CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"You are certain all of this is necessary?" Hugh grumbled once more.
He had other plans in mind, ever since they had been thwarted the previous evening, and he was impatient to show Felicia what was possible once a bed was involved. He could have easily awoken her once they returned home, to commence their long-delayed wedding night, but he desired more than a quick tumble with a sleepy bride. A great deal more.
Unfortunately, that decision had left him in a heightened state the entire day, unable to see his wife for more than a fleeting moment before she scurried off to oversee yet one more item for tonight's gala.
"Yes, it is all quite necessary, Hugh. Since I did not have a betrothal ball, I wanted this opportunity to celebrate our union."
"Yes, yes, of course. I do not know how I had forgotten that." Hugh realized how backwards everything had been for Felicia, but she had accepted it with her typical aplomb. He lifted her hand to his lips. "My mind has been elsewhere today."
With any luck she would know what he was thinking. If not, his tightening breeches would no doubt let her, and every one of their guests, in on the secret.
Felicia's knowing grin was accompanied by a delightful pinkening of her cheeks. "This event will also ensure that Tony and Julian are able to consider some matrimonial prospects."
"I knew it! You are attempting an elopement academy, in our very home."
"I am not!" She sidled next to him, and his arm wound its way around her waist, as if it knew it belonged there. "But what better time to surround them with a bevy of beauties and convince them of the benefits of this curse?"
Tony ambled over just in time to hear her last comment. "That curse again? Even if I believed in it, which I never will—I am meant to break a few more hearts before I fall in love."
Felicia gave Tony a good pinch, one that appeared to have an extra little twist to it.
"Normally I reserve these for Hugh, but you deserve this with your wretched talk about breaking hearts. I can only wait for the day when yours is broken instead."
"Hah!" Tony tried to get away from her, but she was a nimble one. Her fingers kept a firm grip on him. "How have you not frightened off your husband with that fiendish trick?"
Hugh bit back a grin. "Actually it does my heart glad to see Felicia bestowing pinches on someone else for a change." He gave a quick nod in Tony's direction. "My gratitude for taking my place this once."
Tony swatted at Felicia's hand and she finally relented. He rubbed the tender spot, scowling at her the entire time. "You are forever that mean-spirited little minx who would not take no for an answer when we were children."
Hugh tried to glare at the man, but he should have remembered Felicia needed no champion. She leaned closer to her cousin. Tony stepped back, nearly succumbing to the defensive urge to protect the more sensitive portions of his anatomy.
Hugh choked back a laugh, as well as a swell of sympathy.
He wrapped his arms around his beautiful wife from behind, laughing into her neck as she protested for just a moment. It was a scandal to display such open affection, but he cared little of that. Let the ton wag their tongues merely because he adored his wife and had no qualms about showing it.
They should be thankful they were not privy to his innermost thoughts just then.
He deposited a quick kiss on her bare shoulder. When Felicia tilted her head towards his, Tony mouthed "thank you", his hands together in a prayerful gesture, and then scooted off to parts unknown.
Hugh twirled Felicia around to face him. "I know he is your cousin, but perhaps you should give him some leeway. You can be quite frightening, you know."
"Truly?" Her eyes sparkled with obvious delight.
"I meant it as more of a caution," Hugh said, squeezing her once more before reluctantly letting her go.
"I cannot help it if I have a ferocious nature. It will come in quite handy some day, I am sure of it."
"You may be right." He grinned. "Though I hope I shall always be your primary opponent."
"You have always been my favorite." Something behind him caught her eye, and her lips turned up into a devilish smile. "Though my brother Julian is due for an upbraiding, since he continues to resist my matchmaking efforts."
"You are merciless, Felicia."
"Thank you, Hugh. You always know exactly what I want to hear."
"I am here to serve your every desire."
The words flustered her, surprising him to no end. It also delighted him. Before he could whisper a shocking suggestion in her ear, their newest guests were standing in front of them.
"Georgie!" Felicia cried, hugging her best friend as if they had not seen each other for decades. Hugh nodded at Simon. Felicia and Georgie finally finished their exuberant greetings, and Georgie's eyes twinkled as she addressed him.
"Marriage most definitely agrees with you, my lord. You appear quite. . . well-rested."
Hugh laughed appreciatively with the rest of them. "Indeed. And I have no idea whether to chastise your husband or my wife for your observation."
