Accidentally Compromising the Duke(45)

He was merrily leading himself to his own downfall, and he was unable to stop it.

…

Adel slipped into the library, the most glorious room in all of Rosette Park in her opinion. Mahogany bookcases lined the wall and rose beyond the second floor extending to the vaulted ceiling. There was even a ladder to climb to fetch and return books, and there was a staircase for the higher levels. She bent down and randomly selected a volume, caressing the leather binding with loving care.

The door opened, and she did not need to look to know it was Edmond who entered. Awareness hummed through her veins, and predictably, her heartbeat quickened.

“You spend a few hours every day in here. Do you enjoy reading?”

Without lifting her head she responded, “Quite so. I find there is no better pastime. Your library is wondrous, Edmond.”

“Our library,” he said gruffly.

At that, she faced him. He leaned against the doorjamb, looking very casual and disheveled, yet so powerfully handsome her breath caught. How she wished to glide her fingers through his hair and pull his lips to her. “You have been riding?”

“Earlier.”

She nodded, at loss of what to say further, but very happy he had sought her company. Many of their chance meetings this past week as she settled into Rosette Park and received a few neighbours’ calls, had been filled with very banal and inane pleasantries. Very much like their time by the pond, but she yearned for something a bit deeper. Adel felt he kept their conversation light so as to maintain the wall of friendship he had erected. While she liked the idea of being his friend, she also wanted to be his wife, and it seemed he had no notion of that happening anytime soon. She would have to be much bolder with the unfathomable man. She didn’t like that everything she was learning about him was through his mother and even at times through his girls.

He strolled farther into the room. “Riding is one of my favored pastimes. To feel the wind on my face as I leave the cares of the world behind for several minutes…”

“It’s a similar pleasure I derive from reading and swimming.”

“And what else do you enjoy?”

Adel fought not to show a visible reaction, but she was beyond thrilled he was showing some interest in her beyond the trivial courtesies. “Your kisses, I daresay they are even more thrilling than reading.”

Edmond took a deep breath and released it slowly. “You are being provocative, Duchess.”

“One must do what one can to tempt her husband to his marital duties.”

Amusement lit his eyes, and then he smiled. Oh, my.

He fairly reeked of sensuality.

“With you it would not be duty.” Then he scowled as if he’d not meant to admit such a thing.

Delight filled her. It was clear storming his defences was not the way to seduce her duke, it must be done with one touch at a time, one suggestion, one kiss, until she shattered his resolve to stay away from her bed. There was a possibility he would come to it for himself. But that could be years, months…perhaps never. “What would it be?” she all but purred.

The way he stared at her…intense and hungry was so telling. Need stirred in her blood, and she was mortified to feel her breasts swelling, her nipples aching. He lowered his gaze to her chest, and a flush of desire swept along his chiseled cheekbones.

She spun, facing the wall of books, her cheeks burning at her uncensored response, and he’d not even touched her! It confounded her, how her body responded and the manner it showed how she was so delighted at seeing him. “I am going to read a story to the girls, do you want to join us?” She said. Stretching high upon her toes, she selected a copy of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, waiting for his response.

Heat reached out and caressed her, and it came from him. Adel had not heard him move. She could feel the solid, muscled outlines of his chest against her back. Without thinking she leaned into his frame and stifled the gasp at the pleasure she derived from the contact.

“Not today,” he murmured, his breath fanning against her forehead. “I could hear Sarah and Rosa’s laughter from the study.”

“Your girls are wonderful.”

She felt his smile.

“Your thoughtfulness does you credit. They are much happier since your arrival.”

“Please, I cannot claim credit for it. The girls spend a great deal of time talking about the things you have given them.”

“You disapprove.”

“No… But I daresay they enjoy my company because, well, I actually spend time with them. Sometimes children do enjoy the society of adult company.”

She faced him.

He cocked his head to the side, his expression inscrutable. “Then I am even more obliged to you.”