Page 95 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“Give us a moment, Fiona.”His wife’s voice was higher than usual, the look in her eyes wild and horrified.Yet when she looked at him, met his gaze, the horror faded and was replaced by something softer.
Something hopeful.
“Go,” he said softly with a nod.Stepping forward, he brushed a lock of her hair back into place.Thanks to the positions they’d been in, other than her skirt, she was remarkably tidy.“She’ll want your attention before I take you away for the day.”
Kalina nodded.
They were standing very close together.His hand was still on her hair.
Nathanial lowered his lips to hers.
This kiss was different.Passion had been sated.Desire banked.
That was not what this kiss was about.
It was softer.Sweeter.Her lips clung to his, her hands coming to rest gently on his chest.
“Kalina!I want to show you what I did with Miss Temple this morning!”The door rattled again.From a distance, they heard the muffled sound of Miss Temple calling Fiona’s name, and the governess was clearly coming closer.“Nathanial, stop hogging Kalina!”
His wife’s laughter pulled her away from him.
“I think I need to go and have a word with Fiona about listening to her governess,” she whispered.
Nathanial let his hands fall reluctantly away from her hips, where they’d come to settle.Although he could intervene as well, he did not want to step on his wife’s toes, and overseeing Fiona’s governess ran under her purview.
The spanking had achieved exactly what he’d needed, he realized as he watched his wife go.It had broken through the barrier he’d erected, and for the first time since marrying her, he no longer felt the lingering resentment overshadowing every interaction.
He was free of it.
He watched Kalina open the door to his study, laughing as his youngest sister threw herself into her arms, immediately babbling about her morning, with an exasperated Miss Temple standing beside her.Warmth filled him at the sight, and he realized far more than his physical needs felt satisfied.The freedom from that resentment, from the barricade he’d put between them, meant that for the first time since their wedding, he felt as though he saw everything clearly.
He was hit with the sudden realization that he’d accidentally gone and fallen in love with his wife.
Bloody hell.
35
Kalina
The luncheon at Windham House was exceptional.It was also far more exclusive than she’d realized it would be.Dukes, duchesses, and the Windhams’ close circle.Thankfully, that meant several of her own friends were there as well, or the experience would have been far more terrifying.
Though all of those present very quickly reverted to a first-name basis, Kalina could not help but feel like an imposter among thehaut ton.She had not been born to the title, nor had her husband chosen her to receive it.Her father had tricked him into giving it to her.
The lingering pain in her bottom was a stark reminder of that fact.Though she also smiled every time she was reminded.That interlude with her husband had been… entirely different.The carriage ride to Windham house had been far more comfortable.They had not spoken of her spanking or the immediate aftermath, but had companionably discussed Fiona and Miss Temple before reaching the house.
It had been rather lovely.
Of course, once they’d arrived, they’d been unable to have any further private discussion, but she had hopes for the future.Tiffany seemed to notice the difference between them, her eyes widening with question for Kalina before Kalina nodded back.She could not keep the smile from her face as she did so.
Despite any lingering discomfort, which was as much a reminder of pleasure as anything else, Kalina would have done such a spanking three times over for the change it had effected between her and Nathanial.
After the luncheon, the gentlemen and ladies separated.The ladies went to the garden rather than the drawing room, as it was a lovely day outside, and Lydia, the Duchess of Windham, apparently wanted to show it off.It was a truly lovely garden.To Kalina’s surprise, she found herself walking arm in arm with their hostess.
Nerves fluttered through her when the stately blonde tugged her off to the side, away from Tiffany and Lady Astrid, who were bent over an exotic-looking orange bloom.Kalina could see why it had drawn Lady Astrid’s attention.She rather wished she was over there with them.Their elegant hostess was more than a little intimidating.
“I am so glad you and Nathanial came today.I was hoping to speak with you privately,” the duchess said, once they were out of earshot of the others.Immediately, Kalina steeled herself for some kind of rebuke.She could only imagine what an established duchess might have to say to a new one who had attained her position by trickery and deceit.“There are rumors that Nathanial was trapped into marriage with you.”
Kalina did not respond.She did not know what she could say.It was true.There was very little defense she could make, and trying to explain what had really happened felt like a betrayal of her father.Besides, saying anything at all would go against the plan Nathanial had outlined for dealing with theton.
