Page 69 of Unbound Duchess

“I just,” Ellen breathed, reaching for a tendril of her hair to nervously toy with, “did as you taught me.”

It had been five days since she’d seen Laurence. Five days since she’d shared the most erotic experience of her life with him—and since he left her feeling confused and unsure of what was happening between them.

“Well done.” Laurence’s deep voice was soft as he gave her the praise with a single nod of his head.

Those two small words surged through Ellen’s heart like little arrows, making her feel heady and confident as they landed.

“I do not know how you chose to continue the lesson after I left,” Madalene said, beaming as she shook her head. “But whatever you taught her, brother, it certainly stuck.”

Guilt, perhaps even sorrow, passed through Laurence’s vivid green eyes at Madalene’s words, but came and went so fast that, before Madalene could even look at him again, it was replaced with the stern, stony glare he usually wore.

“The student has to be as willing to learn as much as the teacher is willing to teach,” he replied.

Ellen bowed her head bashfully as Madalene clicked her tongue. There had been many things learned that morning, and she was not at all sure that she had been the only student. In fact, she was sure that Laurence had learned something about himself after what had occurred between them. Something neither of them knew how to approach.

“Wise words as always, brother,” Madalene sighed cheekily. “Would you like some tea? We were partaking in some before Judith interrupted.”

Ellen caught Laurence giving her one more long, lingering look that traveled from her head to her toes, then back up to her eyes, before he turned his attention to Madalene. Her stomach twinged as he looked away, as if her body needed his attention for just a second more.

“No, thank you,” Laurence replied, “but I do need to speak with the two of you.”

“Speak away, brother,” Madalene taunted. “We wait with willing ears.”

Despite the longing growing in her stomach, Ellen’s lips twitched into a smile at Madalene’s cheeky nature. Even Laurence let out a chuff of laughter, the deep sound sending another flock of butterflies to take flight in her stomach.

“The word is out now that Ellen and I have married,” Laurence announced. “Our honeymoon is over, and apparently our little dance at the ball last week was, and I quote, ‘riveting to watch’.”

Ellen blushed at the praise, the memory of giving Laurence complete control of her body on the dance floor flying back to her with vivid precision. No one would have known that they had been bickering the entire time.

“This sounds like good news,” Madalene countered.

“It is,” Laurence agreed with a nod of his head. “And such good news has resulted in an influx of invitations. The conservatory ball, a few dinner parties, some other soirees. We are all going to have a busy schedule the next two weeks that will end in your friend’s garden party.”

“Jacob,” he called out the door, “could you bring them in, please?”

A moment later, Jacob, now Sarah’s husband, walked into the parlor holding a rather impressive stack of invitations. Ellen’s heart fluttered with relief as she saw her father’s old valet. She smiled at him fondly as he bowed to her, and he gave her a quick wink. Sarah had told them they were married now, and Ellen felt nothing but happiness and relief that the two were as far away from Benedict as she was.

“Madalene, could you please be so kind as to respond to these?” Laurence asked as Jacob held the invitations out to her. “I am afraid with my schedule I do not have the time to do so. Now that I am expected to have my evenings free, I must get as much done during the day as possible.”

“Of course, brother,” Madalene said readily, her eyes alight with excitement as she took the stack of invitations. “I shall see to it right now. Unless there is anything else?”

Laurence’s gaze flitted to Ellen for the briefest of seconds before he shook his head.

“No,” he stated. “There is nothing else.”

Madalene turned to Ellen.

“Would you be terribly disappointed if I left to tend to this?” she asked.

Ellen feigned a smile.

“Not at all. See you at dinner?”

Madalene’s answering smile was positively brilliant.

“Of course. Ta-ta you two!” she said happily, wiggling her fingers in goodbye before she dashed out of the room. Jacob followed her in a far more resigned fashion.

A thick cloud of silent tension settled into the room as Laurence and Ellen were left alone. She looked up at him expectantly, but his gaze was caught on the floor.