Page 77 of Wedded to the Scottish Duke

“Don’t pretend with me.” He leaned his head closer to hers again. “I know ye. I know the way ye responded to me every time I touched ye, and I know that no other man has compromised ye.”

He couldn’t help it. He raised his hand and put it on her waist, splaying his fingers as much as he could to feel her completely. Her lips parted a little, a small gasp escaping her.

“See?” he said challengingly, moving his lips to her ear.

“I am not yours to control,” she protested, though she tilted her head to the side, giving him access to her neck.

Something broke inside of him, and he placed an open-mouthed kiss on her neck, tasting her as much as possible. Her hands came up and gripped the edges of his waistcoat hard. The sheer intensity with which she held him told him all he needed to know.

That wedding night… we’ll be impatient to have one another.

“Maybe not,” he agreed. “But ye’ll soon be mine.”

He nipped her neck playfully and then lifted his head, about to kiss her. She closed her eyes, waiting for that kiss.

I’m weak for her.

He abruptly released her. If he was going to keep her safe from his ways, then he had to draw a line between them at some point.

He stepped back, as did she, the two of them staggering a little to catch their balance. He rested a hand on the wall behind him, breathing deeply to calm himself.

“That was an aye, was it not?” he said simply.

When she just kept staring at him, he knew it was the best answer he was going to get.

“Good, I’ll obtain the special license. We’ll be married soon enough.”

“Special license?” she repeated, clearly shocked that this would mean they’d have to marry very soon, indeed.

He offered no other words. He turned and walked out of the room.

Celia sat in her bedchamber, staring at the vanity mirror. At this time of night, there was just one candle beside her to keep her company. The flame flickered in the wind seeping in through the open window, but she made no effort to light another. She rather liked the near darkness. It was a way to hide from the world.

Now dressed in her chemise, ready for bed, she unpinned her hair. She’d asked not to be attended on by her lady’s maid for the next few days. She didn’t want pitying looks or suspicious glances. She wished to be alone.

As she let down the last lock of hair, she heard a light tap at the door.

“Who is it?” she called.

“It’s me, Violet.”

“Oh. Come in.” Celia turned in her seat as the door opened. “I thought you had gone home hours ago.”

“No, I couldn’t.” Violet walked into the room, still dressed for dinner.

The last three days, Violet had spent nearly every waking hour in this house, either helping with the preparations for the wedding or offering comfort to Marianne, who had barely said a single word to Celia since the Duke of Hardbridge’s proposal.

“How are you?” Violet stopped beside Celia and took her hand.

“I’m fine,” Celia lied, attempting a cheerful tone. “Your husband and children must miss you. You can go home, Vi. You do not need to be here all the time, you know. Mother will cope.” Her cheerful tone waned a little. “Well, she will learn to.”

“She’ll come around.” Violet tapped the back of her hand. “She’s always wanted the best for us, and when it sinks in that you are to become a duchess, something tells me she will suddenly find a reason to be happy.”

Celia was not so convinced. She had a feeling her mother was crushed. Every fear Marianne had ever had for Celia’s virtue had now come true—Celia was compromised, disgraced, and an impromptu marriage was the result.

“She forgets how quickly I married, doesn’t she?” Violet reminded her gently. “Don’t worry, Celia. It will pass. Just give her a little time.”

Celia nodded and patted Violet’s hand too. “I’m not worried,” she said, forcing a smile again. She released her sister’s hand and stood up, walking across the room toward her bed. “I suppose I should be delighted, shouldn’t I? Soon enough, I’ll be living under a different roof. For our mother, that is probably the best thing. I am not sure she would be able to look at me every day after this.”

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