Page 22

A licia stared up at the chandelier, the glass glinting in the firelight. It was swaying gently from side to side.

Did we cause that?

Seth shifted, drawing her eyes to him. He was languid and relaxed, his gaze almost black in the dim light.

She could hardly move, her legs weak and limp in the aftermath. It took her a moment to realize that he had raised a hand to help her up.

“We must make you respectable again,” he murmured.

Alicia sat up and blushed furiously at her naked state.

Her breasts were hanging over the top of her nightgown, and her skirts were bunched up around her waist.

The Duke’s laugh was reassuring as he gently helped her right her underclothes and pulled her to her feet.

With endless care, he tugged her skirts down to the floor again, straightening everything he could as she did her best to cover her top half. There was nothing to be done about the neckline; it was ruined.

“One moment,” he said softly.

He walked to the side of the room, where a light gray blanket had been draped over the back of the chair. He returned to her, unfolding it carefully and wrapping it around her shoulders.

Alicia blinked up at him, a new emotion rising in place of the confusion she had felt in his presence up until now. It was happiness, she realized. It made her happy that he wanted to care for her—look after her in such a way.

She smiled as he pulled the blanket tighter around her, ensuring she was not going to disgrace herself.

“I doubt the servants will even bat an eye, seeing as you have worn far stranger things about the house,” he said softly, but his tone was still playful.

Alicia was pleased that he had found his pleasure with her this time. It had not been all one-sided; the Duke had climaxed, too. She felt wickedly decadent to have had her first experiences of pleasure in the woods , a carriage and a library, rather than her bedchamber.

“Shall we go up?” he asked.

“Are you not going to finish your book?” At his sly smile, she could not help laughing. “Unless that was all a ruse.”

“Not at all. Once I am finished with it, I hope you will read it,” he said, resting a hand on her elbow and leading her to the door.

It was late, and the house was dark as they made their way upstairs. The gloom pressed in on all sides, but Alicia noted for the second time that she felt no fear.

Ever since she had arrived, she had felt a sense of belonging in the place. It was different from her father’s house.

Their soft footsteps echoed up the stairs, and her heart started beating faster as they reached her door.

I want him to come inside.

It was not a surprising thought, considering what they had done in the library, but Alicia was too shy to voice it.

“You know, someday you are going to invite me in,” the Duke said, as if reading her thoughts.

Alicia licked her lips, pulling the blanket a little tighter around her shoulders as she looked up at him.

“Do you want to come in, now?” she asked hesitantly, a fresh blush suffusing her cheeks.

The Duke smiled, the corridor behind him so dark that she could only see one side of his face.

His fingers were still resting on her elbow, and they tightened a little at her words.

“Not tonight. When the time comes, you’ll beg for me, Duchess, and I shall relish hearing it.”

His intense stare reminded her of the first time she had seen him. Even across a ballroom, it had been penetrating, but at such proximity, she felt as if she could be bewitched by it forever.

Alicia’s guilt flared as she pulled the scratchy blanket tighter around her.

All this time, I have been trying to repel him, but it does not seem fair anymore.

“I have a confession to make,” she said as he leaned against the doorframe, his lips quirking up.

“Oh?” he said. “May I guess what it is?”

“I do not think you will be able to.”

“Hm,” he murmured, tapping a finger on his chin. “Is it the fact that ever since you came to this house, you have been trying to push me away at every turn?”

Alicia stared at him in shock. “I—That is…”

The Duke laughed, crossing his arms over his chest, the picture of an imperious aristocrat.

“I am not stupid, Duchess. I knew from the beginning that this marriage was not what you wanted. I could hardly miss the glares you sent my way or the anger you felt on our wedding day. Why, it was as if I were standing next to a coiled spring, the way you were vibrating with rage.”

Alicia pursed her lips and looked away, not liking his mocking tone. But his thumb and forefinger rose, and he turned her head back toward him.

“All the same, I have enjoyed your efforts. The dresses have been… an education in women’s fashion. I did not know how many ruffles one could fit around the bodice of a dress before I met you. I do hope we will get to five by the end of the week.”

Alicia snorted, rolling her eyes at him as his smile turned into a grin for the first time.

He looked younger, boyish even. She wanted to freeze the image and store it away.

“I am sorry,” she said, leaning against the door. “I did not know what to expect when I came here. I was determined to make you want to get rid of me. I thought it would be easy.”

The Duke’s expression had a softness to it, an intimacy that she feared as much as she craved.

“Mm, I am afraid you greatly underestimated your charms in that regard.”

Alicia held her breath as his relaxed expression suddenly turned into a frown. He cleared his throat, pushing off the doorframe and standing to his full height.

“I look forward to the confection that will greet me tomorrow.”

“Perhaps I shall get another cat,” she said thoughtfully.

The Duke narrowed his eyes. “Dove is quite enough; she is a menace.”

But Alicia had caught him playing with the kitten too many times to believe that.

The Duke leaned forward, his big body pushing against her gently as he turned the handle and opened the door behind her, his eyes meeting hers.

Her breath hitched, wondering if he had changed his mind.

“I am not a saint, Duchess, but I will not claim you until you are sure of what you want. When that day comes, I will bring to life all the fantasies I have had since I first saw you in your wedding dress.”

He leaned in close, his warm breath fanning her cheek as he smiled down at her.

“But I would urge you to think of me when you go to bed tonight, and how exquisite you looked with my fingers inside you.”

Alicia’s knees went weak, and she collapsed against the door as the Duke smirked with satisfaction, walking away to his rooms.

The man will be the very death of me.