Ensnaring the Duke: Regency Romance (When the Wallflowers Were Wicked Book 1) by Daphne Quinn

Author:Daphne Quinn [Quinn, Daphne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swift Romance Publishing Co
Published: 2023-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Abigail did not expect to sleep after their rendezvous, but when she returned to her room – after Oliver had checked that the coast was clear – she found she was actually exhausted. The pleasure she had found in Oliver’s arms had left her exhilarated and aching. She slid under the blankets and felt relief as she lay back against the feather pillows.

Sleep engulfed her before she could think about what she had done, and so for the rest of the night she rested, feeling content and satisfied.

When she awoke the next morning, however, she immediately began to question everything.

In spite of the late hour she had gone to sleep, she awoke before her maid arrived, and she sat up in bed, reliving the events of the early hours.

She had given herself to the Duke. To Oliver. With no expectation of marriage.

What a foolish thing to do.

How lucky they had been that no one had discovered them in the throes of passion in the library, of all places.

Then they would have been forced to wed.

And he did not wish to marry.

And she did not wish to marry someone she could not think clearly around, let alone someone who was forced into marrying her.

And yet…

There was a knock at the door, and her maid Anna entered, carrying a jug of warm water and Abigail’s riding cloak, which she had taken away to clean and dry, after it had become soaked in the rain after the picnic.

"Good morning, m’lady," Anna said, setting down the jug and cloak and moving to open the heavy curtains.

Sunlight flooded the room, and Abigail’s thoughts were momentarily disrupted. "Good morning, Anna," she said, sliding her legs out from under the blanket. The sight of her bare ankles suddenly reminded her of the feel of his hands on her skin, and she blushed scarlet.

Would she be able to hide the change in their relationship, when she saw him in company?

She had to – but she wasn’t sure her body would comply.

As Anna brushed out her hair, and voiced her confusion with how it had become so tangled since she had combed it thoroughly before bed the night before, Abigail’s mind wandered again.

She had told him she was happy unwed.

But she was quickly coming to the realisation that she did not want to be alone for the rest of her life, and nor did she wish to marry someone with whom she could not share passion.

Yes, she had Lydia, and yes, she wanted to care for her. But in a few short years, Lydia would be out enjoying her own Season – and Abigail was sure that her sociable little sister would not be slow in finding a husband.

And so that would leave Abigail either rotting away in the home of whichever lord she had married for practicality’s sake, or a spinster in her father’s home.

She winced as Anna caught a tangle with the brush.

"Sorry, m’lady – it really is in quite a state. And there seems to be some sort of fur in it.

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