Page 11 of The Forgotten Duchess (The Dukes of Sin #4)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“ R eally?” Eleanor exclaimed in surprise.

Frederick couldn’t blame her. He did not seem to be the sort interested in playing games after all. And he was not, but the thought of letting her be anywhere near this Aaron person was irking him.

It was one thing for him to have courted Frederick's wife and left her to choose someone else. It was another for him to still be in Eleanor's life, appealing to her as a friendly, trustworthy man she could rely on.

It was clear this was a result of Frederick's absence from home, but now that he had returned, his wife had no reason to rely on anyone but her husband.

“Why not? It is not as though I have anything better to do.” He shrugged.

“I thought you said you had more pressing duties – ow ! Ow, Thalia dear. That might be a vital organ, please stop pinching me.” Benedict complained with a wince of pain.

“The more the merrier, Your Grace,” Thalia said, smiling kindly at Frederick.

“Excellent. I am ready when you are.” Frederick announced, getting comfortable in his seat.

Eleanor gave him a suspicious glance but her expression told him she was pleased by his presence at least.

As it turned out, their games were quite simple, if not a tad juvenile. The others were quite competitive, especially Selina who seemed intent on razing the estate to dust in order to get her way, and her husband was keen on supporting all of his wife’s dreams and goals. The opposite was the case for Benedict and Thalia, with the duke being the one who was interested in attaining the glory that came with being the winner, whereas his wife was merely happy to see him so motivated.

Frederick couldn’t help but marvel at their audacity to try and win on his property, determined to beat them all, no matter what it took.

This is why when Eleanor introduced the scavenger hunt that was paired with hide and seek, he took the initiative to lead them to victory.

They had to find items on a list that had been hidden all around the garden and parts of the first floor of the house, while also staying out of sight from the other players. Whoever found all the items on their list first would be crowned the winner of the challenge. If a member of a team was found before the challenge was over, both they and their partner were to be eliminated from the challenge.

Someone had proposed they act independently in the first round, rather than in teams and while the others agreed, Frederick found himself irritated by the idea, determined to not let Aaron and Eleanor cross paths at all.

For most of that round, he kept his eye on Aaron, acting hostile as he collected items on his list. Soon there was just one left, a silver candlestick and he saw Aaron approaching the hiding spot he had intended to check.

Without a second thought, he moved faster towards the location, slamming into Aaron from the side. Not hard enough to hurt him, but just enough to knock him off balance.

“Ah, apologies. I did not see you there,” he stated in a bored tone as he retrieved the candlestick and left the room to be declared the winner.

Eleanor seemed impressed by his win and congratulated him earnestly and he couldn’t help by feel proud of such a trivial accomplishment. While the others recounted how close they had come to being the victors, he barely heard a thing, his sights focused on his wife and how her cheeks were flushed with joy while surrounded by her friends.

For a moment, he wished they were alone, wished he could hold her for as long as he desired, without any concern for sharing her attention with anyone else.

“Are we all set for the next round? Perhaps we could change the rules a little. Although we could have partners, let us be allowed to work separately. That way, we can search for items independently and those of us who have a higher combined total of found items, win the challenge. What do you say?” Selina questioned, seemingly more excited than she had been earlier.

“That sounds like a good idea, no?” Eleanor questioned, turning to face Frederick with a bright smile.

“I suppose so,” he agreed simply.

That seemed to be enough for her and she smiled brightly at him, leaving his mind dazed at how stunning she looked there and then.

Frederick felt confused by his willingness to engage in such trivial activities. On one hand, he felt childish, irritated by his need to keep his wife in his line of sight, despite telling her that she could be with anyone beforehand. It made him seem unreliable, as though his words could not be trusted, if he suddenly began to act as though he wished to stake a claim on her then.

However, the idea of her being in the same space as her old flame, as well as the thought of the man putting his hands on Eleanor filled him with irritation unlike anything he’d ever felt. It all left him feeling confused and conflicted and he was quite ready for these ridiculous games to come to an end.

