Page 57 of The Duke's Daring Bride

“Do not think you can distract us,” Amanda cautioned with a frown. “We would like to know if you enjoyed sex with our brother.”

“Although, for the love of God”—Amelia glared at her sister—“do not give us details about Alistair. Just generalities.”

And then they both swung interested, intense looks her way, and Olivia realized there was no way she could escape this conversation.

“It was…” A blush climbed her cheeks. “It was quite nice.”

The sisters stared.

Finally, Amelia huffed. “Nice?” she repeated.

“Just…nice?” her sister interrupted. “Not earth-shattering? Stupendous? Magnanimous?”

Olivia winced. “I…don’t think that means what you think it means.”

“Answer the question!” Amelia raised a brow. “Our reading material has led us to believe sex with a man would be a bit more than nice.”

“That is the goal, at least,” her sister muttered dryly.

“I…” Olivia swallowed and sat straighter, trying to explain. “I enjoyed myself. It was…pleasant.”

There was no simple way to escape from the parlor, not without the two sisters pinning her to the ground and demanding answers, which Olivia rather suspected they would resort to.

But further explanation did not appear necessary. Amanda was more shrewd than expected. She was squinting at Olivia. “You did not enjoy the entirety of it, did you?”

Her sister clucked sympathetically. “Well, perhaps Alistair is not quite the paragon of manhood we expect—”

Olivia had to put a stop to that line of thinking. “He’s wonderful! He was wonderful! Really, he—it was.”

It was just…over too soon.

And it didn’t repeat.

“So why are you looking glum?” When Olivia turned, Amanda shrugged matter-of-factly. “Your words say one thing, but your eyes say another. You were disappointed by the sex, were you not?”

Frustrated, Olivia blew out a raspberry, wondering how she’d become trapped in this conversation.

“If you must know…it hasn’t happened again. I quite enjoyed myself”—The first part, at least—“and I would like to try it again. But…”

Amelia had gasped. “He did not return to your bed?”

“And Hiro seemed irritated this morning,” Amanda pointed out.

When they gazed at her questioningly, she shrugged. “Hiro’s always irritated on the mornings when Alistair seems most tired. Haven’t you noticed? I wonder if they do something late at night to lose sleep.”

Olivia continued to gape. Amanda had noticed the butler’s moods?

But her sister waved dismissively. “Do not be ridiculous. What would Hiro and Alistair be doing together late at night? It is more like Hiro is worried over his master’s lack of sleep, would you say?”

“Why is Alistair not sleeping?” Amanda shot back. “He clearly was not spending his hours in Olivia’s bed.”

Actually…that was rather a good point. Olivia frowned. What had her husband been doing, if he hadn’t come to her last night?

And is he planning on coming to you tonight?

Perhaps Amelia heard the unspoken question. “Do you think he will join you tonight?”

Frowning, Olivia slumped back again. “I…don’t know.”

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