She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "I suspect both are equally guilty."
Simon did his best to maintain a bland expression, as did Felicia, but twinkling eyes and twitching lips gave them both away.
"I nearly forgot!" Felicia began to dash off, but Hugh caught her hand, delaying her for a moment.
"Everything is perfect," he told her. "And if it is not, we can have Haselton see to it."
She smiled in a very secretive way. "I have a surprise for you."
"I wonder what I should prepare myself for now."
Felicia did not answer his question, for she had already departed, quick as a flash.
~ * ~
Felicia heard a swift intake of breath, and then the unmistakable sound of hands clapping excitedly. She grinned, her heart melting at Lucinda's visible excitement as she watched the frenzy of activity from her perch by the banister.
"Everything is so pwetty," she said, her voice filled with awe. She turned to gaze at Felicia. "You are the pwettiest of all."
Felicia sank down on the stair, next to Lucinda, and gathered her into her arms. "Not half as pwetty as you," she said, giving the girl a squeeze. Predictably Lucinda squealed, but this time she wrapped her arms around Felicia and gave her a hug. If Felicia were a flighty debutante, she would worry about her dress becoming wrinkled, or Lucinda transmitting jam from her tea onto the delicate fabric.
But she cared nothing for any of those things. She could dash upstairs and don any number of gowns. She only had one daughter, however, and she would treasure these instantaneous demonstrations of her devotion.
She kissed the top of Lucinda's head, inhaling the sweet baby scent of her hair. She had fallen in love with Hugh, instantly, and in just about the same amount of time, she had fallen in love with his daughter.
She could not imagine a life without either of them in it.
"Both of my beautiful ladies in one spot? How fortunate can one man be?"
"Papa!" Lucinda launched herself into her father's arms, certain of his love for her, never questioning whether he wanted her near or not. It was difficult to determine which of them was giggling the loudest just then.
Felicia sighed. She would give a year of her life to have such assurances from her husband.
As if he had read her mind, Hugh reached his free hand towards Felicia, lifting her from her seated position. She stood next to him, smiling at Lucinda. The little girl reached a pudgy arm towards Felicia to pull her in for a hug, and most likely a juicy kiss, judging by her pursed lips. Felicia leaned towards her, and then, to her surprise, felt Hugh's arm snake around her waist.
The two of them pulled Felicia close, so they were all three embracing. Felicia felt her eyes start to tear up, and she sniffed, not wanting to spoil the moment so that Hugh would break away, searching for a handkerchief.
She blinked, several times, and she could see Hugh's smile soften to one of concern.
"I know better than to try to stop a sneeze," she lied, "because now my eyes are watering like they are going to liquefy entirely."
Lucinda giggled. "You are funny. I love you."
Felicia did not even hesitate. "And I love you immensely." She smoothed Lucinda's hair back and kissed her on the forehead.
Hugh's voice was husky when he said, "Come, Lucinda, we need to find Nurse so she can get you to bed."
Felicia knew he was being a responsible parent. She knew she would be considered popular with the child, and incredibly unpopular with her father, but she could not resist saying, "I promised Lucinda a peek inside the ballroom."
"Yes," Lucinda said, with a great deal of enthusiasm.
"Of course," Hugh said. "I should have thought of it myself."
Felicia looked up at him, expecting a frown, along with a "We shall discuss this later" expression. Instead, his eyes were twinkling with merriment. And she realized he had given her the opportunity to suggest the joyful diversion.
She gasped. Her mouth remained open for several seconds while she thought of what to say. He placed his finger under her chin and tilted it up, closing her mouth. Then he deposited the briefest of kisses on her lips.
"You're welcome," he said.
Felicia sighed.
"Do that again," Lucinda said, pushing on both of their heads.
"Come, minx," Hugh said, "before I change my mind about letting you stay up a little longer."
She wriggled out of his arms, believing she had bested him when he set her feet on the carpeted stairs. Before she could take a tumble, he grabbed one hand, and Felicia grabbed the other.
Felicia gazed at her husband, loving him even more for how much he loved his daughter, and how much he cared for his wife and her sensibilities.
She leaned towards him and gave him a quick kiss. "You're welcome too," she said, and then started down the stairs.
~ * ~
The musicians were warming up when the three of them entered the ballroom. The candles in the chandeliers cast the room in a warm glow, and the floor reflected the light, creating a fairyland ambience.
