Page 42 of Duke in Darkness

“Of course they cared,” said Lilian, seething some more. “But Aunt Imogen had just buried both her sons, and Exton was so unwell with his injuries, and taking on the entirely unexpected burdens of the dukedom. I’m not impressed with the performance of Norris or Mrs. Barrett, and unless they improve, I’m unsure whether the two will have positions here in future.”

“Amen to that,” said Dawn with a grin. “Now let me dress you.”

It always took longer to get ready for a ball than expected. Stays were troublesome; sometimes laces broke, occasionally stitching frayed or bone pieces lost their shape and no longer lay perfectly flat against the body. Other times, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t get them to sit properly, or were forced to tie the laces uncomfortably tight to compensate for a fondness of sweets. Thank heavens tonight fortune smiled down on her, and her stays went on with no issue, as did her thigh-high silk stockings affixed with garters, and fine linen petticoat. Then came the ball gown, and Lilian shivered as the cool, absurdly sensual sapphire-blue silk slid down her body. Dawn fastened the back, tied the gold sash, and then helped her into her elbow-length white gloves.

Lilian turned and inspected her reflection. “Hmmm. What do you think?”

Her maid beamed. “His Grace will be in transports when he sees you.”

She bit her lip to halt a wayward smile. Exton did seem to like her breasts very much, and with the square, lace-trimmed neckline and sash defining them from underneath, this gown flattered them like no gown had before. Her neck and shoulders were scandalously bare, and the color of the gown made her skin gleam like moonlight. “Then you should arrange my hair. My usual style.”

“Are you sure, ma’am? The gown is so pretty. Perhaps something a little less stern than a coiled braid?”

“Very well,” Lilian blurted, before she could change her mind.

A half hour later, she could scarcely believe her reflection in the looking glass. How could a simple hairstyle make such a difference? Dawn had arranged her hair atop her head in a chignon of looser, romantic waves secured by pins and two sapphire-studded combs. Shorter tendrils framed her face.

She looked…quite lovely. Almost as pretty as Pippa or Georgiana.

“There,” said Dawn, smugly. “Didn’t I say?”

Her lips twitched. “You did.”

Almost in unison, her clock chimed nine o’clock. Time to go downstairs. Dawn fetched her reticule, and a heavy velvet cape that Daisy had also made to match. Lilian then stepped into her best slippers.

Nerves assailed her, and she took another deep breath.

Please, please let tonight go well.

Straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, Lilian left her bedchamber and made her way downstairs to where Exton would be waiting. She walked slowly, and kept her hand on the banister as added security—her knees were trembling, and she didn’t want to take a tumble or turn her ankle. Not tonight.

In the most gratifying moment of her life, when she neared the bottom of the stairs descending into the entrance hall, all conversation halted. Even the maids, who twittered like little birds most days, were silent. Somehow she managed to hold in a self-conscious giggle. This was the reaction reserved for her sisters, or the ton’s most beautiful women.

Exton cleared his throat and came to meet her. “Lilian.”

She nearly melted into a puddle at the scorching heat in his gaze, the deep, rough rasp of his voice. Or perhaps that was merely her own reaction to him. Her husband wore a black jacket, snowy-white cravat, bronze waistcoat, and formal breeches, and his shoulders had never looked so broad, his muscled thighs so firm, or his eyes so dark. Just like he had the first time they had met, he resembled a lethal warrior barely leashed in gentleman’s clothing. An erotic contrast that made her nipples tauten, and a pulse begin between her legs. “Exton.”

“You’re missing one final touch,” he murmured, opening a small case he’d been holding behind his back to reveal an elegant gold pendant set with a small oval-shaped diamond. “You will have jewelry of your own. But for tonight…this belonged to my mother.”

“It’s lovely,” she breathed in delight. Not just because the necklace was charming, but because he’d gifted her something personal to him.

“Then allow me,” he replied, his fingers caressing her sensitive neck and making her shiver as he closed the clasp. “Now. Let us go. St James’s Square awaits.”

CHAPTER 10

T he enclosed space of a carriage was difficult enough during the day, but at night it became near impossible. The faint light of the small oil lamps on either side of the rocking, swaying vehicle did nothing but cast odd, moving shadows. If one happened to go out…hell. Gabriel didn’t even want to consider that possibility, not when he held off a descent into the darkness of sweating, shaking, nightmares by the slenderest of threads.

That slender thread of salvation came in the exquisite form of his wife. More specifically, his wife in a sapphire blue gown.

The style knelt down and paid homage to her perfect breasts. Cupping them, shaping them, drawing the eye to them…and yet not revealing one inch of bare flesh. A bystander could only imagine the lush curves tipped with large pale pink nipples underneath. But he’d seen them, and knew their sensitivity to touch, so the gown both tantalized and provoked.

If they were on their way home rather than approaching St. James’s Square, he would be balls-deep inside her right now. Proper behavior be damned.

“Exton! You mustn’t, ah, look at me like that tonight,” said Lilian, biting her full lower lip.

“Like what?” he drawled, shifting uncomfortably on the carriage squab. These new breeches he wore were not only itching his scars, but strangling his cock. And he would give anything to be wearing a pair of well-worn boots rather than silver-buckled shoes that pinched his toes and tormented the maimed sole of his foot. It wasn’t like he would be waltzing.

“So, um, hungry,” she replied, her pink cheeks obvious even in the low light.