They eventually dispersed to conduct their individual searches and Frederick found himself roaming the hallways of his estate in search of some trivial trinket that would help bring him closer to winning.

He entered a drawing room to search for an item that could be used as a paperweight, as his list had requested. But as he walked in, he saw a figure quickly move to hide behind a settee.

With a grin, he approached the furniture, eager to expose whoever it was and have them disqualified from the challenge.

Quickly, he rounded the corner to pronounce them disqualified, only to find someone he didn’t expect to see.

“Well, well, what do we have – Eleanor?”

She looked startled at first, then recognition dawned on her and she put her fingers before her lips and shushed him, reaching for his hand. Still caught unaware, he allowed her to drag him down next to her, watching as she peered over the back of the settee.

“Were you followed?”

“Was I … are you all right?”

She sent him a scathing glare.

“Did anyone see you when you came here?”

He blinked at how serious he was. Then Frederick pursed his lips, willing himself not to laugh as he said,

"I do not believe so. However, I am not sure I would have noticed, seeing as I was rather preoccupied with finding the things on my list. I would likely have missed the presence of someone lingering behind."

Eleanor tutted in disapproval and Frederick stared at her in mild surprise.

“Why does this whole charade seem so important to you? It is only a game,” he said, moving closer to her.

“I want to win,” she replied simply. “I hardly ever win our games, unless it is one of wit. And this is the first time I have come so close to winning, and it is because of you. I want to ensure that we emerge as the victors so that you have no regrets for giving me your time."

She sounded so incredibly earnest, that Frederick found it hard to keep himself from reaching out to her, curling his hands into fists by his side.

“Think nothing of it. I did not mind dedicating an afternoon to running around my estate, at all.” He replied.

She rolled her eyes with a teasing air.

“Do not speak as though you are not enjoying yourself. You looked quite pleased to have won the last round.” She told him.

“You do not know what you speak of –” Frederick froze as she pressed a finger to his lip as someone peeked into the drawing room.

She pressed a finger to her lips to urge him to remain quiet, but all that did was bring his attention to her pretty mouth and how many times it had distracted him earlier.

Whoever it was that had walked into the room took their leave soon after, and Eleanor heaved a sigh of relief, lowering her hands, only to gasp as Frederick cupped her cheek.

“What are you –” she trailed off mid-sentence, shivering as he traced the shape of her lips with his thumb, leaning into his touch.

Her cheeks turned pink quickly and she gasped as his other hand pulled her flush against him. Her hands found solace on his shoulders and she whined, leaning forward slightly as though she was asking to be kissed.

“Careful,” he warned softly. “We might get caught by the others.”

It seemed that she did not find that idea as horrible as he assumed she would, because her eyes glazed over for a moment and he stilled, possessiveness curling tightly in his gut.

I do not want anyone else to see my wife like this , was the thought that crossed his mind and he immediately retracted himself from her.

Eleanor let out a sound of surprise from the back of her throat but all Frederick said was,

“Do not leave this room until I return. Do you understand?”

She slowly nodded, her expression confused as she move towards the door. But then he stopped with his hand on the door, hesitating slightly before turning back to face her.

“I want you to undress yourself before I return.”

Eleanor let out a sound of shock.

“What?”

“Undress yourself before I return and wait for me.”

Even though she looked ready to burst into flame, she did not refuse his order and Frederick left her with high expectations.

It seemed the others had finished while they had been hiding, and had gathered in the garden to wait for them. Frederick was glad he did not need to send servants to find them and cleared his throat as he approached them.

“Eleanor is suddenly feeling under the weather and I think it is best that you all leave at once. She thanks you for your visit.” He announced curtly and turned around, expecting that to be that.

“So suddenly? Is she all right?” Selina asked in concern.

Frederick's expression contorted into one of annoyance and he had to school it into something blank quickly.

“She will be with some rest. She has just overworked herself, as of late.”

“Might we say our goodbyes –”

“No.” Frederick snapped coldly at Aaron’s suggestion. “I can take care of my wife. You all need to leave. She will write to you once she feels better. Good day.”

