Read Online The Earl's Design of Love: The Stenwick Siblings by Kirsten Osbourne, Morganna Mayfair - Free Book Online

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    The cook was a gentle older woman with kind eyes.  Her accent was Scottish.  “It’s nice to meet you, milady.  Will you mind coming to the kitchens in the morning for a spot of tea so we can take some time to learn how to work together?”
    Diana smiled sweetly.  “I’d be happy to.  I think you’ll find me easy to work with.”
    The only maid dropped to a curtsey before her.  Diana had met her the day that Percy proposed, so she felt as if she already knew her.  “It’s good to see you again.”
    The maid gave her a tentative smile.  “And you, milady.”
    Percy smiled at all of them.  “Thank you.  I’m going to show my new wife around the house, and we’ll have luncheon in a few minutes if that would be all right.”
    Cook nodded.  “I’ll get it ready to serve immediately.”
    Percy slipped his arm around Diana’s waist and led her up the winding staircase.  “I think I told you this house was built in 1647.  It was built by my great great great grandfather.  There was an older house, but it burnt down not long before that, so they moved to the town house while this house was being built.”
    Diana listened to him talk while she took in the house.  They were going to the west wing where she’d stayed before, because his mother had insisted she should stay in the family wing.
    He finally led her to a room and opened the door.  “This room traditionally belongs to the countess.”  He waved to the bed and showed her the dressing room.  “There’s a connecting door here that leads to my room.”  He opened the door and showed her. 
    She looked around the room that was for countesses with surprise.  She knew that most members of the ton preferred to sleep apart from their spouses, but her parents had always slept in the same bed.  “Is this where I’ll sleep?” she asked without thinking.
    Percy looked at her with narrowed eyes, surprised she’d asked.  “I thought you’d want to share a room with me.  Was I wrong?”  He didn’t know what he’d say if she insisted on her own room.
    Diana looked at him for a moment and contemplated.  She could refuse to share his room, but why?  She knew they were meant to be together.  He was the man that would make her happiest in all the world.  She wasn’t going to start her marriage off on the wrong foot by refusing to sleep with him.  It didn’t make sense.  “No.  You weren’t wrong.”
    Percy didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath until she answered.  He exhaled slowly and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head.  “You’ve seemed so distant all day, I was certain I’d done something to offend you.”
    She thought about telling him what she’d heard, but she decided against it.  Eventually it would come out.  She wasn’t going to make trouble this soon.  Instead of ranting like she wanted to, she leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder.  “I’m just tired.  It’s been a crazy three weeks.  Both of our mothers have been hounding me for details.  What kind of flowers did I want in my bouquet?  What color dress did I want to leave to come back here in?  What color nightgown did I want for my wedding night?”  She blushed as soon as she realized she’d said that.
    “What color nightgown did you want for your wedding night?” he asked.  He looked down at her with a sparkle in his eye.
    “I asked your mother what your favorite color is, and she said green, so I chose a green silk nightgown.”  She tried to meet his eyes while she said those words, but she just couldn’t force herself to do it.  Was this appropriate talk even for a husband and wife?
    He swallowed hard as he tried to imagine her in an emerald green silk nightgown.  Hopefully the mothers hadn’t steered her toward a nightgown that would cover her from her chin to her toes.  “Why don’t you go put it on now?”
    She laughed.  “Because Cook is putting luncheon on the table, and I’m