Page 58 of A Whisper of Desire
Sebastian’s threat reverberated through the drunken haze swirling in his mind. “I swear if I see you behaving like that, I’ll ensure it ventures no further. I’ll dowhateverit takes to protect Marisa and anyone else.”
Maitland should have felt threatened by Sebastian’s words, but, instead, a peace had settled over him.
Arriving home he let the groom help him from his steed because he wasn’t sure his legs would hold him. He’d ridden round the back of the house to the stable, as he didn’t wish anyone to see him stumble up the steps.
All he knew was if he was to play cards and win tonight he needed to sleep off his drinking session with his brother-in-law. A smile creased his face. He knew his friendship with Sebastian ran deep. So deep, Sebastian would kill him before he let Maitland turn into his father.
Peace washed through him, and for that, he owed Sebastian everything.
—
Marisa almost fell on her face as she was helped down from the Lyttleton carriage. Giggles exploded from her mouth even though she knew she was making a spectacle of herself.
The champagne was to blame, but she didn’t regret the morning spent drinking with Rose. She’d learned a lot about herself and what she wanted out of this marriage.
She had gone to see Rose, seeking a way to engage Maitland’s interest in bed. Now she wanted more than that. She wanted his heart too.
While she was armed with knowledge about how to entice a man into her bed, she had no idea how to win a man’s heart. Beatrice would be the woman to speak to for that. Thanks partly to Rose, but more so the book she’d taken, shoved down her trousers, from the Top Hat, how the two of them had tittered and drunk more than was good for them while examining the book, she had a plan for seduction—Maitland’s seduction, to be precise. Some of the positions were now clearer, given Rose’s tutoring.
The staff avoided eye contact as she weaved up the stairs. She stopped Brunton. “Is His Grace in resibence?”
Brunton didn’t bat an eyelid at her slurred speech. “I believe he is resting in his bedchamber, Your Grace.”
“Excellent.” The perfect place for her to try out her new wiles. Especially as the alcohol buzzing in her veins gave her more courage.
“Shall I call for your maid to assist you?”
The wave of her hand to decline his offer would have had more conviction if she hadn’t tripped up the next stair. With a giggle she said with as much dignity as possible, “No need.”
Marisa didn’t wait for further comment. She continued up the stairs, gripping the banister. The plan to seduce the truth from Maitland would not work if she turned an ankle.
The staff would hardly call her tipsy, clattering, approach to Maitland’s bedchamber creeping. She was too intoxicated to do that. When she reached the door to his room it was the champagne that saw her gather her courage and, without knocking, enter his room.
To her surprise, Maitland was lying on the bed fully dressed. His soft snores attested to the fact he was sleeping, not resting.
She moved toward where he lay, her eyes feasting on his face. In his sleep he looked much younger. It was as if all the worries in the world had lifted from his shoulders. As if his dreams were filled with the happiness his waking hours weren’t. In that moment she wished she could make him as happy in his woken state as he appeared to be in his dreaming one.
Reaching out, she moved his fringe off his face. Her fingers traced the few strands of gray near his temple. He had lovely hair, thick and soft. She let her fingers run through his curls. Looking at his face, his beautiful green eyes were staring back at her. For a moment confusion filled their gaze until she saw the moment he recognized her. His look turned warm and welcoming, and her heart flipped in her chest. She smiled down at him and placed a kiss on his forehead.
“I thought you were a dream,” he whispered.
“A good dream, I hope.”
He sighed and rolled onto his side to face her. “Sit down. I need to talk with you.” The happiness had vanished from his face. He was back to the Cold Duke.
Her heart stopped flipping and instead clenched, along with almost every muscle in her body. Why couldn’t that look of happiness stay on his face when he looked at her?
When he patted the bed she sank down onto the edge and waited. He sounded so serious.
“I owe you an apology.”
Whatever she had been expecting him to say, it wasn’t that.
Marisa watched him lick his lips, wondering what he was apologizing for. She didn’t have to wait long.
“I’m sorry if I made you feel inadequate in any way. In the bedchamber…”
Oh, goodness, he’d obviously been talking with Sebastian. She would kill her brother.
