Page 65 of The English Duke
“You marked me?” she asked, horrified.
“There and in a few other places,” he said, grinning at her. “Your left breast, for example, bears the marks of my night beard.”
She frowned at him, annoyed when he began to laugh.
Turning, she went to the door and listened for a moment. From the mantel clock, it was only a little after one, too early for the servants to be up and about.
She slowly pulled the door open, looked both ways, then slipped out into the corridor, closing the door behind her. Halfway back to her room, she realized she wasn’t alone after all.
Martha was ahead of her, fully dressed, and hurrying to her room. Evidently, everyone was roaming Sedgebrook tonight.
What was proper, staid, and plain Martha doing out of her bed?
Martha escaped from Jordan’s suite feeling like God Himself was chasing her. What had she done? Why had she remained? It was clear he hadn’t been himself. He’d thought she was a sylph, a spirit, someone he’d imagined.
He’d been real to her.
What could she say if anyone discovered what had happened?
He seduced me.Not entirely correct, was it? She’d had plenty of time to leave. She could have slipped from the room at any time, but she hadn’t.
I was confused.She hadn’t been. Instead, she’d been certain of what she wanted and it had beenhim.
I was innocent.True enough, but she wasn’t now.
Her grandmother would say she’d lowered her bridal chances.No man wants a well-used woman, child. Gran had originally made the comment during her season, warning her about not being alone with one of her suitors. What would Gran say if she knew she’d not only been alone with the Duke of Roth but that she’d wholeheartedly participated in her own downfall?
He’d taken her virginity. She’d found discomfort and delight in his arms. An apt reason for wanting to burst into tears.
She didn’t get the chance.
She’d just closed the door to her room when it suddenly opened again.
“Where have you been?” Josephine demanded. “What have you been doing, Martha?”
She didn’t want to have this conversation now. Nor was she in the mood to take on Josephine. She wanted to think about the past few hours, about Jordan, and how she would act when she saw him in the morning.
Her sister, however, entered the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. Josephine advanced on her, stopping a few feet away.
“Tell me. Where were you?”
“It’s none of your concern.”
At that, Josephine narrowed her eyes.
“You’ve been with someone, haven’t you? You’ve had relations.”
The accusation left Martha staring at her sister.
“What are you talking about? Of course I haven’t.”
“Who was it? Did one of the footmen strike your fancy?”
“Will you leave?”
“No. Who were you with? Tell me.”
When she didn’t answer, her sister turned toward the door.
