Stone woke with the sun despite their late night. He stretched and made to rise when Theo snagged an arm about his waist and tugged him back toward the bed. “Don’t go,” she murmured.

He chuckled and tumbled back into bed. “I did not intend to wake you.”

“Mmmmm. You didn’t. I was luxuriating in your warmth when you deserted me.”

“My apologies. I thought you were sleeping and merely aimed to let you rest. After last night, I assumed you needed it.” He lay back down and settled her so she draped half on his chest and half off.

“I merely need you near me. Stone, I want you to know that while I appreciate the gift of last night, you are the only man I want in my bed.”

The worry that had clutched at his heart the night before, even after they had made love alone, released its treacherous grip. “Ah, wife. I am very glad to hear you say that. While I wanted to indulge your curiosity, let you explore some of what is possible, it was a night I’d prefer never to repeat.”

She smiled at him. “Excellent.” Then she nibbled her lower lip again as color rose in her cheeks. “Though I do not know how I shall ever look Cooper in the face again.”

“Cooper would never treat you with anything less than the respect you are due. I would never have invited him into our bed if I did not trust him implicitly.” Stone dragged his knuckles along one pretty pink cheek.

“Well, I shall endeavor not to turn into a complete blushing simpleton in his presence, though I fear that may be a challenge.”

Stone tamped down his jealousy. She was a bit embarrassed over what they had shared. She was not infatuated with his longtime friend. In desperate need of a switch in topics, he reached for something easy and mundane. “Do tell me, what are your plans for today?”

“I believe I am scheduled to receive callers this afternoon, and then tea with my sister and Lady Heartfield.”

Stone couldn’t control the urge to run his fingers through the golden silk of his wife’s hair. The strands sifted through his fingers like water. “Must you be chummy with Lady Heartfield?”

“Stone, it is not as though we discuss you whenever we visit. You are rarely, if ever, a topic of conversation.” Theo sat up, clutching the sheet to her breasts. “She was once someone you trusted. Why should that trust have changed? She did not reveal anything of your history to me.” She reached over and laid her hand on his chest, as though reassuring him.

When the sheet slipped down around her hips to leave her breasts exposed, he struggled to focus on the conversation. “Very well. But I do ask that you be careful whom you meet of her acquaintances. No more madames and such.”

Theo laughed softly and stretched, lifting her breasts high and exposing her softly rounded belly for his delectation. “Agreed. Though you are becoming quite the hypocrite, aren’t you, my lord?”

“Be that as it may, I do not wish you to be tarnished with my former reputation any more than you are by virtue of our marriage.” His gaze drifted to her rosy nipples that puckered under his scrutiny as she released her stretch.

“Yes, Master.” The husky tone would have given away her quick shift from morning conversation to desire-fueled action if her use of “master” had not. Without discussion, she delved under the covers and sought out his rapidly thickening rod. Marriage was a far more pleasant state of being than he could have anticipated.

---

A few days later, Theo strolled out the front door and clambered up into the cabriolet. Reins in hand, she set out for a drive through Hyde Park and then to shop on Bond Street. With the tiger clinging to the back of the vehicle, she raced through the park in a rush of excitement. She simply adored driving fast. The rush of the wind, the thrill of the speed. It made her feel wild and alive, not unlike how she felt when kneeling before her husband.

Spying her sister, who had come out for an early afternoon ride before the truly fashionable crowd took to Rotten Row, she stopped to chat.

“Hullo, Lizzy.” Theo grinned at her sister’s surprise.

“Oh, Theo, tell me you did not take Stone’s cabriolet for a drive without his permission.”

Theo tutted at her sister. “Of course not. Stone gave me permission to drive his team and vehicle whenever I like. They go very fast, Lizzy. It’s much better than driving Mother and Father’s old carriage or that wagon the house staff used. I should have taken Father’s rig out for a drive sooner.”

“He would never have allowed that,” Lizzy pointed out.

“He would likely never had known. He barely noticed me as long as I did not turn up lame,” Theo countered.

“You may be correct. However, one would think your husband realized your penchant for recklessness after your jaunt to The Market.” Lizzy rolled her eyes.

“He trusts me to handle myself and the team. Really, it’s not as if I’d do anything foolish.”

“Good afternoon, Lady Stonemere.” A familiar dapper young man pulled up in a phaeton.

“Good afternoon, Denton.” Theo offered him a jaunty nod in greeting.

“I don’t believe I’ve made the acquaintance of your lovely companion.” The golden brown of his hair gleamed in the sunlight like the pelt of a mink. His golden eyes danced with mischief as he glanced at Lizzy.

“This is my sister, the Marchioness of Carlisle. Lizzy, this is Mister Hugh Denton. Stonemere’s cousin.”

