Page 36 of Duke of Eccess (Seven Dukes of Sin #4)

Temperance had awoken that morning with her body still humming. Every time she closed her eyes, she relived the sensations of Octavius’s hands, his mouth, the way he’d worshipped her body as if no treasure could compare. How she would face him today without blushing crimson, she couldn’t imagine.

She was arranging Sophie’s pillows when James appeared in the doorway, eyes bright with eagerness.

“Miss Fields, did we do well?” he asked hopefully.

The children’s bedchamber was well lit in the morning light and she had just brought some tea for Sophie, whose ankle was already improving. The child could easily sit, but most certainly couldn’t walk, at least not without help.

“The Marvels of Electricity,” James insisted. “You said, if we did well, you would take us to the Marvels of Electricity show with you. It’s today.”

Temperance fumbled with the folds of her skirt as she considered what to say, nervousness whirling in her chest. James clearly wanted to go, and judging by the way Margaret hovered in the doorway, expression eager, so did she.

The boy had been sleeping much better since the night when he’d tried to find Octavius.

True, he’d walked in his sleep twice, but he’d simply stood next to the window or bookshelf, then returned to his bed.

She was so grateful to see him feeling more at ease and excited about the outing, and he was studying regularly and causing far fewer disturbances with his mice.

Margaret and Sophie had been working hard as well.

Going somewhere public was dangerous, though, especially given that Mr. Finch knew exactly where she was.

The house must be watched. Therefore the sensible course would be to refuse the children outright.

But seeing their eyes lit with hope, knowing how important this reward was for their efforts to be better students, she felt her chest tighten.

She couldn’t bear to disappoint them, which meant she’d have to find a way to make this work safely.

Temperance looked at the small girl in the bed. “I’m afraid Sophie can’t go.”

Sophie’s eyes dimmed for a moment as she looked down at her hands, but then she looked up with a smile. “But that doesn’t mean James and Margaret can’t go. Don’t punish them for my injury.”

Temperance let out a swift rush of air and smiled. “How is it you’re so wise for your age, Sophie?” she asked with a soft smile. “Are you certain you won’t feel offended if I take James and Margaret?”

“I won’t feel offended,” she said, though there was a little sadness in her eyes. “Perhaps it will be repeated again in a few months, then you can take me.”

In a few months, Temperance wouldn’t be here.

Tears prickled the backs of her eyes at the thought.

If all went well, she’d be in her papa’s estate, working on an idea she had for a permanent electrical glowing orb that would hopefully be much safer than fire and cheaper as well, replacing candles.

Or perhaps she would take a trip to France or the Low Countries or Edinburgh and reflect on everything that happened and distract herself from the hardships she’d endured thanks to her stepmother and Bartholomew.

She very much suspected she’d need a lot of time to forget the Duke of Eccess and remove him from her heart.

“I don’t wish to leave you alone,” she said aloud uneasily.

“I won’t be alone,” Sophie said. “There is a house full of servants here. Mrs. Davies and Jacobs and two dozen footmen and the same number of maids. I’m sure there are plenty of people to bring me tea.”

“Does this mean we can go?” James asked.

It was so strange to see him genuinely excited about something, not scowling in protest or imitating Octavius with a boisterous grin.

Octavius , she thought tenderly. At least in her head, she’d started calling him by his first name. Such a mighty name, significant and big, like him.

“Very well,” Temperance said finally. James’s face lit up with a bright smile, and Margaret clapped her hands together. “We will go.”

She loved seeing them happy like this, especially given they’d been sad and feeling abandoned over the past year. “The Marvels of Electricity,” she said, rising from her chair, “here we come.”

“Huzzah!” James and Margaret chorused.

She could, of course, re-create every single one of the tricks or experiments that presumably would be shown there.

She had all the equipment at her father’s country estate, where they had conducted most of their experiments, but maybe she could do something for Sophie later, something small.

“Sophie, thank you for being so open and generous. I will fetch Mrs. Davies, and we will see you in a few hours. Be well, my darling.”

Sophie beamed and lifted the third volume of The Four Chevaliers . “I’ll have my French knights to occupy me.”

As they descended the stairs, Temperance’s cheeks flushed when Octavius exited his study and almost stumbled into them.

