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Derek looked at Eleanor. “We’ve been ready.”

Eleanor and Derek stood in the entrance way of the Graynor estate. The wedding feast just concluded, and she just wished her mother and sisters a good night before they climbed into their carriages. Derek had surprised the women with a new home for her sisters and mother shortly before their wedding.

Eleanor no longer had to worry about the future of her family. And while Sarah was dead set on finding a husband, be it Byron or someone else, during her first season, there was no rush to do so. If she wanted to take her time to find a true match, shewas free to do so. That knowledge alone helped Eleanor sleep at night. The man wishing the staff a good night was the other reason.

“I can’t believe my sisters and mother no longer live here. It feels so empty without them.”

Derek walked up behind Eleanor and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Well, we can always bring some more people into the home if you’d like.”

Eleanor’s brows furrowed. “What, you mean like more staff? You still have Jeffries, and Mary is perfect for me.”

Eleanor looked down the hallway. The staff were much more relaxed without her mother here terrorizing them about the lengths of curtains or the perfect placement of furniture. Madden went with her mother and sisters, and she had to admit, she was going to miss the spindly old man.

Derek laughed against her ear. “No, I mean like little people. Small people.”

Eleanor turned in his arms. “You mean children?”

Derek squinted. “Is that what they’re called?”

Eleanor laughed as she brought her arms around his neck. “Children. I think that sounds lovely, Your Grace.”

Derek raised his eyebrow. “Eleanor.”

She tilted her head in confusion before understanding brightened her eyes. She made a big deal of clearing her throat. “I think that sounds lovely, Derek.”

Eleanor watched Derek’s eyes darken, and her knees actually trembled under her skirts. “That is definitely one way to bring a child into this world, Eleanor,” Derek growled as he slipped an arm under her legs to sweep her up into his arms.

“Oh!” A startled cry fell from Eleanor’s lips. “Put me down, Derek, I can walk. My legs aren’t broken.”

Derek shook his head. “Sorry, I like you in my arms. Plus, this is faster.”

“Faster for what?” Eleanor could barely get the words out when Derek bounded up the steps with Eleanor in his arms.

“My goodness, Derek! Put me down!” Her giggles negated any seriousness she was trying to convey.

“The only time I will put you down is when we get to our bed,” Derek said as he walked to their doorway. The man barely broke a sweat with that feat.

Heat began to pool in her core, and her body took on the itchy feeling she got whenever she needed to remove clothing. It was a feeling that happened around her husband often.

Husband.

Eleanor nearly squealed when she thought of the word. Not only was she was married but to Derek, no less. Someone who valued her thoughts and opinions on the world and worshipped her body in the bedroom.

Derek carried her into their bedroom and kicked the door closed with his foot. He walked over to the bed and tossed her onto it, evoking a squeal of delight from Eleanor.

“Well, wife, how many children would you like?”

Eleanor’s eyes widened before pretending to think about it—although, her thought process kept getting interrupted as she watched her husband disrobe in front of her. The sight of his muscles stretching the material as he worked the buttons on his shirt made her mouth salivate.

“Eleanor.” He stopped his ministrations causing her to pout. “You’re not answering me.”

“You’re distracting me!”

Derek shrugged. “Oh, then shall I stop?”

Eleanor sat up and reached out a hand. “No! I’ll think. What was the question? Oh right. How many children do I want?”

Derek finished disrobing, and Eleanor had to lie on her back or else her eyes would wander, and then she’d definitely become distracted.