by Julia London
“I have news,” he said.
“Oh no. You haven’t had to intervene with Digby and the duchess again, have you?”
“What? No,” he said with a chuckle. “The news is that Merrick just arrived. The vote has happened. The slave trade has been officially abolished.”
“That’s wonderful!” Kate cried with delight.
“Interestingly, Lord Eustis was one of the votes that tipped it in Merrick’s favor.” Grayson glanced down at his feet. “He and his wife will be returning to the country and will not be in town for the Season. Merrick has heard she has amassed quite a lot of debt without the earl’s knowledge and has had to reduce her expenditures and staff.”
“Oh,” Kate said.
“I suspect the earl knows everything,” he said. Kate could hear the regret in his voice. “I rather imagine Diana will not be in London in the foreseeable future. There could not be a greater punishment for her.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kate said. “It must be difficult for you.”
“She may have brought you and Jude together, but given the way in which she did it, I should hope I never lay eyes on her again.” He smiled. “I have more news.”
“Better news, I hope,” she said with a smile.
Grayson kissed the tip of her nose. “I have heard from Declan. He has sent his felicitations on the occasion of our wedding as well as a gift for our unborn child.”
“A rattle?”
He laughed. “A pony.”
“No!”
“I asked Palmer to see to it that the pony is put at Kitridge Lodge because that, madam, is where our child shall be born. Is that acceptable to you?”
She gasped with delight. “Do you mean it, Grayson?”
“Absolutely.”
“You don’t fear you will starve?”
He laughed. “No. I have all the sustenance I need right here.”
“That makes two of us.”
Grayson kissed her, slowly and thoroughly. And as it was every time they were together these last two days, his hands caressed her, his mouth aroused her. Kate laughed against his mouth and pushed him a little. “No, Christie, you mustn’t. There’s not much time…”
“My thoughts exactly, my love. We might sneak away for a few moments so that I can show you just how ardently I look forward to our life together,” he said, and caressed her breast.
She smiled wantonly at him and took his hand, holding it firmly in her own. “But we have such little time to practice—”
“I didn’t think we required much practice,” he said, nipping at her lips. “It would seem to me we have perfected the art, but if you think we must, who am I to argue?”
“I meant to practice our wedding dance—”
His head came up. “Kate! You don’t intend to make me go through with it!” he complained, but he willingly went along with her, holding her hand tightly as if he was afraid she might disappear if he let go.
