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“Yes,” the marquess answered. “I built the orangery, although with help since that was a much larger project. I must get back to our guests, but perhaps I could give you a tour tomorrow?”

“Most definitely,” Andrew said.

The others drifted off, and once Emmeline and Andrew found themselves alone again, they walked arm and arm leisurely back toward the manor.

They stopped at all the roses and beautiful flowers to smell and admire the blossoms. “The gardeners must spend all day keeping these gardens so pristine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen more beautiful ones. ”

“Perhaps someday I can show you Blackstone Hall,” Andrew said as he waved his arm.

“The gardens there rival these. However, I need to commission someone to build me a gazebo. My father always talked about building one but never did. I need to remedy that.” He paused, and when he continued, his voice became deep and alluring, “Can you imagine what else we can do at my gazebo without anyone interrupting?”

Her feet barely touched the walkway as her heart pounded excitedly at the thought of visiting Blackstone Hall someday and what could happen in his private gazebo.

She had to remind herself that Andrew had inherited his father’s title and estates.

Some days, she still thought of him as the Earl of Quincy and not the Duke of Blackstone.

He was a duke and needed to marry and produce heirs.

Did she dare hope that he wanted her to be that person?

Or was he merely toying with her before he found someone younger?

The flames licking inside her body were extinguished in a sudden torrential rain as she lost sight of her determination to get him to fall in love with her.

*

Andrew escorted Emmeline through the gardens and back to the drawing room, and his body vibrated with awareness.

Truthfully, it hadn’t stopped since the moment he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

The memory of her soft, pliant lips and the feel of her tongue inside his mouth, teasing with his, had him nearly groaning out loud.

He hadn’t lied when he said he’d dreamed of kissing her forever, because it was true.

And finally, thank Christ, it had happened in such a magical place.

He didn’t usually have flights of fancy.

However, he had felt transported to a place where only they existed in a garden full of fairies.

He chuckled at his thoughts as he tightened his hold on her. He never wanted to let her go.

His time with Emmeline in the gazebo would visit his dreams tonight.

When he rubbed his leg against her womanhood, her eyes had glassed over while little pants and moans had escaped her delicious lips as she climaxed.

He’d fought hard not to embarrass himself and come in his breeches.

She had been a true vision. Never had he seen her look more vibrant and beautiful.

He would spend every minute of every day giving her pleasure if he could.

His heart constricted. He had to tell Emmeline the truth of Aiden’s death.

But he would push it off as long as possible, spend as much time with her as he could.

Because once she knew what had really happened, she would despise him, and he wouldn’t blame her.

So, for the time being, he would ignore the pain in his heart and his conscience and spend these two weeks with her, knowing it may be all the time they had.

“You are quiet,” Emmeline’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts. “Is something bothering you? Do you regret...?”

“No. Never will I ever regret the time I spend with you.” Bloody hell, he needed to rein in his emotions. “I hope we can spend every moment of this house party together.”

She gazed up at him, her face alight and happy. “So do I.”

They were back in the drawing room, which had thinned out.

The other guests were off on their own since there were no scheduled events until dinner and dancing.

But Andrew knew the billiards room was available to guests.

“Would you care for a game of billiards?” He remembered from long ago that she played. He hoped she still did.

“I haven’t played in so long,” she said with a smile. “But, yes, I would love to.”

Leading the way to the game room, which Andrew had stumbled upon by accident earlier, he had to fight to keep his hands to himself.

Since he’d touched her earlier and got a feel for her soft skin, he craved her even more.

When they arrived, he found the Marquess of Hollingsworth and Caldwell playing.

“Caldwell,” he said with a smirk, “it didn’t take you long, after I mentioned a billiards room, for you to take over the table.”

Caldwell’s laughter spread throughout the room, “It was such a wonderful idea. I couldn’t let the suggestion pass.”

“I didn’t see you earlier, Hollingsworth. I didn’t know you were attending.” Andrew led Emmeline to a comfortable chair and took the one beside her for himself.

“I’m still in the market for a wife, thanks to Langford,” Hollingsworth said. “I was informed there would be several young ladies attending who hoped to make advantageous matches.”

“And you consider yourself one?”

“Hilarious, Blackstone.”

“What about Lady Priscilla? I thought your banns would be posted by now,” Andrew said.

“Yes, well.” Hollingsworth tugged on his cravat.

“It appears she couldn’t escape me fast enough.

She ran off and married a naval officer with whom she had secretly exchanged letters.

He is the cousin of an acquaintance of hers.

” He took a shot and missed. “My self-esteem has become non-existent as of late.”

Andrew couldn’t help himself teasing. “Perhaps you will find a lady who will overlook your damaged person and advanced age.”

Hollingsworth missed another shot. “If you don’t shut up, I will lose this game. And since when is thirty-five old?”

Flinging out his arm, Andrew said, “Just hurry up and finish the game. Mrs. Fitzpatrick and I would like to play.”

“Please take your time,” Emmeline interjected. “There are several hours yet until dinner and dancing.”

Thirty minutes later their game ended with Caldwell winning. Hollingsworth was a terrible billiards player.

Andrew stood and held out his hand to Emmeline. “The table is ours.”

Hollingsworth and Caldwell poured themselves drinks from the sideboard. “Don’t mind if we stay and watch,” Hollingsworth said with a smirk as he sat in the chair vacated by Andrew, and Caldwell sat in the one Emmeline had occupied.

“Not at all. Perhaps you will learn something.” He winked at Emmeline. “Emmeline used to be a fierce competitor.”

Laughing, she picked up a mace. “That was a long time ago,” she said as she concentrated on striking her white ball with the foot of the mace.

They agreed the game would end when the first player reached twenty-one points.

Emmeline focused on hitting her white ball into the red ball and sinking it into the pocket, which would give her three points.

“You missed,” Andrew chuckled. “I remember a time you could make that shot with your eyes closed.”

“Yes, well. I told you it’s been quite a while since I played. Aiden wasn’t a fan of billiards.”

Andrew winced and shrugged his shoulders before he took his turn.

“No. He wasn’t. Which is why you and I played.

” He hit his white ball with the opposite end of the mace and put her white ball into the nearest pocket, earning himself two points.

He tried not to appear concerned after her mention of Aiden but suspected he wasn’t entirely successful.

“Nice shot,” she said.

The game dragged on, but Emmeline didn’t seem to mind. When they had finally finished several games—she won two and Andrew won three—they both went to their respective rooms. Dinner couldn’t come soon enough.