“He had made his fortune, bought his house, and obtained his wife; and was beginning a new period of existence, with every probability of greater happiness than in any yet passed through.”
Jane Austen, Emma
Four years later
Nicholas glanced to the rosewood clock in his study and frowned, expecting Briar home by now. “Any sign of her, Delham?”
“Nothing yet, my lord,” the butler said, his usual monotone strained with concern. “Wait a moment . . . yes. I believe I see her ladyship’s carriage now.”
It never failed. Whenever Nicholas heard those words, his lungs expanded on a heady rush of joy, his heart drumming faster. He usually met her at the door or even on the pavement, anticipation always getting the better of him, but today, he had to keep to his chair.
Everything had to be perfect.
Picking up the paper, he got into position, but found an errant rose petal on his desk. Damn, he’d missed one. Snatching it from the blotter, he tucked it into his waistcoat pocket. And just in time.
“Good evening, Delham.”
Briar’s soft voice reached Nicholas and an automatic grin tugged at his mouth as he posed again, rustling the paper.
“And to you as well, my lady. The children are with Mrs. Cartwright,” Delham said, uncharacteristically verbose, before clearing his throat. “Pleasant day at the agency?”
Hold it together, man. Don’t give us away, Nicholas thought. While the butler possessed the countenance of a gargoyle, he was pure pudding inside, especially when it came to Briar.
“It was an exceptionally good day,” she said brightly. “Is my husband in his study?”
No sooner had she asked the question, then Nicholas heard the hastened patter of her slippers over the stone floor.
“I’m home, my love,” she said, skirting around his desk in a rustle of blue and pressing a velvety kiss to his cheek. “Did you not hear?”
Nicholas drew in a pleased breath, filling his lungs with her scent. It took every ounce of control to keep the paper in place and not turn his head and take the kiss he’d been craving since she left this morning.
Feigning absorption in the latest news, he turned the page, his grip tightening, his knuckles white-edged. “Good day at the agency?”
“Hmm . . . strange. Delham asked me the same thing.”
“I don’t see what’s odd about that.” Nicholas clenched his jaw. Hang it all, Delham, she’s on to us! He lowered a corner of the paper and watched her discreet attempts of searching the desk. “What are you looking for?”
She closed the last drawer, a frown tucked into the corners of her mouth. “Oh, nothing. I just thought you’d have a flower for me. You usually do when I come home with the news that I’ve made another match.”
“Have you? Well, that’s capital.” He folded the paper and set it aside before pulling her onto his lap, his pulse thrumming contentedly.
She sighed, absently plucking at his waistcoat buttons. “And you really don’t have a flower for me?”
“If you’d like one, I’ll pick a rose from the garden right this instant.”
“No, it’s fine. I suppose I shouldn’t expect one every time I make a match, not even if today happened to be my one hundredth success.”
“I thought it was one hundred last time.”
“No.”
He shrugged, trying like hell not to grin, but she was so pretty when she pouted. “Well, that’s a milestone, isn’t it? You definitely deserve a flower for that. Perhaps even two.”
“You gave me an entire bouquet of roses when it was fifty.”
“Did I?”
“Nicholas, you know you did. And I’m certain you could not forget what we did with the petals,” she said in a whisper, her cheeks tinged pink.
“Ah yes. And the silk ribbons.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wrist, her fluttering pulse meeting his lips at the shared memory. “Perhaps we can try that again this evening. Do you want to be tied up, love? While I do all sorts of wicked things . . .”
Her breath caught and she swayed for a moment, the curves of her body molding against him.
Then she pulled her hand free and stood up, smoothing her skirts. “No. I think I’ll just drive over to my brother’s house and pick up the children. Temperance will surely be excited about my achievement.”
“I’m afraid she’ll be disappointed because I gave her leave to keep them overnight.”
On the opposite side of the desk, Briar stopped, pivoting on her heels as twin spheres of cornflower blue narrowed in thorough scrutiny. “Whyever would you do that?”
“Because Henry asked if he could, and you know how fond he is of his cousin,” he said offhandedly. “Why, he and George are like brothers. And since Teense doesn’t yet have a girl of her own, she loves to dote on little Heloise.”
To his own ears, the excuse sounded believable and he thought he might have fooled her. But then, the unmistakable strain of a violin being tuned drifted in through the window. He tensed. The string quartet should have already finished with that by now.
“What was that noise?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
But he could see by the knowing glint in her eyes that she was on to him. Clasping her hands, she left the study. “Delham, did you hear something?”
Nicholas followed and caught sight of color rising to his butler’s cheeks.
“Hear, did you say? I’m afraid I’m deaf as a turnip, my lady.”
Pathetic, Nicholas thought, rolling his eyes to the ceiling as Delham slinked out of the foyer.
Briar turned, a knowing grin on her lips as she poked him in the center of his chest. “You do have a surprise for me, don’t you?”
Only thousands of rose petals poised to rain down on her over the terrace, a candlelit dinner, dancing, and whatever else her heart desired.
He smiled. “Well it isn’t every day when London’s finest matchmaker can claim one hundred matches.”
“What is it? No, don’t tell me. I just want to bask in this moment and say that I could not possibly love you more.” She launched herself into his arms and he spun her in a circle, getting drunk on the sound of her laugh. Then, when he set her on her feet, her expression turned playfully serious. “Though, I should be cross with you for teasing me.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded, her warm gaze resting on his mouth. “You owe me recompense.”
His blood quickened. This was one of their favorite games. “Shall I settle up now, or after your surprise?”
Briar grinned and took him by the hand, leading him toward the stairs. “Yes, Nicholas.”