Page 80 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“Then it is a good thing we are at the top of them.”
“What? When did that happen?” Andrea whirled around, feeling Frederick’s muscles tighten as he held her in place.
Sure enough, somehow they had come to the top of the stairs. Triumph bloomed to life in her chest and she stuck her tongue out at the stairs before turning to beam at Frederick. “You are magic!”
“And now I know you are drunk.” He lead her into the corridor and shut the door behind them. “You are being far too nice to me to be sober.”
“I do not need to be drunk to be nice to you.” She braced herself against the wall. “Though I do wish the world would stop swaying quite so much. It makes it rather difficult to walk.”
“I think we should get you to bed.” Frederick murmured as she guided her through the corridor.
Andrea let herself be led by him, letting her fingers trace against the cool wood of the halls. It was so smooth. Soothing in its texture.
She began to hum softly to herself until Frederick made a shushing motion. She narrowed her eyes at him and poked him in the chest.
“Do not shush me! I am your wife.” She straightened up.
“We must be quiet, we would not want to wake the servants, would we?” He whispered to her.
“Oh! Yes. That would be rude!” Andrea nodded enthusiastically.
Frederick gave her an exasperated look. “That is not quiet.”
“I am whispering!” She put her hands on her hips, but in doing so lost her balance and stumbled against the wall.Has walking always been this hard?
“No, you are shouting.” Frederick held his fingers to his lips.
Andrea ducked down and tried her best to whisper. “What about now?”
“That is a little better.” He slipped an arm around her as they approached the stairs, and she leaned into the warmth of him.
It helped that he felt so solid when the world around her seemed determined to turn itself to liquid. She breathed in the smell of him.Will I ever get enough of this?
“Nearly there.” Frederick muttered as they neared the top of the stairs. “Just a little further and we can get you all tucked up and in bed.”
“And you could join me.” Andrea traced a finger down his neck.
Frederick caught it and shook his head. “I do not think tonight is the night for that.”
“Why not?” Her cheeks reddened but she flung her arms around Frederick’s neck. “Do you not want to?”
Frederick gently slipped from her grasp, shaking his head. “You are far too drunk for that, dear lady.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“Perhaps if you kiss me, I will sober up.”
“I think it best to save our kisses til the morning.”
“Or you could kiss me now and kiss me again in the morning. Please?”
He kissed her forehead. “That is all you are getting until you sober up.”
“That seems mean.”
“I have been called worse things.” Frederick grinned at her. “Though I suppose trying to wrestle you into bed is rather good practice for the future.”
