Chapter 329: Chapter Three Hundred And Twenty Nine
Delaney gasped softly. A month seemed like a wonderfully long, perfect amount of time.
"But," Rowan added quickly, his eyes sparkling with a romantic light, "we will be going back to this exact same cottage every single year, on our anniversary."
Delaney clapped her free hand against her leg in joy.
"Every anniversary?" Delaney repeated happily. "Oh, Rowan, that is wonderful! We will have our own special place."
"Yes, we will," Rowan agreed softly, completely pleased by her enthusiastic reaction.
Delaney tapped her chin with her finger, her mind already moving on to the next thought.
"What will we be doing there for an entire month?" Delaney asked, her eyebrows pulling together in a small frown of curious wonder. "I have always been so busy working or hiding. I wonder what people actually do on a honeymoon."
Rowan smiled. His thumb began to gently stroke the soft skin on the back of her gloved hand.
"A lot of things," Rowan replied. His deep voice dropped into a lower, slightly rougher register that completely sent a warm shiver down her spine. "Anything that you want to do, Delaney. We can go for long walks by the pond. We can read books in the sun. We can simply sit by the fire."
He moved a tiny bit closer to her on the velvet seat.
"We will be entirely away from everyone and everything," Rowan continued explaining softly. "We will be in a peaceful,private environment. You will never have to worry about anyone watching us."
Delaney listened closely, captivated by his words.
"But," Delaney asked suddenly, a practical thought entering her mind. "If there are no servants living with us, who will cook the food? I can cook simple soups, but I do not know how to roast a large duck. And who will clean the floors?"
Rowan laughed a deep, joyous laugh at her practical worry. He found her innocent concern entirely endearing.
"Do not worry about the chores, my sweet Duchess," Rowan assured her completely. "I have already arranged everything perfectly."
He explained his plan.
"There will be a local housekeeper from the nearby village," Rowan explained clearly. "She is a very quiet, respectable older woman. She will come to the cottage early in the morning. She will keep the cottage clean, and she will make our breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
Delaney nodded her head, feeling relieved that she would not have to scrub the floors on her honeymoon. "That sounds very nice."
"Yes," Rowan agreed smoothly. "And after she prepares our evening dinner, she leaves. She locks the kitchen and goes straight back to her own home in the village."
Delaney tilted her head slightly, slightly confused by the sudden change in the usual servant schedule. Normally, the servants always have a place to sleep and were always available.
"Why does she go home at night?" Delaney asked innocently.
Rowan stopped stroking her hand. He looked directly at her. His eyes darkened with a sudden flash of obvious desire. A deeply sinful smirk touched the corners of his mouth.
"So that..." Rowan said softly, his deep voice carrying a suggestive, intimate promise. He looked directly at her pink lips. "...we could have uninterrupted time for ourselves at night."
Delaney’s eyes widened in sudden realization.
A bright hot flush of deep red embarrassment instantly rushed up her neck and completely covered her cheeks. She suddenly understood exactly why he wanted the housekeeper to leave the cottage before the sun went down.
He wanted privacy for their lovemaking.
Delaney quickly pulled her hand out of his loose grip. She reached her hand up.
With a swift motion, Delaney lightly flicked his forehead with her fingers.
"Stop that," Delaney scolded him softly, though she could not hide the bright smile breaking across her face.
Rowan let out an amused laugh. He reached up and rubbed his forehead, pretending that her tiny flick had actually hurt him.
"Stop what?" Rowan asked innocently, his eyes dancing with humor. "I am simply explaining the household schedule to my wife."
"You are terrible," Delaney whispered playfully, shaking her head.
The carriage continued to rock smoothly back and forth as the strong horses pulled them further down the country road. The afternoon sun began to sink lower in the sky, casting long, warm golden beams of light directly through the glass window.
Delaney shifted her body on the velvet seat. She moved closer to him, closing the space between them. She gently put her head down, resting her cheek against his shoulder.
Rowan immediately wrapped his arm securely around her waist, holding her safely against him as the carriage bumped over a small stone.
"I am very excited, Rowan," Delaney whispered softly, her sweet voice growing just a little bit sleepy from the warmth of the sun and the steady rocking motion of the carriage.
"I wonder what the cottage would actually look like?"
Rowan rested his cheek gently against the very top of her blue bonnet. He looked down at her face.
"You will love it, I am sure of it," Rowan replied softly. His deep voice was a steady comforting rumble beneath her ear. "It is exactly like a quiet fairy tale."
Delaney smiled against his dark coat. She closed her eyes, simply enjoying the feeling of his strong arm holding her.
After a short while, Delaney’s breathing began to slow down. Her body grew heavy against his side. She fell asleep.
Rowan felt her breathing change. He looked down and saw that her hazel eyes were closed, and her soft lips were parted slightly.
He smiled. He did not want her neck to become stiff from resting awkwardly on his high shoulder.
Moving with care, Rowan adjusted his position on the velvet seat. He gently slid his arm behind her back. Very slowly, he guided her body downward. He carefully pulled her head down, placing her flat onto his lap.
Delaney let out a soft contented sigh in her sleep. She turned her face slightly, burying her cheek against his dark trousers. She looked very comfortable.
Rowan looked down at his sleeping wife. He reached hishand out and began to gently, rhythmically soothe her back. He rubbed his wide palm in slow, continuous circles over the soft wool of her traveling dress, making sure she felt safe even in her deep dreams.
With his other hand resting quietly beside him, Rowan turned his head.
He looked out the glass window of the carriage. He watched the tall green trees and the wide, open country fields passing by. The sun was slowly beginning to set, painting the quiet sky in beautiful shades of orange and soft pink.
Rowan continued to gently rub Delaney’s back. He listened to the steady, rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the dirt road. He felt a deepsense of happiness settle into his soul.
