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Moments later, entwined in each other’s arms, satiated from their vigorous lovemaking, Emmeline felt content for the second time in as many days. Andrew’s body, warm and strong, held her close, and she sighed in relaxation. Making love with Andrew was fulfilling, exhausting, and pure magical bliss.

She fought to keep her eyes open because she knew when she awoke next time, she would be alone.

But it was no use. Sleep pulled her under, and when she awoke, sunbeams were sliding between the curtains, and she sat up, alone in her bed, and stretched, then lay back down and snuggled under her coverlet again.

The muscles in her body eased, and she relished the mild soreness reminding her of last night’s pleasurable events.

“Morning, ma’am,” Amanda said as she entered the room and opened the curtains.

“It is another rare sunny day. The carriages will be leaving at eleven to go into Bath. You are promenading through Sydney Gardens and having breakfast in the gardens when the promenade concludes. Then you are free to shop along Bond and Milsom Streets and visit the Pump Rooms. Which is where the carriages will pick you up to bring you back here.”

“My goodness, Amanda, how do you know all this?” Emmeline said as she pulled the coverlet up close to her chin to hide her nakedness.

“The itinerary was posted just now. The hosts changed the schedule once they saw the sunny, warm day.”

“Leaving at eleven,” Emmeline remarked. “Would you go down to the kitchens and bring me toast and tea?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Once Amanda left, Emmeline hurried from the bed, threw on her night rail and dressing gown, and sat on the bed awaiting her breakfast tray. Her stomach growled, and she realized she was famished. She didn’t usually wake up hungry, but after last night’s lovemaking, she had an appetite.

Her mind wandered to what Andrew was thinking right now.

Did he remember last night with great enthusiasm?

Was he looking forward to repeating it with her tonight?

How silly she was being. She wasn’t a doubter or one to have fits of uncertainty, nor was she a worrier.

Somehow though, when it came to Andrew, she was all those things and more.

She didn’t like it one bit. It made her feel weak and timid, and she was neither.

He also made her second guess herself in his eyes.

Was she enough for him? Did he love her?

Was he only whiling away the time until he found a young debutante to marry?

Someone pure, innocent, and very young. Someone who could give him many heirs.

Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she groaned out and chastised herself, “Stop it. Stop it right this moment.”

Amanda entered with her food and sat the tray beside her on the bed. “What would you like to wear today?”

Emmeline nibbled on toast with marmalade. “The pretty pink silk day dress with the matching pelisse and wide-brimmed bonnet.”

“Good choice. And your cream parasol, which complements the dress nicely, will keep you shaded while out of doors along with your bonnet.”

A few minutes before eleven, Emmeline went downstairs to the hall, which bustled with everyone chatting. She had a moment of anxiety, finding everyone speaking at once unsettling, but it quickly eased. Finding her mother, she made her way to her. “Have you everything you need for today, Mama?”

Her mother looked at her, somewhat confused. “And why wouldn’t I? I’ve gone on many outings in my day.” She paused and looked her over with a mother’s critical eye. “Are you feeling well?”

“Yes. Just excited for today.”

“Oh, look. It’s time to leave,” Her mother said, taking her arm as the crowd was exiting the house and piling into numerous carriages.

Emmeline found herself inside a coach with her mother, Catherine, and Catherine’s husband.

She had yet to see Andrew. Just as their vehicle lurched forward, she spotted him entering a coach with Caldwell, Lady Clarice, and Mrs. Charlette Beauchamp.

Not until this house party had she met Mrs. Beauchamp.

She was the widow of a decorated war hero who’d fought alongside the Duke of Wellington and was a close friend to Lady Clarice.

Both ladies were several years younger than Emmeline and no doubt seeking husbands.

They could become friends as long as Mrs. Beauchamp didn’t have her sights set on Andrew.

However, she didn’t know what to make of Lady Clarice.

She was an enigma. Emmeline first thought Caldwell was smitten with her, but she took that back after Andrew’s comment about her warming his bed.

