deep sea. Miles made a purring noise as he explored her sensitive spots, while Daisy gasped and stifled her cries with an arm over her face until lightning abruptly streaked all the way to her toes. He coaxed her through wave after wave of pleasure until Daisy opened her eyes to find herself breathless, sweat coating the back of her knees, her legs scandalously askew.

Her husband was propped on one elbow beside her, smiling. His eyes were wild, and he was licking his fingers.

May I take you home to bed? he growled.

Daisy s mind felt as blank as a field in the grip of a winter storm. Her eyes moved slowly from the possessive hunger in her husband s eyes to the exquisite plane of his cheekbones to his lower lip.

Daisy?

She opened her lips to answer

Moo!