Page 20 of Duke with a Debt (Wicked Dukes Society #2)
“ Handsome duke,” Megs chirped.
From her perch, the African grey flapped her wings and made a kissing sound.
“What a pretty bird you are,” Stuart praised her, extracting a nut from the pouch Rosamund kept filled with Megs’s favorite treat. “Would you like a pistachio?”
The parrot made another kissing sound with her beak. “Megs want pistache. Handsome duke.”
Rosamund laughed at both of their antics, then flattened her palm over her bodice. “Soon, you’ll have to teach her a new word again.”
“Oh?” Stuart held out the pistachio, and Megs took it in her beak. “And what word is that?”
“Baby,” Rosamund told him, happiness rising within her, like the sun ready to glow and give new life to everything in its path.
His head jerked toward her, a question in his expression. “Baby?”
She nodded, then gently patted her stomach. “Baby.”
“You’re…” he began, only for the rest of his words to trail away as he spluttered. “We’re…it’s…” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Truly, sweetheart?”
“Truly.” Rosamund laughed, amused by his awestruck countenance and his stunned reaction. “You sound like I do whenever you say something wicked to me because you want to make me blush.”
Stuart grinned at her. “We’re having a baby.”
“We are.”
They stared at each other, a myriad of emotions passing unspoken between them. This news, which she had been keeping to herself until she could be certain, was thrilling, terrifying, and what they had both been hoping for. What she saw in her husband’s eyes was love, unrivaled and unchecked. So much love. And she knew that was what he saw in her gaze as well.
“Gormless shite,” Megs announced into the silence.
She and Stuart both broke into startled laughter.
“We’re going to have to teach her better manners as well,” he said, crossing the room to Rosamund and pulling her against him. “She can’t be teaching our innocent children such words.”
“Why not?” Rosamund quipped. “She has already taught both our mothers.”
To their mutual delight, Rosamund’s mother had been spending a great deal of time with the dowager. The companionship was good for the both of them. They gossiped, drank tea, and bonded over their mutual desire for grandchildren.
“My mother was quite scandalized by our Megs,” Stuart agreed, dipping his head to give her a slow, delicious kiss that had her melting into him and wrapping her arms around his neck.
“ Our Megs?” she repeated when their mouths broke apart. “No feathered menace or winged demon ?”
“I’m going to be a father. I need to learn how to behave.”
She smiled back at him, love overflowing in her heart. “Yes, you are. But don’t behave too much. I like you when you’re just a bit naughty.”
He kissed her again. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll be as naughty as you want me to be. You only have to ask nicely and make sure you aren’t wearing any drawers.”
She couldn’t contain her half-scandalized giggle.
“You will?” This time, it was her turn to press her lips to his, and she did, giving him a kiss that was long and slow and achingly thorough.
A kiss that made hunger pulse between her legs as their mouths parted once more.
“I will,” he promised, his lips grazing hers as he spoke.
“Walk the plank,” Megs declared.
He rested his forehead against Rosamund’s. “But only when we’re alone. No birds or babies about.”
“I think I require a demonstration,” she told him.
“With pleasure.” In one graceful motion, he swept her into his arms, gathering her to his chest.
She clung to him, peals of laughter echoing through the town house as the Duke of Camden carried his duchess away to his bedroom in the midst of the day before happily demonstrating that he would, indeed, be as naughty as she wanted.
Thank you so very much for reading Duke with a Debt ! I hope you loved Rosamund and Stuart’s unexpected happily ever after and that you’re ready for more wicked dukes laid low by the intrepid women who steal their hearts. Speaking of which, do read on for a sneak peek of Duke with a Secret (Wicked Dukes Society Book 3), featuring Lady Miranda Lenox and the Duke of Whitby. Warning: contains a sinful wager, a secret mistress, a whole lot of steam, a rake who falls hard, and a woman following her dream. Also, naughty romps that possibly involve ice cream and other desserts.
Now, do read on for that sneak peek of Duke with a Secret I promised!
Duke with a Secret
Wicked Dukes Society Book 3
Rhys Northwick, Duke of Whitby, has unabashedly devoted himself to a life of debauchery and hedonism. With his friends falling prey to the despicable institution of marriage, the responsibility of hosting the sinful Wicked Dukes Society house parties has fallen largely on his shoulders. Rhys doesn’t mind. He’ll happily seduce bored widows and wives out of their drawers any day. Until an encounter with a tempting divorcée leaves him longing for the only woman in London who is immune to his rakish charms…
After a scandalous divorce from a coldhearted earl, Lady Miranda Lenox is finally free to pursue her dreams of operating a school of cookery. If she wants to continue attracting a polite clientele, however, Miranda needs her reputation to remain above reproach. What she doesn’t need is a rakish duke determined to lure her into further disgrace.
But Rhys will stop at nothing to get what he wants—the delicious Miranda in his bed. He’s so assured of his success that he offers her a wager. If she can resist his seduction for the duration of the next house party he’s hosting, he will abandon his pursuit of her. But if she succumbs, she’ll be his mistress in secret for a month.
It’s the perfect bargain. Except that once Rhys wins, he realizes one month with Miranda will never be enough. Nothing less than forever will do. But Miranda refuses to marry again, even as each clandestine encounter with Rhys leaves her one perilous step closer to ruin.