Page 23 of Her Honorable Viscount (Noble Pursuits #3)

CHAPTER 23

E dward kept sneaking glances at his wife – his wife! – as they rode together in his carriage the next day.

It was time to provide her with her wedding gift, and he was nearly as nervous as he had been last night.

He could only hope she would appreciate this and understand that he was trying to replace what she had given up for him.

But what if it wasn’t enough?

“We are leaving Mayfair,” she noted, her cheeks rosy in the daylight through the open window. The sun shone on her hair, highlighting the golden pieces amongst the auburn strands that peeked out from beneath her bonnet.

“We are,” he said, not giving anything away. “It will be about twenty minutes.”

“Interesting,” she said, her curiosity obvious, but he wouldn’t give her a hint too soon as he hoped to provide her with a welcome surprise.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence as Dot fixed her gaze out the window. Edward leaned over, covering her elegant, delicate fingers with his, and she flipped her palm up so that their fingers interlaced. He squeezed her hand in gratitude that she was here with him, trusting him with this.

The broad, clean streets of Mayfair, lined with elegant townhouses, soon turned to more crowded streets bordered by markets and vendors when they crossed into Soho. Grand buildings mixed with more modest homes and workshops gradually became more subdued and the streets quieter, with houses around squares.

“We are in Bloomsbury,” Dot said in surprise. “What are we doing here?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Edward said quietly, forcing his leg to quit bouncing.

They turned down a quiet street and came to a stop in front of a tall townhouse. Its facade was far from the elegant Mayfair homes they were used to, but more appealing than most houses where Dot likely saw her patients.

Dot turned toward the coach door, but before they disembarked, Edward wanted to speak to her and covered her hands with his to stop her.

“When I asked you about what happened with unwed mothers, you told me that most went to workhouses or perhaps even asylums.”

“Yes,” she said, her brow furrowing. “It’s awful. Many women can hardly support themselves and must find someone to look after their babies while they spend all of their waking hours doing hard labor. Often, the babies are taken away to foundling hospitals, which is so sad. That is worst case scenario, however. Sometimes, women find support within their families, whether it is reluctant support or not.”

“But not often.”

“No,” she said softly, her lashes falling to cover her eyes. “Not often.”

“What if…” he began, “what if we can find a way to change that? For some of them, at least?”

Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting his.

“What do you mean?”

“Come with me,” he said, exiting the carriage door before holding up a hand to help her down.

Her eyes were wondrous, excited as he came to a stop in front of the unimposing door. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and passed it over to her.

She stared at it sitting in her palm.

“For you,” he said simply.

She looked from him to the key to the door and back at him.

“I do not understand.”

He nodded toward the building.

“Open it.”

She walked to the house, her gaze bouncing up toward him periodically as she fit the key into the lock and turned it, pushing open the door and looking around in wonderment.

Edward guided a hand to the small of her back and urged her inside.

The front room, which appeared to be a drawing room, was furnished in comfortable furniture, somewhat worn but appealing.

“Is anyone here?” she asked.

“Not yet,” he said from behind her. “But there will be, soon. Someone will join us in a few minutes, and this place will be full in time.”

She turned to him, her eyes wide.

“And just who will be filling it?”

“Women who have nowhere else to go,” he said, reaching out and taking both of her hands in his once more. “I can see how you miss your work and I know how much you have wanted to help women in your care. I thought that maybe this could help in more ways than one. With this house, you could provide a home for mothers and their babies who have nowhere else to go. With all of the bedrooms, each family could have their privacy. We could have staff who live here and help take care of them. And perhaps we can find a way to help the women get back on their feet once they are able, with nannies who could watch the children while their mothers work.”

Dot’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him. She opened and closed it a few times until she finally found words.

“Who would pay for all of this?”

“I will,” he said. “I am wealthier than most realize, for I do not like to spend my money on frivolous things, which this is not. Perhaps we could also host an event now and again to raise money, but that is up to you.”

“Edward,” she breathed, tears beginning to leak out of her eyes. “I do not know what to say.”

“Is it… satisfactory?” he asked, his stomach twisting at the thought that she might not like this.

