Free Desired by a Lord (Regency Unlaced 5) by Carole Mortimer Page B

wonderful books there, Emily’s fingers had itched to be allowed to touch them.
    Returning to the study and attempting to catalog and alphabetize books on farming, with Xander once again seated behind his desk and watching every move she made, had been less calming.
    He looked so haughty and aristocratically handsome in his dark blue superfine and fine white linen, his dark hair fashionably disheveled, it was difficult for Emily to concentrate on anything but his overwhelming presence.
    The morning’s work—torture?—finally over, he was now suggesting the two of them should share a picnic luncheon together. That wicked glint in his eyes indicated it would not consist of the two of them sitting innocently together on a blanket beneath one of the huge oak trees in the garden.
    Her gaze shyly met his as she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I would very much enjoy sharing a picnic with you. Thank you.”
    Xander’s lips twitched again at the formal manner in which Emily accepted his invitation. He had no intention of allowing that formality to continue once they were alone together in the garden.
    Yesterday evening had been a revelation, a discovery of the sensuality that ran deep within Emily. He had gone to bed with the taste of her juices upon his lips, and, more importantly, her agreement to allow him to explore the depths of her sensuality further. Those things had been enough for him to ignore the throbbing need of his cock as he lay alone in his bed, knowing that his release would be all the more pleasurable when given to him by Emily.
    Which was not to say it was not damned uncomfortable having had a cock-stand for the past twenty-four hours. “I will instruct Clarke to ask Cook to prepare a picnic basket for the two of us, while you go upstairs and change into something pretty.” He rang for the butler. “I said something pretty, Emily,” he added sternly as she began to frown. “I refuse to sit with you in the sunshine wearing your unbecoming widow’s weeds.”
    Her throat moved as she swallowed. “I don’t have anything pretty to wear…”
    As Xander had thought, Marsden had deliberately kept his young wife’s beauty hidden beneath dowdy clothes and that unbecoming bun, whilst failing to appreciate her himself. “The prettiest gown you have, then,” he encouraged gently. He would have to make enquiries as to what gowns were available in Ashingdon. There was sure to be a seamstress of some description living in the village.
    Her brow cleared. “I will not be long.”
    Xander smiled at her eagerness as she hurried from the room. He had such plans for them today. Such delicious, wicked—
    “My lord…?”
    He gave a shake of his head to clear it of those erotic images. He had totally forgotten he had rung for Clarke. “Mrs. Marsden and I will need a picnic luncheon, Clarke. And several blankets to sit upon.” Except Xander did not intend for them to sit anywhere.
    The elderly man nodded. “I will see to it immediately, my lord.”
    “And Clarke…” He halted the other man as the butler would have left, recalling Emily’s words to him the previous evening.
    The butler turned back with brows raised. “Yes, my lord?”
    “I have no intention of making any changes within the household staff.”
    A nerve twitched beneath the older man’s left eye. “I am gratified to hear it, my lord.”
    Which, Xander surmised with some amusement, was the equivalent of the elderly man jumping up and down and shouting that gratitude.
    “I will see to the preparation of your picnic immediately, my lord.” The butler bowed before departing.
    Good God, had that almost been a smile on Clarke’s lips? And warmth in his tone?
    If Xander had known that was all it took to infuse some geniality into the older man, then he would have offered Clarke these reassurances earlier. Even if they did go against his earlier decision.
    He was used to dealing with the servants in his London home, most of them