Page 21 of The Spinster and Her Rakish Duke
After Mrs. Blackwood departed, Mary helped Samantha out of her traveling dress and into a silk wrapper. A bath had been prepared in the adjoining bathing chamber, and Samantha sank into the warm water with a sigh of relief.
“Tell me about His Grace,” she said as Mary attended to her hair. “What is he like as a master?”
Mary’s hands stilled for a moment. “He’s… strict, Your Grace, but fair. Never raises his voice to the staff, and he pays well. We all respect him greatly.”
“And before? When his father was the duke?”
“Oh, I wasn’t here then, Your Grace. But from what I’ve heard …” Mary’s voice dropped to a whisper. “The late Duke was…difficult. Cruel, some say. The staff who served him don’t speak of those days fondly.”
Samantha absorbed this information in silence. What had the duke’s childhood been like under such a father? It might explain some of his guardedness, his reluctance to discuss personal matters.
“Everyone says His Grace is nothing like his father,” Mary continued, her voice growing more confident. “And in my experience, he’s a good man, if a bit… reserved.”
After her bath, Mary helped her dress for dinner in a gown of deep blue silk that complemented her eyes. As she studied her reflection in the mirror, Samantha wondered what this first evening at Valemont Hall would bring.
Would her husband continue his disturbing blend of formal politeness and heated provocation?
The dining room was even more intimidating than the foyer, and yet, instead of a long table, Samantha found a small table, meant only for two, set up. Two places had been set at each end, and Samantha was surprised to see that the table was laden with dishes that looked suspiciously like her favorites.
The duke rose as she entered, resplendent in an evening attire that emphasized his broad shoulders and lean frame. He movedto pull out her chair, and she was again struck by his physical presence; by the way he seemed to command the space around him. So much so that he now sought to command her, as well.
She would not be so easily conquered.
“How did you know?” she asked as he settled across from her.
“Know what?”
“These are all my favorite dishes. The glazed duck, the lemon tart …” She gestured at the spread before them.
His lips curved in what might have been a smile. “You’re my duchess now. I’m supposed to know these things.”
Something in his tone made her wary. “You had someone investigate my preferences?”
“I had someone make inquiries, yes.” He served her a portion of duck with practiced ease. “I thought you might appreciate familiar fare on your first night.”
It was a thoughtful gesture, but it also felt intrusive. How much did he know about her? What else had his inquiries revealed?
“The wine is from my private cellar,” he continued, pouring her a glass of deep red Bordeaux. “I think you’ll find it to your liking.”
They ate in relative silence for several minutes, the only sounds the clink of silverware and the crackling of the fire. Samantha found herself stealing glances at him, noting the way the candlelight played across his features, the elegant way he handled his knife and fork.
“Do you plan to return to the Athena Society?” he asked suddenly.
Samantha nearly choked on her wine. “How do you know about that?”
His green eyes sparked with amusement. “Word gets out, especially regarding their… passionate reading choices.”
Heat flooded her cheeks, but she kept her voice steady. “We read intelligent fiction. Literature that challenges conventional thinking.”
“Ah, yes.” He leaned back in his chair, his expression far too knowing. “I find‘The Governess’s Secret Desires’particularly intelligent. Very thought-provoking.”
Samantha’s face burned. How could he possibly know about that particular selection? She did not like how well he knew of women’s rather…intimatepastimes.
She cleared her throat, trying to maintain her dignity by the skin of her teeth. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“No? I was particularly moved by the scene in the conservatory. Tell me, which part did you find more intellectually stimulating? Was it when the governess discovers her employer watching her bathe, or when she realizes she enjoys his attention?”
“Your Grace!” She set down her fork with a sharp clink, heat pricking in her cheeks. “That is hardly an appropriate conversation for dinner.”
