Accidentally Compromising the Duke (16 page)

Why was he so riveted?

“My father admired the heavens.” Why had he offered that intimacy? He rarely spoke of his father, if ever. He normally protected his true sentiments and opinions behind a wall of reserve. A legacy his father had taught him and one Edmond was proud to say was natural to him. He only ever took a few people into his confidence, Westfall, his brother, and, on very rare occasion, his mother. Now he found himself unaccountably compelled to engage in conversation with his duchess, such intimate conversation, too.

“Truly?”

“Yes.”

“He sounds like he was a very sensible man.”

“I am sure he would have been glad you approve of him,” he said with amused irritation.

“I have always wanted to learn the constellations.”

His father had taught him, only months before he had died. Edmond’s heart lurched. He had been about to thoughtlessly offer to help her.

“I’ve read Messier’s Catalogue, but I am still at loss on how to identify certain constellations.”

His father would have fallen in love with Edmond’s new duchess for the mere fact she had read Messier’s Catalogue.

“I have a telescope,” he heard himself offering.

A delighted gasp escaped her lips. “That is wonderful, you must teach me. You do know what to look for?”

How had it gotten to this stage? An hour later, Edmond found himself bemusedly seated by his duchess on the stone bench, the flask of whiskey empty, her cheeks flushed becomingly, soft sighs slipping from her at intervals as they watched the stars through the damn telescope he had quickly retrieved from his study. He was clueless as to what was happening, but he did like her company. He’d hardly had any time recently to simply sit and converse with anyone. There had been no discourse with females save for his mother and employees, in the last three years. He’d avoided the season, despising the thought of inane and pointless chatter. Yet he and his duchess did not partake in any rousing parliamentary arguments or discuss estate matters. They were simply wonderful, ordinary, everyday musings.

What did he think of heaven?

How had his father died?
Edmond had told her, and when she offered her sympathy she had glowed with sincerity.

Did he know all the constellations?

Her favorites were Cassiopeia, Taurus, and Sagittarius.

She loved pies.

She hated needlework and playing the pianoforte.

He was also exceedingly handsome, which was also quite unfair.

He was annoying for not consummating their vows.

And Mr. James Atwood had been audacious enough to send her several letters begging for forgiveness and to resume their friendship.

Startlingly Edmond felt a surge of icy anger at that last revelation. “And what did you say to your Mr. Atwood?”

She cleared her throat. “Well he is not
my
Mr. Atwood anymore. But I did reassure him we are friends.” She glanced up and her beautiful eyes widened. “Upon my word, your countenance has taken on a decidedly diabolical cast.”

Amusement rushed through Edmond at her undisguised alarm. “Has it?”

She tapped her chin with a finger. “Hmm, I think, Your Grace, you did not appreciate me saying I would remain friends with Mr. Atwood. But I assure you, it will be a careful friendship at best. Although I find it outrageous the manner in which he abandoned me, I cannot hold malice in my heart.” Then her lips stretched. “I say, was it possible you were a tiny bit jealous?”

The notion so shocked him, he jerked.
Jealous?
“I do not feel such emotions.”

She rolled her eyes, and he was nonplussed. Adeline was nothing like any other young lady he had met before. She was different, but in the most refreshing way.

“I do confess I am a bit tipsy,” she said with a soft giggle and then exhaled on a gusty sigh. She turned her head to him, and in the depth of her eyes lurked laughter…and desire.

He gathered his scattered thoughts, assisted his giggling duchess to her feet, and guided her across the lawns and into the house. Maximus followed happily along, barking when she started singing. Edmond winced at the atrociously unmusical way she carried a tune, but strangely wanted her to continue. He was relieved to see the butler had not retired for the night, and when they crossed the threshold, Edmond swung Adeline into his arms and walked unhurriedly to the winding staircase. The butler’s face was carefully stoic when she
oooohed
about how strong Edmond was, poking at his arms. Their butler choked when she asked if he was just as hard all over.

Christ
.

