Page 88 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“We do not talk.In fact, we have not exchanged a single word at… at night.”Kalina felt her cheeks heating in embarrassment as her friends all looked at her.Tiffany was married, of course, and Delilah was a widow, but this was not proper conversation for Mei or Lady Astrid.
“Do not concern yourself about my delicate ears; I have heard far worse.”Mei smiled cheekily, lifting her teacup and gently blowing on the hot surface.“Seen worse, too.The seamstress beside my grandmother’s shop has a daughter who is having a rather torrid affair with an earl’s younger son, and they are not very particular about where they copulate.It’s been very educational.”
“Good lord, Mei,” Delilah said, laughing despite herself.
Mei shrugged, unrepentant.“My grandmother already had a collection of books that she gave me to ensure I understood matters of the body.Attraction, chemistry, the physical aspects that draw people together, these are things that are necessary for a matchmaker to understand in order to make successful matches.”
“Do not hesitate to speak frankly in front of me, either,” Lady Astrid said.“I may be a virgin, but I doubt there is anything you could say that would surprise me.”
Both Tiffany and Delilah looked at her consideringly.Lady Astrid raised her eyebrow as if daring them to try her.After a moment, Tiffany shrugged and turned her attention back to Kalina.
“What do you do at night?Does he come to your bed, or do you go to his?”Tiffany asked.
It truly did feel as if the room had gotten hotter, but Kalina wanted her friends’ advice.As long as she was not going to scandalize Mei or Lady Astrid, both of who seemed unperturbed, she might as well tell them all.
“He comes to mine.After dinner, we go to our separate rooms, and he does not come in until much later, usually when I am almost asleep.The first time, I did not even realize it was him at first.Now, I am used to it.”
“He comes creeping in the darkness?”Lady Astrid frowned.“That seems… odd.”
“Every night?”Delilah asked.
“Every night.And we do not speak.By the time we are done with the, ah, act, I am completely worn out.”Kalina’s cheeks were hot again.“I fall asleep, and when I wake, he is gone.Though any time I have tried to speak, even if it is not to have a conversation, he hushes me.Sometimes he even puts his hand over my mouth.”
Tiffany blinked, her eyes unfocusing as if she was imagining what that might be like, while Lady Astrid frowned.Delilah raised her eyebrows, but seemed more thoughtful than censorious.
“What would you say if not conversation?”Mei asked.
Kalina supposed the seamstress’s daughter and the earl’s son must do their best to be quiet, as their affair was illicit.
“Please, more, right there, stop you toad, that’s the wrong spot…” Lady Astrid murmured under her breath, but as Kalina had paused before answering, they all heard her perfectly clearly.The tension that had grown around the table broke as they all burst into laughter.
“You speak to Drake that way?”Tiffany asked, holding her hand over her stomach as she laughed.
Lady Astrid gave her an arch look.“Who said anything about Drake?”
Everyone’s mouth dropped open, the laughter abruptly cut off because, of course, they had all assumed she was conducting any such activities with her fiancé.
“Astrid!”Tiffany’s voice was a squeal.
“Oh, shush, I already told you I am a virgin.But if he is running around having his bit of fun, I see no reason I cannot explore a bit as well, as long as I remainvirgo intacta.That’s all that supposedly matters.”
“But if you’re discovered…”
“Then he will likely break off the engagement.Oh, no.”Despite the sarcastic way she said the last two words, some of her uncertainty leaked through.
Kalina could not help but think that if Lady Astrid was dancing with danger in such a way, it was at least in part to have some revenge on her fiancé for his own behavior.Which might matter to her if her pride was pricked, but it felt like more than that.
“We are going to discuss you and Drake eventually, but I believe Kalina has the more pressing need at the moment,” Delilah interjected, shaking her head.Her husky voice was full of amusement.“Kalina, you may have to go to him, and I do not mean in his bedroom.Somewhere that is more neutral territory, but where he still feels in control.His study, perhaps.”
“I do not know how to start.I walk in and say, ‘I am sorry my father trapped you into marriage with me, but I promise I had nothing to do with it’?”She sighed.“Why should he believe me?That’s if he lets me finish my sentence.”
“You need to catch him off guard with something surprising,” Mei suggested.“Something to take him aback, so he cannot muster an immediate response.”
“You could always ask him to spank you.”Tiffany blushed as every eye landed on her.
“Spank her?”Lady Astrid sounded more than a touch incredulous, despite her earlier claim that they would not be able to surprise her.
“Yes.As Mei said, it would catch him off guard, especially if he is feeling a desire to punish her in some way.And it would give her the opportunity to tell him the truth.”
