Page 79 of The Duke of Seduction
“Says who? Do you sing for as many people as you play for?”
He laughed at the sarcasm in her tone. “Your taunt is well placed, my lady. I shall sing for you another time.”
She grinned as she picked up her corset. “I shall look forward to it.” Her face fell into a frown. “How long do I have to wait to be alone with you again?”
His mind went blank. “Not long? The banns could be read tomorrow.” They could marry after the third Sunday.
“A fortnight seems an eternity,” she said, making the same calculation he had. “What if you tried to get a special license?” Her shoulder lifted. “I told you I was impatient.”
“Actually, I think you tried to tell me you were patient, but I’m beginning to see the truth of things.” He winked at her. “I can certainly try.” He moved to tighten her corset in place.
He focused on getting dressed lest he become distracted by her. His body was already stirring, and it wouldn’t take much for him to take her in his arms again.
She began to tighten her dress by herself, but he rushed to help her. “I can do that,” he offered.
“I did it myself earlier. I dressed entirely without my maid, actually. I was trying to sneak out.”
“How enterprising of you.”
When he was done, she turned to face him. “Is my hair a mess?”
Several locks had come loose. “It isn’t a mess…” He went to the door and called for Gage.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Beck stood in the door blocking Gage from seeing into the room. “Please bring a small looking glass?”
Gage’s expression was impassive, but Beck was certain he knew what had transpired. “Right away, my lord.”
After closing the door, Beck turned to see her clutching her gloves with a half frown.
He went to her and took her hand and brought it to his mouth so he could press a kiss against her wrist. “You need a mirror.”
She exhaled. “I suppose.”
Beck finished dressing—the tear in his breeches and his missing button weren’t at all detectable, but knowing he was flawed and that their desire had made him that way filled him with a perverted satisfaction—as Gage rapped softly on the door.
Answering the knock, Beck took the mirror from his butler and left the door ajar. “Come in and meet my bride, Gage. This is Lady Lavinia.
“Lavinia, allow me to present Gage, the finest butler in England.”
She smiled at him, perhaps a bit nervously, which he wasn’t used to seeing in her. Had he erred in introducing them at that moment? He’d definitely presented them in the wrong bloody order. He was absolutely mangling this.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Gage. Thank you for the mirror.” Her gaze fell to the glass in Beck’s hand, which he’d neglected to give to her.
He held it up for her so she could tidy her hair.
“The pleasure is mine, my lady,” Gage said. “Would you like me to send a maid to help you?”
“No, thank you.” She sent him a smile as she adjusted the pins in her hair and remade her coiffure. She glanced at Beck to indicate she was finished, and he handed the glass back to Gage.
Beck crossed the room to retrieve his hat. “I’ll be back later, Gage. I need to go and speak with Lord Balcombe.”
“Very good, sir,” Gage said with a nod. “I’ve today’s post when you return. There’s a letter from your sister, which I know you’ve been waiting for.”
Beck stopped cold before he reached Lavinia to escort her from the room. He’d written to Margaret after reading Helen’s letter from the box his stepmother had sent from Waverly Court. The need to read it nearly obscured everything else, but he had to see Lavinia home.
“I’ll read it later,” Beck said, anticipation curling through him as he guided Lavinia into the drawing room and back to the hall.
