Awakening His Shy Duchess by Christine Merrill

Author:Christine Merrill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-03-30T18:45:35+00:00

Chapter Ten

As Evan took his usual seat by the fire at White’s, he considered the possibility of a nap. A man of his age should not be dozing in public in the middle of the day. But it had been a long night with little sleep, and he certainly hoped he would have no sleep again tonight.

He could not contain his grin at the prospect of spending the evening with a wife who would be more than willing, after the delightful interlude in the carriage.

He smiled to himself at the memory of it. He had never been with a virgin before, but had been told that the first experience was often painful and awkward and devoid of pleasure for both parties. But no one had mentioned the joy of discovery that might accompany it. It had been clear last night that, while Maddie had been afraid of the marital act, she’d known nothing of the pleasure that it might entail. Now that she’d had a taste of that, there would be no more difficulties.

If, that was, he had the strength to keep up with her. After a surreptitious glance around him, he settled back into his chair and closed his eyes.

‘Fallon!’

He snapped awake again, annoyed to see his father-in-law heading for the empty seat at his side.

‘Goddard,’ he grunted in acknowledgement, wishing the fellow would go to the devil and leave him alone. After the wedding, Evan had presented him with the introductions to places and people that he’d requested and had hoped that would be enough. Apparently, the man intended to socialise with him as well.

‘Thank you so much for the invitation to your club. I have been trying to get into White’s for some years but needed the right man to put me forward for membership.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Evan said, thoroughly regretting that he had done the man a courtesy.

‘It is so good to be here with you. And I understand Glenmoor is a member as well.’ When there was no response, he continued, ‘I trust my daughter is not giving you any trouble.’ To this, he added a knowing laugh that danced on Evan’s last nerve.

‘Trouble?’ Evan repeated. Maddie at her worst could not cause too much trouble. If anything, her timidity was the problem, and her father was the cause of that. ‘None that I am aware of.’

‘That is good to know. I raised her to be obedient,’ Goddard said with a toothy grin that set Evan’s own teeth on edge. ‘That is why it surprised me to hear she was running with Byron and his crowd.’

‘What?’ Evan sat up straight in his chair, wondering if he had somehow nodded off into a nightmare.

‘She was seen going into his house, just today,’ Goddard said, clearly enjoying the fact that he knew more than Evan. ‘I did not think you were the sort to allow her such rackety companions.’

The gall of the man. He had not cared one whit the sort of fellow his daughter married. Now he dared criticise the way their marriage was run.

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