Page 7 of Loving My Wicked Rogue

Three

The visit with Violet and Iris had gone well. Francesca had a plan. It wasn’t necessarily guaranteed to be successful, but at least she had something to work toward. Matthew would be surprised. Probably not about his impending fatherhood… The more she learned about the depraved duke she’d begun to wonder what she’d seen in him that night. He’d been so charming, but that was part of his act. He acted as if the woman he kissed and loved was the only one that made his heart beat. It had been…effective. Francesca had fallen for every word, every touch, and every single insincere promise.

And if he tossed her aside, she’d be ruined forever…

Not that she wasn’t already, but at least if he did the honorable thing no one had to know about her indiscretion. She did not have a good feeling about what he might do. Francesca fully believed he’d laugh at her and show her the door. If he even allowed her inside his home…

She swallowed hard. No matter how terrified she felt she could not let that stop her from trying. She had made the decision to be with him and confronting him was part of those consequences. Francesca intended to do that after dark. Once her parents retired for the evening she’d sneak out and walk to his townhouse. As luck would have it, he lived nearby or at least the townhouse he owned in London was on the same street. She couldn’t be certain he was in town, but she hoped her luck, at least in telling him about the baby, held. Everything else had not been so fortuitous.

“You’re not eating,” her mother said. “Are you still a little under the weather?”

Francesca pushed around the potatoes on her plate. She’d been wishing dinner was over so she could excuse herself. “I am not hungry.” She smiled hoping it eased her mother’s concern. “I think I’m over whatever ailed me earlier.” And she was…at least until morning. She had a feeling her sickness would be back. Francesca had to find a way to hide that from her parents. Her mother would discern the truth about her condition if the entire household was aware, she became sick each morning. That was another reason to see the duke as soon as possible. Matthew had to take responsibly. Just had to… If he didn’t, she’d have to face her parents and accept her reputation was in tatters.

“I hope so. Your maid said you were miserable. I’m glad you didn’t suffer too long with it.” Her mother picked up her glass of wine and sipped. “Perhaps you would like to accompany me on a visit to the modiste. We can order you some more gowns.”

“I don’t need any new gowns.” At least not yet… When she grew rounder, she’d have to get some new ones. “I might visit Aunt Elizabeth. Didn’t she arrive in town today?” Her aunt had a gift of sight too, and if Matthew turned her away, she might need some guidance. “and Adeline should be here soon too with her new husband.”

“I have some business to discuss with your Uncle Jack,” her father told her. “You can ride over with me if you want. I’m going early though.”

She didn’t know how much sleep she’d manage after her visit with Matthew, but a ride with her father would be preferable than walking. “That would be lovely,” Francesca replied. “I’ll have Bess wake me early enough to accompany you.”

Dinner seemed to go on forever, but it did eventually come to an end. Francesca excused herself and went to her bedchambers. She didn’t ring for Bess. She’d told her maid earlier not to come up and to take the night off. When she’d dressed for dinner, she had Bess help her into a gown that didn’t require stays and buttoned up the front. She had to be able to undress herself after she returned home, and she didn’t want her maid to grow suspicious. This way Bess was grateful for an evening to herself and didn’t question it. Especially as it wasn’t the first time, she’d done something similar in the past.

Francesca paced her bedchamber until she thought it was safe enough to sneak off. She grabbed her cloak, donned it, then pulled the hood up over her head. She went down the servants’ stairs and out the back door. The servants had all retired for the evening. There was a slight chance her parents were still awake, and she didn’t want to risk going out the front door. She walked down the street quickly. Francesca glanced back several times. Her heart raced heavily as she moved toward Matthew’s townhouse.

Finally, she reached the door. She stared at it uncertain what to do next. The duke wouldn’t answer his own door. He’d have servants for that, and what if they turned her away? There was always that possibility and she should have considered it. Francesca took a deep breath and then went up the stairs. When she reached the door, she lifted the knocker and rapped it three times against the door. She held her breath and waited for it to open. Several seconds went by and she blew out that breath when the door creaked open.

