Page 41 of A Duchess to Unravel (The Devil’s Masquerade #3)

ONE MONTH LATER

“ H e seems to be quite recovered,” Ophelia stated.

In the crowded, music-filled ballroom of the castle, Theo turned in the direction of Ophelia’s gaze.

As usual, butterflies fluttered in her stomach as her eyes landed on her handsome giant of a husband Like her, he was surrounded by friends.

Hugo, Everett, Dominic, and even Tristan, were all smiling and laughing as they conversed with Alistair.

“He is indeed,” Theo replied with a smirk, recalling the wonderfully sinful pleasures they’d partaken in the night before. “Which is well and good, seeing as we are to be leaving for Scotland in a month.”

“The surgeon said he was ready for such a journey?” Amelia asked.

“Oh, do tell me that you two will be coming back,” Seraphina added.

“The surgeon said he has healed quite fast,” Theo said to Amelia, “And yes, Seraphina, we are to return to England within the year.”

She turned to Seraphina and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“I know I stole your opportunity to get to know your cousin better,” Theo said apologetically, “But he and I have discussed the matter, and we would like to extend you and your family the invitation to come stay with us for a month in the winter.”

She waved an arm around the room and added, “We do have the space after all. Everyone could come.”

“Oh,” Seraphina sighed, her smile genuine as she hugged Theo. “I really would like that. Thank you, Theo. That lifts my spirits greatly!”

Giggling, Theo hugged her back.

“We are all grateful for Alistair’s recovery, darling, but how are you doing?” Amelia asked, her tone tentative.

Out of all of them, Amelia was the one that could most closely relate to what Theo went through. She had also been the one that stayed the closest to Theo throughout the last month.

“The nightmares still come on quite vividly,” Theo murmured, her smile dampening, “Sometimes it takes Alistair quite a while to pull me out of them. But I am grateful he is there to do so. I do not believe I would fare well sleeping alone.”

“I understand,” Amelia whispered, stroking a hand over Theo’s shoulder. “My nightmares were also quite extensive after my father sold me. Worse still after Roland tried to take me. Having Dominic by my side is still a great comfort.”

Theo nodded in understanding, hugging her friend extra tight. Now more than ever, she understood why Dominic had taken Amelia on an extensive honeymoon. She’d needed time to recover.

“And your maid,” Rose implored, “Norma, is it? She is recovering well from her wound?”

Theo nodded, relieved to be able to do so. The guilt she’d felt after discovering Norma had been shot while trying to protect her had grieved Theo extensively.

“Quite well,” she replied. “We have given her a six-month paid leave and a cottage near the castle. She has no family, poor thing, but Mrs. Mackenzie and I check on her daily.”

Theo managed a smile as she added, “As does Callum. Who has apparently taken quite a liking to her. They both seem quite smitten with one another.”

It had warmed her heart to visit Norma one day to find the livery man sitting at Norma’s bedside feeding her soup. One look at the way the couple gazed at one another was enough for anyone to know that a seed of affection had not only been planted but was growing quite strongly.

“Pardon me, ladies,” Alistair’s deep voice broke through their conversation.

Theo’s smile grew as she felt Alistair wrap an arm around her waist and drop a kiss to her neck from behind.

“Good day to you,” she greeted warmly, reaching up to cup his cheek.

“Having fun, darling?” He asked, nuzzling into her.

“Oh, get a room you two,” Ophelia muttered, rolling her eyes as she walked away.

Theo waved her off and turned in Alistair’s arms, loving the boldness he displayed at showing her such affection, even with others around.

“I am,” she told him, pressing her palms to his chest.

“Are you certain?” he asked, a playful glint in his eyes. “Ye are not getting a bit tired?”

Theo fought to hide the smirk growing on her face and failed terribly.

“Actually,” she said, forcing a yawn, “I am growing a bit sleepy. Perhaps we should retire for the evening? I am sure our guests would understand, given what we have been through.”

“I am certain they would,” Alistair murmured, sliding a hand to the back of her neck and giving her a gentle squeeze.

“Dominic already said he would be happy to take over as Master of Ceremonies. And most of our guests are spending the night anyway. I am sure they will be retiring in their own rooms quite soon.”

Theo’s anticipation grew as Alistair raked his hungry eyes down her body, and she quickly nodded in agreement.

“Excuse us, my darlings,” Theo said, whirling around to face the rest of her friends, “We have grown quite weary in the late hour. Shall we reconvene at breakfast?”

“Of course,” Seraphina answered with a knowing smirk.

“I am sure we will have much to discuss,” Amelia said, giving Theo a wink.

“I shall go find Ophelia,” Rose sighed, looking both bored and disappointed. “We are sharing a room. I believe we shall retire as well.”

Theo paused, worried for Rose and Ophelia. At one time there were five wallflowers. Now only remained two. She silently prayed then and there that they would receive the love or freedom they wished, and that one day soon they would be as happy as her, Seraphina, and Amelia were.

The moment they reached Alistair’s room, Alistair pressed Theo tightly against him and greedily pressed his lips to hers.

“Whose idea was it to throw this thing?” he murmured between kisses. As he did so his hands worked quickly at the stays of her dress, loosening the ties that held her in it.

Theo’s laugh was husky against his lips as she worked his cravat loose.

“Yours, darling,” she replied, then whimpered as Alistair freed her from her gown, and bit down on her neck.

“Remind me not to have it again,” Alistair growled.

Through their kisses they tore at one another’s clothes, peeling off each bit until they were both bare. Alistair let out a heady groan of desire as he held Theo back just long enough to appreciate her body, then he picked her up, lips coming possessively to hers, and guided her legs to his waist.

Theo’s nails raked over Alistair’s bare shoulders and back as he pressed her tightly to the wall, neither of them patient enough to make it to the bed.

They’d barely touched, yet her body was already humming with arousal.

She gasped out his name and bit harshly into his shoulder as his already rigid manhood sank in one long stroke into her slick flesh.

A burst of hot-white pleasure filled every pore and vein of her body as they stayed there for a moment, locked within one another.

They had made love that morning, every morning, since the physician had cleared Alistair.

Every mid-day as well, and often several times at night- but each time felt as if they had spent weeks apart, and that the need they had for another would never slake.

Unable to take the stillness much longer, Theo wiggled her hips, encouraging Alistair to move. He did so with a possessive growl, and once he started, his pace became vicious--precisely the way she loved him to be.

An hour later they had finally made it to the bed, only half-sated and taking a brief rest. Alistair had laid Theo delicately among the pillows and had rested his head against her belly.

He made lazy strokes with his fingers along her breasts, abdomen, and legs, as if trying to memorize her form.

Theo, in return, lazily stroked her hand through his hair, loving the way he trembled when her nails grazed a particular spot on the back of his head.

“Someday soon,” Alistair murmured, tracing his fingers over her stomach, “I want to see you ripe with my child.”

Theo started, surprised that he would say such a thing at random. She gripped his hair and forced his head up, making him chuckle.

“What was that?” she asked.

Alistair grinned, dropped a kiss on her belly.

“I believe you heard me, little kitten,” he replied, holding her gaze intently. “I want children. Several of them. With you.”

The End?