Page 48 of A Virgin for the Beastly Duke

“Very good, Your Grace.”

His eye immediately went to his bed when he walked into his bedchamber and it was in the same shape as he had seen it that morning. He knew Bridget had slept in her own chambers last night, and guilt had twisted in his gut when he came at dawn and did not find her asleep as he usually did. He should not have pushed her away as he had, and he wished to make amends as soon as he saw her.

He had done this to her too many times for him to claim any decency. Every time he told himself that he would allow her to come close to him, a cord in him would snap, and he would find himself doing just what he had promised to stop doing. His fears were too great, too strong.

Still, he made himself another promise. If Bridget embraced him, he would return her embrace. He would allow her to see what he had been hiding for years. His fear laughed at him then and challenged him to keep his promise if he dared.

His jaw clenched, and he turned and strode into his dressing room where Lander already had a towel, water, and soap waiting for him. He set the box down on his vanity table before he undressed, washed his hands, and cleaned his face.I will shame you,he vowed to his fear.

A short while later, he thought he almost looked handsome as he stepped out of the castle and headed north toward the woods with his box in hand.

He found her sitting on a rock with her face turned up toward the sun, her eyes shut, while Cato relentlessly chased a butterfly. Tenderness curled around him, and his smile was instant.

“Do you not fear freckles?” he asked, walking toward her.

She turned her face and smiled, seeming genuinely pleased to see him. That tenderness he had felt before intensified.

“Would you be surprised to learn that I have very few fears?” she asked, gazing up at him with those impossibly lovely eyes. A bandeau held her fiery curls but several ringlets had escaped the constraints and fell around her face and neck.

“I can’t say I would,” he replied. “I know how brave you are.”

She lowered her eyes demurely before raising them again. “How was your trip?”

“It was good. I brought you something.” He held the box out and her countenance brightened.

“What is it?” She took the simple wooden box and began to tug the bow on top.

“Is that a serious question?” he teased, sitting beside her.

She unknotted the bow and pulled the dark blue ribbon, holding it up. “This should make Cato a nice bow around his neck.”

“You wish to turn him into a dandy dog?”

“Yes, I do.” She opened the box, a wide grin spreading across her face. Then she closed it and looked up at him. “Is it…?”

“You saw it, did you not?”

She let out a tiny squeal of delight and opened the box again. There were at least a dozen pouches that contained an assortment of tea. “Where did you find these?”

“I have a property in Ipswich that I wish to sell. I visited it today and on my way, I met a merchant selling an assortment of condiments. And when I saw this tea collection, it reminded me of you. He claimed that no tea in England could rival this.” Harry picked up a sheer pouch from the box and held it up. “This presumably contains saffron.”

“Oh, thank you, Harry!” she breathed. “I love it!”

“Shall we return to the castle and have some brewed before our outing?”

“Will we have time?” she frowned. Suddenly, her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Will you race me when we reach the edge of the woods?”

“Does losing excite you?” His brow rose with his smile. She was certain to be flushed after a run, and he was eager to see the color on her.

“Running with you does,” she murmured, the sound stroking his temptation.

He rose and pulled her up with him, calling Cato. The three of them walked to the edge of the woods around the castle and stopped.

“Allow me to hold this,” he said, taking the box of tea from her. “Are you ready?”

“As I will ever be.” She gathered her skirts and breathed deeply. Anticipation flooded his veins.

“One,” he began, “two.” Cato barked before he could utterthreeand they began to run.

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