Lucinda sucked in her breath, and then covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes widened as she turned to look at everything, taking it all in.
Felicia knelt down next to her and whispered something in her ear. Hugh loved how his daughter held Felicia's shoulder, so easily, completely without guile. Then her eyes widened and she laughed.
In the next instant, Lucinda raced to him, plowing into his legs. He picked her up, always happy to have her in his arms.
"You are getting stronger each day, love. Tomorrow you might be able to send me sprawling on the floor."
Lucinda seemed to barely hear him. She twisted around to find Felicia, who nodded, as if in reassurance.
"Papa," Lucinda said as Felicia left. "I want to ask you something."
"Anything," he said without hesitation. "Tell me what is on your mind."
His eyes flicked towards Felicia, admiring the view of her walking towards the musicians. He felt a moment's envy when she smiled up at the conductor, knowing from the man's spellbound gaze just what it felt like to be the focus of her beautiful visage.
He was a lucky man. Anyone who had Felicia was the luckiest man on the face of the earth. He nearly lost his ability to breathe when she turned at that moment, smiling at him. She was the embodiment of beauty, and love, and everything he had ever wanted in life.
Before he could examine that further, the musicians struck up a waltz tune. He thought at first they were warming up, but then the conductor glanced his way, smiling.
Hugh clucked his tongue at his daughter. "You and Felicia have been conspiring, haven't you?"
She nodded, confirming his suspicions. "I want you to dance with me. That is what I wanted to ask you."
"I will be delighted to dance with you, poppet."
He twirled her around in his arms, treasuring her breathless smiles, her delighted face the only thing he could see as the rest of the ballroom blurred behind her. He took several turns around the room and then stopped, not wanting to disorient her. She continued to giggle, overflowing with happiness, making her joy spill right into his heart.
He turned until he could see Felicia, standing next to the conductor. She was beaming, as filled with joy as he was. He thought his heart only had room for one, but he had been wrong. Felicia had made space there too, and he realized how empty he had been—
"Papa, my tummy does not feel so good."
Her stomach erupted, leaving its mark on the front of his waistcoat.
~ * ~
Felicia tucked Lucinda into her bed, stroking her hair and watching as she fought to stay awake. "You will feel better once you have gone to sleep," she said, even knowing the willful child was too much like her to follow the advice, good as it was.
Lucinda nodded, obviously exhausted. Her eyelids drooped, but she instantly opened them. "I wanted to make sure you were still here."
Felicia leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Lucinda's cheek. "I promised I would stay until you fell asleep."
"Where is Papa?"
"He shall return in a moment. It takes a while to undress and re-dress." She smiled before whispering, "I think it takes men longer than it does women nowadays."
"I did not mean to get sick." Lucinda's lower lip trembled. "I love Papa. I do not want him to be mad at me."
"Oh, he is not mad! No one could be mad because your stomach suffered an upset."
Felicia could see the tears welling in the little girl's eyes, and knew there were sobs likely to follow. Desperate measures were called for. She stood up from the chair next to the bed and climbed under the covers. She tucked the little girl under her arm, holding her and rocking her slightly.
"There. Does that feel better?"
"Yes," Lucinda answered, her voice soft.
Felicia knew better than anyone how hard it was to deal with the discomforts of life without a mother's comforting embrace. She was glad she could provide Lucinda with that, to add to the love that Hugh showered on her each day.
She continued to rock her, humming a lullaby, a soothing tune designed to lull her into sleep despite her valiant efforts at resisting. A sudden twitch let Felicia know the little girl could fight sleep off no longer. She pressed another kiss on Lucinda's ear.
"I love you so much. I promise I will always take good care of you. As well as your Papa, even though he resists me so."
A rustling noise startled her, and she glanced toward the door. Her face heated when she saw Hugh standing there, elegant in his newly-changed evening attire. Had he heard her bold words? She halfway hoped he had heard her confession. She feared he would always view her as Flighty Felicia, never giving her the opportunity to prove she had changed her ways.
His expression softened as he continued to gaze upon the two of them. His lips finally lifted into a slow smile, and Felicia's heart thundered at the sight. It was as if he had at last realized they were indeed a family, as if they had been the parents of this child from the very beginning.
