Page 23 of Her Rogue of a Duke
His words enveloped her in a cocoon of safety and warmth. Comforted by his presence and the lingering afterglow of their shared passion, Francesca exhaled a long, contented sigh, and succumbed to the sweet embrace of sleep in the arms of the Duke.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Francesca squinted as sunlight poured in through the windows onto the settee she found herself on. Confusion furrowed her brow as she sat up and looked around, taking in her surroundings. She was surprised to find she was in the library, and a quick glance downward revealed she was wrapped in a blanket, her clothes nowhere in sight.
“What in the world…?” she whispered, but then the memories of the previous night came rushing back.
Heat flooded her cheeks and she buried her face in her hands, mortified with herself.
Heavens! What have I done?!
Yet, as she reflected back on what Joshua had introduced to her the night before and the pleasure she had experienced, she could not bring herself to regret what had happened. It had been toowonderful, and the feelings she had held for him when she was younger had seemed to bubble up, making the experience all the more impactful to her. What chance would she ever have again to feel what Joshua had made her feel?
Shaking her head and releasing a long sigh, Francesca stood, clutching the blanket tightly around her frame. She looked around before her gaze finally settled on the library’s door, which was slightly ajar. On a table nearby lay an Aegean blue dress and a tray of toast, fruit, and tea.
Francesca blinked, surprised. Had Joshua arranged all of this for her?
Her heart fluttered at the thought.
She quickly dressed as she ate a bit of the food, all the while her thoughts lingering back to Joshua. She was rather touched by his thoughtfulness, and she could not stop grinning as she nibbled on a piece of toast. She recalled his touch and her body grew warm in each spot he had caressed. It felt as though she were falling into a daze, imagining what more Joshua might have shown her had she not fallen asleep so soon after.
But then, she blinked, snapping out of that daze. Shaking her head, she put down the piece of toast. She had to stop thinking about Joshua in such a manner. Yes, the intimacy they had shared had been incredible, but she could not allow it to distract her from her most important goal presently. Securing a suitable marriage. Joshua, a Duke, and a rake at that, was not a marriageprospect for her, and she couldn't afford to get lost in fantasies about him.
With her resolve firmed, Francesca brushed the crumbs from her skirts and stepped out of the library. She had only made it a few steps beyond the threshold when she spotted Mrs. Clark walking down the hall toward her.
The housekeeper greeted her with a warm smile and hurried closer.
“Oh! My lady,” Mrs. Clark declared. “His Grace instructed us to let you rest undisturbed until you emerged.”
Francesca arched a brow, taken aback once more. The Duke had made sure no one would stumble upon her naked in the library. Yet again, he was going out of his way to be considerate of her.
Forcing a casual smile, she nodded and said, “Yes, I, uh, must have dozed off while reading last night. The Duke must have come across me in there. Do you know where he might be right now?”
“His Grace has left for the day,” Mrs. Clark informed her, retrieving a note from her apron pocket and handing it to Francesca. “He left this for you, my lady. He also made the necessary arrangements for you to visit Hyde Park for a promenade, though His Grace will unfortunately not be able to accompany you at this time.”
Francesca frowned, momentarily confused at the disappointment that settled over her. Why would he not accompany her anyway?
After a moment, though, the rationale behind his decision became clear. To find a suitable husband, she could not be seen too frequently on the arm of a Duke. It would only fuel rumors and possibly expose their current living arrangement.
Nevertheless, she couldn't shake off a strange feeling of rejection.
“Thank you, Mrs. Clark,” she replied softly. “I shall prepare for the outing then.”
Mrs. Clark offered a warm smile. “Very good, my lady. If you need any assistance, just let me know.”
“Thank you.” Francesca waited until Mrs. Clark had departed down the hallway before she unfolded the Duke’s note.
Francesca,
I hope you slept well. As I’m sure Mrs. Clark has already informed you, I have arranged for you a promenade through Hyde Park. I did not think it wise for me to accompany you myself, but I have asked Lord Benedict to go with you in my stead. As he is aware of our arrangement, he was quite willing to help. I trust him with my life, so rest assured, you can trusthim too. I know he will not betray our confidence. Enjoy your time at the park and I hope to see you later this evening.
Joshua
She stared down at his name for several long moments. She liked the name Joshua, and she liked that he had signed his note so casually. It was as though they were actually close to one another. As if they shared a genuine intimacy.
Sighing, she read the note once more. Lord Benedict would be her escort to the promenade. The twinge of disappointment at the Duke's absence deepened, but she knew this was necessary. This was how it had to be, at least for now.
“Oh, my, did you see Lady Felicity just now? Her bonnet is so old-fashioned. The poor dear really has no eye for fashion in the slightest. Such a pity, really, as she could look quite lovely if she did not dress in such a shabby manner.”