Page 47 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
Violet lay back against the blanket and nodded. Leo carefully lined himself up to her entrance, and Violet felt her inner walls clench around the tip of his member. She tossed her head back and breathed deeply as he slowly sheathed himself inside her. Her walls stretched.
There was a little pain, but as he worked himself in and out, it slowly abated and faded into the same warm pleasure from before. She moved against him as her muscles curled tighter and tighter. When Violet thought she could bear it no more, all the sensation released at once and left her blinking back spots. Leo grew taut and then relaxed.
When he unsheathed himself, wetness coated Violet’s thighs. She gasped for air as Leo lay beside her and gathered her in his arms. It hurt, but it was wonderfully pleasant. An utter contradiction. Violet curled her body against his. “That was…something,” she said, at a loss for words.
He laughed, the sound rumbling against her chest. “Indeed.”
Violet smiled, still considering this new experience of being alover. It seemed an especially fitting term, for Violet was beginning to think she might fall in love with Leo after all.
Chapter 22
A few days later, Leo found himself walking alongside Violet, her arms laden with baskets of goods for the villagers. They greeted Violet with smiles, but Leo himself kept his distance. He noted their suspicious glances. Were they thinking, he wondered, about Lydia? Were they wondering when his new, lovely wife would meet her tragic end?
Leo swallowed the lump which rose inside his throat. If he lost Violet, he was not certain what he would do. While their relationship began out of shared witticisms and a necessity for producing an heir for the dukedom, Leo felt himself softening towards his young wife. She was a good duchess, and the people in the village clearly loved her.
Violet glanced at him, her brow furrowing. “Leo,” she said.
“Hm?”
Having distributed the last of her baskets, she walked to him and readily accepted his offered arm. “Are you all right?” she asked softly, her violet eyes wide with concern.
“Of course, I am,” he replied.
She did not look as if she believed him. Leo sighed and offered her a small smile. “Do not worry over me,” he said.
“How can I not?” she asked, lowering her voice. “It clearly makes you so unhappy.”
The villagers did not precisely flee in terror, but Leo noted that they seemed more hesitant to approach now that he stood at Violet’s side. Only her parents had seemed comfortable with his presence, but Leo privately wondered if it was his generosity which had won their affection.
“It is a pity that Liza is in London,” Violet said. “I am certain that you would have become fond friends.”
They walked in silence for a little while, walking towards the carriage which waited at the edge of the village. Leo’s ankle felt strange and stiff, still recovering, but he said nothing. If he mentioned his discomfort, Violet would want to return to the estate for him, and he knew how much she enjoyed wandering into the village and speaking to the occupants.
“Perhaps we should visit her,” Leo said. “We had already discussed going to London. I have some business to attend to in the city, and it would present you with the opportunity to buy clothing and furnishings for the estate. There was not time for those before our wedding. And I want you to be happy. I think it would please you to see your friend, so you should.”
“Really?” Violet asked, her face beaming with happiness.
Leo’s throat grew tight, and an indescribable surge of fondness washed over him. “Yes.”
***
“I was so delighted to receive your correspondence, Violet,” Lady Priscilla said. “I adore London, but theworstpart of the journey is having to travel without company. A lady can only read for so many hours before she is starved for good conversation.”
Leo smiled to himself. After he offered to take Violet to London, she had written to Lady Priscilla of the impending journey, and as luck would have it, the lady also needed to travel to London. There was a financial matter which she had forgotten to attend to, Lady Priscilla had explained, and it was a matter which needed to be discussed in person, rather than through correspondence.
It was a fortunate accident which benefited them all. While Violet would have Liza’s company, she would also have Lady Priscilla, who could aid her in choosing furnishings and clothing which befitted a young duchess. Traveling together also meant that Lady Priscilla did not need to travel alone; she would have both conversation and more safety in the company of Leo and Violet.
“I do not know if I agree,” Violet mused. “I think if I had several books, I might be quite content; however, I have learned that sharing one’s love for the written word brings me a great deal of pleasure. Even ifcertainpeople do not necessarily appreciate all the written word has to offer.”
“That is unfair,” Leo said. “I appreciate the written word.”
Violet smiled slyly.
“I do nothateit,” Leo replied.
“Oh?” Lady Priscilla asked. “Why, have you been trying to persuade him to love words as you do?”
“I have been,” Violet replied. “I readPride and Prejudiceto him, and we discussed the work’s merits.”