She was shocked to her core when Matthew actually opened the door. Her mouth fell open and she couldn’t speak for so long it seemed as if time had frozen still. His dark hair was disheveled, and his eyes had a glassy appearance to them. He lifted a brow. “Go ahead and speak I don’t have all night.”

Francesca found her composure and lowered the hood of her cloak. Surprise filled his eyes, but it was brief. She lifter her gaze to meet his and boldly said, “Your Grace, let me come inside.”

She didn’t think he’d let her inside, but then he held the door open wider. Francesca slid past him into his foyer. Now the hard part would begin…

Matthew didn’t knowwhy she was at his home, and part of him had thought he’d imagined her; however, he couldn’t be happier she’d found him. Perhaps it was time to have her a second time and erase her from his mind once and for all. She’d been haunting him for too long.

He shut the door and turned to her. Matthew lifted his lips into a sensual smile. “Why hello, Cesca.”

“So, you remember me?” She tilted her head to the side. “I had wondered if you would, considering your lecherous habits.” She didn’t sound at all happy to see him…which only proved to confuse him further.

Damn if she wasn’t even more beautiful than he remembered though. Her strawberry blonde hair glowed in the candlelight, a few strands had come loose from the plait, and her blue eyes had fire in them. She was angry. That only made her more appealing to him. “How could I forget you.” He stalked forward. “It was bold of you to seek me out at home. Normally that would be something I’d find unforgiveable, but with you I’m willing to make an exception.”

He needed her naked and moaning underneath him. Their one night together had been too fast, and she had been mostly clothed. He could rectify that mistake now. Perhaps that was why he couldn’t forget her. Matthew hadn’t had ample opportunity to taste every inch of her delectable skin. He wanted to kiss her until she screamed his name, then he’d plunge inside of her and ride her until she screamed it again.

Bloody hell he was hard already. He might have to keep her with him all night. Once wasn’t going to be enough. Matthew would need hours with her to get his fill. He studied her as she did the same with him. What was the chit after?

“I do not care if you find my presence unforgivable or not,” she replied scathingly. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here at all. The sight of you makes me sick, but then again, a lot does these days.”

“I’m afraid I’m not following you.” He quirked a brow. “If you don’t wish to see me, why are you here?”

She did seem rather irate. There was a little pink in her cheeks, and her hands were fisted at her sides. Matthew was glad he’d given his staff the night off. He’d done it when he’d had other ideas for the night, but those had fallen through. Since she was always on his mind, the whores he’d hoped to use to forget her were supposed to spend the evening with him. Matthew had sent them away before they could even really begin. He couldn’t get hard for them, but his lovely Cesca stepped in front of him, and he’d been ready to rut for hours. What the blazes was wrong with him?

“Why did you never pay a call on me?” Her lips wobbled a little as she spoke. “After that night…” She shook her head. “I thought you wanted more with me. I realize now it was a foolish girl’s hopes, but I want you to tell me. I need to hear it.”

“Ah,” he said softly. “I should have expected this.” He sighed. “Why don’t we go into the sitting room. We shouldn’t stand in the foyer conversing.”

Matthew didn’t know what to tell her. The trek to the sitting room was his way of stalling the inevitable. Perhaps he could find some pretty words to tell her. When he’d started to kiss her, he’d discovered her sweetness, and suspected her innocence, but couldn’t stop himself. He’d wanted her like he had never wanted anything in his entire life, and he didn’t regret that night. She was a siren to him.

She followed him into the sitting room, and then he gestured for her to sit on the settee. He debated if he should sit next to her or in the chair. If he sat beside her, she would prove too much of a temptation. He’d kiss her and then they’d be exactly where they were now. Matthew decided to sit in the chair. It was for the best. She seemed distraught and he didn’t want to add to it. If she joined him in his bed again, he wanted it to be her decision. He wouldn’t seduce her this time.

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