Page 24 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Twenty-Four

“ F ive more minutes.” Natalie muttered, rolling over and burying herself in the covers. “Tell them to go away.”

The knocking continued, and Natalie opened her eyes. She was lying in a large four poster bed, sunlight streaming through the window. She reached out to touch the empty spot beside her, breathing in the familiar scent of Adrian’s cologne.

It had been a fortnight since they had returned to Blackwood castle, and they had not spent a night apart since their first kiss in London. After the first few days of her trying to sneak back to her rooms in the dead of night, Adrian had suggested that she move her things into the rooms beside his.

The rooms that handily were connected by a secret corridor.

“Your Grace? His Grace said that we were to wake you at eleven and to bring you breakfast in bed.” A muffled voice called from behind the door.

“It cannot be eleven already? Surely not!” Natalie leapt out of bed, hastily drawing her dressing gown around her.

“Your Grace? May I come in?” the voice said.

Natalie was fairly certain it was Julia. Hastily, she tried to compose herself. “Yes.”

Julia entered a moment later and placed a laden breakfast tray on the table. “Had you given any thought to the dress you wish to wear today?”

“Not really. I suppose it depends on what activities I wish to pursue today. Did my husband mention anything to you when he instructed you to wake me?” Natalie sat on the small sofa near the coffee table as Julia placed the breakfast tray in front of her.

“Only that he would be in the garden with Lady Melody if you wished to find him.” Julia answered.

Natalie glanced out of the window, nodding thoughtfully to herself. “Then something suitable to be out of doors in. Perhaps my riding habit, it has been a long time since I have been out and I feel the need for a good canter about the estate.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Shall I fetch the dress now?” Julia moved towards the hidden door that led to the passage between Adrian’s rooms and Natalie’s new ones.

“I shall dress in my rooms. The light in Adrian’s is awful. And I swear his looking glass makes me look about three times larger.” Natalie scowled at the thing. “I will make him get rid of it if it is the last thing I do.”

“I doubt he will put up much of a fight, Your Grace. Not lovestruck as he is.” Julia gave her a knowing smile and Natalie felt her cheeks flush even deeper.

“Is there honey with the porridge?” she asked, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear and avoiding her maid’s eyes. “Oh yes, there it is. And sugar for the tea?”

“Of course, Your Grace. And cinnamon too, for your porridge. His Grace ordered it a few days ago.” Julia’s voice held a quiet edge of amusement. “He said it only stood to reason that his wife would take her porridge as spiced as she was.”

“The man is utterly incorrigible, and I will make him pay for that.” Natalie took a mouthful of her porridge. “I only happened to mention in passing that I missed cinnamon on my porridge.”

He remembered. Natalie tried to look irritated even as she felt her heart melting. Any time she had mentioned something she missed or enjoyed, within a few days, Adrian would arrange for whatever it was to be at the castle.

“Sometimes I feel like I am living in the most wonderful dream.” Natalie sighed and took another bite of her porridge. “It feels as though I could fly. I did not think it possible to be this happy.”

“That is what it is to be in love, You Grace. And I must say, I feel it suits you rather well.” Julia squeezed her hand.

“I feel much the same way.” Natalie beamed at her. “Though I do worry I am beginning to sound rather a lot like my twin.”

“Lord Peter is a romantic, and so are you. Enjoy it.” Julia shrugged. “There is nothing quite like being young and in the arms of love.”

“I know. I know. It is all so wonderfully overwhelming.” Natalie gestured with her spoon without thinking, accidentally flinging porridge onto the floor. “Sometimes I feel like I will burst into song just to let out these feelings. Or flames or both.”

“Well let us hope for song rather than flame.” Julia grinned at her. “You deserve this happiness. And you timed it perfectly.”

“What do you mean?” Natalie asked, a spoonful of porridge to her lips.

“Well… The servants had a little pool going. On when you two would realise how you felt about each other. One of the servants overheard Duchess Emberly wagering with Duke Emberly and well, it got the rest of us started as well.” Julia was making the bed, pulling up the covers and fluffing the pillows with a little too much focus.

“Rose started this!” Natalie let out an indignant yelp. “The Pembletons and their habit of wagering on someone else’s love life never ceases to amaze me. And she managed to inspire the servants to get involved as well.”

“Only because you two were either going to fall in love with each other or murder one another. And for a time, it was almost impossible to say.” Julia clasped her hands in front of her.

“Well, I am glad we did not murder one another. Though there is still time for that. As much as he has my heart, he is still the most utterly infuriating man on the planet. Even if he is also the most thoughtful and wonderful man as well.” Natalie smiled as she thought of Adrian, the smell of his cologne seeming to fill her mind.

“Yes, though I was the one who won the bet in the end. And I used the winnings to buy myself a new dress for church on Sundays.” Lips curved in a smug little smile, Julia curtseyed and left the room.

She hastily ate her porridge, wiped her mouth, but as she walked past the bed to get to the door, she noticed a small folded note on Adrian’s pillow. She picked it up, and read:

My dearest Little Thief,

You looked far too sweet to wake, and altogether too irresistible when you are conscious.

