Page 77 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
“Congratulations on your wedding, Amelia. I wish you luck dealing with this man.” Victor smiled at Daphne’s sister. “You’re going to need luck if you’re going to be spending the rest of your life with this oaf.” He laughed.
“Wait till you get married. You’ll see what I will do.”
“I am trying to do that now,” he said, swallowing deeply as he looked at Daphne.
The mood turned somber again as the two of them stared at each other. Her heart still beat furiously in her chest for him. Even with his messy hair and skewed cravat, he was still the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Love still flowed through her even though he’d hurt her terribly. Apprehension swam in her gut as she wondered what he’d say.
As she watched, he advanced toward her and placed the bundle on the stool beside her.
“I think those letters will be proof enough. Please read them,” he said, stepping back.
She frowned as he left the room altogether, disappointment filling her. She’d been expecting a grand proposal or testament of love and not the awkward conversation they’d just had.
Daphne opened the bundle painstakingly with hands that shook. She unraveled the bow and peeled back the cloth binding. She gasped as dozens of letters scattered over the floor.
“But these… they are…” she murmured.
With her basic understanding of arithmetic, she estimated that over a hundred letters pooled at her feet.
“I told you. He wrote you one letter each week he was away from you,” Harry said gently as he helped her collect the scattered letters from the floor.
That would mean there are at least two hundred letters here, she thought.He has written me two hundred letters.
All envelopes were written in his masculine scrawl and addressed to her with no postal stamps to show that they were ever posted.
Once she, Harry, and Amelia had neatly placed the mountain of letters on a nearby desk, Amelia gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“We will give you some privacy,” she said, taking Harry by the hand, and leaving the room, closing the door behind them.
Daphne sat down on the desk.
A letter for each week he was away.Her heart fluttered at the thought.
Slowly, she picked up one of the envelopes and opened it, her eyes pouring over the words.
Dear Lady Daphne,
If you ever read this, it means you have somehow charmed me into revealing my deepest secrets. You quite literally have my heart in your hands, so please be gentle.
I am not a man who waxes poetic. Still, meeting you under the cover of darkness, with the silver glow of moonlight highlighting your beauty has become one of the most beautiful experiences of my life—second only to seeing you smile.
I am your humble servant, always.
Yours faithfully,
A man who is in love with you.
The second letter had her blushing to the root of her hair.
Dear Temptress,
I have chosen to dub you so as you have haunted my waking and sleeping hours with your beauty. You, my darling, are an absolute beauty and there is no flaw in you.
From the crown of your head to your feet, I long to caress you with my hands and tongue and see if your nectar is as sweet as I have imagined it to be.
Kissing you has been the biggest joy of my life and my biggest regret because you have succeeded in ruining me for every other woman.
I dare not imagine what seeing you naked would do to me.
