Page 19 of A Bride for the Icy Duke
In short, all the things she was reluctant to do with her husband.
But then she turned a page, and a slip of paper fell out. Frowning, Lydia bent to retrieve it.
On it was a list of things Eliza stated she wished to do with a gentleman. Romantic, perhaps even a little improper things. Lydia blinked at the list. Had Eliza intended to leave it here? Had she written it for herself or for Lydia?
A knock at the door disturbed her, and she glanced up as Philips arrived with a tray containing her breakfast.
“Thank you,” she smiled, attempting to conceal the cover of her book—and indeed the contents of the note.
“His Grace is looking for you.”
“Allow me five minutes to eat my breakfast, and then you may tell him where I am. Oh,” she added, “and in case there is any confusion, Rosie has not packed my things according tomyinstructions. Please do not punish her.”
“Very good, ma’am.” Philips bowed and left the room.
Lydia’s heart beat a little faster when she looked at the list again.
In all her frustration and upset, she hadn’t considered the other aspect of marriage.
That ofphysical relations.
Her marriage had been so quick, and so few people knew of it before she had been whisked to York, that no one had ever spoken to her about the institution before she left.
After all, she had no mother.
Heat flooded her cheeks as she considered the prospect of intimate relations. Of course, she had no desire to join the duke’s bed, and she suspected he would not want her there, either.
But there were other things. Romantic things. And with a rush of epiphany, she understood what her life would be like if and when she left.
Lonely.
It was very unlikely she would marry again, and she didn’t think she could ever take a lover. If she wanted to know whatanyof this would be like, she must experience it now, with a man she at least hadsomeclaim over.
She scanned the list again, making mental asides as she did.
Romantic dinner.She didn’t quite know what changed an ordinary dinner into a romantic one, and she didn’t think the duke would know, either, but perhaps it was worth an attempt. Just to see.
Sit on his lap.She chewed her lip as she thought about that one. Their relationship being as it was, she hardly thought she could perch on him in ordinary ways, but perhaps she could contrive a reason? In a private setting, of course.
Feed him during a formal dinner. Perhaps she could combine this with the romantic dinner. She had once read about a man feeding his lover in a book, so it struck her as romantic. And given his hand was out of commission, that provided her with an excuse.
Play questions and commands. She’d never played this game, but in London she’d heard whispers from young ladies who had, and who had evidently found a great deal of satisfaction in it. That could be fun and easy enough to initiate.
