"I really can't complain, for I had a most enjoyable dream, and I had no desire to wake from it," she said, smiling coyly.
"What was it that made your dream so enjoyable?" He hoped she had been dreaming of him the way he had of her. Lately, he had dreamt of nothing but her at Stonemede, regardless if he was awake or asleep. The habit irritated him, and it didn't award him much rest, especially since he had the misfortune of waking just as things became more interesting. It was quite frustrating, and he remained in a constant state of discomfort due to it.
"Oh, it's not really of interest. Besides, I would prefer to hear about you today."
"What would you care to know?" he asked, immediately on guard.
"You had mentioned the country last night, and I wondered if you owned any property or were you speaking of a family estate?"
"I do own an estate in the country."
"How wonderful! Is it large? I would love to hear about it." Her words sounded bright and excited, but her face betrayed her disappointment, which he could not begin to understand.
"As far as the size, it's hard to say. It's by no means the largest, but I'm proud of it, regardless," Richard answered honestly. He simply didn't mention there were not many that could claim to be bigger than Stonemede. "I have a well-maintained manor. The property holds beautiful gardens, and there is a picturesque stream that runs through it."
"With such holdings, I imagine you have no need to marry an heiress."
"No, that is certainly not one of the requirements for my intended bride." Richard could not contain his confusion as to why that would matter. His solicitor had been quite explicit that Bradley Denton held a substantial fortune, and both daughters would receive considerable dowries.
"Then what are your requirements?" she asked, eyes wide with innocence.
Richard could feel the trap she had set for him, and he paused a moment to form his response.
"I imagine my conditions are standard. I'm looking for an obedient, calm-spirited wife," he answered, knowing she didn't fit either.
"If those are the demands of most gentlemen, then I suppose I should see how I measure up," she said.
He crossed his arms, anxious to hear how she would answer.
She ticked her finger against her chin. "As far as obedience, I'm very obedient when the situation calls for it, and calm-spirited is how I would like my future to be. So, I imagine I meet the requirements perfectly."
"I see." Richard held back laughter at her inaccurate assessment of herself. "Now that I have given you my secrets, it's only fair you reciprocate. What are your qualifications for your future husband, aside from being untitled, of course?"
"Actually, I want the same qualities in a husband as you want in a wife. I wish for him to be obedient and calm."
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Richard laughed. Her demands were ridiculous. Husbands didn't obey their wives, and for her to believe otherwise was absurd. Afraid he had hurt her feelings, he sobered and met her eyes. Serious, but there was a hint of amusement lurking in the hazel depths. He smiled at her and watched as her beautiful lips curled up in return.
It didn't take long to realize watching her mouth was a mistake as his body came to full attention. The merriment drained from his face only to be replaced by desire. She held him immobile, and he helplessly stared as she took a step closer to him. As she gently placed her gloved hands upon his chest, he held his breath in anticipation.
Being so close to her felt incredible, but, as always, he wanted more. His arms longed to wrap around her, and his hands itched to caress her. Fortunately, his brain still functioned, and he processed how dire of a mistake it would be considering their public location.
"This isn't a good idea," he admitted, stepping away from the wonderful warmth of her body.
"Are you not going to kiss me?" she asked with an adorable pout.
He longed to give in, but instead ran one finger down the side of her face.
"Next time, I promise." His quiet voice only served to pronounce his desire.
"Why not now?"
Richard wanted to laugh at her impatience, but he was feeling too exposed at the moment.
"First of all," he began, then cleared his throat, "your companions are headed toward us. And, secondly, this way you shall look forward to our next meeting."
She opened her mouth as if she would complain, but instead turned her head, no doubt to confirm his statement. When she faced him again, he saw her pained expression. He immediately understood. The ladies were not supposed to be aware of her association with him.
"I always do look forward to our meetings." She offered her hand.
"Then I shall strive to make our next meeting more memorable than usual," he promised, kissing her hand and allowing his lips to linger before releasing her.
He watched as she turned and headed toward her companions. She was the most unpredictable, exciting lady he had ever known, and he found he wanted to know her better still.
Once the three ladies were out of sight, he made his way out of the park. He had sent his carriage away without any instruction to meet him, so he followed along the well-known streets to his London townhouse. As he walked, he could not stop thinking about Brianna and the lightning that assaulted him every time she was near.
He could not conjure up nor see himself with any other lady, but he knew he would have to go against his perfectly thought out requirements to have Brianna. He decided she was worth the trouble the decision would cause him. The only thing that would cause a bigger challenge would be molding her to fit into his perfect pattern for a proper wife, but he would succeed. Feeling anxious to make her his, he smiled as he thought of the pleasures they would share.
Entering the house, he gently shook off the London shower that had saturated his clothing. The cold water had been good for him, easing some of the ache he had been feeling.
"Welcome back, my lord," Hopkins, his butler, said, quickly taking Richard's hat and gloves. "I trust you had a pleasant outing."
"Yes, with the exception of the weather, of course. I had hoped the rain would have waited until I arrived home."
"It's quite unpredictable, my lord," he replied knowingly before pulling a letter out of his coat pocket. "This missive arrived for you earlier. The messenger informed me it was from Stonemede."
"Thank you." Richard took the letter. "I'll be in my bedchamber. I would also appreciate a warm bath as soon as you can manage it."
"Right away, my lord."
In his bedchamber, Richard put the letter down on his night table and sighed. He wondered what troubles were occurring now at the estate, but he was too wet and cold to deal with it at the moment.
An hour later, he felt revived, so he sat down and slid the letter forward, surprised to see his mother's penmanship. Breaking the seal, he scanned the contents, hoping his mother did not write to report an unpleasant occurrence. Luckily, she did not.
Apparently life in the country was wearing on both his mother and Elizabeth. He knew his sister had longed for her Season and had been disappointed to miss her opportunity to attend parties and meet gentlemen. During their short time in London, their lives had been full, and Richard knew Stonemede didn't offer the same luxuries. He had always felt a year of mourning was excessive, but his mother had asserted it was the proper amount of time.
After her insistence over six months before, this letter betrayed her true feelings, for she was now obviously bored with the country life. An acquaintance in London had written to his mother suggesting she and several friends visit Stonemede for the weekend. Happy with the opportunity to reconnect with her friends, she agreed.
His mother requested Richard be present. She wanted him to take a break from London to act as host for her gathering. Since he would be in attendance, she gave him the option of selecting any ladies to whom he would like invitations to be extended. It would have been a perfect opportunity to have several ladies to himself in order to identify their suitability, but it was no longer necessary.
Immediately, his thoughts went to inviting Brianna to Stonemede, but he dismissed them. He knew it was past time to reveal his identity to her, but inviting her to his estate was not the ideal way of imparting the news. The situation already passed ridiculous, and he knew it would only create more problems as time wore on, so his decision was made. When he returned to London after his weekend at Stonemede, he would tell Brianna his true identity. Using every effort, he would show her how pleasant it would be to be both his perfect bride and marchioness.
Chapter 6
Richard passed through the familiar doors of the club. Immediately he was surrounded by the smell of cigars and brandy, which conjured up pleasant memories. The combination created a comforting aroma, as did the décor he and his friends had painstakingly chosen. The leather, as well as the dark-stained wood of the card tables, helped to give off the illusion of a study in a manor.