Natalie’s cheeks flushed as she read, and she was grateful that Julia had already left. “I will show him just how distracting I can be.”

No doubt, you are already vowing to teach me a lesson in distraction – I know you so well. On the subject of distraction, Melody is still fixated on this idea of a puppy and to pull her mind from this fascination, I have suggested that we play in the garden.

When you have woken and dressed, you will find us there.

Yours always,

Your fox.

P.S. Melody has asked when she can meet the rest of her cousins. Shall we journey to Emberly or would you rather play the hostess?

Natalie folded the note and tucked it into a pocket, a warmth spreading through her. It is going to be a glorious day.

Natalie found Melody and Adrian down by the willow tree. Each was holding a stick and batting at the other in a dazzling show of sword play. She stopped and watched them a moment, revelling in how soft he was with her.

Adrian looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and a broad smile spread across his face, even as his eyes seemed to dance with flames. She felt as though she had swallowed several live eels.

Melody took advantage of her father’s distracted and stabbed him with her sword. Natalie clapped as Adrian clutched at his sides, groaning in a prolonged death.

“You came!” Melody flung her arms around Natalie. “Did you see me fence with Father? I am getting rather good!”

“You are indeed.” Natalie returned the embrace. “Do you think we should stab him again, just for good measure?”

“I heard that!” Adrian opened an eye and sat up. “You know, it is really rather poor form to stab a man when he is already down. It is altogether ungentlemanly behaviour.”

“I never professed to be a gentleman, dearest. And I should think you would like me far less if I was.” Natalie teased. “Besides, it is important to ensure your opponent is really dead. That is the lesson all great novels teach you. If you turn your back without checking, they will no doubt come back and you shall have to fight all over again.”

“Then it is a good thing we do not live in a novel. Are you going to help me up?” Adrian’s eyes were full of mischief.

“A big strong man like you surely does not need the help of a waifish thing like me.” Natalie turned to Melody. “What do you think, should we rescue your father?”

“I do not know if we are strong enough to lift him.”

“Well, it seems we shall have to leave him here while we go on our own adventure.”

“An adventure?”

“I thought that it would be a wonderful day to go for a ride – perhaps to the ruins.”

“I think it would be even more fun to race to the ruins on horseback.” Adrian stood up and walked over to them, gently kissing Natalie on the cheek as he did. “Unless of course, you are both afraid of losing?”

“To you?” Natalie laughed. “Not a chance. I suspect Melody will be my only competition.”

“Would you care to wager on that?” Adrian murmured, his breath tickling her ear.

Natalie only just managed to suppress the shivers that threatened to run down her spine, a flush rising from her neck to her cheeks. Oh I am going to make him pay for that.

“I do not have any money.” Melody frowned.

Natalie took advantage of the intervention and stepped away from Adrian, forcing her mind back to the present. “Hm… Well what about if we say that if you win, you can have two puddings after dinner.”

“All to myself?” Melody looked between Adrian and Natalie.

Natalie nodded. “Yes.”

She knew Adrian would not object – nothing made him happier than to see his daughter eating, and Melody rarely indulged in excess.

Her stepdaughter considered this for a moment. “What about if you got me a puppy instead?”

Natalie stroked her chin thoughtfully, ignoring Adrian who was clearly trying to mouth the word ‘no’ while Melody had her attention focused on Natalie. “I think you would have to win at least five races for me to get you a puppy.”

Melody nodded. “So if I win five races, I can have a puppy.”

“Maybe.” Adrian gave Natalie a look, exasperation and amusement clear on his face. “We shall have to see.”

“But if Mother said I could, then that means I can.” Melody said glaring at her father.

There was a beat of silence as Adrian’s eyes widened just slightly. Natalie’s breath caught. She called me mother. She has never called me that before. She had thought that being called mother would make her feel old; a part of her had feared it even as another part wanted it.

Yet as soon as the word left Melody’s mouth, all Natalie could think was how much she loved the little girl. It felt perfect. She glanced at Adrian who looked back at her, a smile on his face.

In the silence, Melody flushed slightly and tugged gently on Natalie’s hand. “You do not mind if I call you mother, do you?”

Natalie shook her head, a lump in her throat. “Of course not.”

“You can still call me Melody, and sometimes if you wish, you may call me daughter. But I think if you said it all the time it would sound rather strange.” Melody squeezed Natalie’s hand, and tugged her in the direction of the stables. “Do you know where the ruins are? You will need to if we are all going to race.”

“I think so. It is not very far away.” Natalie mentally mapped out the route, trying to remember if there was more than one river to ford as they made their way through the gardens.

“Do not worry, you can follow me.” Adrian winked at her.

“How can I do that when you will be behind me?” Natalie replied sweetly, swatting at him as he danced out of reach..

“There are worse places to be.” Adrian let his eyes drift down her body and Natalie blushed.

“Mother has already said she knows where to go silly. She will not need to follow anyone.” Melody turned to face Natalie, a determined look on her face. “Father says I am still too small to ride a horse, but I think he is wrong.”

