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He lifted a slight brow. “Dare I hope I’m the cause for that?”
She laughed. “Do you really have to ask?”
He shrugged and held her closer. “No. I just like to know I please you.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” she sighed. “Let’s just say it was definitely worth the wait.”
His voice rumbled beneath her cheek and although she wanted to keep her eyes open and talk to him, for so many things were still left unsaid, she found that they were too heavy to remain open.
Her eyes slowly drifted closed.
* * *
Miles knewthe moment Olivia fell asleep, for her breathing deepened and her entire body relaxed. But then, he had wanted to ensure that she was fully sated, especially since it was her first time.
He laid there for a time, with one arm around her and the other thrown back behind his head and it wasn’t long before he soon followed suit.
He awoke, in what he thought was just a short time later, but the early rays of dawn were starting to streak past the drapes. One in particular caught him right in the eye, and although he was reluctant to leave the sleeping beauty at his side, he dared to move easily so he wouldn’t wake her. Perhaps he might do so with a kiss later.
He had intended to do that before now, as he generally never slept all through the night. But with Olivia by his side, he had slept more soundly than he had for years. The nightmares that had plagued him since Marian’s death, and after the war, had remained silent and he’d finally rested peacefully.
He slipped on his trousers and banyan robe and then glanced back at the bed where her light hair covered the pillow where he’d laid his head.
His chest filled with emotion, and he had to turn away, lest he disturb her slumber right then.
He forced himself to leave his bedchamber and head downstairs. The servants were starting to stir with their daily chores, and he instructed the housekeeper, who was walking down the hall, to ensure that no one entered his rooms unless he instructed them to do so. While they all had likely heard that he’d had a guest overnight, neither did he wish for anyone to bother Olivia’s peace.
Miles walked into the dining room and found a paper neatly folded at the head of the table. A footman walked over with a tea tray and placed it before him and asked if he cared for anything to break his fast. Miles thought about declining the offer, but then he realized that he was hungry after working up an appetite the night before, so he requested some toasted bread, eggs, and kippers.
As the servant bowed and went to do his bidding, he found it was odd to have someone anxious to fulfill his every need once again. When he’d left London with the intent of going to Marlington Hall to continue his reclusive status, he hadn’t planned on adopting any different lifestyle. He’d only employed a valet at Gravesend Manor at his mother’s urging and tolerated the man’s presence for the same reasons.
However, when he’d adopted the persona of simply “Mr. Stone,” he had grown accustomed to doing things on his own, even though he had been raised entirely the opposite. Then, once he finally had arrived at Marlington Hall, the servants there were too concerned over his façade, and the injured feelings of their beloved mistress, Lady Olivia, to be bothered with trying to ensure his every need was seen to.
He shook his head, because it was almost too much to comprehend. In such a short span of time his whole manner of thinking had changed, and yet, it all seemed completely… right. He saw everything so much more clearly, and it was all because of Olivia and the light she had brought into his darkened soul.
With his lips turning up at the corners, a permanent smile on his mouth, he sat down and opened the front page of theTimes.
He instantly sat up straighter and stared at the black and white print before him. “Blast.” He muttered a few more obscenities, as his carefully laid plans for the morning were abruptly broken.
Unfortunately, he would have to set things into motion earlier than he’d intended. In order to save the Bevelstroke name, he would have no choice but to marry Olivia.
Today.
He just prayed she was willing to fully accept his suit this time, that last night hadn’t just been about her body’s needs, and her feelings went deeper than the physical.
* * *
Olivia wassurprised when she was awakened to a frenzy of activity. Her maid was buzzing about the room and chatting about a bath and making preparations for the day.
It took her a moment to catch up to what was happening. When she did, she sat up and clutched the counterpane to her chest. Her cheeks reddened, because with her clothes still strewn about the room, and the fact she was undressed in the duke’s bed, it was obvious what had occurred. Nevertheless, she held up a hand in entreaty. “Wait. What’s going on?”
“I can answer that.”
Olivia spun her head toward the sound. Like a bee seeking out the pollen in a flower, she sought the duke’s gaze for understanding. His eyes warmed and a shiver of awareness passed through her.
He glanced at the maid. “Would you leave us for a moment?”
The girl instantly bobbed a curtsy and saw herself out. When the door shut behind her, Miles walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. He was fully dressed, but now that she knew what his body looked like without a stitch on, she was hard pressed to keep her focus on anything but the tantalizing man before her.