She smiled up at him, and something inside his chest twisted.

He liked the woman, for God’s sake.

A few minutes later they arrived at her chamber and he rang for her lady’s maid, who threw him a startled glance before ushering her singing mistress into the dressing room. Edmond exited, his heart beating in an uneven rhythm, and he wondered what the hell had just happened?

Chapter Sixteen

A peal of laughter pierced the air, and Edmond lifted his head. He tried to convince himself to remain planted behind the oak desk in his study, but he was indelibly drawn to the sound of such joy. Rosette Park had been so silent and weary, as if it had been waiting for the right moment to come alive. It had slowly done so in the two weeks since he had brought home his new duchess. His daughters seemed more relaxed, fresh roses and flowers had appeared to decorate the house, dinners seemed more varied and frivolous, and even their servants seemed more content. His mother had taken a shine to Adel, and Lady Harriet had even gone as far as to congratulate him on making a fine match. Shaking his head in bemusement, he pushed himself up from the high wing-backed chair and strolled to stand in front of the window that gave him a clear view of his wife and children.

Since their late night meeting by the lake, Adel had slowly been fascinating Edmond, so much so that now he couldn’t tear his gaze from her. Wisps of hair escaped her topknot and framed her lovely features. She ran with the children, her form lithe and graceful. When not beset with the society of the polite world, as she had been for the past several days, Adeline behaved without the decorum of a duchess, and his children seemed to be falling in love with her for it. Her shout of laughter rang joyously in the air, and against his inclination Edmond moved even closer to the windows.

What were they doing?

He blinked when his duchess darted around a thicket of bushes and fell on her stomach. In the grass. She came up on her knees and peeked through the thicket, and his gaze dropped to her rounded derriere.
Hell
. She was arched just right. He could see himself loving her in that exact position. He could taste her sighs, hear her whimpers, and feel her wetness… He bit back a groan.

She clasped one of her hands over her mouth as if to prevent laughter, and Edmond found himself holding his breath, hoping she would succeed in hiding her merriment, and not reveal her position.

He was a damn fool, standing there, watching her, waiting for a smile…a laugh…a glance in his direction, instead of tending to his untold responsibilities. A dukedom did not operate by itself despite what others believed, but his feet remained rooted. Staying away from her had been sheer hell. They dined every night, and had even played chess the evening before because of the rains, but then they had taken to their separate chambers. Every night she inspired dreams of tangled sweaty limbs, twisted sheets, and heated cries. But it was more than lust. He liked her, truly liked everything about her, her wit and vivacity, and her strength in the face of his reserve. A reserve he desperately wanted to shed, and had no notion where to start.

It did not escape him that they were not legally bound until he consummated their union. He’d almost entered her chambers last night. He’d thought to be perfunctory and quick, so that part was done. But he’d been unable to do it, remembering the flush of passion when he’d kissed her. She deserved more, yet the thought of such intimacy and where it could lead…

“Your Grace?”

He glanced at Mr. Dobson, his secretary. Edmond had forgotten the man was in the room, awaiting his dictation. A young and upcoming barrister, Edmond had hired Mr. Dobson for his political leanings and his keen intelligence. They had been going through several motions together, and he assisted with writing his speeches for the House of Lords.

Bloody rotten hell
.

The man must think he had taken leave of his senses.

“We will resume in an hour.”

Mr. Dobson frowned but nodded in agreement and departed from the room.

Another peal of laughter tore through the air, and Sarah came barreling around the corner, shouting some nonsense Edmond was unable to ascertain. He watched them play, a need rising in him to join them. He glanced at the mountain of paperwork he had to wade through, mainly sent by his estate managers. There were many letters to be answered, his stewards had informed him there were repairs required at Kellwich Castle. Ditches needed to be dug on his Suffolk estate and drainage needed to be installed. He would be lucky if he had time to write the article he had hoped to on providing training and education for those orphans who were dependent on parish relief for their nurture.