They appeared friendly but not in love. She, for one, could not entertain sharing a bed with someone merely for the sake of one’s own pleasure.

Her heart needed to be engaged. Which, of course, it was with Andrew.

The carriages pulled up one by one and unloaded their passengers in front of the Sydney Hotel.

One must go through the hotel to enter the pleasure gardens.

Emmeline looked around for Andrew. She loved her mother but would rather parade through the gardens on his arm.

Just when she had given up, she saw him strolling her way.

She sighed with relief. At the same time, her heart accelerated.

“Mrs. Fitzpatrick,” he said, bowing gracefully. “Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you through the gardens? People are lining up for The Promenade.”

She curtsied. “The honor is mine, Your Grace.” She looked questioningly at her mother, who waved her off. “Go. Do not fret about me.”

Before placing her arm on Andrew’s, she opened her pretty cream parasol trimmed with lace. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” he replied with a grin that made her heart surge.

The gardens were crowded with people of all social standings who came for the daily breakfast and dancing afterward.

Bath was such a pleasant surprise to Emmeline, and after this visit, she planned to come back.

It had much to offer and didn’t have the oppressive feel of London or the overly quiet solitude of the country.

Not that she had a country estate of her own, of course.

“What beautiful gardens,” Andrew said as he slowed his pace.

“They are,” she agreed as she also slowed.

It was either that or step on the heels of the two fashionably dressed young ladies, not from their party, strolling in front of them.

They both looked over their shoulders now and again, blushing and giggling.

They looked around seventeen. Did they keep looking because of Andrew?

Did they know he was a duke? It appeared as though they did from the coquettish looks they sent him.

“You appear to have two pretty admirers in front of us.”

“I see that,” he chuckled. “Too young for my taste, my dear.” He waggled his brows at her. “I have the lady I desire already on my arm.”

His words nearly had her tripping. “I believe they have set their sights on you.”

“Yes, well. No doubt either of their mothers or both sent them my way, hoping for a match.” He lowered his head and murmured. “Innocent virgins don’t interest me. Not in my bed nor as my wife.”

This time, her steps did falter.

Steadying her, he said, his voice laced with humor, “Is something amiss? You’re usually so graceful.”

“You rogue. Behave, or I shall seek out my mother and walk with her instead,” she teased.

He gasped, his free arm covering his heart. “You wound me, my dear. Perhaps Mrs. Beauchamp would enjoy my naughty behavior if you do not?”

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing was forthcoming.

Realizing his error, he patted her hand. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t have teased you by saying that. It’s not the same thing as walking with one’s mother.”

“All is forgiven. After all, I started it.” As soon as the promenade ended, they made their way to the food tables. Andrew got coffee, and Emmeline picked up a cup of tea. They both indulged in one of Sally Lunn’s famous buns.

They took their drinks and buns to a quiet area near the canal, and Andrew, ever the gentleman, removed his jacket, placing it on the grass beneath a large English Oak so she wouldn’t soil her dress. “Thank you, my gallant knight.”

“You are ever so welcome, my fair lady.”

With Andrew holding her food, Emmeline sat down, adjusted her skirts, and took in the scenery as he handed her tea and bun to her. Several boats were on the canal with fashionably dressed patrons aboard. It would be fun to take to the canal if they had time. “It’s beautiful and peaceful here.”

He joined her on the ground, managing not to spill a drop of his coffee, sitting close, their bodies touching everywhere possible. She knew he did it on purpose, and she didn’t mind. It was safe, comforting, and arousing all at the same time, even if it wasn’t proper. “It is. Are you comfortable?”

“Yes. Very.”

“Emmeline?”

“Yes, Andrew?”

“You do know where this is going, don’t you?”

She knew where she wanted their relationship to go. Was he of like mind? Before she could answer, Andrew moved over, putting an appropriate amount of space between them. “We have company.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s just Caldwell and Lady Clarice.”

