The Christmas Rose: A Rogues & Gentlemen Novella by Emma V Leech

Author:Emma V Leech [Leech, Emma V]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emma V Leech
Published: 2021-01-12T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

“Wherein the real world intrudes.”

13th December 1820. London.

“There’s no choice, Ludo. If you will be so ridiculously stubborn about using my money, then we must not waste yours. Your landlady charges a fortune for those meals she cooks. We must either go out to eat, or get some shopping so I may attempt to cook for us, though I warn you now I am more than a little doubtful as to my skills.”

“I won’t have you skivvying and cooking!”

Bunty rolled her eyes as their discussion went around in a complete circle for the second time. “Then employ a maid and let us get some dinner.”

Ludo was sitting up in bed, looking mutinous. His arms were folded across his chest and Bunty tried not to get distracted by the way it made his muscles bulge. She wanted to lick him. He was so delicious, and….

No.

Then he’d have his way, and they could not carry on like this. No matter how delightful it was.

They had not left his rooms in the five days since they’d married. Astonishingly, no one had called. Astonishing that was, until she realised her father had not posted notice of their marriage. He was ashamed of it. Of them. The knowledge burned, especially when she was so happy, but… well, that was her parents’ problem. They only knew Ludo by reputation. They would come around when they realised the man he really was. The one she was coming to know.

“But I don’t want to go out,” he grumbled. “Come back to bed.”

He gave the mattress an inviting pat.

Bunty wavered before firming her resolve. “No. And it’s only for a while. Honestly, anyone would think you were ashamed of….”

She let those word hang in the air as she actually thought about them, and all her old insecurities came crashing down on her.

“Oh, no!” he said, and she looked up, startled by his impatient tone.

He leapt out of bed and crossed the room. She had been standing by the window in her dressing gown, staring at the street below. Now she was riveted to the sight of her husband striding towards her in all his naked glory. Her breath caught and held as he closed the distance between them and took her face in his hands, staring down at her.

“What maggoty idea has taken hold in that brain of yours, wife? For, if you think I could ever be ashamed of you… My God, that’s a laugh. I’ve never been prouder of anything in my entire life, and that’s a fact.”

Bunty’s gasped, a knot of emotion in her throat.

“Really, Ludo?” she asked, believing him but wanting to hear it again.

She had never known what it was to be so thoroughly approved of, to be with someone—anyone, let alone a man—who looked at her as though she was important, as if her opinion mattered. Yet it was better even than that, for Ludo looked at her as if she was the beginning and the end of his world. She had tentatively begun to believe he meant it.

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