Page 11 of Doubling Down on a Duke
“You’ll find out tomorrow.” Bryce patted her hand and then turned them both to face the door. “A good eve to you, Kilman.”
Still tucked close to her husband’s side, Helen managed a brief smile and a nod in Lord Kilman’s direction before Bryce led her out of the room.
She should wait until they reached their chambers, but eager to know his thoughts on how to best help out the three ladies, Helen asked, “What is your plan?”
Bryce stopped on the riser above her. “We should discuss that in private. Which would you prefer, my chamber or yours?”
Helen quickly weighed the advantages and disadvantages of each. It mattered not, they’d be all alone either way. When Bryce opened his mouth to say something, she blurted, “Yours. Let’s discuss next steps in your chamber.”
Wordlessly he marched up the stairs and she followed. As soon as both of her feet were planted on the landing he bent at the waist, slipped an arm beneath her knees, picked her up, and carried her to his chamber door. With his hands full, she reached down for the latch and pushed the door open. When he didn’t set her down after crossing the threshold, she turned to face him.
He looked her straight in the eyes and asked, “Did you really think I’d not consult you first before devising a plan?” Bryce let her legs fall to the ground but he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders so she couldn’t turn away. “We both know who is the better strategist between you and me. And now that we are married, you are stuck with me. I’m not too proud of a gentleman to recognize your strengths and defer to you. We are a team, and just like today, we will succeed if we work together.”
It wasn’t a poem recited on one knee. It wasn’t a love letter. But she sensed Bryce’s words were filled with love. She couldn’t help but fall a little more in love with the man, even though she hadn’t thought it possible to love the man more than she already did. All thoughts of leaving this man fled her heart and mind. Bryce’s actions proved he loved her. She reflected upon the fact he kept on looking for her, even when she kept running. If Bryce never said the conventional three words of affection, she dared to double down on her duke, betting that his actions would prove more convincing than hearing than wordsI love you.
She wrapped her arms about his waist and closed the space between them. “You are correct. We should do everything together going forward.” To seal her promise, Helen rolled uponto her tiptoes and placed her lips against his. It was their first kiss as a married couple, but the flare of desire in Bryce’s gaze confirmed that it definitely wouldn’t be their last.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Dim rays of sun peeked through the shutters. Unwilling to start the day, Bryce rolled over onto his right side and placed his back to the window, as if he could ignore the fact the day to come held many a challenge. His body immediately responded to the sight of his naked wife lying beside him, forcing him to close his eyes and take in several deep breaths. Only with the exertion of extreme will power was he able to tuck his hands beneath his pillow and take in the view before him. Helen sound sleep was an extraordinary sight. His wife was incredible. They had spent hours discussing, evaluating, planning, and finally settling upon a plan to return the diamonds to the Crown treasury without tainting the reputations of the three ladies involved. Admittedly it was his fault that it had taken twice as many hours as it should have to complete the task. He had bargained for kisses at every opportunity as if his life depended upon it. Otherwise Helen would have devised the plan in a snap and sought to escape to her own chamber, which would have delayed consummating their marriage. He wasn’t willing to take that risk. Pleased with himself at having managed to convince her to stay the night with him in his bed, Bryce rolled back on to his back to cradle the backof his head with his hands and let out a sigh infused with relief and satisfaction.
Moments later, when he believed he’d regained full control over his body, Helen’s arm fell across his bare chest and her hand settled squarely over his heart, making it skip a beat…or two. It was a feat only his wife was capable of. Reflecting on his past, he saw the hollowness of his prior experiences. What a fool he’d been to have waited this long to convince her to be his wife. Swallowing an inward groan at his own stupidity, he closed his eyes and counted slow, shallow breaths so as not to wake Helen.
His eyes popped wide open as his wife circled his nipple with a fingertip and asked, “How long have you been awake?”
“A while,” he answered through gritted teeth, willing his cock not to react. The bedlinen tented anyway.
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
Thankfully Helen’s gaze was focused upon his face and not lower. He guided her mouth to his, but just before their lips touched he answered, “Because I knew this would happen.” He kissed her, kissed her deeply, until a moan of desire reached his ears. He needed to stop or he might give into temptation and keep her abed all day. Slowly retreating an inch, Bryce pressed his forehead to hers. “We still have a mission to complete; however, once that is done I have plans to keep you all to myself for at least a fortnight.”
His wife, who was a quick study, threaded her fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck and massaged the base of his skull—it was his weak spot. She gave him a lopsided grin and asked, “Is that a promise?”