Natalie looked at the hopeful expression on Melody’s face and felt her heart melt. She looked at Melody and then at one of the smaller horses, then back at Melody. She shook her head and the girl looked crestfallen.

“I am afraid he is right. It would not be safe for you to ride one of the bigger horses. If we had another small mare, perhaps, but Birch has only just had her foal and will not be ready to ride for some time.” Natalie gestured vaguely, hoping the reminder that there was a foal to fuss over after their ride would help alleviate some of Melody’s disappointment.

Melody frowned. “But my pony has little legs. It hardly seems fair when you will both be riding horses.”

“That is a good point. What if we gave you a head start?” Natalie glanced at Adrian who inclined his head to signal his agreement. And it will give us some time together as well. “You can ride ahead of us and we will follow behind whilst you warm up your pony. Then you may start to race and we shall wait and follow along when you are a suitable distance in front of us.”

Melody chewed thoughtfully on the end of one of her braids. “Yes, that seems fair.”

“Then we have an agreement.” Natalie held out a hand and Melody shook it.

They had reached the stables, and the grooms were coming out to greet them. Melody waved at them happily.

“You should help get Sir Stockings ready for the ride.” Adrian jerked his head towards the stable.

“His name is Sir Socks, Father.” Melody sighed and gave him an exasperated look. “It is not a difficult name to remember.”

Natalie hastily turned her laugh into a cough, hiding it behind her hand. Adrian arched an eyebrow at her before turning back to Melody.

“Stockings, socks, it is much the same.” Adrian inclined his head. “But I am sorry for the mistake. And I trust you will convey my apology to Sir Socks.”

“I was not planning on telling him that you still did not know his name. He is rather sensitive.” Melody added in a whisper that was just as loud as her normal speaking voice.

“Then it shall just have to be our little secret.” Adrian bowed solemnly. “Now ensure you check all of his tack properly. The last time we went out you forgot to check your stirrups in your excitement and it was only because Henley, the stable hand, discovered it that we fixed things before our ride.”

“I was excited.” Melody twisted her hands together.

“I know. But you must always take time to check things properly. Now run along or at this rate, we will never get started.” Adrian held out his fingers and Melody pressed her fingertips to his, before giving him a hug and then darted towards the stables, chatting animatedly to one of the grooms.

Natalie smiled as she watched the little girl go.

“It seems you are well and truly part of the family now.” Adrian canted his head towards her.

“So it would seem.” Natalie sighed theatrically. “Perhaps this means you will be tired of me, given my new matronly status.”

Adrian chuckled his eyes dancing with mischief. “I could never tire of you little Thief.”

Her heart flipped over in her chest, her lips parting. Natalie shook herself and danced out of Adrian’s reach. “Do not think to distract me, my Fox. Your tricks will not help you win this race.”

“Are you sure about that?” he grinned at her, and she shivered at the heat in his eyes.

“Quite sure.” Her words were more breathless than she planned. “I have no intention of letting you win.”

“No matter the outcome I win. One way, I have the glory of a good race. And the other, a rather magnificent view.” His eyes were hungry, but his smile was soft and teasing.

“You are ridiculous.” She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of scarlet. “What if someone heard you?”

“They do not need to hear me when they already think it.” Adrian laughed, and then yelped when Natalie swiped playfully at him.

“Are you utterly incapable of being serious for even a moment?” She teased.

“For today? Yes.” He looked her up and down. “Especially if you are so intent on testing the limits of my control.”

“I am doing no such thing.” She moved closer to him, resting a hand against his chest.

“Your existence is enough.” His eyes drank her in hungrily.

“It is a pity your control is so easily tested.” She murmured, moving even closer to him.

“Is it?” His breath tickled her skin.

“Yes. Because that is exactly how I will win.” She pushed him, unbalancing him and running towards the stables.

He let out a surprised yell that turned into a laugh, and chased after her.

“You are going to regret that.” He called as Natalie ran behind a barell.

“Only if you catch me.” Natalie called back.

“Oh I intend to, Duchess. I intend to.” He caught her around the waist and hoisted her into the air.

She yelped and half heartedly batted him away. He chuckled and turned her around in his arms. “As I said, you are going to regret that.”

“Oh, I doubt very much that I will. Or I would not have let you catch me.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “You have fallen for my trap, Sir Fox.”

“A wonderful trap indeed.” He growled.

“Father! Mother! What are you doing? Where are your horses?” Melody was pulling her own horse towards them. “I have checked Sir Socks twice already.”

“I am sorry Little One. Your Father was being silly.”

“Your Mother started it.”

“I did not.”

“You are both being silly.” Melody shook her head. “Go and get your horses, I have a race to win.”

“At once, Captain.” Adrian gave his daughter a mock salute and cast Natalie a look that told her he did fully intend to finish this later.

Her heart fluttered, but she rolled her eyes at him and allowed Melody to tell her what horse she thought was most suitable.

“I think that no matter what horse I choose, today will be a most perfect day.” Natalie beamed at Melody.

“Why?”

“Because I am with you. And nothing could possibly go wrong while we are together.” Natalie meant every single word.