Page 79 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
Andrea grinned at him, stumbling slightly as the world unhelpfully rocked around her. It had made their walk home from the opera far harder than it needed to be, even if it had given her a rather good excuse to be close to Frederick.
The door to the house loomed in front of them and she frowned. She could not remember the steps to their front door being quite so steep. Nor could she remember them being so mobile.
She heard Frederick chuckle beside her and looked up at him, throwing one arm out towards the banister to steady herself as the world shifted suddenly.
“Why are you laughing at me?” She chewed on her lip.
Frederick arched an eyebrow at her. The way the moonlight hit his eyes made them entrancing.He has no right to have such pretty eyes.She had not realised that she had reached towards his face, until he caught her hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on her palm.
“Because you are drunk.” His eyes danced with mischief.
Her heart fluttered in her chest and she wagged her finger at him. “No – you are drunk. I am perfectly slober. Sober.”
“Very slober, clearly.” Frederick shook his head, but Andrea could see the mirth in his eyes.
Or at least, she thought she could. It was hard to tell when he kept moving from side to side. It made it seem as if there were two of him.
The thought made her giggle.Two Fredericks.“Yes. I am the soberest woman alive.”
She took a step forwards to illustrate her point and was betrayed when the floor seemed to jump out of her way. Her foot met only air, and she stumbled forwards.
The smell of amber and wine washed over her as she felt Frederick wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her to her feet and keeping her from falling face first onto the treacherous steps. She giggled again.
“You are always catching me. It is sweet. Like when you snuck the wine into the opera.” She leaned against him, remembering they had giggled like naughty children as they had drunk the bottle in their private box. “You are sweet. Very sweet. Like… Like a cake. Oh! We could have cake!”
She launched herself towards the door or rather, she attempted to, but found herself unable to move. She frowned and looked down, realising the Frederick still had his arms around her.
“Not so fast, Duchess. We need to get up the stairs first.” He gestured to the stairs in front of them.
She shuddered. “I do not like the stairs. They are tricksy.”
Frederick laughed and jerked his head towards the door, slipping an arm behind Andrea’s back as they moved forwards. “Well, if you want cake, we shall have to brave them.”
“Perhaps you could bring the cake here.” She swayed away from him, leaning over his arm as far as she could, pretending she was a dancer and he was dipping her.He is so strong.
She jerked herself forwards as the world spun faster, and collided with the warmth of his chest. She shifted in his embrace, smiling up at him as her coat kept trying to slip off her shoulders.Why can I not see my hands?
“I think it would be much better to bring you to the cake. Just think, the house will be nice and toasty.” Frederick’s voice reverberated through his chest.
She looked up at him, frowning. “I am not cold.”
“Well, I am.” Frederick replied.
Andrea squinted her eyes, trying to bring the two Frederick’s swimming before her into one. The fine white of his shirt rustled in the cool night breeze. “That is because you do not have a coat on.”
Realisation hit her and she clapped a hand to her mouth, wriggling to move back in the direction they had just come from. “Oh no! Did we leave your coat behind?”
“You are wearing it, remember? You were cold so I leant it to you.” She felt herself being lifted into the air and flung her arms wide. Her feet touched solid ground a moment later and she found herself looking into Frederick’s amused face.
“That would explain why I cannot see my hands.” She held them in front of her, watching as the large coat sleeves fell down to her elbows.
“Probably.” Frederick agreed, fiddling with something she could not see. “Now let’s get you inside.”
“But outside is so pretty.” She gestured to the starlit sky above them.
She heard something click behind her. “And inside is warm.”
“You go. I am tired and I do not like the stairs.” Andrea shuddered.
