Page 71 of The Duchess' Replacement

“But… you’re so…” Her hands fluttered in front of her, trying to grasp the right word without offending him. “Dominant.” She flinched. She hoped that wasn’t an insult. Most men want to be considered that, right?

Charles licked his bottom lip as he continued to shake his head in agreement. He stood up and gathered her ruined dress. He bundled it into a ball and placed it by the door.

“That I am, and I never hid that about me. It’s no secret I like control, we’ve discussed this before. But to be dominant in an intimate situation,” he looked back to her and waved a finger between them, “means that you need to trust and take care of each other.”

He walked to his closet and pulled out a house coat. “You were hurt. It is my job to take care of you. So I took care of you.” He handed her the robe.

The realization that she was sitting there fully naked dawned her and she snatched the robe from Charles.

“No need to rush, darling. I’m enjoying the view.” Charles said with a wicked grin.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, and further down, but she ignored it as she put the robe on and fastened it.

“Was everything all right with what I did?” Charles questioned.

Sarah looked up and met his eyes. He didn’t seem overly concerned, more like he was on a fact-finding mission to understand her.

Perhaps they are not so different after all.

Sarah shook her head. “It was… the most wonderful thing I ever experienced. Just not a punishment.” She shrugged.

Charles helped her stand and took her in his arms. “You shouldn’t worry about that, my darling. I have not forgotten the danger you put you or my sister in. So I will take the, what is it,” Charles looked up and squinted his eyes in thought, “two days to come up with the most delectable punishment I can think of for you.”

Sarah’s breath rushed out of her as her eyes widened. She didn’t know if she should frightened or excited.

For once her mind and body agreed on something. She was excited.

CHAPTER 19

“Ipromise no harm will come your way.” Nora’s eyes were bright and eager.

Sarah raised her eyebrow as she speared a strawberry. She pointed the strawberry at her new sister. “I heard that one before.”

Nora bit her lip to stop the laughter that was no doubt bubbling within her. “I swear. It’s daylight out, the chances of you mis-stepping and falling down another hill is less this time.”

Sarah clucked her tongue before popping the fruit in her mouth.

“Please! And, I know exactly where this lake is. It’s just on the edge of the estate, closer to the village.”

Sarah wiped her mouth with her napkin. “You said you knew of the pond as well.”

Nora chewed her lip. “Well, yes, I did say that, but I also said my memory of the grounds wasn’t the best.”

Sarah laughed. “So why should I trust your memory now?’

“What’s all the laughing about?” Charles stepped into the breakfast room with a bounce in his step.

Sarah lowered her eyes to hide the blush that blossomed on her cheeks. It was increasingly difficult to look at her husband after the times they spent together. Her body heated as memories of rough touches and skillful lips infiltrated her mind. She shifted in her seat, hoping to shake off the warmth that just coated her body.

She cleared her throat. “Uh, your sister was trying to take me back out into the wilderness and finish me off. She failed last night.”

Nora guffawed and put up a finger. “One, it’s not the wilderness, it’s your estate and you should get to know it. Two, it was your idea to take a walk last night.” She poked her own strawberry with a fork and pointed it at Sarah. “And three, I told you I wasn’t familiar going to the left out of the garden gate. I always went right, which is the direction we’d go today.” She said with a sniff before eating the strawberry.

“Going for a walk?” Charles asked as he buttered some bread.

“I would love to go for a picnic by the lake.” Nora offered.

Charles’s hand hesitated mid stroke before continuing to butter the bread. “Sounds like a lovely idea. I think I would like to join you.”

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