Page 78 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Matthews,” Madeleine greeted him with a smile.

“What do you have to say to Her Grace, Toby?” Gregor urged the boy forward.

The boy bobbed some semblance of a bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” he replied using her exact words. He was the most adorable child that Madeleine had ever seen.

Gregor and the boy turned to the horses and headed for the stables. “He picked my pocket one day when I was walking the street of London,” Percy answered the question that was in her eyes.

“And so, you brought him home and gave him a position in your household?”

Percy nodded. “I did. I hope that his past does not make you feel uncomfortable.”

Madeleine shook her head, smiling up into her husband’s face. “You are a wonderful man, my handsome husband,” she praised him, hopping up on tiptoe to kiss his chin.

Percy smiled. “Not as wonderful as you, my beautiful wife.” Percy lowered his head and kissed her softly on the lips.

“I am glad that you brought him home with you. He looks like he belongs here with Gregor. He needs fattening up though.”

Percy nodded. “Cook is doing her best. She bakes him all kinds of sweet treats. He has won the hearts of everyone here on the estate. He is quite the conqueror of hearts.”

“And now, he has conquered mine,” she admitted lovingly smiling up at Percy. “Just like his lord has.”

Percy grinned. “Are you happy, my love?”

“Incandescently,” she answered with a radiant smile. “Are you happy, my darling?”

“More than any man has a right to be. You have lit up my world with your love in ways that I did not know were possible.” Lowering his head, he kissed her once more, this time with more passion than was societally acceptable in public.

Blushing, Madeleine pulled away. “We should not be rude to the others. They have assembled to greet us.”

“They have assembled to meet the most beautiful woman in the world. I hear she is a duchess now.” Percy’s eyes were alight with joy and good humor as he led his wife over to the waiting staff and introduced her as the new lady of the house. “May I introduce my wife, Madeleine Hardy nee Gillett, Duchess of Greyhall.”

Madeleine spoke with each of the servants in turn, greeting each one with a smile and a kind word. Once she reached the top of the stairs, Percy swept her up into his arms and carried her into the house. “Percy,” she exclaimed in surprise.

“Now, I want you all to myself.” He carried her up a flight of stairs and kicked open a set of doors that led to the master bedchamber.

“Percy, what will the servants think?” Madeleine asked breathlessly, laughing in delight.

“They can think whatever they wish. I have no thoughts but for you.” He set her down on the floor and closed the doors behind them. Turning back towards her, he gathered her into his arms and kissed her deeply. A rush of desire filled Madeleine’s body,causing her to tremble. “Are you frightened?” he asked, concern clouding his eyes.

Madeleine shook her head then hesitated. “A little, perhaps.”

Percy smiled, caressing her cheek. “There is no need to fear. We can take our time. It will only hurt for a brief moment then you will feel nothing but pleasure. I swear it.”

Madeleine reached up to run her fingers along his brow. Percy caught her hand and brought it to his lips. He turned it over and kissed the inside of her wrist tenderly, causing ripples of sensation to travel up and down her arm and across her chest. Madeleine’s nipples tightened into hardened buds showing her pleasure through her dress.

Smiling, Percy kissed his way down her arm across to her breasts where he teased the tender buds with his teeth. Madeleine moaned.

“Percy,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair, grabbing a fistful of it when another wave of pleasure coursed through her.

“My love,” Percy growled, lowering himself to his knees. Slipping his hand beneath her dress, he removed her shoes and stockings. He ran his fingers up the inside of her thighs, caressing the silken flesh.

A shiver passed over Madeleine’s body. She stood still, waiting with bated breath in anticipation of where his fingers might go next. When his fingers finally reached the sensitive bud hidden beneath her feminine folds, she let out her breath in a rush of desire. “Percy,” she cried out his name as he massaged the bud, driving her into a frenzy.

Rising from his knees, he reclaimed her lips in a passionate kiss. His hands roamed her body. “I need to feel you,” he murmured against her lips. “I need to feel your skin against mine.”

It had taken Lucy some time to get Madeleine ready for their wedding. It took Percy a mere matter of moments to slip her dress up over her head and drop it to the floor. Madeleine stood in nothing but her shift, the cold floor beneath her feet, his warm hands upon her body. He next grabbed her shift in his fingers and pulled it up over her head, dropping it to the floor as well. He took a step back to gaze at her.

Madeleine stood there in nothing but the skin that God had given her. She fought the urge to cover herself. “You are beautiful,” Percy breathed, his eyes filled with awe and desire. “You are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen.”

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