“We have quite a contingent of infantry. Miss Watson has eight siblings,” said the duke with a rueful grin. “We had hoped your nanny would take on the smaller fry. Well, there are enough servants in the house, I’m sure we will manage somehow. Perhaps Miss Pringle can wrangle them.”
“Miss Pringle?” asked the viscount.
“Governess.”
“Hm, good notion.”
The duke turned to the butler. “See that Lady Ashford and the children are shown to their rooms, Jardin, and their luggage sent up. Ashford, come and take a glass with me.”
The duke swept Ashford off to the library and Sarah was left to enlist the help of the housekeeper, Mrs. Jardin, in getting Lady Ashford and her brood settled, the duchess being laid down with a headache that afternoon.
That evening after dinner, the duke found her where she sat talking to Miss Pringle and drew her out onto the terrace. It was a fine night; the weather had been unseasonably warm and dry, and the pattern was continuing. She had seen little of him except in company the last three days, and she was gratified he sought her out now.
The intimacy they had developed while at her parents’ home had seemed to dissolve since they’d arrived at The Castle. He was absorbed into his daily duties of estate matters and host, and she was kept fully occupied by the duchess.
However, now he drew her away from the house to walk under the trees in the moonlight with his arm round her waist, and she rested her head against his shoulder feeling that harmony creeping back. It soothed the uncertainty in her heart.
“I feel as though I’ve barely seen you,” he said.
“I feel the same,” she admitted.
“Is Mama wearing you out?”
“There is a lot to learn.”
“I’m sorry if I’ve been neglecting you,” he said, looking down at her. His face was in partial shadow, devoid of color in the moonlight. They had reached a garden seat, and he drew her down onto it beside him. “I’ve missed you,” he said softly and kissed her.
Her heart lifted and fluttered at this admission as his lips captured hers in a soft, warm, deep kiss. She kissed him back, her arms going round his neck. Perhaps all my worries are unfounded after all?
She lost herself in the heat and languorous desire of his kisses. Finally, he broke the kiss and said, breathing quickly, “I know it’s only two more nights, but it seems like an eternity.”
“Until the wedding.”
“Yes,” he kissed the side of her face and her neck. “Come sit on my lap,” he said, tugging her closer. Somewhat shocked, she still let him pull her into his lap. He settled her, wrapping his arms round her. “That is better. I can kiss you and touch you better this way. Do you mind?”
She shook her head, slightly dazed.
“You’ve been driving me crazy, you know,” he said softly, tracing a line along her jaw with his finger, it made her skin tingle.
“I have?” Her voice came out slightly husky. There was a heavy heat sinking into her limbs; she could feel the magnetic pull of it coming off him in waves. She shifted in his lap, feeling hard heat pressing against her flank.
“You’re very innocent about some things, Sarah. It’s daunting for a man, that kind of innocence. Do you understand that?”
She shook her head, surprised by him approaching the topic in this way at this time.
“I want you to know that I will try not to frighten or hurt you. Do you trust me?”
Her heart was racing.Do I trust him? In this, I must.He was the one with experience, and she knew virtually nothing of what to expect beyond the basic logistics as she had told Daphne. Daphne had indicated that it was the duke’s responsibility to introduce her to—to pleasure. Was it that he alluded to? She swallowed and nodded.
“Good.” He nuzzled her ear and her neck with his nose and lips. “You like it when I kiss you?”
“Yes,” her voice cracked.
“Do you feel a—an aching heaviness here?” He cupped one of her breasts and ran a thumb across the burgeoning nipple.
She uttered a whimper and nodded.
He shifted his head and captured her mouth while his hand caressed and squeezed her breast. His tongue explored her and the aching heaviness he spoke of increased, and each time he touched her hardened nipple a shot of heat went straight to the burning place between her legs.
