Page 50 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
They leapt apart and Andrea saw the cook emerging from the shadows, a rolling pin in her hands. Even in the dim light, she could tell the woman was not wearing her thick glasses.
“Run.” Frederick whispered and Andrea felt him take her hand in his and pull her from the kitchen.
“My biscuits!” the cook’s wail echoed around the hall. “I will have your guts for garters! I shall tell the Duke about this!”
Footsteps sounded from behind them and Frederick pulled her onwards. Andrea covered her mouth with her hand, trying to keep from laughing as the cook’s threats drifted further and further away from them.
Frederick pulled them through a nearby door and slammed it behind them. He held up a hand to his lips, while the other clutched the tray of scones. Andrea bit on her lip to keep from laughing.
She could hear footsteps outside of the door and then muffled cursing. She looked at Frederick who shook his head. After a moment, they heard the cook depart and return to the kitchen.
Frederick met her gaze and the pair of them collapsed into a fit of giggles.
“Shhhh. She might come back!” Andrea wheezed, clutching her side.
She felt lightheaded, almost giddy as she leaned against the door. Every time she looked at Frederick, her laughter redoubled. She wondered how many times he had done this with his cousins. Warmth spread over her, as the sound of his laughter mingled with hers.
“She will not come in here.” Frederick laughed back, wiping a tear from his eye.
He got to his feet and held out a hand to her, but she waved him away.
“She might.”
“She definitely will not. These are my rooms, after all.” Frederick gestured around them and Andrea’s breath caught.
A large four poster bed sat across from her, beside a small sofa and coffee table. She glanced to the door and then back at Frederick who was still laughing to himself.
For a moment, she debated leaving but her stomach gave another angry gurgle. Frederick arched an eyebrow at her as he laid the scones on the coffee table.
Holding his arm before him as though he were a footman, he bowed to her. “Dinner is served.”
Andrea got to her feet, but hesitated, glancing back at the door. “I should probably go, I would not want to scandalise the servants.”
“I doubt you would, after all, we are married.” Frederick teased her. “Besides, you might as well enjoy the fruit of our labour. Or the scones rather.”
“I am not sure. We did have an agreement after all.” Andrea bit her bottom lip.
Frederick looked to the plate of scones and then back to her. “I do not think it forbade us doing this.”
She rolled her eyes, but felt some of the tension leave her. “Very well. I suppose it could not hurt.”
She rested a hand on her stomach, which gurgled.It is probably just the scones.She could not remember what the agreement had said, and at that moment, she could not quite bring herself to care.
ChapterSixteen
“Iam only here for the scones.” Andrea plonked herself on the sofa opposite him and took one of the scones from the platter. “I do not want you getting any ideas.”
“It is only scones, Duchess, hardly the type of food to give one ideas.” Frederick laughed, but felt his heart speed up as their eyes met.
He hastily took one of the scones and bit into it, taking advantage of the moment to stop looking at Andrea. Moonlight streamed through his window, casting shadows across the wall and bathing Andrea in an almost ethereal glow.
His mouth was dry. He leapt to his feet and walked towards one of the nearby dressers.
“What are you doing?” Her words were muffled, and Frederick suspected she was speaking around a mouthful of scone.
He smiled at the image but did not turn around, instead rummaging through the drawers until he found his tinderbox. “I hate eating in the dark.”
He lit the candles on the candelabra and brought it to the coffee table. “It is far too messy.”
