Christian adjusted the angle of his mouth and deepened the kiss with a groan of satisfaction that resonated deep within her. Feeling wide awake but more relaxed than she ever remembered feeling before, she thought she might sink to the floor.
“Here I am, walking down the hall.” Anna’s voice resonated off the marble tile. “It’s late, and I’m certain everyone would love to go back to bed now.”
Thea pulled away first. Anna’s voice accomplished the task Thea was certain it was intended for. Christian was slower to come around and it was several seconds before his arms came away from around her, and she was able to put some distance between them.
“I’ll come collect you in the morning,” he promised.
“If you even remember. You’ll be sleeping off those spirits for hours yet, and I’m not convinced you’ll even recall these events.”
Christian shook his head. “I’ll not forget. I’m looking forward to it more than anything in a long time.”
Anna stepped foot into the entry with an exaggerated yawn. “Is everything resolved? Can we all go back to bed now?”
“Wear your habit,” he instructed and kissed the palm of her hand. One more heart-melting grin before Anna bustled him out the door.
Thea stood in the hallway, dumbstruck, as her footman reappeared to lock the door and inquire to her needs. She didn’t have any. Needs. Other than some common sense and a little backbone, she didn’t need anything.
She was going riding tomorrow on a real horse. She couldn’t decide if she was more excited about the promise of a thoroughbred or spending more time with the duke.
You are well and truly a fool, Althea Eugenia Ashbrook, and you deserve what you get.
How bad was it that she fervently hoped another kiss was in the offing?
Well, glory be, the man showed up promptly at the stroke of ten. He looked impossibly debonair for a man who, only hours before, had been completely foxed. Camel colored trousers disappeared into gleaming Hessian boots. His morning coat fit him like a second skin, stretching across his broad shoulders.
“You look very well turned out, considering.” Thea offered the compliment on the walkway outside her townhouse.
The morning was perfect for a day trip. The sky burned clear and blue for the first time since Thea had arrived in the city. She wanted to be homesick but she couldn’t bring herself to be maudlin with the prospect of a jaunt out of the city with the promise of a fast ride on a swift horse.
“I pay my valet well to make sure of that every day.” Christian’s smile was ready. “It’s the least I can do.”
That might be one of her favorite things about the duke — his self-deprecating humor. Was there anything more attractive in a person than refusing to take oneself too seriously? Except perhaps confidence and, of course, good looks and an easy smile and the ability to put people at ease. Oh, and love of family, that was paramount. Mentally Thea furrowed her brow. Why was she cataloging the man’s good qualities?
“You look every bit as ravishing as I knew you would,” he complimented her. “Do you have a maid to bring with you?”
Blast these English and their desperate attempts at propriety. She had completely forgotten the need for a chaperone. “I’m Greek,” she said, as if that would excuse everything. “Must I have one?”
Christian chuckled. “Dare you go anywhere with a scourge of maidens such as myself without one?”
It was Thea’s turn to smile. “I won’t tell anyone if you won’t. Besides, I’m not here for a husband and will not trap you into being one.”
“I’m not sure if that settles me or not,” he confessed as he handed her into the curricle. “Should I feel insulted?”
“No, Your Grace, you should feel liberated.” Thea adjusted her hat and made sure the bow was secured under her chin. “Shall we?” she asked, excitement bubbled and released itself in the form of a giggle when he snapped the reins
“Here I am, walking down the hall.” Anna’s voice resonated off the marble tile. “It’s late, and I’m certain everyone would love to go back to bed now.”
Thea pulled away first. Anna’s voice accomplished the task Thea was certain it was intended for. Christian was slower to come around and it was several seconds before his arms came away from around her, and she was able to put some distance between them.
“I’ll come collect you in the morning,” he promised.
“If you even remember. You’ll be sleeping off those spirits for hours yet, and I’m not convinced you’ll even recall these events.”
Christian shook his head. “I’ll not forget. I’m looking forward to it more than anything in a long time.”
Anna stepped foot into the entry with an exaggerated yawn. “Is everything resolved? Can we all go back to bed now?”
“Wear your habit,” he instructed and kissed the palm of her hand. One more heart-melting grin before Anna bustled him out the door.
Thea stood in the hallway, dumbstruck, as her footman reappeared to lock the door and inquire to her needs. She didn’t have any. Needs. Other than some common sense and a little backbone, she didn’t need anything.
She was going riding tomorrow on a real horse. She couldn’t decide if she was more excited about the promise of a thoroughbred or spending more time with the duke.
You are well and truly a fool, Althea Eugenia Ashbrook, and you deserve what you get.
How bad was it that she fervently hoped another kiss was in the offing?
Well, glory be, the man showed up promptly at the stroke of ten. He looked impossibly debonair for a man who, only hours before, had been completely foxed. Camel colored trousers disappeared into gleaming Hessian boots. His morning coat fit him like a second skin, stretching across his broad shoulders.
“You look very well turned out, considering.” Thea offered the compliment on the walkway outside her townhouse.
The morning was perfect for a day trip. The sky burned clear and blue for the first time since Thea had arrived in the city. She wanted to be homesick but she couldn’t bring herself to be maudlin with the prospect of a jaunt out of the city with the promise of a fast ride on a swift horse.
“I pay my valet well to make sure of that every day.” Christian’s smile was ready. “It’s the least I can do.”
That might be one of her favorite things about the duke — his self-deprecating humor. Was there anything more attractive in a person than refusing to take oneself too seriously? Except perhaps confidence and, of course, good looks and an easy smile and the ability to put people at ease. Oh, and love of family, that was paramount. Mentally Thea furrowed her brow. Why was she cataloging the man’s good qualities?
“You look every bit as ravishing as I knew you would,” he complimented her. “Do you have a maid to bring with you?”
Blast these English and their desperate attempts at propriety. She had completely forgotten the need for a chaperone. “I’m Greek,” she said, as if that would excuse everything. “Must I have one?”
Christian chuckled. “Dare you go anywhere with a scourge of maidens such as myself without one?”
It was Thea’s turn to smile. “I won’t tell anyone if you won’t. Besides, I’m not here for a husband and will not trap you into being one.”
“I’m not sure if that settles me or not,” he confessed as he handed her into the curricle. “Should I feel insulted?”
“No, Your Grace, you should feel liberated.” Thea adjusted her hat and made sure the bow was secured under her chin. “Shall we?” she asked, excitement bubbled and released itself in the form of a giggle when he snapped the reins
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