Page 35 of If the Duke Dares
“Don’t even think about it,” he said quickly. “I mean it. Don’t entertain such thoughts. I got there in time, and I will ensure nothing like that happens again. Whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me—at your side—until you are safely delivered home.”
“And what if I don’t go home?” She wished she could take that back. “Forget I said that. I’m overwrought, and I need to rest.”
“I don’t think you ate either.”
She’d had a few bites, but she wasn’t remotely hungry. Sleep sounded best. She only hoped she could find it in her current state. Indeed, she was inclined to just stay up talking with Wellesbourne. He was doing a fair job of keeping her from thinking too much about earlier. He’d even made her smile.
“We should go to bed,” she said. “I’ll have a clearer head in the morning, and we can discuss what I should do.” Was she actually going to consult him?
That didn’t sound like the worst idea anymore.
“Excellent idea.” He fetched a blanket from the bed and returned to the chairs. Sitting down, he began to remove his boots.
Heat climbed up Persephone’s neck and gathered in her breasts. He was only taking his boots off! She hadn’t considered whether she would disrobe, but it seemed a poor idea. Since having her valise stolen, she’d slept in her chemise instead of a night rail, but tonight she would just go to bed in her gown.
She perched on the edge of the bed and unlaced her boots. “I don’t snore,” she said.
“That’s a relief. I don’t either.”
“I do talk sometimes,” she added as she pulled her boots off and set them together. Or at least she used to, back when she and Pandora shared a bedchamber. They still occasionally shared a bed if they were up late talking, or sometimes they would read together and one of them would fall asleep.
“How fascinating. Now, I want to stay up all night in case you say something riveting.”
Persephone sat back on the bed and brought her legs onto the mattress. “I doubt you’ll be able to understand anything. My sister says it’s mostly gibberish.”
“Pity. I can only imagine what you might say while sleeping.” He gave her a suggestive look and a lopsided smile before swinging his legs back onto the chair-bed.
She didn’t want to find him endearing or for his provocative manner to soften her. But she was in grave danger of exactly that happening. Better to throw up her defenses once more. “I did not give you leave to flirt with me.”
“Alas, you did not. It is, I’m afraid, my nature.” He arranged the blanket over himself.
Persephone lay back onto the pillow and the duke’s sandalwood and amber scent filled her senses. “I fear for your wife having to put up with you doing that.”At least she’d get to smell him up close forever.
“I should hope she will like it.” He sounded like he was smiling. Persephone did not turn her head to confirm that.
“I meant you doing that with other women.” She wriggled into the bedclothes and tried not to think of how she was sleeping where he’d slept. Another reason it was good that she’d left her clothes on. To have bare parts of her where bare parts of him had been would surely make her think of bare parts of them together.
“That is the second time you’ve mentioned that, and I took it to heart. I willnotflirt with anyone but my wife.” His impassioned response shook her from her libidinous thoughts—she was no better than he was, apparently.
“Why not? You said it was your nature. You make it sound as if you can’t help yourself. How will that change once you are wed?”
“Because I’ve decided it will change.” For the first time, he sounded almost angry.
Persephone smiled, hoping he would be able to achieve what he wanted. “I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
He grunted in response. “I left the lantern lit. Do you want the light?”
“I don’t need it, but thank you for asking.”
She heard him get up, and then the lantern was extinguished. In the darkness, she somehow became even more aware of his scent on the bedclothes and the knowledge that he’d lain where she was currently.
“Good night, Miss Barclay.”
“Good night, Duke.”
“Wellesy or Acton, if you please.”
“Wellesy?” She stifled a giggle.
