Page 35 of Married to the Forbidden Duke
He made a low noise that might have been amusement. “Will you?”
“Perhaps. Will you still invite me to join you?”
“You are my wife,” he stated, and for once, the words didn’t unsettle her gut as much as she might have thought. “It is your prerogative to do as you choose.”
To Frederick’s surprise, Alicedidchoose to join him for dinner, wearing a satin gown in a rather daring shade of yellow. It oughtto have made her look sallow, but instead, it made the chestnut of her hair gleam and her skin glow. She was one of the most glorious ladies he had ever seen, and although she often looked at him with the fire of hatred in her eyes, he now saw other things.
Confusion, mainly. Perhaps she would never come to love him, but she might in time come to nothatehim.
A man could have a worse lot in life.
She finally glanced up to where he stood in the doorway to her dressing room, and her back stiffened. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I might help you downstairs.”
“I don’t need help. And I especially don’t want your help.” She had refused to let him touch her after the carriage incident, even though he knew her leg pained her more often than the physician came to ease it. Even the exercises only seemed to help a little.
But he would not force her. All he needed to know was that she was willing—the rest would come with time.
Maybe.
So he hoped, anyway.
“I know it goes against every instinct in your body to allow another person to assist you in any way, but this bears no reflection on your injury,” he coaxed, coming forward and draping the shawl her maid handed him over her shoulders. “I would escort any wife of mine down the stairs to greet our guests.”
She narrowed her eyes. The last few weeks had done wonders for her complexion, color blooming in her cheeks, and he found it hard to look away now. “And how would you know that? Do you have other wives hiding away somewhere I should know about?”
“I don’t believe so.” He offered her a gallant bow. “Although I am happy to search the premises to be sure.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“Perhaps. Are you ready?” He looked her over. “You look beautiful.”
“False flattery is wasted on me.”
“I never intended it to be false.”
“No, you never had to. The mirror tells me as such.” She moved to walk around him, leaning heavily on her stick, but he caught her chin.
“You know I don’t believe that,” he muttered, the merest growl in his voice.
The dress sunk low at her bodice, revealing the darkened dip between her breasts. He longed to run his hands over the swell of them.By God, she was beautiful, and the more time he spent with her, the more his body hungered for hers. “Or would you like me to remind you how beautiful I truly think you look?”
Her eyes flared, but although indignation filled them, he also saw the flare of desire, the rush of heat that brought more color to her cheeks.
Satisfied, he took a step back.Yes, she disliked him, and she had every right to—but she also wanted him.
That in itself felt like a victory.
Particularly when she was wrapping herself up and presenting herself as the most delectable treat. One he did not want to share with the gentlemen soon to arrive. At the thought, he frowned and adjusted her shawl so it covered more of her chest.
She glanced down at herself, then back up at him, and there was a challenge in her eyes now. She adjusted herself so the shawl was in its original position and her decolletage was on full display, and extended her hand to him.
“Your Grace,” she smiled provocatively. “Shall we attend to your friends?”
He couldn’t help a small smile at her daring, and took her hand in his, tucking it into his arm. “Of course.”
“Tell me a little about your political aspirations,” she said.
