Page 29 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)
CHAPTER 29
“ O h!” she whispered, putting her hands to her heart.
Georgiana turned in her bed and froze as her shoulder struck an obstacle. She slowly opened her eyes to see that the barrier which had prevented her from turning over was, in fact, her snoring husband.
She blinked a few times, staring at him. He looked younger when he was asleep.
Those eyelashes are criminal. What a waste to have them on a man.
Suddenly his eyes opened, and she jerked. “You scared me.”
He smiled slowly. “Good morning.” His voice was raspy and deeper than usual, and she shivered at the sound.
“G-good morning.” She giggled nervously. “Did you sleep well?”
“It was the best sleep I have had in a long time.”
She blushed at his honesty.
She turned her head to look out of the window. “It stormed last night, and it did not bother me at all, so I suppose we both had an exceptional sleep.”
“Indeed.” He grinned. “Perhaps we should investigate the cause of our peaceful slumber so that we can repeat it purposely in the future.”
She put on a mock thinking expression. “Hmm, what do you suppose it was?”
He looked around the bed in a mock search. “Well, your sheets are made of the same silk as mine. So that cannot be it. Perhaps it was having you in them.”
“Yes, that is a possibility. But surely, you have had people in your bed before.”
He shook his head seriously. “Not to sleep. This is my first time.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Truly?”
“Yes.” He nodded and reached out to pull her closer. “You are my first sleeping companion.”
“That is all very well and good, but in order to protect the integrity of this arrangement, it would behoove us both to perform some morning ablutions.”
He laughed. “I suppose you are right. But I must admit that I am reluctant to leave you.”
“I promise you it will not be for long. We can clean our teeth and then return.”
His face brightened. “You have some excellent ideas. Let us do that.”
They both sat up and realized that she was still in her gown, although it was wrinkled and twisted, while Robert wore only his shirt, his breeches having disappeared somewhere on the floor. They looked at each other and laughed sheepishly.
Georgiana reached up to touch her hair. “I must look a fright.”
“Scandalous, I assure you,” Robert said blithely.
“Terrible,” she agreed with the nod of her head.
“Debauched,” he agreed.
They looked at each other and burst into laughter. Robert pulled the blankets away. “Come, let us dress ourselves before we scandalize the help.”
Throwing off her own covers, she left the bed and turned her back towards him.
“Help me with my stays?” she asked.
He unlaced her stays, pushed down her gown, massaged her back to return circulation to her skin, then dropped a kiss on her shoulder.
“When do you expect Cecile to come bursting in?” he asked as he washed his face and reached for the powder to brush his teeth.
“Oh, she usually waits for me to ring the bell.”
“Mmm. How civilized of her. My valet is far ruder. He just walks in when he decides I have slept long enough.”
Georgiana giggled. “You know, before…all this, I assumed that your employees were afraid of you, but that is not the case, is it?”
He turned to stare at her, his mouth full of powder. “Why would they fear me?” he garbled.
She shrugged. “Well, you exude an intimidating air, Your Grace.” She walked slowly towards him in her shift. “I was intimidated at first. That is why I was very reserved on our wedding day.”
He spit out the powder and rinsed his mouth before moving aside for her to perform her own ablutions.
“Is that so? I had assumed that you were some kind of shrinking violet.”
“One can only be a shrinking violet if they are responsible for nothing.” She splashed water on her face before reaching for the lavender soap. “That’s not a luxury I have ever had.”
He stepped behind her and circled her waist with his hands, pulling her against him as she scrubbed her face.
“Well, you have that luxury now, so shrink away,” he whispered in her ear before kissing the edge of her jaw.
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. I have never been one for making myself small and I am too old to start now. However, now that you mention it…”
“Mmm? However?” he murmured, his mouth against the skin of her neck.
“However, I shall allow you to take care of me for the rest of the day. You can start by arranging for breakfast to be brought to us.”
“Uh-uh,” he shook his head, “hush. Taking care of you means that I anticipate your needs. You are not permitted to manage me.”
She grinned happily. “Apologies then.” She leaned back heavily against his chest. “I must return to bed now.” She gave him a cheeky grin over her shoulder.
Without further ado, he picked her up, and she squealed in surprise as he whirled her around and carried her back to bed. She kicked her legs with excitement as she laughed. She could not recall the last time anyone had picked her up. It was dizzying.
He gently put her down on the bed, then arranged the pillows behind her so she could sit up comfortably. He then went to the bedside table, rang the bell, sat on the edge of the bed, and waited.
