Victoria gasped.
Her maid gasped even louder.
Robert actually flushed, looking a bit embarrassed.
“Oh, Robert!” Victoria said, almost afraid to reach out and touch the glittering necklace and matching earrings. “I have never seen anything more lovely.”
“I have,” he murmured, touching her cheek.
The maid, who was French and very discreet, quietly left the room.
“They are much too precious,” Victoria said, but she was reaching out to touch them with an air of wonder in her eyes.
Robert picked the necklace up and made to put it around her neck. “May I?” At her nod he moved behind her. “What else, pray tell, should I spend my money on?”
“I-I don't know,” Victoria stammered, really liking the feel of the gemstones on her breast-bone despite her protestations. “I'm sure there must be something more worthy.”
Robert held out the earnings for her to put on. “You are my wife, Victoria. I like to buy you presents. Expect many more in the future.”
“But I have nothing for you.”
He leaned over her hand and kissed it gallantly. “Your presence in my life is enough,” he murmured. “Although…”
“Although?” she prompted. She did so want to give him what he needed.
“A child might be nice,” he said with a sheepish smile. “If you could give me one of those…”
Victoria blushed. “At the rate we've been going, I don't foresee any problem with that.”
“Good. Now then, if you could further endeavor to make her a girl who looks just like you—”
“I have no control over that,” she said, laughing. Then her face sobered. It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she loved him. Every muscle in her body was poised to throw herself in his arms and say “I love you” over and over and over. But she didn't want him to think that she confused love and gratitude, so she decided to wait until later that night. She would light a scented candle in their room, wait until the mood was just right…
“Why do you suddenly look so dreamy?” Robert asked, touching her chin.
Victoria smiled secretively. “Oh, no reason. Just a little surprise I have for this evening.”
“Really?” His eyes lit with anticipation. “During the ball or afterward?”
“After.”
His gaze grew heavy lidded and sensual. “I can hardly wait.”
An hour later they were poised to enter the Lindworthy mansion. Mrs. Brightbill and Harriet were standing directly behind the newlyweds; they had decided that it would be easier for all four of them to take one carriage.
Robert looked down at his new wife with concern in his eyes. “Are you still nervous?”
She glanced up at him in surprise. “How did you know I was nervous?”
“Yesterday when Aunt Brightbill declared her intention to bring you out immediately, I thought you might lose your breakfast.”
She smiled weakly. “Was I that transparent?”
“Only to me, darling.” He brought her hand to his lips and left a lingering kiss on her knuckles. “But you haven't answered my question. Are you still nervous?”
Victoria gave her head a tiny shake. “I wouldn't be alive if I weren't a little bit nervous, but no, I am not afraid.”
Robert was so full of pride for her in that moment that he wondered if his family could see his chest expand with it. “Why the change of heart?”
She looked deeply into his eyes. “You.”
It was all he could do not to pull her to him in a crushing embrace. God, how he loved this woman. It felt as if he had loved her since before he was born. “What do you mean?” he asked, knowing that his heart was in his eyes and not even caring.
She swallowed, then softly said, “Just knowing that you're with me, that I have you by my side. You would never let anything bad happen to me.”
His grip on her hand grew fervent. “I would protect you with my life, Torie. Surely you know that.”
“And I you,” she returned softly. “But such talk is silly. I am certain we are destined to live happy, uneventful lives.”
He stared at her with single-minded intensity. “Nonetheless, I would—”
“The Earl and Countess of Macclesfield!”
Robert and Victoria jumped apart as the Lindworthys' butler boomed their names, but the damage had already been done. It would be talked about for years to come—society's first glimpse of the new couple was of them practically devouring each other with their eyes. A hush fell over the crowd, and then some old biddy cackled, “Well, that's a love match if ever I saw one!”
Robert cracked a smile as he held his arm out to his wife. “I suppose there are worse reputations we could acquire.”
Her answer was a barely stifled grin.
And then the evening began.
Three hours later Robert was not feeling so cheerful. Why? Because he'd had to spend the last three hours watching the ton watching his wife. And they seemed to be watching her with great affection. Especially the men.
If one more damned Corinthian came along and kissed her hand… Robert growled to himself, trying to stifle the urge to yank at his cravat. It was utter hell to stand back and smile serenely as the duke of Ashbourne—who was universally acknowledged as society's reigning rake—murmured his greetings to Victoria.
He felt his aunt's restraining hand on his arm. “Do try to contain yourself,” she whispered.
“Will you look at the way he's looking at her?” he hissed. “I have half a mind to—”