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Her entire body went hot. She allowed her gaze to linger on his lush mouth.
He shot her a brief, unreadable look, then the devil murmured, “I can tell you are.”
The memory of their kiss had woven itself into her dreams. Each day within his company felt like an exercise in restraint. She worked to keep their conversation casual. Theo did not believe she would maintain a friendship with a duke, that would be flying too high. Except his kisses lingered too deep within her. Theo tried to persuade herself it meant nothing. People, though they pretended the opposite, stole kisses with each other quite frequently. To kiss a handsome man was entirely normal. To have liked it was also normal. To think about it,verynormal.
She took a deep breath.Please let this all be normal. Or she was in for a fine disappointment if she dared to hold any silly girlish fantasies about the duke.She stared at that taunting glint in his gaze.Do I really dare…to do more than kiss you?Theo could hardly describe the warm feeling hugging her body. She tipped onto her toe so she could press her mouth close to his ear. “You are laboring under a delusion. I am not even a smidgen curious.”
Then she withdrew, whirled, and walked away, smiling because the blasted man behind her was chuckling in rich anticipation.
Chapter Thirteen
An hour after eating a light repast with the duke, Theo clambered up the winding staircase behind him. Despite the largeness of the duke’s country cottage there was a feeling of comfort, of the space being a home instead of a house. The large windows on all the floors were framed by sweeping curtains in yellow and crème silk brocade. The duke stopped at a door, pushed it opened and waved his hand for her to enter.
“Oh, how lovely!” she said, glancing around the large room.
“This will be your room.”
She slanted him a quick, searching glance. “My own room?”
“Yes.”
It was a splendid room, with elegant furniture in Italian marble and carved mahogany and a soft carpet. The four-poster bed with its draped pale blue damask curtains, tied back to the posts with tasseled ropes, seemed to dominate the room. Thick carpet patterned in shades of blue complementing the curtains covered the floor, and the lower half of the walls had been paneled in rich, dark wood. “I am surprised I am finally given the privilege.”
“You flatter me with the regret I hear in your tone,” he said drily. “Had I known you wanted to keep sleeping with me, I would have made arrangements. It is not too late to oblige you.”
Theo glanced up at him through her lashes and flashed him a taunting smile. “What you hear is delight in knowing I will be able to sleep in the nude at last.”
Rendered almost inarticulate by that retort he groaned and dragged a hand through his black hair. “That is an image I could have done without as I try to sleep tonight,” he said with a black scowl. “I will congratulate myself later for my restraint.”
Theo laughed when he bowed and quickly made his way from her room. It was fun teasing the duke. Theo was determined to have fun at the village fair in a few hours, and she was even more determined not to allow Sebastian to linger too much in the torment of worrying over his sister’s safety. His honour, and his love for Lady Perdita would not allow him to stop searching, and Theo did not think he should. Not with so much on the line if a scoundrel should discover an heiress like Perdie travelled alone. Though Theo had that worry, she also trusted in Perdie’s abilities to defend herself, and also in her cleverness.
With the aid of Molly, she undressed and indulged in a hot, relaxing bath. Wrapped in a large towel she fell asleep on the bed, only to jolt awake yawning. A quick glance at the clock revealed she had slept for almost four hours. Theo hurriedly dressed in a simple but fashionable gown, coaxing Molly to style her hair in a simple chignon. Theo hurried downstairs with some eagerness. She went outside and encountered the housekeeper returning with a basket of freshly picked hot house tomatoes.
Theo did not call for a horse but hurried along the lane toward the village square. She was a great observer of life, and she noted that anticipation ran high amongst the villagers for the upcoming festivities. The loveliest part of the village square was the arched stone bridge which was situated above a gurgling river which continued downhill. Several couples stood on that bridge with the overhanging boughs of weeping willow trees, tossing stones and coins into the water, making whimsical wishes.
She mingledand chatted for a few minutes with the vicar’s wife, and the vicar himself. Theo learned that the villagers were very proud that the duke formerly favored them with a visit at least once per year and was saddened they had not seen them in almost four years. Theo encountered Mrs. Adams who stared at her uncovered face with little effort to hide her inquisitiveness.
“The villagers are curious about you,” Mrs. Adams said with a nosy laugh. “Of course, they know any guest of the duke is assumed to be most distinguished company.”
Theo was saved the necessity of a reply by Sebastian’s arrival. His blue superfine jacket was immaculately tailored, and his fawn-colored trousers were fitted to his frame in a manner that suggested they had been tailored by the finest craftsman.
He made his way over to her, his eyes flicking over her in a quick, but thorough appraisal.
“It was my housekeeper who informed me you’ve already made your way into the village square.”
“I was impatient,” she said with a light laugh and a twirl.
“You look vividly…exquisitely beautiful.”
Oh! Everything inside her contracted with pleasure. “Thank you.”
“It is a blessing of a sort you have that small overbite.”
Theo spluttered and he chuckled.
“Come, let me take you about.”
Her entire body prickled with the awareness of how close he stood. A strange nervousness churned through her, and with a smile, Theo slipped her hand into his.