He headed towards her, his pace slow yet deliberate. She felt the fluttering in her stomach, the same as when she had first realized she was in love with him, that sense of something momentous about to occur.
She kept her eyes on him, watching him advance, and then she removed her arm from underneath Lucinda. Fortunately the girl was so exhausted she did not wake. Instead she turned over and sighed, knowing somehow all was well in her world, especially with her parents.
When Hugh reached the side of the bed, he held his hand out. Felicia clasped it. His skin was so warm, and smooth, making her imagine what the rest of his skin would feel like when she could finally touch him completely.
"As much as I would prefer to stay here," Hugh whispered, "we do have guests downstairs."
He helped her rise from the bed, holding her close once she was on her feet. His lips hovered over hers, as if asking permission, even though her downcast eyes and parted mouth should have told him how much she needed his kiss just then. His breath brushed against her mouth, his chest lifting with each inhalation, pressing against the front of her thin silk dress.
"You seem determined to make me forget we have guests downstairs," she murmured.
She felt his mouth turn up into that beautiful smile she adored. She gripped his arms, to keep from falling to the floor in a heap. Her knees did not seem to have the strength to hold her upright when he smiled at her like that.
Instead of kissing her, he spun her around so that her back was flush against his front, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He dotted tender kisses along the side of her neck, sending shivers through her entire body.
"Hugh," she whispered, not sure if she was pleading for more, or asking him to halt. He seemed to know the answer, however, for he continued pressing his heated lips against her overheated skin.
Yet, as arousing as it was, it was also reassuring. They gazed at their sleeping daughter, while he said, with his kisses, how much he cared for her, his wife. Her breath caught, and she had to struggle to breathe, overcome with the emotion just then.
"Shall we go?" Hugh asked softly, not taking a chance on waking Lucinda.
Felicia turned in his arms, facing him, not quite ready to leave this delightful intimacy. "I suppose we should."
She expected him to drop his arms, but instead he tightened them and began walking them towards the door. Felicia giggled, burying the noise in his chest so that she was not the one guilty of waking Lucinda.
"You are incorrigible," she whispered. "And in need of a good pinch."
She lifted her right hand, her fingers in a distinctive pincher pose.
"Ah ah ah," he said under his breath. "Do you want to wake up our daughter right now?"
"It would not be a concern except you insist on squealing like a sick cat whenever I pinch you."
"Felicia," he said, trying to keep a straight face. "You wound me."
"I would like to."
This time he could not halt the laughter. He tipped his head back, making Felicia wish his neck was not wrapped in yards of linen, because she had an insatiable urge to nibble on him in the same way he had done to her earlier.
When they reached the doorway, they both glanced at Lucinda, and, assured she was slumbering peacefully, they finally left, closing the door behind them.
Hugh leaned against the wall, pulling Felicia tight against his body once more. She had no reason to ever want to leave. In truth, she wriggled closer.
"Felicia," he growled. "That is not such a wise choice."
"Indeed?" She brushed against him, treasuring the low sound deep in his throat, as well as the instant response from his body. "I like this choice very much."
"I do as well," he admitted, "but since we must return to our guests, the ones you insisted we invite, I suggest we do not engage in this delightful activity just now."
She pretended to pout. When she glanced up through her eyelashes to gauge his reaction, the intensity of his gaze startled her.
"Hugh, perhaps we could, well, you know, before we return—"
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the door. "Do not tempt me with that. The very idea of it is too much to bear at this moment."
She stroked his cheek, and then let her fingers trail down his shoulder, and across his chest. He opened his eyes and kept them trained on hers the entire time, and it was as if he willed her hand to continue on its quest.
Her hand slipped down to the front of his silk breeches. She dared to let her fingers outline the hard, full length of him, smoothing her hand over the massive shape.
"Hugh," she said, her voice husky now, "is there any chance our guests could entertain themselves for the rest of the evening?"
His lip curled up in the devilish way she found so arousing. "It would be the height of scandal if we did not re-appear."
"True. But you know the ton would be disappointed if we did not act in a scandalous fashion once in a while."
"I believe you are right." He gripped her wrist, preventing her from stroking him further. "They can go to the devil, for all I care right now."
She grinned. "And where shall we go?"
He kept his hand on her wrist, and pushed himself away from the wall, leading her towards his bedchamber.
"Pretty damn close to heaven."