When finally Dare forced himself to draw back, his blood was so heated, it was simmering; he wanted her so badly, need was like a fire inside him.
But there was no rush, he reminded himself. They had time on their side. A lifetime together-and he wanted to savor every instant.
"I want to make love to you in the rose garden," Dare said thickly, pulling the pins from her hair.
"I thought you would never ask."
Clasping his wife's hand, he led her outside to the rear of the cottage. Late afternoon sunlight cast a golden warmth over the walled rose garden, wrapping them in a cocoon of privacy. In one corner, beneath a cherry tree, a blanket awaited them, along with the basket Dare had ordered brought here.
"You planned this, didn't you?" Julienne asked in delight as he plucked a red rose and tucked it in her hair.
"Down to every last detail. I told you I have been waiting forever for this moment."
Dare dropped to his knees on the blanket and fished in the basket. With Julienne watching, he drew out a bucket of iced champagne, a crystal goblet, a huge bowl of ripe strawberries and another of clotted cream, and finally a small vellum-wrapped packet tied with red ribbons.
When he glanced up to see her standing over him, he couldn't help but be amused. "See, you've won our damned wager, my love. I'm on my knees to you. Again."
"Are these my winnings?" she asked curiously when he handed her the packet.
"No, this is my wedding gift to you."
He drew Julienne down beside him and braced his back against the tree trunk, tucking her in the curve of his arm. "Open it."
Inside was a deed, along with several other certified documents. He saw her eyes grow moist as she read the deed. He had purchased her ancestral home, the Chateau-Folmont in Languedoc.
Her tremulous smile told him clearly that he had pleased her.
"Thank you, Dare," she said in a fervent whisper. "This means so much to me. And I know my mother would have been overjoyed."
"I will take you there someday. Perhaps next year."
"There is no hurry, is there?"
"No hurry at all," he answered, suspecting that the memories of their recent ordeal in France were still too raw for Julienne to wish to return just now. "But you have yet to decide where you want go on our wedding trip."
They had discussed beginning in Italy and perhaps venturing as far as Russia. Dare wanted to show Julienne the world. They had also considered taking Lucian up on his offer of his castle in the Scottish Highlands, since during the summer months the British Isles would be far cooler than the rest of Europe. Moreover, Brynn's brother Grayson seemed to have disappeared from there, and Brynn had begun to worry.
Dare might have volunteered to search for him, but he judged that he'd done his duty for the moment.
And he had more important matters to attend to just now, namely his new bride.
"I admit Italy sounds lovely," Julienne said, folding the packet and returning it to the basket for safekeeping.
"It's almost as lovely as my wife." He nuzzled her ear. "I'll show you the all delights of Venice and Florence and Rome."
Interrupting his attentions then, Dare poured a goblet of champagne, and they took turns sipping from the same glass while he hand-fed her strawberries dipped in cream.
"We will have to return by fall," Julienne reminded him between bites and his nibbling kisses.
"By September," Dare agreed. This fall would be busy with more race meets. They had missed the Derby at Epsom Downs in early June, while they were in France, although neither of Dare's entries had won. "The St. Ledger is held in September. And Parliament reconvenes in November."
"And Arnold expects me to begin rehearsals by late October."
Julienne's contract had been renewed at Drury Lane with her promise to star in two pe
rformances a month. She hadn't wanted to quit acting altogether, and to her relief, Dare hadn't expected her to.
"I am glad," she admitted, "that you didn't insist I give up my career simply because I am a marchioness."