“Oh, Edward,” she said, laughing through her tears. “It is more than I could have ever imagined.” She threw herself into his arms. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight as she cried into his shoulder.

He breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that she was pleased and hopeful that it would be enough.

For he wasn’t sure what he would do if he couldn’t make her happy.

Dot eagerly toured the home from the front door, through the ground floor, upper floor, and servants quarters. Edward truly had thought of everything.

“I had visions of mothers having meetings, educational opportunities, training for work, in this room,” he said, gesturing toward the parlor, but then quickly waved his words away. “But this is yours. You do as you wish. I shouldn’t be telling you what to do.”

“I appreciate your ideas, Edward,” she said, squeezing his hand, still amazed that he would understand her so well.

What man would ever give his wife such an opportunity? Especially a place that would most certainly be frowned upon by others in their circles? She understood without him telling her that their connection to this would have to be kept to that of a benefactor and not of those managing such an establishment.

It was not uncommon for women to support a cause, and this was certainly one that meant something to her.

When Edward had first passed Dot the key and told her that the house was for her, she had panicked momentarily that he was providing her with another place to live. But that was silly. He had married her, and a man like Edward would keep her close, even if he didn’t want a marriage for anything more than convenience.

What the house had truly contained was more than she would ever have thought possible.

“Edward,” she said, looking up at him, uncertain of how to express her gratitude and appreciation for what he had done for her. “I?—”

A knock on the door interrupted her, and Edward pulled it open to allow in a woman with a certain matronly quality.

“Mrs. Clements,” Edward said, welcoming her. “How good to see you. This is my wife, Lady Mandrake. She will be overlooking the establishment. Dot, I have hired Mrs. Clements to be a housekeeper of sorts here, although I am sure that she can look after all aspects of the requirements of the women and children. Mrs. Clements has been properly reviewed and has assured me she will be discreet.”

“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Clements,” Dot said. “I have to admit I am at a disadvantage, for I am only learning about this today, but I have many ideas I would love to speak to you about.”

“I look forward to it,” Mrs. Clements said, reaching out, surprising Dot by patting her hand. “And yes, I will be very careful about sharing information. I found myself in such a situation years ago, and I wish I had a place like this where I could have gone for help.”

“What did you do?” Dot asked with sincere curiosity.

“My parents looked after me,” she said, pressing her palm against Dot’s hand, sensing her concern, “though not without a great deal of judgment and expectations for my future. But that was a long time ago. Now I am happy to be helping those who have found themselves in such an unfortunate position.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Clements,” Dot smiled. “I look forward to working with you.”

“The rest of the staffing I will leave up to the two of you,” Edward said. “But I wanted to help you get started so you would have no impediments as you will not be able to be here throughout the day.”

“Thank you, Edward,” Dot said. “And thank you, Mrs. Clements. Could we arrange a time to see one another later this week?”

“That would be lovely,” she said. “I will be taking the housekeeper’s rooms starting tomorrow, so you can find me here.”

They said farewell as they walked to the door, where Dot and Edward stepped out into the street and the waiting carriage.

“Edward,” Dot said, turning toward him once they had sat on the same side of the carriage, looping her arms around his neck. She was excited again, yes, but there was more to it. Her heart was practically glowing with gladness that he understood her and saw her as more than just a wife who would fit into his life. “I do not know how ever to thank you.”

“You thank me simply by being in my life,” he said gruffly. “This is my attempt to show you how grateful I am for you.”

“Well, you have done a wonderful job of it,” she said. She leaned in toward him, deciding to listen to the voice telling her to kiss him. He was her husband, so what was holding her back?

Their lips met and held, and while her kiss might have taken him by surprise, he did not seem to mind. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer until there was no space between them.

Dot’s head tilted back with the urgency he met her with. This was not just a simple touch of lips but a merging of souls, a dance of passion and desire that ignited a fire within them both.

The carriage rattled on, the sound of hooves against cobblestones becoming distant as they lost themselves in each other. Dot’s hands trailed along Edward’s chest, the warmth of his skin seeping through her gloves. Every sense was heightened – the scent of his cologne mingling with the musky aroma of leather seats, the soft velvet fabric tickling her skin, the taste of him on her lips.

