Page 71 of A Duke But No Gentleman
“Like making demands when I want you willing and in my bed.”Tristan stepped away from her to retrieve a small towel from a nearby table.He used it to mop the sweat fom his face, and then he draped the towel over his arm that held the foil.“Come inside.Your skin is too fair to be outside without a parasol.”
He placed his hand on the small of her back and gently guided her back indoors.McKee immediately appeared when they entered the house, and he collected the damp towel and foil from the duke.
“Shall I serve refreshments in the drawing room?”the butler inquired politely.
“We will ring for them later,” Tristan said, as he became aware that he was not dressed to entertain anyone in his formal drawing room.“Come with me, Imogene.”
He led the way, confident that she would follow since she would assume that they were heading for the drawing room.
As she ascended the steps, she asked, “Are you planning to entertain this evening?”
“Why do you ask?”he replied, glancing over his shoulder.
Imogene gestured to the four maids cleaning the front hall.“No reason in particular,” she said swiftly as if she was uncertain of her welcome since she had shown up at his door without warning.“I just noticed—this house must require a large staff.”
“It does.However, I asked the housekeeper to bring on more staff this week.”When he reached the landing, he leaned against the banister.“Do you want to know why?”
“Only if you wish to tell me,” she teased him back, taking the time to playfully trail her finger across his chest as she walked by him.
The small intimate gesture triggered a strong need to pull her against him, but he resisted.Patience, he thought as he caught up to her.“Isn’t it rather obvious?The servants are readying the house for its new mistress.”
The fact that the news caused her to abruptly halt and her mouth fall open did not bode well.
“You do recall my aunt is preparing a ball on our behalf—our betrothal ball?”he said, trying not to sound as irritated as he felt.“Or perhaps marrying me is not very important to you?”
“Oh, Tristan,” she said, looking a little sad.“It is nothing like that.It is just—”
“What is it precisely?”he asked, feeling annoyed at himself that he had already managed to ruin her playful mood by mentioning their betrothal.
Her hands parted in a gesture to encompass her surroundings.“All of this.I have thought of you… of marrying you.I had not given much thought to what it will mean to be the Duchess of Blackbern, my responsibilities… to this house and your other estates.To be honest, all I thought of was you.”
Her explanation doused his anger.Tristan clasped her hand within his and brought it to his lips.He pressed a kiss to her gloved hand.“It pleases me that you have thought of nothing else but marrying me.As for the rest of it, we can figure it out together.”
Imogene nodded, though she did not seem entirely convinced that it could be so simple.It was incomprehensible to her that all he desired was her.
“Wait, are we not going to the drawing room?”she asked, when he directed her toward the stairs again.
“There are too many servants wandering about.I do not want us to be disturbed.”
She remained silent until they had reached the door of his bedchamber.“What if the servants see us?”
Tristan snorted, and opened the door.“Imogene, the entire household knows I intend to marry you.Considering my illustrious reputation, no one will be scandalized that I wish to visit with my soon-to-be-duchess in my private quarters.”He stared at her, almost daring her to refuse him by declaring that there would be no marriage.The time apart from her had not quelled his fears.In spite of her father’s assurances that the lady would offer her consent eventually, he had not slept well since he had left her alone in the Trevetts’ gardens.
Unable to think of a proper rebuttal, Imogene stepped into the bedchamber.Feeling as if he had won this first battle, Tristan did not bother concealing a little smirk as he closed the door and turned the key in the lock.If he had his way, he would keep her in bed until his ring was on her finger.
***
Since it had been too dark to explore on her first visit, Imogene took her time walking into Tristan’s private quarters, her curious gaze noting the colors he had chosen, the walls, each piece of furniture, the thick rug beneath her feet, and the draperies framing the windows.Aware of his quiet scrutiny, she felt it would be rude not to compliment him on his bedchamber.
“Very charming,” she said, her gaze flicking to the bed.“I highly approve of your choices.”
Even though she was nervous, it had not escaped her notice that this room represented a very private part of the duke.He might have bedded countless women, but he did not share this bed.
Until her.
“It eases my mind that you approve,” he said, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders so he could give her a chaste kiss on the cheek.“McKee would have been upset if I ordered everything to be tossed into the street.”
Slightly stunned by contemplating the waste and expense of such an action, she did not even protest when he guided her to the bed and applied enough gentle pressure on her shoulders to encourage her to sit on the mattress.“You would have thrown everything out if I did not approve?”
