Page 49 of Road Trip With a Rogue (Her Majesty’s Rebels #3)

Cranford House, Mayfair.

Daisy glanced up from her seat behind Lucien’s desk—the very desk that still made her blush whenever she remembered how she and Lucien had “christened” it the first week she’d come to live with him at Cranford House.

The sight of her husband still made her heart rate increase, especially when he lounged in the doorway in that elegant, slightly menacing way he had, and looked at her with that sleepy, possessive gaze.

He tilted his chin at the letter in her hand. “What’s that?”

“A present from my mother. And a letter.”

“What does it say?”

Daisy smiled. “Well, I wrote to her about our wedding, of course, and she’s delighted. She sends her apologies that she and Lorenzo weren’t here for the actual ceremony, but she invites us both to go and visit them in Naples at any time.”

“Would you like to go? We can if you like.”

Daisy’s heart swelled with love. Lucien would give her the moon and the stars if she asked for them.

“It might be nice. I’ve always wanted to go on a grand tour.

All three of my brothers went, at various times, and they all came back expounding on how beautiful and welcoming Italy was.

I’m fairly sure they were talking about the women, not the architecture and culture, but I’ve always fancied going to see it for myself. ”

“In that case, we’ll go. Your wish is my command, Your Grace.”

Daisy shook her head with a wry smile. She still couldn’t quite believe she was a duchess. Or that she was married to such a wicked, wonderful duke.

He pushed himself off the doorframe and started toward her. Daisy held up the other item she’d received.

“And she sent me this. A beautiful cameo brooch.”

Lucien leaned over the desk to look. “Who’s the woman?”

“It’s Venus, I think. The Roman goddess of love. And that little cherub with a bow is Cupid.”

“How romantic. Amorous, even.”

“Indeed.”

Lucien’s lips curved upward and Daisy’s skin tingled as his lazy gaze traveled over her face then dipped down, to linger on her breasts. She was wearing a new pale blue dress from Madame Lef è vre and she’d known the enticing cut of the bodice would drive him to distraction.

It was precisely the reason she’d bought it.

From his higher vantage point, he doubtless had an excellent view down her cleavage. And since she was quite as wicked as him—he really was a terrible influence—she deliberately leaned forward to give him a better look. She loved the way he looked at her.

Heat kindled in his gaze.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, trying to sound innocent and not at all like a woman who wanted her husband to do all manner of scandalous things to her.

“I’m thinking about inheritance. Legacies. That sort of thing.”

Daisy blinked. She hadn’t been expecting that response. But then she saw Lucien’s eyes crinkle at the corners and his lips curve up and realized he was teasing.

“Oh? In what way?”

“Specifically, I’m thinking about this dukedom. Running it is no small feat.”

“That’s true,” she agreed. “You make it look easy, but it’s a tremendous amount of work.”

“It is. I can’t, in all conscience, let someone as pea-brained as Perry become the next Duke of Cranford. I love the boy, but it would be irresponsible to let all this thinking and managing fall on him.”

Daisy bit back a smile. “Practically a punishment,” she agreed.

Lucien’s eyes darkened in that hot and hungry way that made her stomach knot in wicked anticipation. His gaze fell to her lips.

“What do you think I should do?”

Daisy was fairly convinced she knew where this discussion was heading. “I’m no expert on inheritance law—you’d have to check with Ellie—but I think the only way to prevent him from succeeding you would be to produce a legitimate male heir of your own.”

Lucien’s brows quirked. “Hmm. I think you’re right. And, since you’re the duchess, and therefore the only one able to provide me with said legitimate heir, that would require your assistance.” His eyes met hers again. “A joint collaboration, so to speak. Is that something you might consider?”

Daisy rounded the desk to stand in front of him. “Perhaps.”

She slid her arms around his waist, but the teasing light faded from his eyes as he looked down at her.

