He picked up her rumpled green dress and inhaled her sweet floral scent. "I should take you to London with me."
"London?" she asked with a frown, sitting up and clasping the counterpane to her breasts.
"Yes, London," he replied. Why wouldn't she want to go to Town? "Do you not like it there?"#p#分页标题#e#
Lily shrugged. "I've not been that many times, Simon. But after…" her voice trailed off, and she looked away from him.
Concerned, Simon sat on the edge of the bed and brushed his hand down her bare back. "What is it, love?"
She worried her bottom lip and then tentatively turned to face him. "All the columns about your exploits… Well, I just thought we might stay in Hampshire for a while."
Simon bit back a smile. She was worried he'd return to his debauched haunts and forget her. That wasn't even a possibility. The only woman he wanted was her. The only entertainment he sought was her. He had no need of anyone else. Though he didn't know how to convince her of the fact. "Lily, I only thought I'd take you to Town so we could enjoy it together."
Her innocent frown lightened only incrementally.
He dipped his head and touched his lips to hers. "Let me show you off, Lily. Let me shower you with gifts. Let me order you an entirely new wardrobe. Let me drape you in jewels…"
Lily's hand moved to the delicate chain around her neck. "Thank you for the necklace, Simon. It is beautiful."
"Will you let me give you more?"
Again, she innocently bit her lip. "I don't need anything."
Simon's smile widened, and he pushed her back to the mattress, hovering over her. "Of course you don't need anything. That's why it's fun."
"Do you really want to show me off?"
Simon nodded his head and tugged the counterpane from her hands, once again baring her breasts. "But this is all for me," he murmured before closing his mouth around one peaked nipple.
***
Will closed the door to Simon's study and sat down across from Oliver. The boy had frowned the entire day thus far. In fact, when Simon kissed Lily after the ceremony, Will had been forced to keep his arm on the lad, as Oliver nearly charged Simon at that point. Perhaps, Will thought belatedly, he should have waited a while before giving the boy his books on Lycan lore. Of course, at the time, he hadn't thought Simon would marry Lily. At the time, he hadn't thought Simon would ever marry anyone.
"Maberley," he began in his most stern voice. "You are out of your league. If you'd like to keep your tail, you'll take a step away from Simon. He isn't going to put up with your insolence for much longer."
The boy's nostrils flared. "But Aunt Lily—"
"Is his wife. And there's not a thing you can do about it." Certainly not now. The marriage had been well and thoroughly consummated, Will had no doubt.
Oliver slumped back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest. Anger rolled off him in waves. "I can protect her from him."
Lily was a saint to have raised this child. She must have the patience of Job, which she could probably use in her role as Simon's duchess. Will sighed, rubbing his brow. "She is his territory, Maberley, and you will respect that."
The young earl snorted.
Will narrowed his eyes. "I'm trying to help you, but if you keep up this unwarranted animosity toward Simon, no one will be able to help you."
Oliver glowered back at him. "May I be excused now?"
Will nodded. "Remember what I said."#p#分页标题#e#
"How could I forget?" Oliver grumbled as he stormed out of the study.
Will let his head fall backward, and he looked up at the ceiling, vowing to himself never to father a child. He hadn't realized what a trial they could be. Of course, he never spent any time with boys Oliver's age either.
"Your mother is worried about Benjamin," Prisca's melodic voice said from the doorway.
Will instantly rose from his seat at her presence. For some reason, God had cursed him. Every time he saw Prisca, she was more beautiful than the time before. He schooled his features to reveal nothing of his inner torment. "The dolt has apparently been sending Mother multiple letters every week. Then when he holes himself up," probably with some buxom widow, "and doesn't send word, he gets her all upset."
"It is strange," Prisca said, stepping further into the study. "Benjamin is such a regular correspondent. Her Grace says he was going to take a sojourn to Scotland, but none of the letters he sent me mentioned the trip."