Page 59 of Duchess By Accident
“And I see you intend to play your part well.” Natalie murmured as their waltz drew to a close.
Gooseflesh appeared on her neck, and Adrian reached out a hand to stroke it, unable to stop himself. “And you, my dear Natalie? What do you intend?”
His voice was a whisper, his lips so close to her skin that they could almost touch her. He pulled himself back, his eyes full of mischief, expecting to see a familiar teasing in her own. But what met him was hard, not cold, more like fire.
“I will play my part. After all, that is what we are both here to do.” She took a deep breath, as though steadying herself. “But do not think that you may take liberties with me.”
“But maybe you would enjoy such liberties.” He whispered, drinking in the smell of her.What am I doing?“Perhaps this breathlessness is not just from our dance.”
“And what of you, Fox? Would you enjoy such liberties?” She moved closer to him, a hand resting gently on his chest, though only for a moment.
The barest touch made him feel as though he had been struck by lightning. His head swam and he wrestled back control with difficulty. He let out a soft growl.
“Do not make promises you have no wish to keep, Little Thief.” Adrian shook his head to clear it.
“I am not. If you choose to be the devilish duke with me tonight, I shall answer back in kind.” Her eyes lit up, full of mischief. “For this to work, Adrian, I need you to be you. Not the Devil Duke.”
“Is this a demand?” he canted his head towards her, a wry half smile on his lips.
She shook her head. “It is a reminder. I am not yours to control. I am your wife. I do not want these people to think that I am your little plaything. I do not want them to think I see you simply as a kind of golden egg laying goose.”
Adrian chuckled softly. “And how do you want them to see you?”
“If I said I wanted them to want my respect and favour just as much as they want yours, what would you say?” She looked at him, her eyes full of earnest curiosity.
He met her gaze, his voice soft and serious. “That your bar is too low. They should want to be you. Every woman in here should curse that she is not in your place, all while knowing she could never fill your shoes.”
“And what about you? Is that how you want people to see you?” she asked.
He grinned at her, gesturing around them magnanimously. “I am the envy of every man here. I want them to know that I have all that they could ever want and more. That I could break them with a look, or raise them with a smile.”
“So you wish to be feared?” She pursed her lips.
He nodded, his eyes hardening for a moment. “Fear will keep the wolves at bay.”
Natalie opened her mouth as though she were about to contradict him, but then she shook her head. “I want them to see us as a partnership. I want them to see us as a force to be reckoned with. Let the sight of us take their breath away.”
“The sight of you certainly will.” Adrian muttered, shooting a disdainful glare at a nearby noble lord.
“As though half of the ladies of the ton are not staring you with the same kind of hunger.” Natalie scoffed, but her cheeks flushed. “Besides, they are only looking at me like that because they think I am some kind of fallen woman.”
A note of sadness crept into her voice. Adrian moved towards her, gently tilting her head towards his. He let his eyes go soft. Her breath caught.
“Believe me, Duchess, that is not why they are looking at you.” Adrian’s voice was smooth as silk, deep as chocolate.
He felt like he might drown in her amber eyes. Every part of his body seemed to be filled with a kind of buzzing energy. It was as though a noose surrounded him and Natalie. With an effort, he tore his gaze away from her.
He glanced around, taking note of the crowd of eyes seemingly transfixed by them. Without conscious thought he straightened, moving ever so slightly so that he served as a barrier between the crowd and his wife.
“Though perhaps we should leave – I am not sure how much longer I will tolerate these men ogling you.”
Natalie had her mouth open to reply when someone brushed against them. Adrian whirled around, his heart racing, prepared to shove whoever had approached them away.
Lord Peter raised an eyebrow at him, a half-smile on his face. “Duke Blackwood, it seems you and my sister have caused quite the commotion. Though it is probably Natalie’s fault, she never could resist being the centre of attentio—ow!”
Natalie had reached across Adrian and flicked her brother on the arm. “I am not the one who used to put on soliloquies and force us to sit through them.”
“No, but you did make us watch your dances.” Lord Peter grinned.