It did not take long for Cecile to poke her head into the room with a smile. “Good morning, Your Graces.”
“Good morning, Cecile,” Robert said. “Kindly relay the message to the kitchen that we will be breaking our fast here in Her Grace’s chambers.”
Cecile nodded delightedly. “Right away, Your Graces.” She quickly closed the door and went off to do as she was told.
Georgiana sighed. “You know she will not rest until she hears about every detail of our morning,” she said mournfully.
“Ah well, what I do with Stanley is tell him bluntly that it is none of his business. He might pout for a bit but will ultimately respect my wishes.”
“Yes, well men behave differently from women.”
“Would you like me to speak with her?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
She shook her head. “No, no, it is fine.” She smiled and rubbed his thigh. “I was speaking with a light touch. Nothing to worry about. Cecile is wonderful; she seems to instinctively know when to speak and when to let things go. She has been the greatest gift of this marriage.”
Robert’s mouth turned down. “ She has? Not me?”
Georgiana threw back her head and laughed. “No, it is most definitely Cecile.”
Robert lay back against the pillows feigning disappointment. “Well, I see I have my work cut out for me if I mean to be appreciated.”
“Indeed, you do.” She looked him up and down. He was dressed in just his shirt and stockings. “Would you like to take those off and crawl under the blankets with me? It might be more comfortable.”
He gasped at her in pretend shock as he put a hand across his chest.
“Duchess… Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked in a scandalized tone.
She giggled. “No, I am trying to help you. Now take off your shirt and come here.” She gestured to him with her hand.
With a great show of reluctance, he took off his shirt and stockings, lifted the covers, and climbed into bed with her.
He sighed with contentment as he put an arm around her waist and pulled her towards him. “Now, this is the very definition of a cozy morning.”
It was still drizzling outside. Rivulets of water trickled down the window, and the long, grey-green leaves of the nearby willow tree dripped rainwater onto the cobblestone road.
It was not a day one wanted to be out and about if it could be helped.
There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Robert called before turning to Georgiana. “That was fast.”
Georgiana nodded in agreement. However, when the door opened, it was not servants carrying their breakfast, but Cecile.
“Would you like me to build up the fire for you?” she asked. “And what about a bath? Shall I have some hot water brought up?”
Georgiana and Robert exchanged glances. The idea of a hot bath by the fire sounded wonderful, but she did not want to send Robert away or have Cecile take his place so she could help her bathe.
“I can help you wash your back,” Robert said as if he was reading her mind.
She perked up with happiness. “That is a wonderful idea.”
Cecile clapped her hands in delight. “Excellent, Your Graces. Allow me to build up the fire and set up the tub. I have a cauldron of hot water steaming in the other room, as well as some cooling water. Would you like to bathe before or after breakfast?”
Again, they looked at each other. “After,” they said in unison.
Cecile looked mightily pleased. She went over to the fire, adding some wood and stoking its embers to build it up before leaving the room with one last curtsy.
“She seems very happy about our…arrangement,” Robert said musingly.
Georgiana chuckled in amusement. “Yes, she does.”
He turned to look at her. “What of you? Are you happy?”
She grinned mischievously. “I am enjoying myself immensely.”
“Good.” He nodded firmly before grinning back. “I should loathe to be naked in your bed and you abhorring every second of it.”
She laughed raucously, a bubble of happiness rising in her chest until she was suffused in joy.
Following a brief knock, the door opened, and several maids walked in with a veritable feast: freshly baked bread with pats of butter and jam, cream-filled scones, poached eggs, sausages and gravy.
Georgiana watched them with wide eyes as they arranged the platters on the table. Another maid came in bearing a steaming kettle, teacups, plates and cutlery.
“I think we can probably stay here for a few days without having to leave the room to look for additional sustenance,” she said lightly.
Robert laughed. “We can call it the honeymoon we never had.”
She gave him a surprised look. “You would want to stay in here with me for days?”
“Perhaps not days … the housekeeper would be quite upset at her inability to come in and clean, but I certainly would not object to the honeymoon as a notion.”
She nodded slowly, thinking it over. Going away together, just the two of them, could certainly cement them as a married couple. It would give them time to get to know each other better. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted it.
“I too am not opposed,” she said quietly, not looking at him, “to a honeymoon as a notion.”
He gave a joyous laugh. “Then we should certainly do it.”