Devil in Duke's Clothing (Royal Pains Book 1) by Mason Nina

Author:Mason, Nina [Mason, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-01-17T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Maggie watched breathlessly as Robert, clad only in his shirt and belted plaid, reached behind a set of tooled-leather books and triggered a hidden lever. Within seconds, the bookcase rumbled like thunder and swung out from the wall.

A cocktail of comingled distress and surprise quickened her pulse. No wonder she’d never located his secret chamber. Not in a million years would she have guessed it might be hidden within the walls of the library.

Six days had passed since he’d told her King Charles could dissolve their marriage—six days during which she’d been fitted for new gowns, learned about the ideas of Thomas Hobbes and Renee Descartes, and worried herself sick about the royal guillotine hanging over their necks.

Six nights had passed as well—nights she’d spent alone with her anxiety, tossing and turning. Not only did her husband avoid her bedchamber, he’d not so much as kissed her the entire time. During the daylight hours, he was cold and distant, lectured rather than discussed, and scarcely said two words together when he could be bothered to appear for a meal. Clearly, something troubled him deeply. Nay, not troubled. Tortured. But, try as she might, she could not get him to open up about his woes.

Now, suddenly and without explanation, he’d sought her out and insisted on showing her his secret chamber. Why? They were setting off toward Edinburgh at first light. Could this not have waited until they returned? Or, did he fear, as she did, she’d not return to Balloch as his wife? Panic closed around her heart like an Iron Maiden. If the king annulled their marriage, what would become of her?

She’d be royally screwed in more ways than one.

“Come on.”

The duke held a pewter candlestick. When he stepped into the passage behind the bookcase, she followed.

Her vision adjusted to the dim glow. The entrance sealed behind her. A shiver went through her as she followed her husband and the only light deeper into the unknown.

The smell greeted her first: leather and wax with hints of dank, dust, and a faint sweetness she could not identify.

He stopped before an old wooden door with iron strap hinges. A small window was cut into the wood at eye level. Had the family hidden priests down here in times past?

“Wait here,” Robert said.

The groan of the hinges lifted the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. Robert and the candle disappeared inside, leaving her alone in total darkness. Her heart raced and her perspiration dampened her skin despite the coldness of the air. Had he brought her here to beat her?

His hand closed around her wrist, scaring her so badly she nearly wet herself. He yanked her across the threshold and slammed the door, unsettling her all the more. He’d lit several candles, but she could still barely see.

As her eyes adjusted to the low lighting, the chamber’s austere furnishings materialized out of the shadows. The bed—a large four-poster occupying the center of the small room—took shape first, followed by a painted cupboard on a stand near the door.

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