Both girls spied Adel, and with rousing shrieks, they launched themselves at her. They were all acting like hoydens and Edmond never wanted them to stop. The laughter dwindled, and his duchess said something to the girls. They nodded vigorously, and his heart clenched when she brushed a fingertip over Sarah’s cheek with a tender smile.

Only God could have conspired to drop a young lady who was kind and patient with his daughters into his lap. There was no other explanation. He watched in fascination, almost pressing his nose to the glass pane, as his girls tipped their heads back and chortled. How did Adel accomplish such a feat?

After Maryann’s death he had lost a part of himself, sinking into a roaring drunken stupor for weeks, then an icy distance to protect himself from the ache. When he had resurfaced, it was as if his daughters did not know him, and he had been at loss as how to reconnect. He’d abandoned them in their grief, and he despised himself for it. How had his duchess achieved so effortlessly what he had been trying to for months?

His girls went in one direction, and Adel stood, brushing grass from her gown, and walked hurriedly inside. He lost sight of her and rocked back on his heels. Unable to help himself, he exited his study, and spied her heading down the corridor, toward the library. He followed, cursing himself for the need to see her face up close, to smell her, to even see a glimpse of the smiles she had bestowed on his daughters.

He was merrily leading himself to his own downfall, and he was unable to stop it.

…

Adel slipped into the library, the most glorious room in all of Rosette Park in her opinion. Mahogany bookcases lined the wall and rose beyond the second floor extending to the vaulted ceiling. There was even a ladder to climb to fetch and return books, and there was a staircase for the higher levels. She bent down and randomly selected a volume, caressing the leather binding with loving care.

The door opened, and she did not need to look to know it was Edmond who entered. Awareness hummed through her veins, and predictably, her heartbeat quickened.

“You spend a few hours every day in here. Do you enjoy reading?”

Without lifting her head she responded, “Quite so. I find there is no better pastime. Your library is wondrous, Edmond.”

“Our library,” he said gruffly.

At that, she faced him. He leaned against the doorjamb, looking very casual and disheveled, yet so powerfully handsome her breath caught. How she wished to glide her fingers through his hair and pull his lips to her. “You have been riding?”

“Earlier.”

She nodded, at loss of what to say further, but very happy he had sought her company. Many of their chance meetings this past week as she settled into Rosette Park and received a few neighbours’ calls, had been filled with very banal and inane pleasantries. Very much like their time by the pond, but she yearned for something a bit deeper. Adel felt he kept their conversation light so as to maintain the wall of friendship he had erected. While she liked the idea of being his friend, she also wanted to be his wife, and it seemed he had no notion of that happening anytime soon. She would have to be much bolder with the unfathomable man. She didn’t like that everything she was learning about him was through his mother and even at times through his girls.

He strolled farther into the room. “Riding is one of my favored pastimes. To feel the wind on my face as I leave the cares of the world behind for several minutes…”

“It’s a similar pleasure I derive from reading and swimming.”

“And what else do you enjoy?”

Adel fought not to show a visible reaction, but she was beyond thrilled he was showing some interest in her beyond the trivial courtesies. “Your kisses, I daresay they are even more thrilling than reading.”

Edmond took a deep breath and released it slowly. “You are being provocative, Duchess.”

“One must do what one can to tempt her husband to his marital duties.”

Amusement lit his eyes, and then he smiled.
Oh, my
.

He fairly reeked of sensuality.

“With you it would not be duty.” Then he scowled as if he’d not meant to admit such a thing.

Delight filled her. It was clear storming his defences was not the way to seduce her duke, it must be done with one touch at a time, one suggestion, one kiss, until she shattered his resolve to stay away from her bed. There was a possibility he would come to it for himself. But that could be years, months…perhaps never. “What would it be?” she all but purred.

The way he stared at her…intense and hungry was so telling. Need stirred in her blood, and she was mortified to feel her breasts swelling, her nipples aching. He lowered his gaze to her chest, and a flush of desire swept along his chiseled cheekbones.