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“That is most wonderful, Gerald,” Lydia answered politely as she lifted her skirts and began to climb the steps, “You will not mind then that I ask you to alert the rest of the staff that I shall meet with them tomorrow? I am dreadfully weary and need to rest right away.”

“You have no idea where you are going,” Ezra noted as he calmly kept up with her on the steps.

His staff had bowed low around them as they entered the foyer, but they were already raising their heads and whispering as Gerald followed closely behind and delivered Lydia’s message.

“I am sure you are more than adequate to show me to my rooms,” Lydia remarked to Ezra as she continued up the steps as though she did not care whether or not he followed her.

Though he was still annoyed with her interference, amusement was starting to work its way through him as he watched her stride so confidently through his home. He caught up to her in several easy strides, then took the lead. If she wanted to play cool and aloof so could he. In fact, he preferred it.

“I assume you are not heartbroken that we do not have adjoining rooms?” he asked as he veered off to the right on the third floor.

“Certainly not,” Lydia retorted. “It is more suitable for our situation.”

“Our situation?” he echoed.

“Yes,” she breathed, turning to him with a smile that did not meet her eyes. “We are partners, not lovers.”

Ezra nearly chuckled but regained his composure as he stopped at the suite door. With a small flourish, he opened it andbeckoned her inside. Lydia walked into her rooms with her shoulders back and her beautiful features held regally. The sitting parlor was already alight with several oil lamps which displayed a rather dark, bland room that was neither feminine nor welcoming. Ezra watched Lydia’s face closely as she studied the room, looking for any sign of dismay or regret. Yet…he saw none. Only quiet acceptance.

“You may redecorate if you like,” Ezra said dryly, getting down to the rules. She was right, they were partners, not lovers and every partnership had its guidelines.

“The suite is yours to do with as you wish. Have your sisters over whenever you like, or anyone else for that matter. You are not to go into my suite unless I invite you. I shall have my valet coordinate a diary for you, so you know when I expect you to be by my side, but when your presence is not required you are free to do as you wish on the grounds.”

“What if I want to leave the grounds?” she asked, raising a challenging eyebrow. “Are you going to stop me?”

Ezra’s lips twitched, but instead of a sarcastic answer, he chose to give her an honest one.

“If it impedes my business? Yes. There will be times you will need to be at my disposal, Lydia, and I cannot have you a day’s ride away when an opportunity suddenly arises.”

He expected Lydia to argue with him over this, but she only gave him a firm nod.

“I suppose that is practical,” she admitted.

Ezra deadpanned, unsure what to do with her acceptance.

“You must be tired,” he stated, almost wishing now that she’d argued with him. “I shall leave you to rest, and you and I will coordinate in the morning over breakfast. You will meet me in the main dining room at seven. Your handmaid will show you where it is.”

Deciding the conversation was over, he gave her a respectful bow and moved toward the door.

“I do not want children with you,” Lydia said as his hand reached the doorknob.

The blunt randomness of her statement had truly caught him off guard. As he turned back to her he could not help his wry smile and chuckle.

“That was quite the non sequitur,” he mused, but Lydia only acknowledged him with a level look of her own.

“If we are discussingyourrules,” she replied calmly, unfazed by his teasing, “Then we should also discussmine. Our agreement is to have me help you gain more business in exchange for not marrying Juliet. This is not a traditional marriage, so I will not provide traditional things. Children. A shared bed. You may take other women if you like. I genuinely do not care, but do not bringthem here. This is not just our home now, it is also where we discuss business. We cannot have distractions.”

For the first time in his life, Ezra felt as if he could have been knocked over by a feather. The honesty, the practicality; even from Lydia, was not at all what he was expecting. His shock transformed into curiosity, then lust as he looked her up and down.

“You are…certainly quite the interesting woman, Duchess,” Ezra mused, sliding a hand in his pocket.

As he did so, her fingers brushed against the length of his hardened manhood, and he shivered.

“I am a woman of my word,” Lydia replied matter-of-factly, then with a bit more annoyance, spat, “and stop looking at me like that!”

“Like what?” Ezra teased as he took a step toward her.

A pink blush rose from under the freckles on Lydia’s cheeks, and his smirk turned into a wolfish smile. He had to admit he was beginning to enjoy making her falter. Lydia, the fearless, practical woman who had just rattled off her demands, then swallowed slowly as her pupils dilated and her lips parted. He took another step, close enough to catch her black heart cherry scent. It instantly made his mouth water, and he had to grit his teeth against the sudden balloon of lust that burst inside of him. It caused him to let out a small grunt, making Lydia jump a little.