“So this is where you went off to,” Caldwell said as he spread his jacket on the ground. He helped Lady Clarice sit and joined her. “I heard several mamas speak your name to their daughters. You were smart to leave the crowd.”

“And you had to find us?” Andrew said with one cocked brow.

Caldwell laughed, “I may not be a duke, but I am also sought after by some of the mamas who don’t care about titles but do enjoy money. And I have plenty of money. One young lady practically chased me. If she hadn’t tripped on her skirt, she may have caught me.”

Andrew shook his head and laughed. “I would pay good money to see you run from a young debutante.”

“Are you enjoying Bath, Mrs. Fitzpatrick?” Lady Clarice asked as she picked blades of grass and twirled them between her fingers, having long since finished Sally Lunn’s delicious and gooey bun.

“Yes. And please call me Emmeline.”

“Thank you, Emmeline. I spent some time here years ago with my husband. He’d taken ill and swore the restorative water and the Roman Baths would cure him.”

“Did they?” Emmeline asked.

“For a time. But he was old. People die.”

“What a mood crusher you are, Lady Clarice,” Caldwell remarked with a grin, a wink, and a nudge.

“I hear music. The dancing must be starting. Shall we?” Andrew said as he stood, holding out his hand for her. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet and picked up his jacket, brushing off the grass and dirt before putting it on.

“Oh my,” Emmeline said with trepidation as they approached the dancing, presently a country reel. “I believe those mothers and daughters are looking straight at you.”

“A little bold, don’t you think?” he said.

“You should dance with several of the young ladies. It will boost their standing with the other gentlemen to be seen dancing with a duke.”

“I’m not dancing with them. I don’t know them. If it were someone I knew and could help her without entangling myself, I would consider it.” He held out his hand. “Shall we?”

She smiled, and took his hand. “We shall.”

The dance was not conducive to conversation.

They moved forward and back, twirled around, broke apart, and came back together, only to do it again.

Emmeline liked the excitement of country reels, but they were nothing compared to the waltz.

Memories of dancing the waltz with Andrew the other night flashed in her mind.

She didn’t expect a waltz in the middle of the day with the sun shining, which was unfortunate.

The dance ended, and they walked to a table with punch and lemonade, which had already been poured into cups. They both picked up a lemonade. “Don’t look now,” Emmeline whispered, “but the Countess of Hartford is almost upon us with her daughter, Lady Beatrice.”

Andrew groaned.

“What a pleasant surprise to see you here, Your Grace,” said the countess as she curtsied. “I hope your mother is well and enjoying living in the country.”

Andrew smiled tightly and bowed. “She is doing well, all things considered. I will give her your best.”

“Please do, Your Grace. You remember my daughter, Lady Beatrice.”

Andrew bowed over her hand as Lady Beatrice curtsied gracefully. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Lady Beatrice. Are you enjoying Bath?”

Before Lady Beatrice could answer, the countess chimed in. “She would enjoy it more if you found it in your heart to dance with her, Your Grace.”

Andrew’s eyes locked with Emmeline’s, conveying his hesitancy. Before he could respond the countess added. “It’s one dance, Your Grace. It will do wonders in helping my daughter attract a suitor.” She touched her fan to his forearm. “Please, you must help out a family friend.”

Even before Andrew relented to the countess, Emmaline knew he would. Once she mentioned their family connection, she knew he would agree to one dance. He was too honorable not to.

Andrew bowed to Lady Beatrice and held out his arm. “Will you do me the honor of dancing with me, Lady Beatrice?”

“Yes,” she said softly, blushing as she placed her small, gloved hand on his arm, and they walked off.

Emmeline tried not to acknowledge the pain in her heart as he walked away with a stunning young lady looking comfortable on his arm.

Lady Beatrice did not take after her mother.

Lady Beatrice had long, thick, and wavy blonde hair.

Her facial features were delicate, and her green eyes were stunning.

Emmeline predicted she would not have a second Season.