Page 37 of A Sporting Affair (The Corinthians #1)

One year later

“What do you think?” Rafe asked Genevieve.

She surveyed the modest manor with a critical eye but did not immediately reply.

He boasted, “ I think it the perfect home. And we both know, I’m always right.”

With a rueful wrinkle of her nose to Rafe, she said, “It’ll do.”

“It’ll do? It’ll do! It comes with a steward to do all the work! How are you not impressed?”

“I’ll be impressed if Papa stays here a full year.”

Rafe tossed his gaze to the sky. “There is no pleasing you, Mrs. Fitz-Stephens.” Draping an arm around her shoulder, he tugged her close to kiss her temple. “Let us both hope he stays here indefinitely because he has already purchased it. Papers signed, hands shaken, done and dusted.”

“He can always travel if he becomes restless.”

“Precisely my point.”

“I think he’ll like living near Sir Courtney. The two are thick as thieves.” She squeezed his waist. “Oh, Rafe. I don’t know how you managed it, but you’ve truly done it. You’ve convinced my father to settle down at last. Now, Cecilia and Theia can have consistency and a home of their own.”

“My part was far more selfish, you realize. I want our home to ourselves. Of the six months since our purchase, we’ve had exactly two weeks without your family, and that was five months ago. I’m ready for them to mo ve out .”

“But… Mama has been so helpful with the redecorating. You said you liked the silk paper hangings she chose for the drawing room.”

He growled. “There’s an important task I’ve been needing to see to that can’t be done with them living under our roof.”

“What’s that?”

“Get them out of our house, and you’ll find out.”

“You’re so insensitive! I think we should help them redecorate their new manor before they move in. They can stay with us a little longer—unless you tell me what’s so important. That might spur me to action.”

“You’re not allowed to contradict everything I say and call it flirting. I’ll accept half but not a contradiction more.” Guiding her back to the horses for the journey from Eurwendin back to Grant Lindis, he poked, just so she would quarrel again. “Besides, as fond as I am of my in-laws, I refuse to have children until our home is guestless. Thus, the sooner they move, the better.”

“Children? Rafe! You cannot be serious. We’ve only been married nine months, and you’ve only been an active circuit barrister for ten. We aren’t possibly ready! I’m not at all ready, not for children . Would five years from now not sound more harmonious? Ten even?”

“Twaddle! I’m ready now. Children in the nursery, embroidery by the fire while I lounge lazily in slippers and banyan… I might invest in a pipe.”

“But you don’t smoke.”

“No one says it has to be lit.”

“A dog too?”

“Quite.”

Genevieve roared with laughter. “Only yesterday you wanted to travel for the next six months.”

“But that was only because you said you wanted to settle into domestic bliss.”

Removing her bonnet, she swatted him with it. “Can you never be serious?”

“Contradictions work both ways, love.” He winked. “You want me to be serious, eh? I can be serious.” Helping her mount onto Philomena, he glanced up at her with his most somber expression, only the tilt at the corner of his lips belying his humor. “Tomorrow, your family moves into their house—my foot is firm. I’m more ready than I have words to describe because we have a serious task to attend to, beginning the moment they step over the threshold, their backs to our humble abode.”

“Don’t leave me in suspense.”

He did just that as he mounted Alfgar and began an ambling walk down the drive. Not until they reached the gatehouse did he say, “I’m determined, by the end of our first week, to have made love to you in every room—with my poetry, of course.” He added under his breath, “By the end of the first day, more like.”

“Mmm. I do love poetry,” she replied with a flirty smile. “Well…” she drawled, “while we’re being serious, I hope you are ready for children because…. I might be in an interesting condition.”

Rafe drew Alfgar to a stop and turned to stare at her in horror-struck fascination.

With a twinkle in her eyes, she said, “You know… the interesting condition of being in love .” She cackled at her jest, a vexing affectation she knew ribbed him.

Rafe did not immediately flick the reins. Instead, he studied her until he was satisfied he read the mischievous twinkle accurately. “Your eyes are telling me more than you’re saying.”

Casting him a sly grin, she said, “If you want to know what my eyes are saying, you’ll have to catch me first.” With a sudden burst, she urged Philomena forward, leaving Rafe in stunned silence and a cloud of dust.

With a pat to Alfie’s neck, he began, “As the Romans would say on the verge of battle…” then finished with a thunderous war cry, “‘ nobiscum Deus !’” Feeling inordinately satisfied with his life, he launched Alfgar after Genevieve, hot on her heels.