His Contract Bride (Banks Brothers Brides 1)(37)

"There are," he conceded. "But, they aren't here and this one is. Just touch him."

"And if I do?"

"Then I shall go pick us some berries for breakfast after I help you into your gown."

Her stomach grumbled. That trout hadn't been enough for her. Likely, it  hadn't been enough for Edward either, but gentleman that he was, he  wouldn't say anything about how much more filling the rabbit would have  been. "And if I don't?"

"Then I shall go pick us some berries for breakfast after I help you  into your gown." The corner of his mouth tipped up. "But I'd rather you  touch him, even if it's just once."

She swallowed. "All right, just once." Taking a deep breath, she  extended her index finger in the direction of the moving creature and  ran the pad along the back of his shell. The turtle continued to swim in  the air, his scaly legs going back and forth. "Will it hurt him if I  touch his legs?"

"Not at all."

Tentatively, she crooked her finger and ran the back of it down his legs  then touched the turtle's sticky foot with the pad of her finger.  "Exactly how you'd described."

A strange gleam shone in his eyes. "I'm glad you enjoyed it then." He  bent down and set the turtle down in the grass. "I don't have the means  to take him home today," he murmured as if he'd read her mind. He stood  and dropped her slippers to the ground. "Those will not be making the  journey back, either. I have no idea how you ladies can wear them  anyway, but those are especially stiff." He scowled at the offending  slippers and held her stays out in front of her.                       
       
           



       

She stepped into her stays. "And what shall I wear back?"

"Nothing. You'll be my barefoot bride."

A slight thrill shot through Regina at his words. "I don't think my feet  will manage as well as yours have." She dropped her gaze to his dirty,  bare feet. He'd walked quite a ways without his boots yesterday without a  single complaint. There wasn't even the slightest chance she'd be able  to do the same.

"Not to worry. On the other side of the thicket of trees is nothing but  grass for miles." He pulled her stays up and began tying the laces.  "I'll carry you there and then you can walk in the grass."

With Edward's help, Regina got her gown over her head and down enough to  cover her stays. But because Edward was a gentleman and not a lady's  maid, her gown didn't have a hope of being buttoned. She just slipped  her arms in the sleeves, thankful that at least it fit that well.

After Edward had cleaned up their mess from last night and picked them  enough strawberries and cherries to last until they made it back to  Watson Estate, he did exactly as promised and scooped her up and carried  her through the thick trees to the grass.

By the time they arrived at Watson Estate, Regina was exhausted and the  idea of a late luncheon held no appeal. The two of them had made their  return into a giant game with multiple footraces to various objects,  trying not to laugh at the other's jests, and they'd even sung various  songs, some of which Regina didn't even know what the words meant! By  the way Edward laughed and cheered her on, she could only guess they  were naughty. Still, she didn't mind. Edward was unlike anyone she'd  ever met before, and, for a reason she could no more explain than  understand, he unleashed her inhibitions and gave her the ability to  enjoy her existence.

Ignoring the looks of shock on the servants' faces, Edward took care of  ordering Regina a bath and a servant to go retrieve any items they'd  left where they'd camped last night.

Following her bath, Regina closed her eyes for a nap only to be awakened  by Georgie the following morning, informing her it was time to don her  travel clothes for her trip back to London.

"Would you mind if I practice my speech?" Edward asked as Watson Estate faded from view.

"You're not nervous, are you?"

"Perhaps a little," he confessed. "I've been trying to garner support  for the biological society I'm trying to form for a long time. Lord  Edgewood says he'll give his support and release his former experiments  to be released as articles for a circular we could print to help gain  more interest. But he'll only do that if I have enough others who are  interested."

"Other than his articles and his support by joining the society, do you need him for anything else?"

"No. But both of those are very important. Without his study journals,  we'd be lacking a reliable source; and his patronage to our meetings  would help give us credibility as a real society, and not a whim."

"But I thought you were known for your knowledge on the subject."

"I am. But I'm not as educated as Lord Edgewood." He sighed. "My name  would lend enough credibility to the group, if need be; but with his  name and viable studies, the society would be stronger."

Regina stared at her husband, stock-still. How was it someone who was so  well-known for his biological accomplishments and extensive knowledge  could be so humble? Her father was so proud it was infuriating. Nothing,  it seemed, could humble the man. "Very well, I'd love to hear your  speech."

"Thank you, Regina. This means a lot to me."

She had the slightest urge to ask if he meant her listening or the event  he was rehearsing for, in general, but decided against it. Sometimes,  it was better not to know.

Edward's speech was perfect! "You'll win over all those biology driven gentlemen tomorrow, to be sure."

"I hope you're right," he said, stuffing his speech back into his  pocket. "Thank you for listening and making suggestions. Sometimes  things sound good in our heads, but not when they come out of our  mouths."

She agreed with that logic as several such statements fitting that  criterion popped into her head. "How much longer do you think we have  until we reach London?" she asked before yawning.

Edward pulled out his pocket watch. "According to this, it's three o'clock, which would mean we've only traveled an hour."

"That can't be. Your speech itself must be that long."

Edward's chuckle made her blush.

"I didn't mean that how it sounded."

He waved her off. "I know what you meant." He handed her his watch. "It  got wet when we fell in the water yesterday. I took it apart and tried  to fix it last night but didn't have all the supplies necessary. So,  until I get it repaired, it will continue to say whatever I turn the  stem to." He glanced outside. "I'd wager we have two hours until we  reach Watson Townhouse."                       
       
           



       

Regina nodded sadly. It was time to play the role of a lady again.  Tomorrow she'd play hostess to the gentlemen invited over to discuss the  formation of a biological society, then in a week she'd host her  breakfast. At least Edward had been kind enough to take her on at least  one adventure.

"Thank you again for taking me to Watson Estate. I loved my adventure."

"Good. I shall have to commission you some new gowns-ones that don't require corsets or stays-for our future adventures."

"Future adventures?" she asked with a slight hitch.

"Unless you don't wish to go on anymore..."

"No, no, it's not that. I just didn't think you'd ever wish to take me  on another one after being such an inconvenience on this one." She hoped  they could leave it at that and not discuss her refusal to eat the  rabbit or him having to carry her around because of the blisters on her  heels.

"Inconvenience? I didn't think you were an inconvenience. I rather  enjoyed our trip. It wouldn't have been nearly as fun without a few  snags along the way." He shrugged. "Besides, I'm already planning our  next."

"You are?" She couldn't stop the excitement that flooded her voice, nor did she care.

He nodded. "We'll have another overnight excursion as soon as the telescope tower is built."

"You don't have to buy a telescope just because I asked about it."

"I'm not. I'm buying the telescope so I have an excuse to build a  private building barely big enough for the two of us," he said with a  wink.

A slow blush crawled up her skin at the promise implied in his words.

Outside, the sun was fading from the sky and Regina had the strangest urge to lean against her husband and close her eyes.

Only a day ago, she'd have fought sleep or waited for him to urge her to  lean against him. But not now. She moved closer to him, leaning her  cheek against him. He wrapped his strong arm around her, holding her to  him.

Regina shut her eyes. Sleep would be impossible, but rest wouldn't be.  She breathed in his spicy scent and was transported back to their  wedding day when she'd lain against him the same way.