Page 13 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Thirteen

“ A nd I see the thievery continues.” An amused voice said from behind Natalie.

Natalie gave a start, her heart leaping into her throat as she whirled around to see the Duke leaning against the kitchen doorway, his arms folded across his chest, a smile on his face.

She blushed but did not look away. It may have been three in the morning, but she had just as much right to be in the kitchen as he did. She picked up one of her fallen biscuits and put it back on the tray.

“It is hardly thieving if it is my house.” Natalie pointed out, drawing her dressing gown more closely around her. “Besides, what are you doing here if not the same thing?”

The Duke gave her a lecherous grin. “Perhaps I was simply enjoying the view.”

She rolled her eyes and moved towards the door, intending to slip past him. “Well then, you will not mind if I do not share any of my snacks with you.”

“But have you not heard? Married couples share their lands. Their lives. Their biscuits, dear Natalie.” He closed the distance between them, his eyes glittering mischeiviosly as he deftly plucked a biscuit from the tray and popped it into his mouth.

How does he make chewing beautiful? Natalie caught hold of herself and snorted indignantly. “Do you know how hard it was for me to find those biscuits?”

Adrian smiled. “Cook does tend to move them around. Melody and I have a habit of raiding the kitchens together, and she knows that a part of the fun is feeling like we have thwarted her but she always tells me where they are.”

“Because she does not trust you to work it out yourself?” Natlie said in honeyed tones, batting her eyelids innocently at her husband.

She found the image of Adrian and Melody sneaking into the kitchen together deeply endearing. She could picture him holding her up to the cupboards, whispering so that they would not be caught. Warmth spread through her chest.

“Such wit.” Adrian rolled his eyes and attempted to steal another biscuit from her plate, but Natalie ducked out of the way. “If you are so happy to work things out for yourself, then you will not wish for me to tell you where she keeps the cakes.”

“There is cake?” Natalie’s stomach growled.

He grinned at her and nodded, taking a scone from the plate while she was distracted and eating it. “There is always cake if we are to have guests. And she will have made a little extra for her midnight marauders.”

“Where is it?” Natalie looked around as though the cake might be obliging and reveal itself. I have searched this kitchen high and low and not come across a trace of cake.

“And why should I tell you? You seem to delight in solving puzzles.” He gestured around them.

She scowled at him. “I bet you do not even know. You are just trying to get me to do the work for you.”

“And why would I do that?” he arched an eyebrow at her, moving closer to her again, but she darted away with her food.

The smell of cinnamon, amber and myrr washed over her, mingling with the scent of her snacks. She shook her head to clear it. “Because it amuses you.”

“So does this.” Adrian shrugged.

Natalie snorted and made a dismissive gesture. “Fine, keep your cake. I have plenty of snacks. Or I did before you stole them.”

She looked pointedly at her considerably smaller mountain of snacks and then at the Duke.

A corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “It is not stealing if it is my house.”

“Oh, very funny, using my words against me.” She frowned at him.

“They were good words.” He said.

Silence settled between them and Natalie wondered how she would get past him and into the corridor behind him without losing the rest of her feast.

He canted his head towards her and gestured to the plate. “Were you planning on eating those in your bedroom?”

“Yes, were you planning on joining me?” She shot back, tiredness making her bold.

He arched an eyebrow at her and moved closer once again. “Is that an invitation?”

“No.” She replied matching his silky tone, letting her eyes drift across his body as he so often did to her, stopping when their gaze met. “I do not share my food.”

“You already have.” He pointed out, so close his breath tickled her skin.

Shivers ran through her.

“Stop stealing my biscuits.” She slapped his hand without thinking, the same way she would slap Peter’s hand when he tried to steal her food.

The Duke’s eyes widened and he laughed. Not his usual mocking chuckle, but a deep, booming laugh of surprise. In the dim light, it softened his features and he seemed more like the man he was with his daughter, than the cold Duke he showed to everyone else.

“You should laugh more often.” Natalie said absently. “It is a nice sound, and it softens all your edges.”

“Careful, Natalie, that sounds dangerously close to a compliment.” Adrian said.

She gave him a wicked smile. “Perhaps it is one. After all, you are bound to do something I enjoy once in a while.”

He laughed again and Natalie found herself laughing with him. “Very well, let us share some cake.”

She watched as Adrian moved to a cupboard she had already searched. “Every tin in there is labelled dog food.” And why did the housekeeper store dog food in tins to begin with?

“Which makes it the perfect place to store cake.” He replied, procuring several small slices of cake from a tin. “No one wants to accidentally eat dog food.”

“I should think few people want to eat it on purpose.” She frowned. “Although, now that I think of it, it would make sense for the kitchen to send the scraps straight to the hounds rather than store them.”

“Exactly. But even then, few people would want to risk being wrong, even if logic dictates that they are unlikely to be.” Adrian took a mouthful of his cake and then began to walk out of the kitchen. “I have no wish to eat in the cold. There is a fire in my study, should you wish to join me.”

For a moment, Natalie thought about turning him down, but her curiosity got the better of her. “A chance to see the one room I have not yet been able to, this night is just full of treats.”

“Not to mention the pleasure of my company.” The duke quipped.

“Well, I suppose there must be a price to pay for my good fortune.” Natalie winked at him.

He swept into a bow as they reached the doors of his study and he flung them open, gesturing for her to enter. “After you, Little Thief.”

“Thank you, Sir Fox.” She curtsied to him, only just managing to stifle a giggle.

His study was far more cosy than she had expected. There were two plush armchairs by a roaring fire, with a thick carped in the centre of the room. There were bookshelves lining every wall, with a large mahogany desk off to one side.