They all exchanged uncertain glances but did as he wished, leaving with best wishes they hoped would be relayed back to Eleanor. Once they were off his property, Frederick quickly returned to the drawing room.

He was relieved to find Eleanor seated on a settee, her cheeks still red as she waited for him.

She had done what he’d asked, poised like a pretty doll in nothing but her undergarments, her dress folded neatly next to her. Frederick couldn’t stop his gaze from studying her appreciatively, taking in her beautiful form and pale skin just begging to be ruined.

Her obedience came as a surprise to the duke who felt the natural course of action would be to reward her for listening to his demand. Frederick stepped into the room and locked the door behind himself, stepping into the room with a demand,

“Give me permission to touch you.”

Eleanor stood, her eyes widened in surprise as he came to a stop before her, without reaching to hold her just yet.

“I –”

“I have held myself back all day and I do not wish to any longer. Give me permission to touch you.” He stated through gritted teeth.

She swallowed nervously and nodded, saying softly,

“You can touch me, Frederick.”

The words were scarcely out of her mouth before he cupped her face and kissed her. Immediately, she melted in his hold, her mouth welcoming the hot slide of his tongue as it mingled with hers in a wet dance.

His hands moved quickly over her, wanting to explore that pale expanse of skin that he had wished he had marked the last time he’d had her body in his grasp.

A single pull at the strings of her corset freed her breasts and he wasted no time trailing kisses down her chest to them, taking a nipple into his mouth as he rolled the other between his fingers. Eleanor moaned, clinging to his shoulders as she arched into him, gasping when he bit her teasingly.

“How dare you?” he growled against her skin as he sank his teeth harder into her neck, lavishing in the way she gripped him tighter and moaned. “How dare you be so perfect? How dare you stand as an embodiment of my desires and dreams?”

Eleanor’s fingers curled into his hair at the nape of his neck as he claimed her lips once more, and he relished in the way she shivered and shook as his hands caressed her bare skin. She moaned into the kiss when he grabbed at her bottom, his fingers kneading into the supple flesh.

Growing impatient for more, Frederick maneuvered her to kneel on the settee with her hands braced at the back of it, knees apart.

“Perfect,” he mumbled as he knelt next to her on the cushion, taking a moment to marvel at how beautiful she looked like that, her brown hair cascading down her back in soft waves, her skin flushed all the way from her cheeks to her neck.

Her eyes were clouded with desire and Frederick longed to satisfy her, ached to give her as much as she deserved.

Without further prolonging, he draped himself over her shaking form and sank a finger into the waiting heat between her legs. Eleanor threw her head back with a moan, her sounds pitching slightly as he pulled the finger out and thrust it back into her slowly.

Frederick pressed kisses from her cheek to her jaw, nibbling on her earlobe as he added another finger, thrusting them into her and smirking at the way she clenched around him.

"I still do not understand how you could hold back. But I do not mind it anymore. It just means that all of this," he panted as he continued to stroke her folds, drunk on the sounds and shivers coming from her body. "Was meant to be mine. All of you are mine."

“Frederick,” Eleanor gasped, shaking her head as though she was trying to gather her thoughts.

“Shh,” he muttered, moving her to lie down on her back and then he situated himself between her legs. “You will give it all to me. As your husband, everything you have belongs to me.”

And then he licked at her dripping center.

It only took a few masterful strokes of his tongue before she was overcome with pleasure, writhing beneath him as a long moan ripped out of her throat.

Her chest heaved as she calmed down and she stared at him, still drunk on her climax, the very picture of beautiful.

There was something in his chest that twisted at the sight of her and it filled him with discomfort. And so, although he would have preferred to stare at her for a moment longer, he moved quickly gathering her clothes from where they had been strewn around the drawing room.

He dressed her swiftly, slightly amazed by how docile she acted as he put her clothes back on. He couldn’t resist after he was done, tilting her chin back to meet her lips in a slow, deep kiss.

When Frederick eventually pulled back, he did not want to see what look she would have on her face and turned away, leaving her behind without a word.