Georgie ignored the girl. “Is the otter feed ready, Mrs. Barwick?”
“In the pantry on the usual shelf, Lady Peter.”
Annie nudged the older woman, and Mrs. Barwick spoke again. “Annie wants to know if that gentleman was really your cousin.”
Georgie scowled. “He is my cousin, but he is no gentleman. He is a scoundrel.”
“He was here t’other day,” Annie said, eying her employer warily. “He said he wanted to see the otters.”
“And did he?”
“I didn’t let him, if that’s what tha’s askin’.” Annie’s momentary belligerence faded. “But he could have gone ‘round when I wasn’t looking.”
“Thank you for telling me, Annie,” Georgie said. “I shall ask Lord Peter if he thinks the magistrate would want your testimony as well.”
With that, Georgie fetched the bucket of scraps from the pantry and headed for the otter enclosure. They usually were fed at least an hour earlier than it already was, and their indignant squeaks and unearthly howls could be heard from the back door.
As she lifted the latch of the coop, they swarmed out, romping around her ankles for a moment before diving into the bucket, making little sounds of contentment as they ate.
Georgie stood and watched them scoop up the food with their small paws and stuff it into their mouths. They seemed to use their paws almost like hands, and she wondered if other species of otters...
Something glittered in the rising sun, and she turned her head.
Draped across the threshold of the coop, her lost rakhi shone like a beacon that would guide her home.
20
Peter woke slowly as dawn’s light crept in through the window. They had fallen into bed exhausted the previous night after spending the whole day getting Cousin John to the local magistrate and giving their sworn testimony and tying up all of the loose ends before they finally returned home after dark.
The only thing Georgie had been able to tell him before they both fell into an exhausted sleep was that her rakhi had re-appeared in the otters’ coop. The only explanation they could think of was that it had fallen off in the bedroom while she packed, and the otters had found it and hidden it in their basket to play with later when she had not been paying attention.
He looked down to where she rested in his arms, cuddled trustingly against his chest, and he tightened his grip. Before God, he would never make her feel unwanted or alone ever again.
She murmured a little before her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she seemed puzzled by his presence. “Hello.”
“Good morning.” He brushed a soft kiss across her full lips, and she sighed.
“The otters… ?”
“Are safely ensconced in the drawing room for now. Robby is fascinated with them and has been saving kitchen scraps in the hope you will allow him to help feed them.”
“Perhaps I will.” She snuggled closer, breath warm against his sensitive throat. Her hand skimmed across his chest, and she reached up to cradle his stubbled cheek. As she pulled his head to hers for a more thorough kiss, he held back for a moment. He was already aching for her, hard and ready, but he could not go further without making his apology. He had already hurt her once by not speaking to her. He never wanted to do it again.
“Georgie, you must know how sorry I am. I’m sorry I made you feel unwanted, or abandoned. I was selfish. And… and thoughtless.”
“You were.” She contemplated him for another moment, and her solemn expression made his heart sink. Perhaps she was not ready to forgive him after all.
And then a slow, sultry grin spread across her face, and he knew all would be well.
“Show me how sorry you are,” she murmured.
She tugged his head the last inch toward hers and kissed him, a luscious, warm kiss that shot straight down his spine. He pulled her against him, reveling in the feel of her through her fine lawn nightgown, letting his hands roam over her as they both tugged the garment up and off.
He had never seen her in the daylight, and he could not stop staring. Her skin glowed like autumn leaves in the light, breasts crowned with darker brown nipples that began to harden as he watched.
Swallowing hard, he sat up to pull off his own nightshirt, eyes still feasting on her, unable to look away, pushing the covers down so he could see all of her. She squirmed, and he leaned down for an apologetic kiss.
“You’re so beautiful. I can’t help but stare.” He lay a series of kisses along her skin that glided from her mouth to her throat to her collarbone. She arched against him, purring and gasping as he worked his way down to her breasts.