Romance: REGENCY ROMANCE: A Duchess in Distress (Historical Regency Romance Duke) (Rake Duke Arranged Marriage Short Stories) by Sarah Thorn Page A
Authors: Sarah Thorn
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find my way to ignoring society and marry her nonetheless.''
''My Lord, if I may say so, you are being foolish. You are in love with a beautiful woman. Would you let her go because of what society thinks of her? I can tell you what Miss Isabella thinks of you.''
''Yes, what does she think of me?'' he asked curiously.
Isabella didn't answer but walked away from him. She walked out of the hall and into the fresh air. She had just one hope: that the Duke would be so curious as to the answer, he would follow her.
The Duke didn't see Isabella leave the ballroom. She had woven her way between guests and he'd lost sight of her. He walked around frantically trying to find the lady in the red gown. After ten minutes Isabella had the blackest thoughts she had had since her mother had died. He hadn't followed her. He didn't really care to know what Isabella felt. Her dream was really over.
She took the path that circled the castle and began to walk the lonely route to a side door where she could slip inside unnoticed, and go to her room.
''Stop. Please stop.'' The Duke. Isabella didn't turn around. She listened to him trying to catch his breath.
''Dear Lady. Why did you run away from me?''
''I didn't run my Lord.''
''And?''
''And what, my Lord?''
''What does Isabella think of me?''
Isabella still with her back to him, turned around. She looked at him. She saw a desperation in his eyes. His hair was disheveled and there were beads of sweat on his forehead.
Slowly, she put her hand to her masque. She hesitated, but then drew in a long breath. She removed the masque.
The Duke gasped when he saw it was her.
''I want to tell you that Isabella loves you very much. More than is good for her. Her life is a daily chore of heartache and pain and will continue to be, unless you free her.''
He looked at her. A beautiful sensual woman, standing in front of him, in a red gown. The same dress he had wanted to rip from her lithe body on the dance floor.
He cleared his throat. ''Will you please relay to Miss Isabella that I love her very much. It pains me to know that she suffers at my hand and I will indeed free her from her misery forthwith. Would you please tell Miss Isabella that I will come and see her in her chamber, as soon as I am able to free myself from the drudgery of Miss Victoria.''
''Yes. my Lord, I will ask Isabella to wait for you.''
****
Isabella had the longest, most nerve racking wait of her life. More than two hours passed. She sat in the same chair and stared at the door, the whole time. Her thoughts rolled between moments of thorough ecstasy and deep depression. He had declared his love for her just moments ago, but where was he? Why was he taking so long? Had he changed his mind?
Then, there was a knock at the door.
Isabella jumped up and threw it open. She watched as he stepped towards her. ''I am sorry I have been so long. That awful woman wouldn't take no for an answer.''
''Well, my Lord, I am pleased you are here now.''
''You will have to stop calling me, my Lord.” The Duke placed his hands on Isabella’s shoulders. “Isabella, I love you and I have loved you from the minute I saw you.''
''Then why didn't you come to me? You could have saved us so much misery.''
''I was torn between two worlds. I was worried what society would think. Now I realize that was a big mistake.''
He reached for her and pulled her to him. He bent to her and kissed her passionately. Isabella almost fainted. It was what she had wanted for so long. In one movement he had taken her to another happier place.
As they kissed she could feel his desire pushing against her. His hands reached behind her and started to unfasten the buttons of her gown. One by one he snapped them open. Isabella wanted him and now she wasn't going to be shy anymore. He gasped as she felt for his bulge and found it. She felt him and found his balls, then the line of his shaft. She felt him shiver when she traced the full length of him and let her
''My Lord, if I may say so, you are being foolish. You are in love with a beautiful woman. Would you let her go because of what society thinks of her? I can tell you what Miss Isabella thinks of you.''
''Yes, what does she think of me?'' he asked curiously.
Isabella didn't answer but walked away from him. She walked out of the hall and into the fresh air. She had just one hope: that the Duke would be so curious as to the answer, he would follow her.
The Duke didn't see Isabella leave the ballroom. She had woven her way between guests and he'd lost sight of her. He walked around frantically trying to find the lady in the red gown. After ten minutes Isabella had the blackest thoughts she had had since her mother had died. He hadn't followed her. He didn't really care to know what Isabella felt. Her dream was really over.
She took the path that circled the castle and began to walk the lonely route to a side door where she could slip inside unnoticed, and go to her room.
''Stop. Please stop.'' The Duke. Isabella didn't turn around. She listened to him trying to catch his breath.
''Dear Lady. Why did you run away from me?''
''I didn't run my Lord.''
''And?''
''And what, my Lord?''
''What does Isabella think of me?''
Isabella still with her back to him, turned around. She looked at him. She saw a desperation in his eyes. His hair was disheveled and there were beads of sweat on his forehead.
Slowly, she put her hand to her masque. She hesitated, but then drew in a long breath. She removed the masque.
The Duke gasped when he saw it was her.
''I want to tell you that Isabella loves you very much. More than is good for her. Her life is a daily chore of heartache and pain and will continue to be, unless you free her.''
He looked at her. A beautiful sensual woman, standing in front of him, in a red gown. The same dress he had wanted to rip from her lithe body on the dance floor.
He cleared his throat. ''Will you please relay to Miss Isabella that I love her very much. It pains me to know that she suffers at my hand and I will indeed free her from her misery forthwith. Would you please tell Miss Isabella that I will come and see her in her chamber, as soon as I am able to free myself from the drudgery of Miss Victoria.''
''Yes. my Lord, I will ask Isabella to wait for you.''
****
Isabella had the longest, most nerve racking wait of her life. More than two hours passed. She sat in the same chair and stared at the door, the whole time. Her thoughts rolled between moments of thorough ecstasy and deep depression. He had declared his love for her just moments ago, but where was he? Why was he taking so long? Had he changed his mind?
Then, there was a knock at the door.
Isabella jumped up and threw it open. She watched as he stepped towards her. ''I am sorry I have been so long. That awful woman wouldn't take no for an answer.''
''Well, my Lord, I am pleased you are here now.''
''You will have to stop calling me, my Lord.” The Duke placed his hands on Isabella’s shoulders. “Isabella, I love you and I have loved you from the minute I saw you.''
''Then why didn't you come to me? You could have saved us so much misery.''
''I was torn between two worlds. I was worried what society would think. Now I realize that was a big mistake.''
He reached for her and pulled her to him. He bent to her and kissed her passionately. Isabella almost fainted. It was what she had wanted for so long. In one movement he had taken her to another happier place.
As they kissed she could feel his desire pushing against her. His hands reached behind her and started to unfasten the buttons of her gown. One by one he snapped them open. Isabella wanted him and now she wasn't going to be shy anymore. He gasped as she felt for his bulge and found it. She felt him and found his balls, then the line of his shaft. She felt him shiver when she traced the full length of him and let her
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