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“The duchess isn’t going anywhere.She is my wife.It seems like a secret we shouldn’t keep.”
Isaac shrugged and went back to packing Matthew’s trunk.A professional duke’s valet could not do a better job, even Raleigh said so.But a professional valet wouldn’t devote his life to a lying, cheating scoundrel like Matthew and he wouldn’t die in Matthew’s place.In short, Isaac would do anything for him, and Matthew cared for him in a way no one else could or would.
Matthew also planned for Isaac’s future.He wanted for nothing in Matthew’s household, but there was always the possibility Matthew wouldn’t be available to care for him until the end, and Matthew believed he’d made the best allowances possible.The only thing he couldn’t guarantee was whether Isaac would have someone to care for him as Matthew did.They might look after him for money, but that wasn’t the same thing as loving someone so simple and whose highest function in life was ironing Matthew’s cravats, playing cards and caring for the odd cats and dogs that made Highwood home.
The door swung open.Isaac grunted in fear and ran to the other side of the armoire.
“I knew it!It wasn’t my imagination.I kept hearing someone.”She walked to the armoire door and closed it, finding Isaac huddled in fear.“I’m not going to hurt you.Matthew?Who is this?”
“Isaac, come out and introduce yourself.The duchess wants to meet you.”
He shook his head.Rose glanced between Matthew and Isaac, a troubled expression on her brow but proceeded as if there was nothing amiss.
“Isaac?I’m Rose.Why are you frightened?”
Matthew watched as Isaac started making a circle around his face.Quickly, with much agitation.
“Yes, I know she’s pretty, but that’s no reason to be scared of her,” Matthew said.
Isaac was a small man to begin with, but he had shriveled up and slid to the floor, hiding in a ball.
“Maybe later, Rose.He frightens easily.”
“Who is he?”
“Oh, my valet.Give him time.He’ll let you know him eventually.”He took Rose’s arm and led her back to her room, closing his door behind him.She sat on the end of her bed.He took one of the upholstered chairs and turned it toward her.
“Your valet?”
“A long story.Isaac has been without speech since I’ve known him and is mostly deaf.He’s been with me since we were young lads.New people frighten him.”
“I thought I was seeing ghosts.Nearly every day, I’ve been seeing movement out of the corner of my eye.And then nothing.”
“He barely leaves this wing of the house.The servants’ stairs outside my room takes him near the kitchen and to the outdoors.He is very fond of cats and dogs.And he is a very good chess player.It’s the repetition he likes.Give him time.”
“I shouldn’t have snuck into your room.I took off my shoes.”She lifted her dress to reveal her stocking-covered feet.
“Careful, Your Grace.I may require you take off a few more of your garments.”
“We are leaving in an hour.”
“Then we won’t undress.”He pushed to his feet and walked to the end of her bed.
“My door is not locked, Mr.Hardy.”
“I’ll be quick enough.You won’t even know I was there.”
“Well, doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”She lifted her dress past her knees.“I can only speak for myself, of course.”
He stepped between her legs and pushed her knees apart, standing wide with his own legs splayed.“For all the ridiculous garments women wear, I am very impressed with the efficiency of undergarments.”He worked at the placket of his trousers, assessing the display in the slit of the material.“I should remind you, we will be in a carriage alone on the way to Canterbury.I think it best to ease the passage of time now.”
“Mr.Hardy, all that bobbing and dipping of the carriage will make the passage anything but easy.”
He gripped the root of his cock, then leaned into her, entering with one solid surge.She gasped, wiggling her hips to accommodate him.
“Don’t be offended at the speed of my exit,” he said, gripping her thigh and hauling it around his waist.Pumping in and out, he watched Rose—a constant wonder and curious by the speed at which she could come to full arousal.
“I should deny you satisfaction,” she said.
