Page 29 of Wedded to the Sinful Duke

“Why of course,” he said with a smile that plunged the knife of shock deeper into her heart, twisting it to the side. “This is not a love match, Ciara. Love is for fools who actually believe it exists.”

She watched him with a look of stunned astonishment. “What made you into such a cynic?”

“I’m not a cynic, my dear,” he corrected her in a matter-of-factly manner. “I am merely a realist. I see the world as it is.” She had something to say to that, but before she could utter a single word, he continued, “This, of course, means that you will have the liberty and the means to do whatever pleases you as a duchess. You will need to remain discreet with your affairs, as will I, but apart from that, we can live a very happy married life, separately from each other.”

The liberty and the means to do whatever pleases you as a duchess.Those words made her smile. She never had either, not in her entire life.

Now, it seemed that this marriage was opening exciting new doors for her.

CHAPTER 14

Jonathan wanted to make that perfectly clear. Their lives would be separate, joined only by a piece of paper that deemed them husband and wife. But that would only happen once he had his fill of her, of course. And have his fill of her he would.

“I am used to living a separate life,” Ciara said somehow wistfully. “So, that won’t be anything new for me.”

“Yes, your life in the nunnery. “What was it like?” he asked curiously.

He had never known an oblate, let alone in the way that he wanted to know her. He had a million questions he wanted to ask her, but one look in her direction assured him that now was not the moment for any of them.

“I would rather not talk about it if you don’t mind,” she said defensively, looking away from him. There was deep sadness inher voice, sadness he wanted to kiss away and make her forget about anything other than himself.

“I don’t,” he assured her. He knew that feeling well when someone was urging him to talk and all he wanted was to be quiet. “We don’t have to talk about it. In fact, we don’t have to talk about anything, my dear.”

“Is that why you came here?” she asked, tilting her head a little, as if to take a closer look at him, wanting to drink in the sight of him. “To be silent with me?”

“No, siren,” he grinned. “I wanted to see you in silk and lace.”

Her cheeks blushed fervently at his words, a sight that made his manhood awaken with roaring desire. She was there by his side. All he had to do was reach for her, and she would give herself to him. He was absolutely aware of that fact. But he liked playing games. He liked them a little too much, and playing games with this woman was proving to be one of the most wonderful things he had ever experienced. He didn’t want it all to end. Not yet, at least.

“You are a sinful man,” she said once she had regained her composure.

“I’ve been called worse things,” he agreed through the onslaught of laughter. “But I have never been called that by an oblate.”

Their eyes locked, and he could see all the fire burning underneath. She was a vixen, whether she wanted to admit it or not. She was awakening an insane desire in him. It was impossible that she didn’t know that. All she had to do was look at him with those doe eyes, and he was mad with lust, teetering on the edge of the abyss that would drag them both down.

Even if that happened, he didn’t care. He had two months to see whether he could corrupt her with his sinful ways.

“I may be a maiden, but I am not naïve,” she reminded him, pulling him back to the present moment.

“Oh, I didn’t doubt that for a moment,” he smirked. “That is why, when you come begging me to take you, I will… and I will satisfy your deepest desires, even the ones you didn’t know you had.”

Her eyes widened in shock at his words, titillating him even more. He downed his drink hastily, slamming the glass onto the table before him.

He locked eyes with her one more time then he left her, hopefully in the same state of mind as he himself was.

Over the next week, Ciara found herself gradually adjusting to her new life as the Duchess of Silverbrook. The grandeur of the estate, with its sprawling gardens and lavish rooms, was both awe-inspiring and a bit overwhelming. Having only recentlyreturned to society after years of seclusion, she was still getting used to the expectations and responsibilities that came with her new title.

Her days were filled with a flurry of activities: meeting with the household staff to understand their duties, overseeing the preparation of meals, and attending to the social obligations that came with her position.

Despite her initial nervousness, she found herself growing more confident and capable with each passing day although she felt that it was still too early to expect to be accepted into the household by the servants, especially the housekeeper, Mrs. Dawson.

One morning, as she was reviewing the household accounts in the garden and enjoying the morning sun, Frances appeared with a tray of tea. “You are becoming quite the adept mistress, Your Grace,” she said with a smile, setting the tray down on a small table amid the lush greenery.

“Thank you, Frances,” she returned the smile. “It is all very new to me, but I am trying my best.”

Frances poured the tea and handed Ciara a cup. “Everyone can see that you are, Your Grace.”

“I do have a feeling that Mrs. Dawson doesn’t like me all that much,” Ciara admitted.

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