Accidentally Compromising the Duke(41)

Maximus’s heavy body bounced him, and Edmond ran his hand through his thick coat. After a few minutes he reached the cypress tree overlooking the pond and sat on the stone bench, Maximus sprawling at his feet.

There was a rustle of sound and he twisted and spied his duchess walking down the grassy knoll from the opposite direction. He frowned, not sure if he hadn’t somehow conjured her. What was she about? Edmond observed in fascination as she ran down the embankment and halted at the water’s edge. She tipped her head to the night sky, and a smile curved her lips.

His skin prickled in response to her presence. He fleetingly wondered if he were to bed her and get the deed over with, would he be so aware of her. She started to strip. He slammed his eyes shut and opened once more and his duchess was still removing the pale high waist yellow gown she had worn to dinner. It pooled at her feet in a whispering sigh. A few seconds later she stood in her white chemise, the gentle blowing breeze conforming the material to her body. Rounded hips and buttock, high pointed breasts, and well-curved thighs were revealed in stark silhouette.

Christ.

She dipped a toe into the water, and with a soft yelp retreated. Then she grinned, backed up, and launched toward the water. Edmond watched in stunned disbelief as she jumped into the lake. Despite it being summer, the water would be cold, and larks like this he would expect of himself in his younger days, or from his brother Jackson, not from a young lady.

Seconds later she surfaced and a shout of laughter escaped her, throaty yet incredibly feminine. He stepped forward, and she spun in the water with sleek grace toward the sound, an expression of shock settling on her lovely features.

She peered into the dark toward the cypress tree. “Is someone there?”

A quiet wistfulness filled Edmond. He didn’t want to frighten her away…he wanted her to stay. Instead of fighting the desire, he stepped closer. Then the dratted dog lurched forward and bounded to her.

Her eyes widened, but she swam toward the embankment and hauled herself from the pond. His cock jumped and hardened at the sight of such beguiling sensuality. The punch of desire made Edmond lightheaded, and he bloody stumbled. The wet chemise pasted to her form left little to his imagination. From where he stood, he fancied he could see the dark duskiness of her nipples that stabbed against the wet material, and the dark curls at the apex of her thighs. Her skin glowed like smooth ivory under the moonlight, her raven hair a rousing contrast.

Bloody hell, he couldn’t tear his eyes from her.

Her elegant fingers stroked Maximus’ fur, and his great brute of a dog, fairly melted in a puddle at her feet. Her laughter, husky and lyrical floated on their air. “You are just a big puppy, aren’t you?” she crooned.

Edmond scowled. She was turning his dog into…into… He snapped his teeth together when the word eluded. But he did envy his damn dog its position.

“Where is your master?”

As if he understood, Maximus’s head lolled toward Edmond’s direction and a great woof rumbled from the beast. She lifted her head and peered toward the shadows of the cypress trees.

“Are you there, Edmond?”

“Yes,” he said, after an awkward silence and moved from the shadows, sauntering toward her.

Her face lit with a smile of welcome. She shivered. “This is one of my more ill-advised ideas. It did not occur to me to bring a coat or blankets. I simply saw the brightness of the moon, and admired how the light shimmered on the surface of the pond and followed the impulse,” she ended, with a charming chuckle.

He stepped forward, shrugged from his coat, and held it out to her.

She smiled uncertainly. “It will be soaked.”

“It does not signify.”

She was staring at him with a frown creasing her delicate brows. “I am happy to return inside. I believe I may have intruded on you here.”

“Please do not leave on my account, the lake is large enough.”

“Thank you.” She took the proffered coat and hurriedly bundled herself into it.

“Oh, the warmth is wonderful.” She dealt him a considering glance. “Are you chilled?”

“The air is tolerable.”

Then silence. Her presence was strangely soothing, and he realized it was her quality of stillness. She was simply gazing about, appreciating the land under the banner of moonlight. He grimaced. Maryann would have been chattering nonstop, and he would have listened to tales of their neighbors and latest fashion with an indulgent ear.

“Maximus is a beautiful dog.”

What was he to say to that? Edmond grunted noncommittally.

“Has he any siblings?”

Edmond blinked. “Who?”

“Maximus.”