“Are you going out?” he asked curiously.

“Yes, to the Marvels of Electricity!” exclaimed James with a proud face and a grin.

Octavius raised his eyebrows.

“Because they behaved so well,” said Temperance, trying to keep her voice level. “This is their reward.”

“Did I behave well enough to be rewarded?” he asked, a wicked flash in his eyes.

“Oh, can his grace come?” asked Margaret excitedly.

A flush scattered across Temperance’s whole body at the memory of his mouth pleasuring her, the way his huge arms had held her after he brought her to her peak three times. Yes, yesterday he had behaved exceptionally well.

Still, it was strange that the duke needed a governess’s permission to do anything.

A sly smile bloomed on her lips and he grinned in response. “He did behave very well. And he can come with us.”

Half an hour later, she found herself in the crowded demonstration hall and quickly located the children and Octavius.

People were taking seats around the round podium, where, with a jolt of excitement, Temperance saw instruments she knew well: the electrical machine, the resin platform, the glass orb, many glass and metal rods.

At the back there was a large wooden installation, high enough to suspend a person with ropes from it.

While James and Margaret were looking around and whispering to each other, Octavius leaned to her ear and said, “Listen, I’ve been thinking, you mentioned a few times you do not wish to be married.

But I wonder if there are any circumstances under which you could ever imagine accepting someone’s proposal. ”

Her chest tightened for a moment. His eyes were serious, though a soft little smile was stretching his lips.

“Why are you asking?” she asked uncertainly. “Are you trying to make sure I do not hold resentment towards you for yesterday? I told you, you don’t need to be afraid.”

Octavius’s tongue darted around his lips. God, he had the most handsome, full masculine lips, so well defined. Her mind went to the forbidden feel of strawberries and cream—sweet and smooth. Pure indulgence.

“No, I just would like to know.”

Temperance tried to breathe calmly. “I’m afraid there are no circumstances under which I would ever accept a proposal. I simply do not wish for someone to have power over me. A husband has every bit of control over a woman, and my independence is the most important thing to me.”

His eyes had gone heavy-lidded, dark as sin, as his golden-brown gaze darted to her lips. A blush warmed her cheeks. It was semidark in the room and not too warm, but she was boiling at that moment.

“Even if that husband would value your independence as much as you do?” he asked.

Temperance swallowed. “I don’t believe such a husband exists on this earth, Your Grace.

After my father died…” She took in a long breath.

She couldn’t tell him the whole truth, even though she wished she could lay everything bare about her—her name, her history, everything.

The lie was necessary for her survival but it weighed down on her.

“After my father died, my stepmother betrayed me. I was left alone with no money and under great threat. She wanted me to marry someone, and that person was very cruel. I could never see myself married to him or anyone else, and as I was hurt so much by the people I trusted most, I just don’t wish…

” Temperance swallowed. “And I know of the law regarding women’s status.

I do not ever wish to be one of those women controlled by a man, not for money, not for security, not even for love.

I will forever be a spinster and be quite content with that. ”

Octavius nodded, and her spirits rose. He had not argued with her, dismissed her, or discounted her feelings. He had truly listened, and her chest warmed at the thought.

“Why is it that you haven’t taken a wife yet?” she asked, clasping her hands together in her lap. “Would marriage not have been helpful, with the children?”

Octavius swallowed visibly, his elaborately tied crisp white cravat moving.

“I will have to marry one day, most probably, though in the absence of my own children, James is the heir to the title. That takes some burden from me. My main objection to marriage is… I don’t know how to be a good husband or father, as I never had a good example.

All I’ve had my whole life were my indulgences.

Rich food, fine wine, reckless entertainment. ”

“Miss Fields?” came a different voice to her left.

Turning sharply, she saw the Duke of Enveigh looking at her and Octavius like he’d caught them red-handed, thunder in his gaze.

“I thought you didn’t want to come to the Marvels of Electricity,” Enveigh said, his voice cool despite the warmth in his eyes as they met hers.

“Or rather, you specifically declined to be accompanied by me.”

Margaret stepped protectively closer to Temperance. “Miss Fields brought us as a reward for our good behavior.”