Page 30 of The Viscount Needs a Wife (All for Love #2)

Emrys spent the morning with his secretary, catching up on correspondence and the list for the House of Lords that was now in session.

He supposed he would have to put in an appearance.

But not today. This afternoon he was going to take his wife riding.

He had continued her riding lessons while at The Castle, and it was time to show her off in Hyde Park.

He had visited Tattersall’s yesterday and purchased a gentle mare for her. The beast had just been delivered to the mews behind the house. It was a surprise, and he looked forward to her reaction.

Going in search of her, he found her in the morning room, writing letters. He supposed they must be the ones she began this morning that he had interrupted.

“There you are,” he said coming in and going to her side.

She looked up and smiled. They had dined together at lunchtime but spent the morning and the two hours since occupied about their own business, she with the children, he with his secretary.

Why did it seem so long a time? Really my dependence on her is extraordinary.

It hadn’t been like this with Caro, had it?

Even in the beginning? I can’t remember. I don’t think so.

“Do you need something?” she said, putting down her pen.

He suppressed a lewd response and smiled, picking up her hand and kissing it. “I have a surprise for you. Come.”

Standing, she raised her eyebrows in inquiry, a faint flush staining her cheeks. “What surprise?”

He grinned. “You’ll see. Come with me.” He tucked her hand in his arm and led her from the room, through the back of the house, out into the gardens at the rear, and through the gate to the stables.

Waiting for them was his head groomsman, holding the bay mare.

Annis’s eyes widened at sight of the lovely horse. “Emrys?”

“She is yours, my love,” he said with a grin. “I bought her for you yesterday. Isn’t she a beauty?”

Annis stepped up to the mare and stroked her withers tentatively. “She is. Emrys, really you shouldn’t—”

“I should,” he said firmly. “You need a horse to ride in London. She has a gentle, sweet temperament, but she is a little more lively than old Sandy. She has been trained to be a lady’s mount, however. I think she will suit you well.”

“Oh, Emrys, you are so thoughtful!” she hugged him, and he hugged her back, well pleased.

“I thought we could go for a ride in Hyde Park, put her through her paces?”

“I—suppose.” Annis eyed the lovely mare with some trepidation.

“I’ll be with you. I won’t let anything happen,” he said reassuringly.

Annis nodded, biting her lip.

“Good. Shall we go now? You could go and put your riding habit on.”

“It’s not mine—it’s Sarah’s. I suppose I will need to remember to order one made when we go to the modiste’s. Thank you, Emrys,” she said shyly and kissed his cheek. He wanted to kiss her properly, but with the groom standing there, he restrained himself.

Fifteen minutes later she returned arrayed in her borrowed riding habit. It was blue and fitted her lovely figure to perfection. She would have her own gowns soon, after the promised shopping expedition with Sarah on Friday. He was grateful to Sarah for saving him from that torture.

Having gotten her settled comfortably in the saddle, he mounted Inigo and led the way out of the mews at an ambling walk.

“What will you name her?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” Annis leaned forward to pat the mare gently with one gloved hand. The ears twitched, and the horse shook her head.

“Oh dear, doesn’t she like that?”

“I don’t think it’s you. There is a fly bothering her.”

“Oh.” Annis waved away the insect and settled into her seat. She looked every inch the elegant lady perched on the mare.

They entered the main thoroughfare, and the mare held steady. She had been trained in traffic and was not easily spooked, he was glad to see. Annis was a little tense but trying to hide it.

“Relax,” he murmured. “Everything will be fine.”

“Sorry, I’m such a ninny. I’ve never done this before.”

“I know, hence why we are practicing before London is swamped with people again. If we do this every day, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

“Thank you,” she said with a grateful smile.

He nodded encouragingly.

They arrived at Hyde Park and entered the grounds. It was a bit early for the most fashionable time to be seen, which was five o’clock, so there were fewer people to contend with. And as he had noted, the little season wasn’t in full swing yet.

They ambled slowly down Rotten Row among the other riders and the occasional carriage, the pedestrians walking to their left on the footpath.

“Have you been here before?” he asked.

“Oh yes, when I worked for the Dowtons in London, I used to bring my charges here for walks in the afternoons. But I have never visited London while in the duke’s employ.”

“You will see some changes then in six years.”

“Yes, no doubt.”

“Ah, there’s the dowager with Lady Ava and Ravenshaw,” he said, waving. They brought their mounts to a halt and Ava exclaimed, “Oh what a pretty mare, Annis. I am green with envy!”

Annis smiled at her erstwhile pupil, a little flush of pleasure at the compliment.

Jerome DeVere, the Marquess of Ravenshaw, bowed at the waist and gave Annis one of his devilish smiles which had her visibly flustered.

The dowager asked her how she did, and under cover of her response, Ravenshaw murmured, “An unexpected start, Emrys. The governess?”

Emrys stiffened, bridling at the implied criticism of Annis. “And why not? You’re hardly in a position to preach propriety, Ravenshaw!”

Ravenshaw raised his eyebrows and smirked slightly. “Like that, is it? Congratulations, I hope you’re happy.”

“I am,” said Emrys, somewhat mollified.

Ravenshaw lost his smirk and nodded. “I’m glad,” he said simply.

The sincerity in his tone smoothed the last of Emrys’s ruffled feathers.

Just then Ava claimed Ravenshaw’s attention with a touch on his arm and Emrys was struck by the picture they made.

Two of the best-looking people in London, a petite, pretty blonde and a handsome, dark-haired Corinthian.

Ravenshaw was too old for her, of course, even if he were the marrying sort, which he wasn’t.

And in any case, Rob would have his guts for garters if he so much as looked at Ava that way. But they did make a picture.

He and Annis took their leave of the other party and ambled on, turning at the end of the Row and ambling back.

“I think I shall call her Charis,” announced Annis. “It means grace in Greek you know. Thank you so much, Emrys. She is lovely,” she said, smiling at him with such warmth his chest filled up to bursting.

“Don’t keep thanking me. I’m your husband—it’s my duty to see you properly mounted.” His wicked sense of humor asserted itself, and he added, “Although that’s something I’ll be doing more in private!”

“What?” Eyes widening in comprehension, she flushed. “Emrys! Not here!”

“Exactly!” he said, smirking. “In private.”

Later that night, in the privacy of their bedchamber, he looked up at her straddling him as he drove upward into her, and her delicious breasts swung before his face.

“I trust you feel well mounted my lady?” He grinned at his joke even as he panted, gripping her hips and thrusting hard enough to jolt her whole body.

She moaned softly, “Emrys!”

“Yes, love,” he panted. “Come for me, sweetheart.” He groaned.

“God, Annis, I’m not going to be able to hold off much longer.

” He moved his hand to rub her furiously and she arched her body, flinging back her long neck and thrusting forward her magnificent breasts.

He reached up and captured a nipple in his mouth and dropped back against the pillows as he lost the battle and came hard.

Pleasure spiking and flooding his senses, her body milking his to completion as she flopped forward on his chest with a replete moan, panting in his ear.

Who would be without a wife? he thought muzzily, stroking her damp back and pulling up the sheets to keep her warm.