Natalie watched as Adrian moved towards a decanter and poured himself a glass of deep red liquid.

“Would you like some wine?” he asked.

“I will pour it myself.” Natalie took the decanter from him. “That way I can be as generous as I would like.”

“And you do not think I would be generous? Do I seem a miser to you?” his eyes sparkled as he surveyed her over the edge of his glass.

“Perhaps I simply like to be in control of what I drink.” Natalie forced the memory of Lord Bolton from her mind.

She knew that Adrian was not Lord Bolton, that he had no reason to tamper with her drink. That he had already drunk the wine from the decanter, but she could not quite bring herself to let him pour a drink for her.

“Or you simply like control.” Adrian murmured.

“That makes two of us.” Natalie answered, clinking her glass against his. “To control.”

“Control.” He smiled and sipped his drink. “Shall we sit?”

She nodded and took a seat in one of the armchairs, it was more comfortable than she had been expecting and she found herself settling into it with a pleased sigh.

“You seem to have made yourself at home.” Adrian pointed out as he took one of the scones.

“If you did not want me to do so, you should not have invited me.” She gave him a sidelong look. “Are you not worried I will rearrange your study now?”

“I doubt you would do so while I am present. Besides, you seem rather distracted by cake.”

“It is very good cake.” Natalie admitted through a mouthful.

“How elegant.” Adrian pointed a scone at her.

“I try.” She gave him a mocking bow. “How come you are up so late?”

“I had some things to tend to before your family arrives tomorrow. I suspect I will not have much time for business once they are here.” He took a sip of his wine.

Natalie sipped her own wine, hesitating a moment before she said, “They will understand if you are busy. After all, Alexander is also a duke. You need not spend any more time with them than you wish.”

“And why should I not want to spend time with them? Or perhaps are you worried about them spending time with me?” He canted his head towards her, a curious expression on his face.

“I might be if everyone was not already married.” Natalie rolled her eyes, not wanting to admit that it was her nephews and niece she was worried about. “My family is… Well they do not care much for propriety. At least, not when they are not in society.”

“And I take it my company does not count as being in society?” He chuckled. “I am not sure whether to be flattered or insulted.”

Natalie made a noncommittal gesture with her hand. “It means they see you as family. You can decide whether it is an insult or a compliment.”

“And will they view Melody the same?” his voice was soft, but Natalie heard the prickle of worry in his words.

She almost reached for his hand, but stopped herself. “I cannot imagine a world in which they do not like her. Though… siblings do not always get along.”

She thought of the many scuffles she had had with Peter over the years. The way they had bickered and argued – but through it all, there was no doubt they loved each other. But will Adrian understand that? More importantly, will Melody?

Natalie wondered if she should talk to her nephews and niece or if it would be better to let the children sort themselves out. Arthur was ten, and often very good at brokering the peace. His sister Daphne was blunt, but never cruel. Jonathan was more likely to get distracted looking for butterflies.

“Where did you go?” Adrian’s voice brought her back to the present.

“I was thinking about how the children might play together. How different temperaments interact.” Natalie took another biscuit from the platter. “It is probably best to let them settle things amongst themselves.”

“I would not know. I have no brothers or sisters. And no first cousins that I know of.” Adrian ran a hand through his hair, leaving it tousled.

Natalie studied his face. “That must have been lonely.”

“At times. I often wished I had a brother or even a sister.” Adrian seemed surprised by his own candour and gave her a wry grin. “Though I suppose it is easy to create a far more pleasant fantasy of such things. Perhaps it is best that there is only me.”

“Perhaps. I am not sure the world is ready for another person like you.” Natalie teased. “I suppose Melody gets her sunny disposition from her mother, she does not seem to share your taste for melodrama.”

An odd look flitted across Adrian’s face at Natalie’s words, and she could have sworn his grip tightened momentarily around his wine glass. But perhaps it was just a trick of the light, because his next words were full of his usual languid grace. “I suppose I should be grateful for that. I do not think there is room for too much melodrama, not now that I have married you.”

Natalie threw a scone at him and he caught it, taking a bite out of it as he met her gaze. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and she felt shivers run down her spine.

“I suppose there is no concern about a dearth of Emberlys.” Adrian murmured. “Have you never wished to be alone?”

“There are times when my family drives me utterly mad, but I could not imagine a life without them.” Natalie replied. “And being a twin… Well, it has been strange not having Peter around all the time.”

“You must miss them.” He looked at her, and there was no mocking amusement in his eyes, just gentle sincerity.

“I do. I miss the chaos and the hustle and bustle.” Natalie sighed. “Though I am beginning to appreciate the serenity of Blackwood.”

“Are you?” he laughed.

“You sound surprised.”

He gestured with his wine glass, his lips quirking into a smile. “Well, it has hardly seemed serene since you arrived.”

“You do not sound upset by this.” Natalie pointed out, feeling herself smile in return.

“I am not.” He tilted his head. “Does that disappoint you?”

“It would have, a few days ago.” She replied honestly.

Adrian studied her face, and Natalie felt as though he were searching for something rather than reading her like a book. “And now?”

“There is less joy in irritating you.” She said simply.

She expected the duke to say something, to make a quip or a joke, but he did not. The clock struck four and Natalie jumped.

“I should go.” She stood up and moved towards the doors, a yawn escaping as she did. “I expect tomorrow will be a long day.”

“Probably.” The duke moved towards her, resting his hand on the door. “I am looking forward to it.”

“Me too.” Natalie admitted.

“Good night, Little thief.” He murmured.

“Good night, Sir Fox.” She whispered.

He closed the door, the scent of his cologne filling the space he had been.