Dark Passions

44.

Within two weeks, they were ensconced in London, settling into the townhouse. Meredith was happily adjusting to life in the city again, amid the hustle and bustle, and the shops and the theatre that Derek insisted on attending. While she enjoyed the performances, Meredith was usually torn between the enjoyment of the show, and the feeling she was missing something sweet that Michael was up to. He was such a happy baby, and quite content to stay with the nursemaid, or Rose, when his parents went out.

On this evening, Meredith kissed his downy little head, and he gazed up at her with his big green eyes. "Bye sweetheart," she whispered. "I love you so much."

"He'll be just fine, m'lady," Rose assured her, shooing Meredith out the door. "Go on and have a nice evening. You look very smart tonight."

"She does indeed, Rose," Derek said as he waited at the nursery door. Dressed impeccably as always, his dark evening jacket and snowy white shirt, setting off his handsome looks. Meredith fussed with his cravat, and dusted an imperceptible speck of lint from his jacket. Her heart soared as always when he took her hand and kissed her fingers, his tongue teasing her palm. "Shall we go, my love?"

"I would just as soon stay home with Michael," she murmured. "And you, of course."

He tucked her hand under his elbow, and escorted her down the wide curving staircase. "But I enjoy showing you off, Meredith. And you do look stunning." His warm gaze lingered on the low sweep of her bodice. It was an emerald green silk gown, banded with darker green velvet at the hem. It had long sleeves, caught at the wrists with jade bracelets, and a square bodice that dipped low enough to reveal a delicious hint of cleavage. Her hair was twisted up on her head, with stray tendrils framing her face. Derek had a sudden urge to trace the long column of her exposed neck with his lips, and he grinned wickedly at her. "Mind you, I could rip that dress right off you..."

Meredith's Dress:

(It doesn't match the description completely but I couldn't find anything else more similar 😅)

"Derek!" she laughed, as he helped her with the soft little shawl she had chosen to wear to keep the evening chill away. The butler hovered discreetly a few paces away, ready to open the door. "And what did you just say about showing me off?" she asked, smiling up at Derek.

"Sorry, sweet, I got lost in a sudden vision," he murmured, leaning down to steal a little kiss from her lips. "You do have this way of distracting me."

"Then we should leave now, before we both get too distracted," she teased him, touching his cheek with her hand. "At any rate, Marcus and Izzie are meeting us at the theatre, so we really have to behave."

"Behave?" Derek asked, raising one brow suggestively. "I'll do my best..." And he turned to the butler before Meredith could say anything else, indicating they were ready to go. Like Hodges at the manor, but a younger version of him, he swept the door open with a flourish, bowing as they headed outside, and into the waiting carriage.