Page 76 of Wedded to the Cruel Duke

Her heart fluttered in her chest as she gazed up at him. “I would like nothing better, Charles.”

“Not even a picnic?” he teased her.

“A picnic is also lovely. However,” she looked down shyly, “I do think that certain things are much better done in the privacy of our rooms.”

“I think that I love just how that brain of yours works,” Charles growled as he leaned in to claim her lips in another searing kiss.

It was at a much later time when both of them managed to emerge from Charles’ bedchamber, and much, much later when the servants finally managed to start moving her things into the room adjacent to it.

“I’ve to admit, Your Lordship, I never thought you had it in you.”

Charles looked up from the document in his hand to glare at the impertinent footman before him. O’Malley was grinning like the absolute fool that he was.

“Moving Her Ladyship into the Marchioness’s suite, I mean,” the footman continued with a huge grin.

“It is her due as the Marchioness of Wentworth,” Charles shrugged.

“Yes, but as I do recall, you intended to keep Her Ladyship an arm’s length away from you.” His features softened as he asked Charles, “What changed?”

Any other nobleman would have been incensed to have his servant question him in such a way, but O’Malley was not exactlyjusta footman. He was Charles’ subordinate, it was true, but he was so much more than just another servant. Heck, the man was willing to risk his own existence by testing the food for him. He could forgive his cheeky commentary every once in a while.

What changed?Charles found himself pausing to ponder on that question.

Was it the fact that he had grown to crave her very nearness? Or the fact that he had learned how to trust her with his secret fears?

She had come into his life like a burst of sunshine and like the suspicious recluse he was, he had shut her out, intent on keeping some sort of distance between them. But Phoebe was like a bubbling brook, wearing away his sharp edges…

He smiled at that and shook his head. He could not pinpoint exactlywhatchanged orwhenit did—it just happened. And if Phoebe did not question it, he was happy to just bask in the light she brought into his dreary existence. He was not about to ruin a good thing by dwelling too much on it.

Of course, that did not mean he was going to let his guard down. His beautiful wife might not have thought much of the letters he had been receiving, but Charles knew better than to disregard even the tiniest things. He had known men who had died or lost those dearest to them from complacency.

He did not intend to join in their ranks.

He was going to ensure his wife’s safety and heaven help those who desired to harm even a single hair on her head!

Later on that day, Charles walked into the parlor to join his wife for tea. He found her sitting in a chair by the window, thoroughly absorbed in a book she had purloined from the library, with Whiteson on her lap. The tea set that had been laid out on a small table at her elbow had gone mostly unnoticed. Her brows were scrunched up ever so slightly as she read, so engrossed that she did not notice his presence until he had leaned in, his lips hovering by her ear.

“I do hope you do not find this book far more interesting than your own husband, my dear,” he whispered, taking pleasure in the way she shuddered lightly as his warm breath fanned over her delicate skin.

“Charles!” she exclaimed in pleasant surprise, turning around to smile widely at him. Whiteson, who had been disturbed on her lap, let out a disgruntled yelp.

“I thought that you were busy with work,” she shook her head, although her smile told him that she was thoroughly pleased he had joined her.

“I managed to finish my affairs in a timely manner,” he explained with a casual shrug.

“Wonderful. I hope you can finish work early every single day,” she told him with a shy smile. “Would you like some tea? I am afraid it has gone quite cold—”

Seeing her sitting there, bathed in the golden afternoon sunlight, Charles had an appetite for something else entirely. When heraised a dark eyebrow in response to her offer, his lovely wife turned a most adorable shade of pink.

“That early?” she croaked.

“My dear, we are newlyweds, after all. It is only natural…” His deep voice trailed off as he swept her off her feet.

“Charles!” she shrieked in indignation. “Put me down!”

His only reply was the deep chuckle as he ushered her back upstairs to her new bedchamber right beside his.

It was a long time before they made it back downstairs for supper.