Page 12 of Doubling Down on a Duke
Halfway there he came face-to-face with Kilman who was still grinning from ear-to-ear. Kilman nodded and greeted, “Whistlestop, you are a lucky man. Lady Helen is…”
“Is remarkable…alluring…extremely lovable…and mine.”
“She is definitely all those things, but I was going to say she is a bloody genius.” Kilman slung his arm over Bryce’s shoulders and added, “Not only does she have a master plan, but she has also devised several secondary plans, all of which are brilliant. And at the risk of losing the trust of the woman I love, I’ve agreed to defer to your wife to see to it that Lady Phoebe returns to London safely.”
Helen rarely allowed others a glimpse of her great intelligence. She must truly trust Kilman to have revealed that side of herself to him.
Bryce shrugged Kilman’s arm off his shoulders. “Never underestimate a woman.”
“You can state that again.” Kilman raked his hand through his hair. “Will you pass along a message to Lady Phoebe for me?”
“Of course.”
“Tell her…tell her I’ll be waiting for her.”
Feeling sympathetic, Bryce clapped a hand on Kilman’s shoulder. “Don’t wait too long. Trust me when I say women don’t like it when you dawdle.”
With perfect timing, Helen called out from behind, “Are you ready, my lord?”
How in the blazes had she managed to sneak around without his notice? Her skills as a Network member had significantly improved since they last practiced together; granted, that was over a decade ago.
With a chuckle that held a tinge of defeat Kilman said, “You best not keep her waiting. Good luck, my friend, and I look forward to seeing you all back in London in a few days hence.”
“Love,it’s time to wake up.” Bryce awoke his wife with a kiss on the cheek. It was a reward for keeping his hands to himself the entire journey north to Lady Phoebe’s relative’s abode.
Helen snuggled closer but blinked open her eyes. “We’ve reached the Osbourne mansion already?”
As always, she’d fallen fast asleep within moments of setting off and leaving Kilman behind, but there was no point in mentioning that fact. Instead, Bryce pulled the window curtain back to reveal the sun setting. “We should arrive at Lady Phoebe’s distant relative’s residence shortly.”
Lady Osbourne was not really a distant relative of Lady Phoebe. The matron was simply known to befriend and favor ladies who were deemed by the ton to be unlikely candidates for marriage.
Helen sat up and handed him his coat, which he had draped over her. “I wasn’t a fan of traveling long distances before, but the ducal coach is rather comfortable.”
“I’m in favor of traveling, and I’d be happy to escort you to wherever and whenever you wish.” His sappy but honest reply made him inwardly cringe but only slightly. He’d never made such grandiose promises before.
His wife’s brows rose and then slanted down towards the middle of her pretty face. “I can recall you stating on several occasions and informing more than one lady that traveling by coach was tiresome and that you preferred to explore the country on horseback.”
“Ahh…You are correct.” He placed a chaste kiss upon her forehead. Knowing that sayingI love youin code would not suffice, he added, “You have excellent recall. I have told aladyor two that traveling is more efficient and more pleasurable upon my horse, but I’m willing to make an exception just for you and only travel by coach going forward.”
Eyes narrowed, Helen shook her head. “Hmm…so you're saying you would endure being confined in a private space for hours on end just for me…with no other ulterior motive?”
The knowing gleam in her eyes told him that rumors of his past interludes with his mistress must have made their way to her innocent ears. His own ears were probably glowing red. He hadn’t remained celibate during their betrothal, but he couldn’t change his past. As the coach rolled to a stop, he captured her hand. “My reputation as a rake is not unwarranted; however, I promise you that I shall remain forever faithful to you.”
She squeezed his hand and replied, “You won’t regret making such a promise?”
“Absolutely not.” And to prove it, he captured her lips with his and kissed her soundly.
The coach door opened and the cold gust of wind sent shivers down his wife’s back. He turned, prepared to remind his footman that protocol dictated he was to wait until signaled before assisting their exit, except it wasn’t his footman’s face he saw. Lady Phoebe stood before him with flushed cheeks.
“Beg your pardon, Your Grace.” Lady Phoebe smiled and then slammed the coach door shut.
Helen righted her gown and tucked a few wayward strands of hair back behind her pink ears as her gaze lowered to his crotch and then back up to his eyes. “I’m assuming it will take at least until the count of fifty for you to be ready to join us, which is perfect. I wish to have a moment or two alone with Lady Phoebe.”
He cleared his throat and tugged at the inseam of his trousers. “Might be closer to the count of a hundred, dear wife, but regardless, I’ll join you shortly.”
His condition didn’t improve, only worsened as his wife’s bottom grazed the tops of his thighs as she exited. The minx had done it on purpose, whether to further delay him in joining her or for the pure pleasure of knowing she was torturing him. Either way, he wanted his wife in the most carnal of ways and he was looking forward to having her all alone on the trip back to London.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