He reached across the space between his carriage and Lizzy’s horse to take her hand in greeting. “Lady Carlisle, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, though it seems I have done so too late to claim the heart of such a lovely lady.”

Theo eyed the man curiously. He appeared rather taken with her sister, who replied with all due courtesy. “A pleasure, Mr. Denton.”

His attempt to dazzle her sister over with, he switched his attention back to Theo. “That is quite a stunning team and vehicle you are driving, my lady.”

“Thank you. My husband has excellent taste in horseflesh.” Theo resisted the urge to preen.

“Too bad such fine beasts are subjected to a sedate trot through the park.” His unapologetic grin teased Theo with a hint of mischief…and she so loved mischief.

“I am quite capable of providing the cattle the necessary exercise.”

The glow in his eyes warmed. “As handsome as you look atop that rig, I can’t help but think those cattle are more than any lady could handle.”

Theo guffawed good-naturedly—though he had called her driving skills into question. “You play at being a bounder, sir. But, I daresay I can handle my team better than you yours.”

Lizzy gasped.

He chuckled. “Why, that sounds like a challenge. Would you care to place a small wager on that? Say, fifty pounds?”

Theo hesitated. She had nearly forty pounds to hand, and she would bet Lizzy could supply the rest. “Done. Shall we set the course?”

Lizzy gasped again. Was she breathing at all? Were her sister’s laces so tight she’d faint as soon as Theo took off?

“Lady’s choice.” Denton bowed gallantly despite being seated and managing his team.

“Theo, you can’t do this,” Lizzy pleaded.

“It is done, Lizzy.” She turned to her competitor. “Queen’s Gate to the North Gate.”

“We’ll need a starter and someone to spot the finish.” Denton glanced around. “Hail, Brougham.”

Theo was sure her entire head had caught fire. The one bloody person that had to be trotting by was the Earl of Brougham. Damn and blast.

“Good day, Denton, Lady Stonemere, Lady Carlisle.” He tipped his hat at each in turn.

“Excellent timing, Brougham. We need someone at the finish line to judge the winner, and I hope the ladies will excuse me if I declare Lady Carlisle biased.”

“Oh, are you racing Carlisle?” Cooper looked about for Lizzy’s husband.

“Not at all, I’m racing Lady Stonemere.” Denton failed to hide his pleasure at the surprise on Cooper’s face. Theo wanted to drive away and pretend the whole episode had never happened. She suppressed a groan, desperate to escape. How had she gotten herself into this scrape?

“Lady Stonemere?” Cooper blanched. If he’d been a woman, Theo was sure he’d have fainted.

“Quite so. I intend to show Lord Denton that not only can a lady handle a vehicle, but she can do so better than he.” Theo tilted her chin up and refused to look into the eyes of the handsome man who had pleasured her ruthlessly a few nights earlier.

Cooper sighed. “Where is the finish line?”

“The North Gate. Lizzy will see us off at Queen’s Gate.” Theo nudged her cattle forward as they became restless. It was as though they knew what she was about.

“I shall await you there.” Cooper nodded and then turned and trotted off on his chestnut.

“Excellent. Shall we assemble at Queen’s Gate?” Denton tapped his reins and left Theo to turn her vehicle around.

After dispatching her groom to accompany Lizzy’s maid for a short stroll, she and Denton set up at the start and waited for the signal from Lizzy. With the drop of a handkerchief, the race was on. Denton took an early lead, but Theo knew where she would take control. With his higher-sprung phaeton, she would be able to careen around the corner onto the north path and breeze past Denton, who would need to slow down to prevent tipping over.

She stayed close to him, and with the first turn, surged ahead. After the final turn onto the north path, she was well in the lead and leaving him behind. His cattle had worked so hard in the first part of the race that they had little stamina left as they hit the final stretch. Still, in the end, he was nipping at her heels as she crossed the finish line and burst onto High Street. With a quick jerk of the reins, she avoided a dray cart and three street urchins attempting to earn a few pennies.

Once she pulled back around, she found Lizzy and Cooper both fuming at her. “I won!” Her pronouncement fell flat as the pair glared at her. Then Denton pulled back around as well, and they relented in their demeanors.

“Good show, Lady Stonemere.” Hugh acknowledged her fine driving and paid his debt before he bid them all a good day.

“Well, it was a lovely drive in the park, but I must collect my groom and be off. I do have errands to run.” Theo waved and urged her horses away from the site of her latest catastrophe. Or at least it would be once Stone heard about it. And with Cooper as a witness, there was little doubt in her mind that he would hear of the race.

After retrieving her groom, she drove to Bond Street. She might as well enjoy her first and last outing in the cabriolet.