Page 6

“I was not finished with you,” the duke said.

She gaped at him, her throat unable to form words.

He took a step closer, and she leaped off the bed, backing towards the window.

He sighed in exasperation, rolling his eyes. “Surely, you do not still believe that I intend to hurt you.”

“I never said I think that.”

“Then why are you acting like a scared rabbit?”

She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and looked him in the eye.

“I was not. You… you simply startled me, and I reacted as I did. I still feel quite skittish from what happened in the courtyard. I—” she flicked a glance at him, blushing with embarrassment, “I should have thanked you for rescuing me from those men.”

He nodded solemnly. “You have already done so, Duchess. It is my duty as your husband, but I will accept your gratitude.”

She narrowed her eyes and ground her teeth as she recalled how annoying he could be. His eyes raked down her frame, a look of growing desire darkening his grey-blue eyes to nearly black.

Strangely enough, his heated gaze did not fill Georgiana with fear or trepidation. To her intense mortification, she was tempted to stick out her chest and smooth down her hair, like a coquette.

What is happening to me?

“You know, one really should not walk about in one’s shift if they do not want one’s estranged husband to get the wrong idea,” the duke said.

Her blush deepened and she turned away from him, crossing her arms over her breasts. “I did not invite you into my bedchamber.”

He laughed softly. “Did you not? When we spoke downstairs, I was left with the impression that you wished us to speak in private.”

She whipped around, favoring him with another gimlet eye. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“Oh, I do not know. Perhaps it was because of the way you turned back to see if I was following you up the stairs. You even had a bath and changed your clothes for me.” He gave her a slow,appreciative gaze from her toes up to her untidy mass of freshly washed hair.

Her hand jerked, wanting to smooth down her curls while she momentarily wished that she had brought a brush with her. She thrust the thought away with a frown.

What am I thinking?

“That is a ridiculous thing to say,” she replied belatedly. “You make it sound like I actively set out to seduce you when you know very well that I possess no such skills.”

He gave a bitter laugh. “And how would I know that, my dear? You have barely been in the same room with me since we wed.”

She frowned at him. “Well, it is not as if we live in the same house.”

His lips twisted. “I had no idea you minded.”

She huffed in frustration, shaking her head. She and Selina had discussed the topic endlessly—what one’s wedding night was supposed to look like.

Here her husband was, making lewd insinuations about her in a manner that made her think he was not entirely immune to her charms, but she had no idea what todoabout it. Furthermore, she had no notion of what she even wanted, but she was tired of the limbo in which she had been living for the past year.

Georgiana’s eyes widened as she turned to face him fully. “What are you doing in here?” she demanded, ignoring his comment entirely.

This was the first time they had spoken candidly to each other since Robert’s ill-fated attempt to consummate their marriage. Before today, he had thought her to be nothing more than a shrinking violet.

“I believe the better question is: why was your door so easy to open?” Robert pushed the door shut behind him and leaned back against it, effectively blocking her escape.

He wondered how he had never noticed that her brunette hair shone with flickering red highlights in the setting sun. Her breasts, unsupported by stays or a corset, stood erect, nipples peaked, the white cotton of her shift lovingly outlining them for his enjoyment.

Her hands fisted at her sides. “This is improper.”