The Duke I'm Going to Marry(93)
He surprised her by lifting her into his arms. “Thank you for saving my life. Second time. It hasn’t escaped my notice that I seem to need you by my side.”
She melted once more at the tender, lopsided smile on his face. Perhaps there was hope for their married life. She returned it with a hopeful smile of her own. “As much as you need air to breathe and water to drink?”
He shook his head and laughed. “More so.” Then his laughter faded. “It’s time I stripped you out of those wet clothes and got you into bed.”
She liked the direction this conversation was taking. He still had her in his arms and she had no intention of protesting. “Will you be joining me?”
He settled her in the center of the bed, sat beside her, and then ever so slowly began to roll down her stockings. Oh, heavens! The sensual touch of his fingers along her thighs was shockingly delicious. A sigh escaped her lips. Her skin grew hot and her thoughts wanton. She loved the feel of his hands upon her body.
He grinned as he rose from the bed and hung her stockings by the fire. Then he walked to the door and latched it. That’s a promising sign. He returned to her side and deftly slipped the gown off her body. She could still feel the heat of his hands on her skin after he’d undressed her.
But instead of removing his clothes, he reached for the shirt she’d been using as a nightshirt and put it on her. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Getting you settled. Get under the covers and I’ll tell you a story. Go on, Dillie. I can’t concentrate while your luscious body’s in plain view.”
She did so reluctantly, worried that he hadn’t been completely honest with her. Oh, she never doubted that he meant to obtain the special license and return to her with a minister in tow, but she also suspected that he was going to do something reckless and dangerous beforehand. Perhaps confront the enemies who had ordered the attack on him. Perhaps kill his enemies.
He knew who wanted him dead. She simply had to get the truth out of him before he set his rage free and destroyed his future. “Give me your hand, Ian. I want to hold it.”
“I’m not a little boy. I don’t need you to worry about me.”
“I know you don’t.” She cast him a smile, hoping her strain did not show through. She didn’t give him the chance to draw away and simply reached for his hand. She was trying to encourage him, not browbeat him into confiding in her.
He was used to working things out on his own, used to keeping all the hurt and disappointment bottled up inside. This second attack had affected him quite badly. Would his anger finally erupt? She didn’t know how much he would reveal to her, but she would listen to whatever he had to say, hoping that in time he would learn to trust her with all his confidences. “Go on. I’m listening.”
“You know the beginning already. My brother drowned. My family never forgave me. Ever since that fateful day, I’ve been made to suffer for surviving that accident. I haven’t forgiven myself either. I doubt I ever will.”
“Oh, Ian—”
He gave her hand a little squeeze. “No, Dillie. It’s all right. I’ve managed.”
“Quite well, I think. You’ve built a thriving dukedom, earned the respect of the royal family and the Duke of Wellington for your bravery during the war years. Even Gabriel and Graelem admire you. Gabriel claims that you saved him numerous times from Napoleon’s grasp.”
“I wasn’t brave. I never cared whether I lived or died. I’m amazed that I did survive Napoleon’s war. In truth, I never thought I would. But I did, and I was angry that I had. James was dead, and here I lived, no matter how many battles I’d fought, no matter how many enemies I’d faced, no matter how many enemy cannons were aimed directly at my chest.”
Because James was watching over you.
She couldn’t reveal her thought to Ian. He wouldn’t believe it. Since he blamed himself for his brother’s death, he’d never understand that his brother would not feel the same way. James was surely an angel in heaven, and angels were all about compassion and forgiveness, or so she’d always been taught.
“There I was, still alive and enjoying all that society had to offer. Meaningless parties, meaningless trysts. Then suddenly one night I kissed the wrong girl.” He paused a moment to cast her the softest smile. “She was snooping in her neighbor’s garden around midnight, poking about where she should not have been.”
Dillie blushed. “I never forgot that kiss.” He was still smiling at her, making her heart melt. Good thing she was seated in bed, for she doubted her legs would have held her up had she been standing. Her entire body had turned to pudding.