Page 34

“Why? You think it’s too brazen? Too desperate?”

That is putting it mildly.

She was reminded briefly of his words and how he had made her feel when he had put his hands on her and claimed her first kiss. She hadn’t needed any flirtation tactics then, and neither had she employed any with him for him to say the things he had.

If she were to employ such means, she wondered if he would pull her into his arms as he had before.

“No, you do not. You tempt me till I’m out of my mind with want. Perhaps you will understand better if you get burnt by the heated fantasies that have plagued me in recent days.”

Remembering how cold he had been towards her afterward was enough to make her angry with him again for being so…

“I don’t believe it suits my morals or my views on marriage,” she explained.

He laughed, slapping a hand on his thigh. “What do you think goes on in a marriage?” he asked incredulously. “Chaste kisses and walks in the gardens?”

“I… I am not unaware of what goes on in the marriage bed, Your Grace, but?—”

“You do not have any idea if you do not understand that desire is the greatest weapon a woman has,” he interrupted. “Why do you think most men leave their marriage beds after producing heirs and spend longer days with their mistresses? Rather than shy away from sensuality, they embrace it.”

“But I do not intend to become a mistress,” she rebutted, wrinkling her nose at the example he had given.

“But surely you would like to keep your husband’s attention?”

She nodded, wondering where he was heading by buttressing his point so soundly.

“Men do not want a woman they feel they would have to educate on matters concerning the marriage bed,” he stated. “Contrary to what women believe, not every man desires a chaste bride.”

Selina covered her ears, deciding she had heard enough. It seemed as though he intended to scandalize her thoroughly or change her view on marriage.

“I believe we have engaged in this damning conversation long enough, Your Grace,” she told him. “I thank you for your concerns, but I believe I can do well without such education.”

“I know you will think about what I have said later tonight, and I expect that we will meet at this time tomorrow in the library,” he said stubbornly. “Come with an open mind.”

The library was fast becoming the place for their secret meetings, and soon, someone would catch on to the fact that they were usually alone. If they were discovered one day, she couldn’t for the life of her imagine an excuse she could give that would explain why she and the Duke were alone.

She turned away from him, giving him a look that she hoped conveyed her seriousness.

“I won’t be needing such an education, as I have said, Your Grace.” Then, with a curtsey, she added, “I wish you a good evening.”

Selina tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep as her final conversation with the Duke echoed in her mind. She had witnessed the not-so-subtle flirtation Stephen and Elizabeth had engaged in at the breakfast table, which often led to hurried excuses and trips to their chambers.

She hoped she would find the same with whomever she married, but having to learn the skill before marriage had never crossed her mind.

After all, Elizabeth had never had to, yet Stephen had fallen in love with her almost at the very beginning.

So, why do I have to?

The idea haunted her.

She had none of Elizabeth’s quiet femininity and grace, which drew admiring eyes wherever she went, or her skill at wielding her husband’s affection.

Selina had always been described as sharp around the edges and lacking in feminine grace by all of her tutors, but she hadn’t thought it such a problem until the Duke pointed it out.She groaned into her pillow, kicking her legs furiously at the embarrassment.

Accepting his help would be no less embarrassing, but when weighed against how poorly she handled conversations with the opposite sex, she thought it a much better option.

The door opened suddenly, startling her out of her thoughts. She sat up, wrapping the covers tighter around herself as she wondered if perhaps the Duke had snuck into her chambers. She frowned at the anticipation that had bubbled up inside her at the thought, remembering what had happened the last time they had been alone in his chambers.

Her cheeks burned hot as memories of that night flashed through her mind, leaving a familiar, liquid heat between her legs and the imprint of his hands on her body.