Duke of Every Sin by Reid Stacy

Author:Reid, Stacy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Darkan Press Inc.
Published: 2022-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

The fire on the hearth had burned down to orange embers, and there was a distinct chill in the air. She was no longer Verity Stanton, but Duchess of Bainbridge. In truth, she had been the duchess for the last three days and fourteen hours. Verity stared at the dark ceiling of her bedchamber, wondering why the duke had not consummated their marriage. And she had to accept that all her preparation was for naught. Verity had bathed in rose-scented water, her long, wavy auburn hair brushed with over a hundred strokes, and had put on a silky emerald shift that revealed more than it covered.

The duke would not be visiting her chambers. Despite being exhausted from the events of the day—the wedding breakfast, meeting the few staff on the property, and then a tour of the grand estate, Verity had waited for him that night, her entire body tight with nerves and anticipation. However, the connecting door had remained closed. She had been both mortified and relieved.

The very next morning, she had joined him for breakfast, and they had exchanged only mild pleasantries before he had disappeared for the day to his study to meet with his steward and a solicitor. Verity had happily spent the day with Thomas, Artie, and their three cats. Of course, she had left them for a good part of it to see to her duty of staffing the palatial house, to the happiness of the housekeeper. That task that had blessedly kept her busy for the last three days, but there would now be enough maids, footmen, a butler, and groundsman serving the needs of a ducal home. Many of the wealthy, titled neighbors and landowners had also come to leave their cards, hoping for an audience with the new duchess. Verity had not seen anyone, wanting the house to be fully staffed before she asked Ethan if he wanted to accept callers.

With a groan, she dropped back against the well-padded mattress, tossing an arm across her forehead. Acting on the impulse driving her, she parted the sheer canopied curtains over the large four-poster bed, clambered off, and padded over to the connecting door. Reaching for the latch, she hesitated.

Oh, what am I truly thinking?

Verity stared at the connecting door in seething frustration, knowing her stretched nerves could no longer take the anticipation. Each night she waited for the door to open and for the duke to frame the doorway and demand she take off her clothes. Then he would proceed to debauch her. She wasn’t sure of the exact method of debauchery, but Verity knew enough to know it might be enjoyable. That would be the only reason so many women would cast themselves to ruin. Bedding was agreeable.

She opened the door to be met with a cold room and an empty bed. Curiosity driving her, for it was well after midnight, Verity first checked the nursery, to find it pleasantly warm and both Thomas and the nursemaid peacefully sleeping. Verity went downstairs, following the odd grunts that echoed in the stillness of the hallway.

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