A Bachelor Still by Rebecca Hagan Lee

Author:Rebecca Hagan Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical romance, marriage of convenience, victorian romance, regency history, free fellows league, earl romance
Publisher: Teresa Medeiros

Chapter Seventeen

“A hundred men may make an encampment, but it takes a woman to make a home.”–Chinese Proverb

Taking the stairs two at a time, Alex carried Liana up to the second floor. He didn’t stop until he reached the massive doors at the end of the corridor leading to the master apartments. Pausing at the double doors, he leaned down to murmur, “If you would be so kind, my lady…”

Liana turned one of the doorknobs and gave the door a gentle shove. The door swung open on well-oiled hinges. Alex carried Liana over the last threshold into a large elegantly-appointed sitting room that joined the lord and lady’s apartments. He crossed the room and entered the lady’s suite, where he set Liana on her feet on the rug in front of the fireplace.

A large copper tub half-filled with water sat on the Turkey rug to the left of her. A curtained screen stood at the back of it. A row of metal buckets filled with water heated on the hearth. Alex leaned over and dipped a finger in the nearest bucket to test the temperature. A wing chair and a low table were within arm’s length. The seat of the chair held a stack of towels while the table was covered with an assortment of soaps and bath salts.

Liana let out a sigh of pleasure at the thoughtfulness of his staff. They’d provided her with every luxury and comfort.

“Your bath is nearly ready, my lady,” Alex told her. “Would you prefer to bathe before or after supper?”

“Before.” She gave Alex a dismayed look. “But I’ve nothing to wear until Schuyler brings my trunks.”

“I can take care of that.” Alex left the room.

Liana heard him cross the sitting room and enter the suite of apartments opposite hers.

He returned minutes later with an armload of clothing. “These will swallow a little mite like you, but they’ll assure your modesty and keep you warm.” He held up a man’s white linen nightshirt along with a gray velvet robe with wide quilted lapels that obviously belonged to him.

She accepted the garments he handed her, unable to resist pressing the soft velvet of the lapel to her face. It smelled like him. A tangy mixture of orange spice and Alexander Courtland. “What will you wear?”

He gifted her with a devilish smile. “Not to worry. My mother keeps me well supplied with nightshirts she believes I wear to bed.”

“You don’t?”

He moved his head from side to side in lazy confirmation.

She wasn’t surprised by his admission. She had three brothers and Liana knew from experience that mothers were generally unaware of the things their sons did or didn’t do when they were out of her sight—or in the case of Alex and her brother, Colin—grown and on their own. His answer hadn’t surprised her. But it had definitely piqued her interest and her curiosity. “What do you wear to bed?”

He clucked his tongue before grinning his most devilish grin. “It depends on what I intend to do there—and with whom.

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