- Albert Schweitzer

“Ah, my love, isn’t this a wondrous day?” Hadrian grinned down at Rhea. Rhea looked up and was practically entranced with her husband’s expression. How handsome he looked in the outdoors! He caught her look and smirked knowingly at her; she flushed but kept on staring. “You are growing bolder, my sweet vixen.”

Rhea felt a shiver pass through her body at the tone of his voice. She felt him circle a hand around her waist and pull her closer. She smiled shyly at him and he leaned down closer to her.

“My lord we cannot-”

“Oh, but my dear; we can and we shall.” He whispered before claiming her lips with his own. Rhea experienced her whole body become pliant in his arms and she nearly melted into a puddle at his feet.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Rhea broke apart as she heard the sound being uttered by none other than Lord Dalting. Her face flamed as she met Matthew’s devious grin. “I must say . . . ‘Tis quite a show you two are putting on for the rest of us.”

Rhea turned away and enfolded herself into Hadrian as she heard a distinct yelp.

“Bloody hell, Vale,” Dalting muttered. Rhea’s giggle was muffled by Hadrian’s coat. She felt Hadrian pull her close before pushing her away, searching her face.

“Do not heed Dalting; he is a little buffoon who needs disciplining.” Hadrian grinned boyishly at her. Rhea smiled and looked beyond Hadrian’s frame to see her three friends sneering at her. She narrowed her eyes and stuck her tongue out childishly before turning to her back and marching up the hill to where their items were centered.

“Watch your manners, Vale; I may have to take you on at dawn.” Matthew said solemnly.

Hadrian quirked a brow at him, “T’would be your mistake, my friend, for we both know who is the better shot.”

Rhea couldn’t hear Matthew’s reply, only a low mutter and bouts of laughter. Rhea turned to the side and caught Hadrian’s face alight with laughter and happiness. She felt a sudden ache and wanted to take time to cherish him and this rare moment.

“Oh, my dear, you’ve plummeted far from the ground.”

Rhea glanced beside her and was shocked to see she accosted by all three of her friends; Leia, Beth and Annabel Smith, Lady Delmont, whom she had met in the country.

Rhea was glad that she had planned the outing. She was tired of being secluded in her home with only Hadrian in the early mornings or late nights. She had decided to also invite the Delmont’s – she really had enjoyed their company and found Annabel refreshing. Fortunately, Leia and Beth agreed with her.

“Enough with the riddles Beth; I am plummeting nowhere.” Rhea grumbled softly.

The girls giggled and Rhea rolled her eyes in exasperation. It was as if they were conspiring against her, their friend. She thought it to be ridiculous that they were trying to convince her of things that she knew were false . . . or not.

Rhea sighed and kept her steady pace, continually hearing the sounds of jousting.

“Beth is right, my dear, you love your husband very much and he does, too,” Annabel urged. Rhea started to shake her head and then stopped. She had already told Leia that she loved her husband . . . why not admit freely to Annabel and Beth? They were her friends; surely they would support her . . .

“Alright, alright,” Rhea conceded. “’Tis true.”

The young women cheered happily but Rhea stopped them. “But, it is not so with my husband. He does not . . . love me.”

Leia gave her a look of shock. “Are you mad, Rhea? ‘Tis obvious he cares very much for your welfare.”

“But that is all, he cares only for my welfare,” Rhea said adamantly.

Beth waved her hand, irritated. “That is not what she meant, Rhea, we all have seen how the duke looks at you. It is with love and kindness.”

Annabel watched as the entire scene played out and chuckled lightly. The three young girls look at her questioning and she shrugged lightly. “Oh, Rhea, I remember when I was just like you.”

Rhea tilted her head slightly and smiled. “Like me?”

“Exactly like you,” she nodded. “I, too, had fallen in love with my husband . . . though long before we married, that is.”

“What happened?” Leia inquired. Annabel stared past her at, assumingly, to Lord Delmont with a look of nostalgia.

“Oh my, well, it was quite similar to your dilemma, Rhea, but much more different.” Annabel smiled.

“Well, go on, tell us!” Beth insisted.

“T’was a few years back and I was a young maiden. As you know, Rhea, I had been dear friends with Hadrian and Devin from childhood; even then I loved him very much.” She whispered.

“I knew that I could possibly not have all these feelings alone . . . I felt that Devin also reciprocated my love but when I confessed to him he denied me.”

“Lord Delmont? Surely you are mistaken-.” Rhea protested.

“Not atall. T’was how it was, even when we were little he would try and convince me that he did not love me,” she grinned at the three, “Until, of course, I was promised to another.”

“You had another husband?” Beth gasped. Annabel laughed softly and shook her head.

“No, I did not marry another before my love,” She smiled softly. “I had been engaged to Lord Lucas Fulcrow who was a lovely man, but he was not the man I loved. Anyways, as time went on, Fulcrow courted me and I noticed that Devin’s moods seem to fluctuate in the period I was engaged.

“He was mean tempered and started shouting – oh, my Devin never shouted before so T’was quite the scene when he did. He had avoided me and I was heartbroken to think that our friendship had been severed. I could not understand why he was acting the way he was but deep down I knew it was because he cared for me – possibly loved me but did not know it.

“It wasn’t until the day of my wedding did he come. I was ready to meet my future husband when Devin intrudesld in my father’s home and demands to see me. Oh, goodness I remember the day. He stood there at my bedroom door; disheveled; gone was his ever present calm composure. He walked right up to me . . .”

Rhea watched as an unusual emotion passed through Annabel’s face and felt herself become soft . . . knowing those emotions very well.

“And? What happened?” Beth prodded gently.