Their kiss deepened as if guided by an invisible force, growing more urgent, fervent.

Edward’s fingers tangled in Dot’s hair, sending shivers down her spine. She let out a soft gasp that was lost in the intensity of their embrace.

For in this moment, nothing else existed for Dot but the man before her, his touch electrifying her very being. She couldn’t have said which neighborhood they were driving through as the carriage rocked with their passion, the outside world fading away into a blur of colors and sounds.

With sudden boldness that surprised even her, Dot’s hand moved to Edward’s cravat, deftly undoing it. His breath hitched as her fingers brushed against his chest, the heat rising with each passing second. The confined space of the carriage only added to the sense of intimacy.

A niggling thought in the back of Dot’s mind told her that she was a grown woman – a married one now, at that – and this was more than untoward, but she no longer cared as all that mattered was the importance of showing Edward just how much he meant to her, and quelling the own rising needs of her body.

Edward’s hands were not idle either, exploring every curve and dip of Dot’s body with a reverence that spoke volumes. His touch set her skin on fire, igniting a hunger within her that had been awakened last night and never seemed to be quieted but rather ebbed and flowed. Their kisses became more urgent, a silent language of need and longing that transcended words.

Edward swiftly lifted Dot onto his lap, her skirts pooling around them as they melded together in a tangle of limbs and desire. A rush of heat pooled between her thighs, her body responding instinctively to Edward’s touch.

Their kisses grew deeper, more desperate, each one a promise of what was to come. Dot’s hands roamed freely over Edward’s body, the planes of his chest hard beneath her fingertips. She could sense the tension coiling within him, matching the wild beating of her own heart.

Edward’s mouth trailed hot kisses along Dot’s neck, igniting trails of fire wherever he touched. She arched into him, a soft moan escaping her lips as pleasure surged through her.

With trembling hands, Dot lifted her skirts as Edward pushed his breeches down, their urgency overcoming any reservations or the practicalities of their attire. Edward gripped her hips, lifting her above him before setting her down on him as he thrust up into her. The gasp that escaped her lips turned into a cry of ecstasy as he lifted her up and down until she found the rhythm herself, the carriage rocking along with them.

Dot clung to Edward’s shoulders, nails digging into him as she met each thrust with equal vigor. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her eyes locked onto his, sharing their shock at the intensity of their coming together.

Edward’s grip on Dot tightened as he moved within her, his heart pounding in rhythm with his movements. His lips found hers once more, their passionate kiss sealing their souls together.

“Edward!” Dot shouted so loudly it was a wonder that the carriage didn’t stop, and as waves began to pulse within her, he gripped her arms and stilled against her with a cry as they found their release together.

Depleted of all energy, Dot fell against him, and he wrapped his arms around her as he brushed his hand over her hair, holding her in place with his cheek against the top of her head.

“You probably think me a wanton woman,” Dot murmured into his chest as embarrassment began to creep over her. She had been so overcome that she had initiated this almost without thinking – in a carriage, in the middle of the day, no less. It was the last thing she would have guessed Edward would want, but had he gone along with it so as to not hurt her feelings?

When he shook his head against hers, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“I welcome it,” he whispered. “As long as it is with me.”

“Always,” she promised, sitting up and back on his thighs as she stared deeply into his eyes.

The realization washed over her so swiftly, that even though she knew she might not hear the same back, she had to tell him.

“I love you, Edward,” she said, blinking back tears. “I always knew that you were a good man, but you have let down all of your walls with me and shown me who you truly are. Many might think that your need to fix everything is due to you seeking perfection, but I know better. That is not it at all. It is because of your care for others, your wish to see people happy. Especially the people you love.”

She paused suddenly as she realized what she was saying – that she was suggesting he cared for her as much as she did him.

Which was not necessarily the case. She hadn’t told him that she loved him because she wanted anything in return.

Even if she desperately wished he felt the same for her.

She held her breath, determining how she could take back her words.

But it was too late.