Free The Lady's Disgrace by Callie Hutton Page A

attention.
    “During my time with Mrs. O’Neill today, it came to my attention that the bedchamber you brought me to yesterday was yours.”
    He nodded.
    Finally, a conversation I can concentrate on.
    “Right. Well, I guess what I want to know is. . .” She stopped, licked her lips and started again. “I mean, is it your intention. . .”
    “Out with it, Abigail. Or should I save you this unnecessary embarrassment, and tell you that yes, I do intend for my wife to sleep in my bed?”
    She sniffed. “Yes. That is precisely what I wanted to know.”
    “Now you have your answer.” He raised his hand as she opened her mouth to speak. “Please don’t tell me about separate sleeping quarters being de rigueur for the ton . I am aware that your parents shared a bed—no need for you to know how I came about that information—as does your brother and his wife. Therefore, this is not a foreign concept.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Just for your information, I was not about to dispute that, or mention what is done among the members of the ton.” Then a small smile teased her lips. “How do you know the sleeping arrangements for my family members?”
    “You forget that I practically lived at your house in my youth. It was well known that your parents did not sleep apart.”
    “And Drake?”
    He grinned. “That was a guess.”
    “A good one, however.”
    Joseph placed his glass next to him and leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees. “I always expected to marry. When I first finished theology school, I was busy with my parish, getting to know the villagers and helping out where I could. The rector before me was aged, and apparently did very little in the way of ministering to his people.
    “They were starved for comfort and spirituality. I like to think I helped in that way.” He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “But I’ve known for a while now that the time was right for me to take a wife. You must understand, Abigail that I never would have looked toward you, or anyone in your station.”
    “Joseph—”
    “Let me finish, please.” He waited for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “When I say I would not have looked at you, I mean that despite our life-long friendship, I doubted your brother would have approved of me. Well, certainly as a friend, but not as a suitor for one of his sisters.” He winced and ran his fingers through his hair. “I have a feeling I’m making a muddle of this.”
    “No, you’re not. I understand what you’re trying to say. However, you must realize that despite my ruined reputation, I still would not have consented to this marriage unless I felt we would do well together. And I am looking forward to being a rector’s wife.”
    “A rector’s wife or my wife? And in all ways?” His body hummed with longing. Sitting there, her back stiff, with her hands crossed delicately in her lap, should not have made his blood boil, but boil it did.
    She placed her glass on the table alongside her and eased herself from the chair. “I think I would like to retire now.”
    Before she was able to move two steps, he reached out and grabbed her hand, tugging her forward until she landed on his lap. “Not yet.” He encircled her waist, trapping her. “There are matters we need to discuss.”
    “Yes.” She cleared her throat. “In that case, I wanted to talk about my role in the school.”
    He pulled her closer and nuzzled her neck, the essence of flowers, and her own unique scent, heating his blood. “ I want to talk about your role as my wife.”
    “Yes, that too…” Her voice drifted off as he placed tiny kisses along her jawline. She moved her head, giving him better access to the silky skin of her neck. God, how he wanted her. She shifted slightly on his lap, eliciting a groan from deep within his chest. He spread his fingers on her back, moving her closer, his other hand sliding up from her waist until it covered her breast.
    Joseph kneaded the soft mound,