Page 53 of His Highland Duchess
Perhaps she simply did not want to upset the girls?That made the most sense, as the three of them had bonded these last fewweeks, and to tell them one thing and then do another would break them. That, however, revealed a new fear within Lysander that had gone unnoticed until now.
All this time, he had not considered how selfish he was being. It was one thing to make a deal with Margaret, thinking that honesty and transparency were the best way to approach this marriage. To give it a real shot and see what happened was an idea they both agreed to. But what of his daughters? What would happen if, when the time came, they decided that this marriage could not work? How would his daughters react? And what could he possibly tell them to set their minds at ease?
It added a new layer of complexity to a situation that was already complex enough. Again, the idea of keeping Margaret away from them came to the fore, but it was too late for that now. Much too late.
We like one another. We are attracted to one another. So far, there is no reason that this marriage will not work. But I know us both well enough to understand that at any time something might go wrong, and when it does…
He had wondered if asking her straight out was the best idea. But to put her on the spot like that might force her hand. Again, his daughters were his primary worry, one which he had no idea what to do about.
“What are ye doing?” Margaret asked him suddenly.
“Oh!” Lysander jumped on the spot, not realizing that she had walked around the corner. “I ah… was going to check on the girls.”
She smiled. “No need. I have just put them to bed.”
“There was no need for that,” he said sharply before he could help himself. He did not mean it, but that old notion of keeping them separate was still in his mind, and he spoke before he could think. “I mean…” He grimaced.
“I…” She frowned at the response, unsure. “I did nae think you would mind.”
“I don’t,” he said quickly. “I am just…” He sighed. “Tired, is all. I think it is time for bed.”
“Oh…” A look of disappointment crossed her face.
He knew what that look meant. Last night had been an appetizer for what was to come, a reminder of how attracted they both were to one another. And now that he was past pretending otherwise, there was no need to continue with the ruse. They were man and wife; they still needed to prove that this marriage could work, and what better way was there than taking her to his bed right now?Oh, how I want to…
Lysander felt his heart racing, prickles erupting across his skin. She was dressed simply, a loose-fitting riding habit, and yet his mouth salivated as he looked her over, the taste of her still freshon his lips. He licked them, her eyes flashed with excitement, and he knew that all he had to do was take her by the hand and she would come.Several times, if I have anything to say about it.
God, how he wished to. He could feel himself hardening in his pants. The only thing keeping his amor at bay was thoughts of his daughters and the fear he felt at hurting them.
“But I will see you in the morning?” he somehow managed.
There was no denying the look of disappointment on her face. “Yes, of course…” she forced a smile.
“Good.” He reached out subconsciously, his hand resting under her chin. The feel of her skin was electric, and it took all the control he had not to pull her into him. “I will see you then.”
He dropped his hand, stepped around her, and raced down the hallway, determined to put as much distance between himself and her as he could.
The entire point of this arrangement had been to dispel the confusion that came with this marriage so that he and Margaret might have a chance of seeing if they could ever truly work. And it had worked for a time, a little too well because now Lysander was more confused than ever. He liked his wife. He sensed that she liked him too. But would that be enough? And what if it wasn’t? What then?
I need to think about what to do next and how to approach this most delicate situation. And most of all, I need to control myself until I do. No easy task.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“There is no need to be so nervous,” Lysander chuckled.
“Who said I am nervous?” Margaret shot back.
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you suggesting that I do not know my own wife? That I cannot feel as she feels? That I cannot read her as if our minds are one?” She looked at him flatly, and he grinned. “You are shaking, is how. It is obvious.”
“Oh…” She looked away, feeling foolish. “Perhaps I am just cold?”
“I hope not, for that would mean you are sick.” The duke looked to the sky, noting the bright sun which shone fully as there was not a cloud in the sky to cover it. “Plus, I can feel you sweating.”
“You cannae!”
“The point is still the same.” He had an arm around her waist, and she could feel his grip tighten with support. “There is no need to be nervous. Today will be fine, I know it.”
“I ken,” she said with a deep sigh and a slumping of her shoulders. “It is just that I have nae seen them before I left home – that was over a month ago now. So much has changed.”