“If you don’t want children, Daisy, then we won’t. It’s your choice. I didn’t marry you just to give me heirs.” He lifted his hand and stroked her jaw. “I honestly don’t care if Perry inherits. He can run the dukedom into the ground. Turn the great park at Carisbrooke Hall into a petting zoo.”

Daisy bit back a chuckle. That was precisely the kind of hairbrained thing Perry would do. And Violet would probably convince him to dye all the sheep and swans on the estate pink, to match her outfits.

“That would be a shame. I have rather fond memories of Carisbrooke Hall. We should go back there soon. I want to sleep in your bed with you in it, this time.”

She went up on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss against his mouth. “I’d like to have children with you Lucien.”

He made a soft growl of pleasure against her lips. “You would?”

She nodded. In truth, this wasn’t something they’d ever discussed.

On their wedding night, after they’d said their vows in the tiny candle-lit chapel in the grounds of Kenwood House, Daisy had changed into the shirt, breeches, and jacket that Tess had miraculously produced.

Justin had gallantly lent her his horse, and Daisy and Lucien had galloped together back across Hampstead Heath and come here, to Cranford House.

Daisy had seen barely a glimpse of the lavish interior before Lucien swept her up into his arms, carried her up the stairs and into his bedroom, and stripped them both of their clothes in a passionate blur of limbs.

His urgency had made Daisy’s heart sing with joy, and when he’d finally joined his body with hers, they’d both let out twin groans of relief. He’d taken her to the very peak of pleasure, but when he’d been about to withdraw to spend himself on the sheets, Daisy had vehemently protested.

She’d wrapped her arms and legs around him, stalling his movement.

“Don’t leave me,” she’d panted, half dazed with pleasure. “Inside. I want to feel you inside me. Finish it. Please, Lucien.”

For a moment he’d stilled, as if afraid he’d misheard, and then he’d kissed her with such passion that she’d lost her breath.

“God, Daisy. Yes.”

He’d pushed himself deep, finding his rhythm again, and the sound he made when his body released inside her had been music to her ears.

She’d held him close through the aftershocks, loving the way his heart pounded against her chest, the way he whispered her name so reverently. She’d felt blissfully complete.

Daisy had assumed that Lucien would see her action for what it was: a willingness to risk becoming pregnant with his child. The thought of bearing him children was not something she viewed with dismay. Far from it. If it was meant to be, she would conceive, and be fiercely glad.

But he’d obviously thought she’d only allowed him to finish inside her because the timing meant she was unlikely to conceive. Plenty of women tried that method of contraception, although it was rather unreliable, from what she’d heard.

Or perhaps he’d thought she’d taken measures to prevent a pregnancy from taking hold? Either way, the fact that he was asking her opinion, instead of merely assuming his “husbandly rights” and forcing her to bear him children, as Dalkeith had done to her mother, made her immensely glad.

Daisy gazed up at him. He still looked serious, worried, and her heart cracked open a little more. He might call himself selfish and overbearing, but in every way that mattered, he was an excellent human being.

“I’d like to have children with you Lucien,” she repeated softly. “I’d certainly like to try.”

His expression softened as he kissed the tip of her nose, then the freckle on her left cheek. “I’d like that too. And it doesn’t matter if none of them are boys. We could have a dozen girls, and I’d love them all, because they’d come from you.”

“And you,” she reminded him with a smile. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s no guarantee it will even happen. It could take months of trying. Years, even.” She gave him a gentle bite on the earlobe and felt him twitch in response “In fact, I think we should start trying right now.”

Lucien sent her a mock-scandalized look. “We’re due for dinner with Tess and Justin in less than an hour.”

“I’m sure they won’t mind if we’re a few minutes late.”

He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “We’ll tell them we were held up by highwaymen.”

Daisy chuckled. “In Mayfair?”

He shrugged. “You never know. Stranger things have happened. The crime in this city is getting worse by the day.”

“Good news for King and Company. We’ll never be short of work.”

“I can’t believe you’re thinking about business at a time like this. I’m clearly losing my touch. Now stop talking, and kiss me.”

“Yes, Your Grace. With pleasure.”