Page 99 of The Scottish Duke
Chapter 25
Lorna stood and made her way to the dressing room door. She’d heard voices there earlier but nothing for a half hour or so. She sincerely hoped that meant Matthews had left. She didn’t want a witness to her possible humiliation.
Slowly, she grabbed the door latch and pushed in. The room was dark, enough that she couldn’t see a shape on the cot. Was he there?
“Alex? Are you asleep?”
“No,” he answered.
“You don’t have to sleep in here,” she said. “I can’t imagine that cot is comfortable.”
“It’s not.”
“Come and sleep in your bed.”
“I don’t want to disturb you.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Robbie will be up in a few hours. You’re the one who’ll be disturbed. But until then you’ll be able to sleep on a real mattress.”
Without waiting for his answer, she turned and walked back into the bedroom. If he followed her, well and good. If not, there was nothing more she could do tonight.
He stood in the doorway attired in a long dark blue dressing gown.
“I don’t sleep in a nightshirt,” he said. “I detest the things.”
“Oh.”
What on earth did she say to that? He’d be naked. Now was the time to tell him to turn around and go back to the dressing room. Instead, she remained silent, watching as he walked toward the bed and stood on the other side. His gaze hadn’t left her face.
She removed her wrapper and stood there in her nightgown.
“We’ve never shared a bed,” he said.
“No.”
“Only a settee.”
“Not even that,” she said, a smile blossoming on her lips. “I believe Mrs.McDermott calls it a fainting couch.”
“Damned uncomfortable thing.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t snore. Do you?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t think so, but I might.”
“I’ll endeavor to ignore it if you do.”
“How do you know you don’t snore?” she asked, mounting the steps and climbing into the bed. “Have you been told you don’t by other women?”
“Matthews,” he said.
She wasn’t sure she believed that, but she didn’t press the point.
Robbie made a sound in his cradle.
“We shouldn’t talk,” Alex whispered.
