Her Gift - Bundle Pack by Laurel Bennett

Her Gift -- the
Duchess
    By Laurel
Bennett
    Charlotte paced from one side of the
library to the next. If His Grace didn’t arrive soon, she would go
out of her mind with worry. She raised a finger to her mouth and
absently nibbled at a nail. The sun was already setting. Where on
earth could he be? It had been hours since he’d delivered her to
his home. Hours since he’d left her there in the library, with no
more direction than, “Wait for me here. I’ll not be gone long.”
Then, with a quick and rather chaste kiss to her forehead, he’d
left her there. And hadn’t returned. Now she knew why he was
considered to be the disappearing duke. It wasn’t because of all
the hearts he’d broken throughout the years. It was because he
couldn’t be found.
    Finally, the rhythmic click of
footsteps in the corridor got her attention. She held her breath as
the library door creaked open. But instead of the dashing duke she
expected, his butler came through the door. Her hopes crashed like
waves against the shore. She may as well have him call a carriage
for her. Obviously, she wasn’t going to get the assignation she’d
hoped for. She had no husband to go home to. Not anymore. Not since
the doddering old fool had finally drank himself to
death.
    “I consider it being cautious, rather
than doddering,” the butler said, his nose rising in the
air.
    Goodness. Had she said
doddering out loud? “Apologies,” Charlotte murmured. “That wasn’t
directed at you.” She couldn’t very well explain to the duke’s
butler that she had just lost her husband and gone through proper
mourning for the old codger, could she? He was a doddering, mean
old man, not nearly as spry or gay as the butler appeared to be.
Telling him the truth would be a disaster. “Have you any idea when
His Grace will return?” Or any idea where
he is at all , she wanted to ask as
well.
    “His Grace sent a runner a moment ago.
He has been unavoidably detained.”
    Charlotte’s heart sank. This was to be
the very first time she’d had any sort of assignation. And she had
planned so well, choosing the disappearing duke, because he was
known for loving and leaving. And she wanted both. She wanted to be
loved… well, loved was a very broad use of the term…. And left. She
wanted to be pleasured, for one single night. For one single time
in her life. Then she could retire to the country and enjoy her
solitude, her dogs, and her knitting. Charlotte shook away the
errant thoughts. It looked as though she’d been left. But not
loved. What a disappointing turn of events.
    “His Grace asked that I show you to
his chambers. He has left a present for you there.” He inclined his
head toward the door.
    “His chambers?” she squeaked. At some
point, she’d assumed she’d end up in his chambers. But not when he
was not in residence.
    “Yes, my lady.” He started for the
stairs, and she followed blindly, lifting the edge of her skirts so
she could follow his quick strides up the grand
staircase.
    When they came to what she assumed was
the duke’s chambers, he stopped, opened the door and stepped to the
side. “Mary will be along to assist you,” he said.
    “Assist me with what?” Charlotte asked
as she stepped into the room. Instead of answering, he closed the
door. She wanted to run after him. To bring him back. He obviously
knew more than Charlotte did. Charlotte laid her forehead against
the door with a heavy thump and muttered, “What do I do
now?”
    “I believe he means for you to dress,”
a silky voice called from the corner of the room. Charlotte spun
quickly, relieved and not relieved all at the same time to find a
young woman standing in the corner beside a steaming tub of water.
The full bath rested before a crackling fire. “His Grace sent me
for your pleasure,” she said with a smile. Charlotte stopped short.
She didn’t look like a servant. She looked like a lady. One of odd
circumstance, but still a lady. “You are Mary?”
    The lady