Eyes closed he answered, “Mmm...it is indeed.”
Bryce’s promisewas motivation enough for her to pull away and roll out of bed. She picked up her abandoned shift from the floor and slipped it over her head. “I’ve been reconsidering our plans for the day.” Bent at the waist, she continued to gather the rest of her attire that was left in a trail from the door to the bed.
“Are you worried Kilman will not be able to convince Lady Phoebe to hand over the diamonds?”
“No, I’m sure the man can be persuasive if he tries.” She stepped into her crumpled gown, slipped her arms through the sleeves, and drummed her fingers against her hips. “We are dealing with three highly intelligent women. I doubt that they will willingly surrender the gems to us after all the trouble they have gone to secure them without making a series of detailed queries. We risk exposing the existence of the Network and our association with PORFs.”
“I’m not following. If Kilman, a trained agent for the Home Office, didn’t question our story of being on our wedding trip, why would Lady Phoebe or the other ladies?”
An uncomfortable wave of heat flushed her cheeks. There was no stopping the telltale sign of guilt. She couldn’t change the fact that she had often sworn to never marry her rake of a fiancé under her breath. Despite being engaged, Helen had often sought refuge amongst the ladies who more often than not were ignored by their gentleman peers. Gentlemen—bah! Those blasted lords thought nothing of bestowing the moniker of wallflower, spinster, or bluestocking upon a lady. And Lady Phoebe, who had made her debut the same year as Helen, was no exception. Deemed a wallflower, Lady Phoebe had sat next to Helen along many a ballroom wall observing their peers on thedance floor. How many times had Helen muttered unladylike curses upon her fiancé and his partner under her breath? More times than she cared to recall.
Her husband, who had been casually laying on his side watching her from the bed, jumped up and wrapped the bed linens tight about his waist. He strode towards her to stand directly in front of her. “If you wish to alter the plan, I have no objections.” He cupped her face and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “There is no need to worry, I won’t leave you to deal with matters alone ever again.”
Surprised by her husband’s words of encouragement, she stepped back and tripped on the hem of her skirt. Rather than falling backwards, she found herself wrapped up in Bryce’s arm, pressed to his side. He added, “And if you let me, I’ll always be here to catch you.”
Having admired and loved Bryce from afar for so many years, it was overwhelming to be held so securely by her naked husband. Helen pinched her cheeks. This was no dream. Bryce’s sincerity had her heart pounding. Despite the giddiness that accompanied Bryce’s affection and assurances, an ominous cloud of concern hung over her head and refused to dissipate. She needed a moment alone to clear her mind and go over matters. She should focus on the mission itself, not what was in store for her after they retrieved the diamonds. Intending to inform Bryce that she’d return after changing in her chambers, she looked up at her husband and smiled. Before she could say a word, Bryce bent and kissed her soundly as he once again skillfully divested her of her gown and slip. She allowed her husband to carry her back to bed, reasoning with herself that if she wore the glow of a newlywed, there was a slight chance Lady Phoebe would believe she was happily wed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Decided by consensus, Kilman was to remain at the inn where he had agreed to meet Lady Phoebe while he and Helen continued north in search of the trio of ladies. Bryce shielded his eyes from the bright rays of daylight as he exited the coaching inn to oversee the loading of the ducal coach when he spotted Kilman and Helen conversing by the stables. His hands fell to his side and fisted into balls. He swiveled on the ball of his foot away from his wife, intending to see to his task. He trusted Helen, yet he stopped and turned back around to observe the pair. Would she do the same if their roles were reversed?
When Kilman burst out in laughter and Helen awarded Kilman with her smile, it took every fiber of restraint within Bryce to resist the irrational urge to march over and deck the man. Helen’s discreet gaze slid over to her left and he froze as she caught him spying on her.
Despite Kilman being directly in front of her, Bryce would have wagered all the coin in his ducal coffers that the man never noticed the slight narrowing of her right eye and quick thinning of her lips before she smiled and wished Kilman a safe journey. Having been on the receiving end of the threatening stare onmore than one occasion, he knew it best to retreat. He marched over to the Whistlestop coach and barked at his staff. How had Helen withstood all the times he had conversed with other ladies in front of her at balls, soirees, and other ton functions? She should have dragged him out by the ear or at the very least given him stern looks. His pride, suddenly bruised at Helen’s lack of concern, had him once again headed in the direction of the stables.
