Page 42 of Cherish and the Duke
“Morning ride.”
“I’ll go with you. Give me a moment to change into my riding habit. Have the groom saddle a horse for me, as well.”
“You came prepared, didn’t you?”
“I always do.”
“I prefer to ride alone.” He strode out, his only concern being for Cherish, who had no idea of these goings-on and would take the brunt of Katie’s anger if she wasn’t warned. Even Reggie, as dense as that lad could sometimes be, had noticed his uncle’s attraction to Cherish.
Gawain, of course, would always deny it. But it had to show, for what he felt was no mere passing fancy.
Was it possible he was in love with Cherish?
“Bah,” he muttered, heading upstairs to knock at Cherish’s door and talk to her before he rode off.
He heard the soft pad of her bare feet as she scurried to answer the door, and then sucked in a breath at the sight of her. She looked adorably sleepy, her cheeks pink and her hair in a long, loose tumble over her shoulders.
Her big brandy eyes widened upon her finding him at the door. “Your Grace, what is the matter?”
Her nightgown and robe were of plain white cotton. No sultry silks for her. Yet she looked incredibly alluring.
“Cherish, you are going to hear a rumor that Lady Albin spent the night in my bedchamber.”
Her eyes grew even wider, and she appeared shocked, as he knew she would be. But there was no other way to put it but to be direct. “Did she?”
Blast.
Her look more resembled hurt than shock. Perhaps he should have said nothing and just let her hear the gossip. But how would that have been any better? “Yes, she did. But I spent the night in Reggie’s chamber. I want you to know that I was not in there with her.”
“Why is it important for me to know this? You are unmarried and free to do as you please. Is this not what you Silver Dukes do? Take any woman you desire into your bed and then move on? No attachments. No responsibilities. No thought to the lady once you are done with her.”
“Why are you making me out to be an ogre? I have never forced any woman into my bed or ever given false hope. I certainly did not invite Lady Albin into my bedchamber.”
“How did she get in there then?” she asked, her small hand gripping the door so tightly, her knuckles turned white.
“Our doors are not locked. I suppose she assumed I would welcome her traipsing in, which I did not. Since she would not leave, I did.”
“And slept in Reggie’s room? Now that you have told me, what am I supposed to do about it?”
“Trust me.”
Those warm eyes of hers, which so clearly expressed her displeasure a moment ago, now softened. “I do trust you, Your Grace. I’m sorry if I sounded surly. I am not always at my best in the morning, and your statement startled me.”
“You, surly? You are a sweetheart, Cherish.” He ached to kiss her, for her lips also had that rosy tinge of morning on them, and he could think of nothing nicer than sinking his mouth onto hers. “Well, I just wanted you to know the truth. Especially after our discussion last night. Yes, she was in my bedchamber, and I doubt I will be able to dislodge her. But I left and will remain in Reggie’s room until she proceeds on her merry way.”
She cast him a soft smile. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
He sighed. “Call me Gawain. There’s no need for formality between us.”
“My goodness, you are very friendly this morning.”
Not nearly as friendly as he would like to be, but he would talk to her about this later. He had a lot to think through before he said anything more to her. However, since he was a clot and unable to resist her, he leaned forward to kiss her lightly on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
He strode out of the house and went to the stable to saddle his mount, for he was eager to ride off before Katie followed him. For this reason, he attended to the saddle himself rather than wait for a groom’s assistance.
The air was cool as he rode off on Odin. His horse enjoyed these morning runs as much as he did. A light mist still hovered over the waves that could be seen rolling to shore in the distance,but there was none on the land, since the sun had already burned through it save for a lingering tendril here and there.
The countryside was quite pretty around Shoreham Manor, consisting mostly of gently rolling hills, green meadows dotted with red and yellow flowers that grew in wild abundance, stone fences that proved easy for his horse to jump, tree-lined country lanes, and meandering streams that flowed into the English Channel.
