Page 311 of Desires of a Duke Collection

“CeCe, psst, CeCe... wake up, lazybones. I thought you wanted to go riding with me this morning.” Eli nudged his sleeping sister one last time.

“All right then, I guess I will just go without you,” he goaded, “but I think Charles was planning to join us this morning.”

CeCe threw the covers back and sat up quickly, her auburn waves covering most of her face. “Wait! I’m coming.”

Eli threw his head back and laughed. “You are a sucker for that man, C!”

“I am not!” she replied indignantly, hopping from the bed and going over to ring for Yvonne. “Go away, you rotten boy. I will be down in a moment.”

“Yes, you are,” he teased, narrowly missing the pillow she had sent flying at his head. “You really should learn to control that temper, C. I’m not sure at all if Charles will like it first thing in the morning.”

“You reprobate,” she shouted, a shoe flying out from the changing room and hitting the wall beside him. “You will tell him no such thing. I am delightful at all times, especially in the morning!”

Eli stopped and picked up the satin slipper, lobbing it back toward his sister. “Ten minutes, C, and then I am leaving, regardless of whether or not you are ready.”

She replied with a wave of her arm from behind her dressing screen. Eli figured that was the best response he could get and headed down to the kitchen to see if Cook had any biscuits or scones ready.

Walking into the kitchens, he came across Charles, sitting at the large farmhouse table near the hearth, eating scones with fresh marmalade.

Charles nodded. “It is about time you got here, Eli. I almost ate them all.”

Cook came from the fire, bringing a whole new batch, golden brown and shiny with butter. “I now know always to have a few more on hand when you boys are riding out. It only took once running out and hearing Miss CeCe’s outrage to know that it is better to have too many than too few.”

The men laughed. CeCe’s ill humor in the morning had been a family joke for years now. For a person so perfectly charming most of the time, it was amazing to see.

“Has the princess awakened?” Charles asked, passing the marmalade to Eli.

“It was a near miss this morning, but I happened to mention a certain someone’s name, and she decided that she would arise after all.”

Charles’s cheeks flushed a bit as he let out a laugh. “I am hoping that you are talking about me.”

“The one and only, Old Boy,” Eli grinned. “When are you going to make an honest woman out of my sister?”

Charles choked on his scone, turning red and coughing into his napkin. Eli had to give him a few good whacks on his back to dislodge the wedged piece of pastry.

“I beg your pardon?” Charles wheezed out when he could breathe again.

“Listen, I know you care for my sister, and I know she cares for you, so what is the holdup?” Eli asked, taking a large bite of his own scone and groaning at the spectacular taste explosion.

“Well, umm, err,” Charles stuttered.

“Well said, man!” Eli pounded on his back one last time before turning to the older woman who was back at the stove. “Watch,” Eli insisted, “I’ll show you how it’s done. Cook, will you marry me?”

Cook grinned, proudly displaying a set of missing teeth in front. “You have been asking me that since you were five, Master Elias. One of these days, I am going to say yes, and you will be in a pickle then.”

“Nonsense,” Eli replied with a twinkle. “I would be a fat, happy man.”

“Proposing the servants again, Brother?” CeCe glided into the kitchen dressed to the nines in her gold riding habit. It fit perfectly, showing off her slender curves and long, graceful neck.

“Did you heathens save me any scones?” she asked.

“Just put a fresh plate on the table, Miss CeCe,” Cook replied, bringing over some fresh milk in a pitcher and a glass.

CeCe grinned up at Cook from her spot at the table. “I would marry you as well if I could.”

They all laughed, and Cook blushed. “You twins will be the death of me. Run along for your ride now before the heat of the day is upon us. Off with you!”

Cook had been with the family since before the twins were born. She was a good woman and an excellent cook, and the family adored her. To CeCe, some of their older retainers were family; she saw them more than she saw her own father. She’d always felt there was nothing like being home with those you love.

**

They raced across the fields with their horses, jumping a few of the lower fences, and eventually arrived at the lake between the two properties. They got off the horses to let them graze for a moment and to sit in the shade. The talk was mostly about inconsequential things; they were just enjoying each other’s company.

After a few moments, Eli stood up, smacking his forehead. “Blast! I do apologize. I’ve just recalled that I scheduled a meeting with Father’s man of business this morning. I am dreadfully late. Charles, be a good chap and see that CeCe gets home safely. It’s the devil of a mix-up. I hate to leave you both, but I really must go.”

Eli flung himself up onto his horse and raced away. Charles looked over at CeCe, who was lying back on the soft grass with her eyes closed. She was so beautiful. It made his heart squeeze in his chest.

Her brother now knew what his brothers had known all along. Charles cared for CeCe deeply. Truly, he didn’t know if it was possible to love an individual more than he did her.

CeCe’s eyes fluttered open, and she caught him staring. She cocked her head to the side and said, “Charles, if I have a bug on my face and you have let it sit there all of this time, I will kill you.”

Charles chuckled. “There is no bug, Peanut. I was just looking, that’s all.”

“I haven’t changed,” she said uncertainly. “What are you looking at?”

CeCe felt an unfamiliar burning in her chest at his words. She had always felt so safe with Charles. He was her dearest friend, and she cherished their friendship more than anything else in the world.

The lovemaking certainly altered their easygoing friendship, but she wasn’t ready to give that up. But what if Charles was? Could they go back to being platonic friends?

It started that day when she and Charles inadvertently barged into a library during a ball and discovered her best friend Maddie and the Earl of Saxton in a delicate situation. This led to a hasty marriage.

But despite the situation surrounding how they wed, CeCe was certain Maddie and her earl were in love.

CeCe had wanted to know what it felt like to have another’s lips touch her skin. To know a lover’s touch. The fire between them had sparked to life with their shared, heated kisses. For the first time, CeCe was feeling nervous around Charles. She’d never cared if he stared at her before. She’d never taken great pains with her appearance or counted the moments until they could be together again. It was all very alarming.

He answered her question wryly. “I just can’t seem to help myself.” With care, he moved beside her and settled on the grass. Then, slowly, he reached over as if to cup her cheek, but at the last moment, he pulled a stray piece of grass from her hair. “There is nothing else I would rather look at.”

Her heart took off as if it were in the race for her life. CeCe could feel the heat radiating from his body. Her breath was coming fast when she reached up with a hand and placed it on his chest. This time, when he dipped his head to capture her lips, she met him halfway.

CeCe felt her worries melt away as she lost herself in the kiss. Charles’s confident hands seemed to know the places that thrilled her most. She leaned into him, distantly hearing some birdsong, but all she could think about was how his lips felt on hers and how right it felt to be in his arms.

His lips were warm and soft, and her mind went blank. This was like nothing she had ever felt before.

As their kiss deepened, the tension that had been building between them for so long finally unraveled. Their bodies melded together as if they were always meant to be one. Charles’s hands roamed over her back and down to her waist, pulling her even closer to him. CeCe felt a fire ignite within her. One she never knew existed.