Page 18 of A Virgin for the Cruel Duke

Selina squeezed Elizabeth’s hands once more and went to Herbert who escorted her inside, their heads tipped together in deep conversation. Elizabeth felt a pang, watching them go. What would it be like to have that sort of closeness with a person one could trust so whole-heartedly?

Stephen could not deny that his temper had been well and truly roused against his brother and sister by their blatant disregard of his command. While he knew that Selina was forthright to a point that sometimes did her harm, he had not expected Herbert to encourage her.

Perhaps he should have done so.

As he had been preparing to go to battle for the peace he had fought so hard to attain, Elizabeth had completely surprised him by doing so herself and in a manner he could never have expected.

There was something entrancing about the way that she opened her heart to them, even when they were accusing her, standing in hostile judgment of her. He was caught completely out of himself by watching her beautiful, expressive face, listening to her address the problem with as much bravery and honesty as any soldier.

It was enough to win over the hardest of hearts, and he was pleased to see that both Herbert and Selina had softened by the end of her speech though he would be having stern words with both of them later. While he loved them dearly, and loved how well they defended each other, he required trust from his siblings and when he gave them an instruction he expected them to obey. If they had a concern with those instructions theyshould have come to him, not lashed out publicly the way Selina had.

Elizabeth was looking at him now, her large dark eyes so expressive in her pale face. He was struck again how sometimes she looked like a wild bird, something regal and fierce like a falcon, watching a predator and waiting to take flight.

“Walk with me,” he said solemnly, offering her his arm.

She took it without argument for once and they turned their steps towards a path into the gardens. It was a small, cunning water garden near a flight of steps up to some lovely terraces and he had often played there as a child, jumping from one tier of the fountain to the next or falling into the pools in an attempt to catch hold of the fish that played there.

“I am glad to see that you know why my family is cautious to trust you,” he said finally, not mentioning his own reserve when it came to the matter. “I applaud your forthrightness. It was needed, I think.”

“The wound had to be lanced,” she said firmly. “It would just keep festering otherwise.”

“I think you are right. And I am glad also to see that you don’t have the same - bloodlust that your family does.”

“Wouldn’t that be rather inconvenient a thing to exist between husband and wife?” she asked, her lips twitching upwards a little.

He returned the small smile. “It’s not completely unheard of.”

“I am glad to assure Your Grace, that I have no desire for violence at all. Just for peace. Like you do.”

Her voice slowed towards the end of the sentence, as though there were things that she was not saying. There were mysteries to his wife that he did not understand, but instead of frustrating him they only made her all the more enticing. He wanted to unwrap her thoughts, unwrap her past and unwrap her body, to get to know why she was so small and cold and quiet sometimes and so fierce and sharp the others.

Stephen paused near the fountain, holding Elizabeth by one hand. The light always felt clearer here near the water, like he could see things more distinctly. He looked into her eyes and saw the caramel gold in their depths, the warm shifting colors like a maze of riches.

“You are truly beautiful,” he said softly, and was pleased to see her blush and try to look away. “No,” he said, catching her chin and tilting her head up so she had to look at him. “don’t hide your eyes from me, Elizabeth. I intend to have my fill of looking into them.”

“Pretty words, my husband,” she said, looking up at him again. This time he could tell that her wit was a tool that she was using to hide how flustered he was making her, and they had no bite.

He wanted to pull her into his arms in the shattered light through the fountain spray and kiss her, tangle his fingers in her hair, undo her and carry her off to his bed where she should be. But he had given his word, and while he might not have told her so, he was truly in no hurry to do something that she might not like.

Elizabeth felt her heartbeat thudding in her chest. There was a sort of thick tension between her and Stephen, like invisible energy binding them together. They were standing so close, hand in hand and he was leaning over above her so he could look at her.

Perhaps he really was trying to look into her eyes.

They were so close, his head ducking down near to her now and she remember the frisson of delicious heat that she had felt that night when he claimed her in a kiss that felt like he was consuming her with passion and flames.

Maybe he would kiss her again in the garden with the sound of the fountain in their ears and the air heady with the smell of blossoms. Her eyes fluttered closed and she felt her body leaning upwards towards him, her face tipping back and her lips sliding open.

She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to feel his mouth on her again. Why did he affect her like this? These were such strange, terrible, wonderful desires. She felt alive with them, a warmth tingling through her like she was drunk with it.

She could feel the warmth of him getting closer, their lips must surely be only inches apart now, she could feel his breath upon her lips. Close and nearly and please just a little more…

“You know what to do if you want me, Elizabeth,” Stephen whispered, holding her chin in his hand and pinning her still. “All you need to do is beg.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes flying open. He looked amused, smug but also his eyes were dark with want as well. She was not the only one here who desired.

“I have been told that to beg is quite below my station, Your Grace,” she said, huskily. Her breathing was ragged and she had to wet her lips but he was watching her, and she was almost certain that she could see him quiver a little at the sight.

He quickly got himself back under control and brushed a strand of hair back from her face. “As you wish, wife,” he said. “We will see how long that lasts.”

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