Page 28 of Her Duke's Second Chance

“Apologies for disturbing you,” she said holding up her carafe, “I was thirsty.”

The butler immediately hurried towards her and took the carafe from her hands. “Of course, my lady. Let me fetch it for you. Would you like some ice as well?”

She shook her head. “No, no. Just the water is fine. It is a rather brisk night.” She pulled her robe more tightly around her, hoping that the butler had not noticed that her skin was flushed.

“Indeed, my lady,” the butler murmured as he poured some water from the pot.

“Would you like some tea to help you sleep?” the chef asked.

Georgiana hesitated at the chef’s offer. After what had happened with Robert, she was not at all sure that she could settle down enough to sleep. “That might be a good idea.”

The chef nodded and immediately went to work, shuffling through the ingredients before filling the kettle with water. The butler handed her the carafe, and she nodded her thanks before leaving the kitchen.

She wandered down the halls, nodding to the footmen and urging them to go to bed.

She had not realized how late her household stayed up. Most nights she retired to her chambers after dinner and read a few poems before going to sleep.

She had no reason to leave her rooms at night. Now, she made a note to address all the servants and make sure that they were getting enough sleep. She knew for a fact that the household was up by five in the morning to receive the milkmaids, get the water boiling, and begin preparing breakfast.

Of course, with only her living in the house, there was not much to do. She had always assumed that the staff retired after she shut her bedchamber door.

I was obviously wrong in my naïve assumption.

Her mind wandered back to her own family. Since money was always tight they only possessed a skeleton staff that was nevertheless expected to perform all the duties required of a full household staff.

She had first-hand knowledge of how exhausting and demoralizing such a schedule could be. When she had first arrived at the duke’s townhouse, she had made an effort to learn everyone’s names but had not familiarized herself with their routines.

She reached the second-floor landing and hesitated. Her bedchamber was to the east while the master was to the west. She had spent the first night in the master suite, but after Robert had left, she had moved her things to the east wing.

Turning west, she slowly walked down the corridor until she was standing in front of Robert’s door. She paused, staring at the door and wondering why she had stopped.

Pressing her ear to the door, she listened intently and heard a grunt and a splash.

“Georgiana.”

If it had not been so quiet and still in the house, she would have missed it, but she was certain she had heard Robert moan her name.

She gasped, jerked back in shock, and padded quickly down the corridor, hoping Robert had not heard her.

She entered her bed chamber and locked the door behind her quietly, breathing hard.

“Water,” she croaked, carrying the carafe over to her nightstand. She poured herself a full glass of water and gulped it down before sitting on the bed with a sigh and staring off into the distance.

Her mind wandered towards their brief interlude in the library as she ruminated over what she might have done differently.

Robert was the last person she had expected to see. Her surprise at his presence had quickly become overshadowed by irritation at his failure to let her know that he was home. Georgiana’s skin tingled and she licked her lips at the memory of their unexpected kiss. It had been incredible, passionate, and sensual. Her fingers curled together as she recalled the softness of his hair and the firmness of his grip on her waist.

Why did he stop so suddenly? Was it something I did?

With a sigh, she removed her robe, slipped into bed, and stared at the dancing shadows on the ceiling.

Her palms itched to stroke his chest and trace the sculpted muscles that lay beneath his skin. She longed to nestle her head in the crook of his neck and breathe in his scent as his strong hands pulled her into him, against his eager hardness.

“For God’s sake, Georgiana!” She released an exasperated sigh and shook her head, wondering where her musings were coming from.

A soft knock on the door announced the maid, who had brought her a pot of tea. Georgiana told the girl to leave it on the bedside table.

Hopefully, I will sleep soundly tonight, and by morning’s light, all of this will be a dim memory.

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