Page 23 of Drawn to the Duke
Beneath the bed was paper and a pencil, while through the curtains streamed just enough moonlight which, in addition to the flickering candlelight, allowed Selina to do her work.
It took only a few moments. During their energetic lovemaking, Selina had traced the contours of his face, giving her an advantage she’d not realized would be so beneficial when it came to communicating his features to the page.
As Selina looked from her handiwork to the handsome, sleeping duke, her nipples and her fingers tingling, she’d never felt more satisfied.
CHAPTER 14
Edward was snoring loudly when Selina crept into her own bed that night, and he was still asleep when dawn broke.
At first Selina had restlessly tossed and turned, her heart almost bursting with excitement as she relived her sensuous adventure with surely the most handsome man in all England. Certainly, he was the most handsomedukein all England.
But as dawn broke, other thoughts pushed away her shivers of delicious euphoria.
What was the truth behind the disappearance of her drawing?
Did she have an enemy? Had someone been watching her?
For there was no doubt that someone had taken the duke’s likeness from beneath the rock where she had left it outside the conservatory. She was certain of it. It hadn’t been the work of the wind. Someone had been watching her and had known of its importance.
And, Selina suspected, that someone was Lady Saunders or her sister, Mrs. Pigott, though what motivation they had, she could only surmise.
Had Lady Saunders registered the interested looks exchanged between Selina and His Grace.
Or, perhaps there was another marital contender in the wings they wished to push, so were bent on thwarting the duke’s marriage to his intended.
Or perhaps they had simply been waiting for an opportunity to thwart Edward in an act of petty malice for Selina’s unkind drawing of Mrs. Piggott.
More likely, though, it had simply been blown away by the wind, and discovered.
Another fear intruded. Did whoever took it know that it was Selina’s work, and not that of her supposed husband?
As sleep continued to elude her, and remembering mention of Lord and Lady Saunders’s dawn ride, Selina decided that perhaps she should use their absence to search their bedchamber.
That is, if they had indeed gone riding which, fortuitously, she confirmed with a glance through the bedroom window.
After dressing quickly, she hurried from her chamber and down the corridor toward theirs which, she was relieved to discover, was unlocked.
Entering quietly, holding her candlestick aloft, she took stock of her surroundings.
It didn’t take long to prove her suspicions correct. Whatever Lady Saunders’ reason for snatching the drawing, she had tucked it away in the writing desk by the window.
Selina snatched it up in triumph. Of course, she now had two drawings, but at least she could brandish this original one in front of Edward and tell him that he had falsely accused his sister of carelessness.
However, as she was about to leave with the drawing, she hesitated. Was it wise to make it clear she’d been in LadySaunders’ chamber when Selina didn’t know the reason for the theft of the painting?
Selina had formed an instant dislike for the woman and her sister. Even more so, having discovered that Lady Saunders had been the duke’s previous lover.
By the light from the window, she studied her work as she contemplated her options.
On the writing desk were more paper and a pencil. Selina could do another drawing that was identical, which would mean she could leave the stolen drawing in Lady Saunders’ possession. Selina would then have not two, but three drawings: one she could leave here in Lady Saunders’ writing desk, one she could give to Edward, and one she could keep for herself.
Yes, it would remind her of this night she’d treasure her entire life. Closing her eyes, she touched her heart. It was beneath her breast and perhaps it had been her breast, really, that had interested Lord Chauncy. But for Selina, it was her heart that had been touched. The sensations Lord Chauncy had evoked had, at first, been familiar: the lust-charged desire, the physical yearning followed by spectacular satisfaction, then satiation.
His Grace had shown kindness and consideration, both earlier and during their lovemaking.
He’d also spoken of his fondness for a cousin whose wildness had caused her downfall. He’d actually sympathized with this female cousin and, furthermore, now housed her unmarried sister who acted as his hostess and whom he treated with respect.
Not like Selina had been treated by the men in her life.