“Forgive me,” Annabel blushed “He kissed me. Right there in my bedroom as I stood in my wedding gown, ready to be delivered to my future husband.” Gasps and squeals were prominent as Annabel continued on. “I was shocked and happy at the same time; my prince had come for me. He held me in his arms and begged me to forgive him, to not marry Lucas that he wanted to marry the woman he loved.”

Sighs were the only noise made in the open field. Rhea could vaguely hear the men at the picnic grounds talking amongst themselves while they wandered around the field.

“So what did you do?” Leia asked.

“I married him. Fortunately, Lucas was in love with another and gave us his blessing to continue on with our ceremony. So instead of marrying Lucas I married the man I loved and I have never regretted the decision since.”

Rhea was enamored with Annabel’s story. How vastly different both situations were; she did not have to worry about having to marry another or Hadrian marrying another – she was already married to him.

“Well, I must say, Annabel, that the both of you look very well indeed under the spell of love.” Beth grinned. Annabel flushed a red hue and thanked Beth.

“Hey, there, must we wait all day for provisions on your behalf?” Lord Dalting yelled across the field. The women looked to each other amusedly.

To appease the male assortment, they headed on to the picnic grounds and began their picnic with laughter and happiness. Rhea found herself continually looking at Hadrian and finding delight on behalf of his carefree mood. It lifted her spirits and made her think it possible to reach her goal.

“What were you fine woman discussing, may I ask?” Matthew Dalting asked. The girls looked between each other and giggled lightly.

Leia smiled at Matthew, “If you must know, T’was about Lord and Lady Delmont’s past.”

Hadrian’s brow lifted sardonically. “That only took you a mere moment to discuss? Surely you missed a few parts.”

Devin scowled at Hadrian and pulled his wife closer to him. “I’m positive that my wife explained it perfectly, am I not right, my love?”

“’Tis true, husband, I only spoke of the significant parts.” Annabel appeased her husband’s worry with a few words. He visibly relaxed and pulled her tighter to him.

“How about we have a bit of dessert? I’m sure Mrs. Wilson packed something for us.” Rhea rummaged through the baskets that were packed by their cook and was pleasantly surprised to see that she packed some fresh fruit and sweets.

For almost two hours they sat amidst each other and laughed and played and indulged in one another. Rhea was excited to see her dear friend, Leia, bond with the handsome, young Lord Dalting. She was absolutely sure that there was a match there.

Rhea could not believe the turn of events on their lives. Once, Rhea would have believed her and her friends doomed as wallflowers with the lack of interest they had received during their debut.

Now, she was sure that they would all be married in a matter of time! It was absurd to see the difference of three years. Not only had she married, but she married a duke – a worthy catch, the ton agreed.

She did not particularly care what the ton said about Hadrian or herself. She was happy and honored that he had chosen her as a worthy partner for matrimony, even if her father had offered her up to him.

Rhea didn’t realize she had staring at her husband for quite awhile when, suddenly, his eyes rose up to meet hers and she felt her breath catch and lodge in her chest. How breathtaking he was!

She watched as his eyes darken and immediately thought of tonight where they would be alone, only with the company of each other.

Yes, she was fortunate indeed.

Hadrian watched as Rhea’s lips part and could barely hold back the ground that wanted to escape him. His eyes darkened in pleasure to what awaited them at home.

She gazed for a few moments more before looking down and blushing red. Hadrian smirked at her reaction and openly grinned at her, loving the way her facial features blushed darker.

The red hue spread to her neck and downward and Hadrian could only imagine the parts that her blush was spreading to, though if he recalled, it would be everywhere . . . from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.

He watched as she turned and engaged in conversation with Lady Oakenshield beside her. He chuckled softly and turned away from her, catching the sly look Matthew gave him.

He shook his head and gave him a dark look, warning him not to comment on his wife’s flushed state. Matthew’s shoulders shook with his mirth.

Later, when they were packing up the contents of the picnic and the ladies strolled around the field, Matthew teased him about making his wife blush. Hadrian landed a solid blow to Matthew’s stomach and took satisfaction in the groan the emitted.

Devin watched them spar and shook his head. “You two are young pup’s compared to I.”

“Of course, it only took you two and thirty years to accomplish this, my friend. You are owed an award.” Matthew commented wryly.

“Although, I admit to insolence when I was younger, I have changed.”

Matthew sneered. “Mayhap it is because you’ve become a love-sick boy?”

Devin scowled and also landed a blow upon Matthew’s body; Hadrian snickered at Matthew and continued finished packing away the things. When he finished he looked around for Rhea and found her crouching low next to a small pond and pointing into the water.

Annabel made a comment that caused the group to burst into laughter. Hadrian smiled at the group, wondering how he had become so fortunate to have Rhea as wife.

Hadrian lay beside his wife and couldn’t help but notice how petite she was next to him. He looked down at her and watched as she lay after another bout of their lovemaking. He brushed strands of her hair away from her face and reveled in the sound of her breathing.

The thought of any harm coming to her made him scowl; he would not let anyone hurt his wife. She was his to protect and cherish.

Whoever was disrupting their lives was linked to Hadrian in some way, he knew it. He was positive that someone out there was trying to get to him in some way, but he’d be damned if he’d let them get to his wife.

Rhea moved slightly and a little moan slipped through her lips. He looked down and watched as her eyes fluttered gently. Once she fully opened her eyes she looked directly at him and a beautiful smile graced her lips.

He felt his heart stop at the smile that was only for him and brushed his hand against her cheek and then to her full bottom lip.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. “Let me show you.”

Hadrian was amazed that even now she still blushed when she lay bare next to him. He rolled above her and captured her wrists gently, pushing them above her. Her breathing became deep and uneven.

“Yes,” she nodded, her eyes pleading for him to show her how beautiful she was to him.

He grinned and captured her mouth with his.