His Contract Bride (Banks Brothers Brides 1)(29)

She could delay it no longer. Yesterday, it was all she could do not to  blurt out her folly. If she didn't tell him-and soon-he might learn of  it a different way. "Yes," she said with a small hitch in her voice.

Edward scowled. "Then I do not wish to hear of it."

"But-"

Edward stunned her into silence with a kiss to her soft lips. "I mean  it, Regina. Not a word of any of that today." His silky voice fell over  her like a caress.

"Even if it's important?" she hedged.

He nodded. "Even then. You've worked very hard these past weeks, and I  want us to do something fun before we both suffer inhumanely. That means  not a word about anything I listed a moment ago until after your  surprise has ended."

"All right," Regina agreed, a small smile pulling on her lips. But she would tell him when she got back.

Edward mumbled something she couldn't make out then cleared his throat.  "Excellent." He carried her plate back to the table and set it down in  front of her seat.

"You are in quite an excellent mood," Regina mused, spearing her coddled  eggs. "Is your night blooming cruces due to bloom this eve?"

His fork full of coddled eggs stopped moving halfway to his mouth. "I have no idea."

"So what is this surprise?"

"You'll see when we get to Watson Estate."

"But my breakfast," she protested. "It's only a week and a half away,  and your meeting is in four days. I cannot make a trip to Watson Estate  right now. What if I'm needed?"

He stabbed a kipper on his plate. "You're not. I've discussed everything  with Calvert and Mrs. Rourke." He ate what was on his fork. "Besides,  John will be here. He might have a penchant for finding trouble without  looking for it, but he's not a simpleton. He can settle matters, if need  be."

She wiped her mouth. "Very well."

His grin grew, if such a thing were possible. "Excellent. I have to pay a  call this morning then we'll be able to leave after luncheon. We should  be there after nightfall."

An odd feeling of nostalgia swept over Regina as the carriage began its  journey to Watson Estate. This was the same journey they made the day  they were married. But, it was different this time. In April, she'd  believed she was going to the country to spend time alone with a man who  loved her. She squeezed her eyes shut. There was no denying that she  still loved him. She'd never stopped. But would he ever grow to love her  the same way? Or would he always insist on taking her on these outings  to relieve his own guilt?

"We're here," Edward said sometime later, waking her.

She rubbed her eyes. "How long have I been sleeping?"

"A few hours." He helped her descend the carriage then escorted her to  her room. "Sleep well. I have a busy day planned for us tomorrow."

Georgie, who'd made the journey with them in the carriage behind, came  in a few minutes later and helped her remove her gown and don her  nightgown. Edward had made it a habit as of late to join her in bed  after she'd gone to sleep. He made no demands during his visits, just  pulled her body close to his and slept alongside her. She certainly  didn't understand this strange behavior, neither did she wish for it to  stop.

And he did not disappoint.

No more than an hour later, the adjoining door creaked open followed  shortly by the mattress dipping under her husband's heavy frame. His  right arm snaked around her midsection, holding her against his firm  body. As it always did, his touch made her skin tingle. She inhaled his  spicy scent and allowed herself a measure of pride when Edward inhaled  just the same against her hair.

Falling asleep against his powerful body while feeling his heart beat so close to hers was her favorite time of day.

She closed her eyes and was awakened by Edward's whispering.

"It's time to wake up." His hand squeezed her hip affectionately then he  rolled out of bed. "Be sure to wear a gown that doesn't require  paniers."                       
       
           



       

Regina flushed at his mention of her undergarments. "A-all right."

After he left, she rang for Georgie, who helped her into a simple pink morning gown that had a white lace trim around the edges.

"We'll be gone all day so be sure to eat until you think you're about to  burst the seams of your gown," Edward informed her as she sat down to  eat.

"Always so eloquent," Regina murmured before sipping her coffee.

"Just like the place we're going today."

Regina took a bite of her biscuit. "And just where might that be anyway?" And where were his coat and cravat?

He flashed her a devilish grin. "You'll see."

That was it. All he'd say on the topic for the remainder of breakfast.

After they'd finished, he led her outside and toward the conservatory.  She bit her lip as anxious feelings stirred inside her. She hadn't been  in his conservatory since the day she'd found their betrothal agreement  and learned everything had been a farce. Her pulse raced with each step  closer they got. This is foolishness, it's just a building. Ah, but it  was a building he'd only invited her into out of obligation.

He steered her past the door of the conservatory, and she sighed in relief as they rounded the conservatory.

"Is that water I hear?"

"Yes. There's a creek just past that line of trees."

"And we're going to the creek?" Regina ventured.

Edward didn't say anything, just nodded.

A moment later, they cleared the trees.

"What the devil is that?" Regina burst out, stealing her husband's favorite phrase.

Edward roared with laughter, creating an uneasy sensation in her  stomach. She loved it when he laughed-especially if she was the one  who'd caused it. "That, my darling wife, is a boat."

"Yes, I assumed that." She eyed the odd looking wooden structure, which  was only about eight feet long and four feet wide with two wooden  planks, one extending from both the front and the back of the boat. "And  what, pray tell, did you plan to do with it?"

"Go for a trip down the creek."

She looked at the narrow creek and then to her husband. "I'm not an expert in maritime matters, but is that even possible?"

"Not to worry, m'dear, the creek both widens and deepens just after that  turn." He pointed to a bend in the creek. "I just asked that it be  placed here so we'd be less likely to get wet while getting in." He  rolled up his shirtsleeves then put a picnic hamper that had been left  under a nearby tree into the boat. "Are you ready?"

"Why are you taking me for a trip down the creek?" she blurted before she knew what she was saying.

Edward turned to face her. He brought his large hands up and put one on  either side of her face, setting her blood to simmer. "Regina, you said  that you'd always wanted an adventure and that is exactly what I intend  to give you."

Her heart swelled and her already simmering blood began to boil. Keeping  her entertained with an afternoon at Covent Garden or a few hours at a  museum paled in comparison to this. This was far different than an  attempt to keep her pacified. He'd expended far too much effort for it  to be something so trivial.

"Now, are you going to get into that boat so we can start our adventure,  or do I have to put you in there?" he asked, breaking her thoughts.

She could have kissed the grin right off his face. But doubted he'd want  to be kissed by his wife in a public setting. "I think you should put  me in."

"As you like," he said, sweeping her feet off the ground and placing her  on the front bench of the boat where she was turned to face the back.  "Be sure to hold still while I untie the rope."

Regina instinctively put her hands on the wooden edges of the boat to steady its rocking while Edward untied the rope.

Her grip tightened when Edward stepped inside and used the edge of the long paddle he held to move them down the creek.

As Edward had promised, as soon as they rounded the bend hidden by the copse of trees, the creek was wider.

He sat down and the boat rocked, scaring the wits out of Regina.

"Sorry," he murmured, still wiggling like a trout.

Regina's hands tightened on the frame of the boat until she was certain her knuckles had gone white under her gloves.

"We won't tip," he assured her.

That did nothing to calm her nerves. "What makes you so confident?"

He snorted. "I spent nearly every afternoon of my summers in this boat as a boy."

"I sure hope that speaks for the boat's craftsmanship," she murmured.

"It does." He took the wooden paddle and knocked it twice against the  side of the boat. "You would not believe the number of adventures  Gallant has been on between us seven boys. If it hasn't sprung a leak  yet-" He shrugged. "I think we'll survive."