The Duchess's Next Husband by Brisbin Terri

Author:Brisbin, Terri [Brisbin, Terri]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Regency, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781426878497
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-09-01T07:00:00+00:00

Miranda stirred in his arms and he knew he should return her to her own room. By now, the tea brewed for imbibing at bedtime grew cold in his dressing room, but he needed to drink it nonetheless. Physical strain, even of the amorous kind, seemed to increase the tightness in his lungs and the urge to cough. He slid his arm out from under her head and moved away from her, careful not to wake her yet. Putting on his smalls, he walked to the door of the dressing room and opened it as quietly as he could. He wasn’t surprised when Thompson entered immediately from the hall to see to his needs.

After a few instructions to his valet, Adrian drank down the tepid tea and gave the cup back. Then he opened the wooden case and took out the flask and drank from it, hoping to loosen his chest. Mrs. Gresham’s elixir was more successful than any of the previous ones given him by the physicians, and it did not sour his stomach as many of theirs did. Adrian closed and locked the cabinet and turned back to the bed. Miranda lay there observing his every move.

“Your lung condition worsens?” she asked. Pushing her hair over her shoulders, she sat up and slid back against the pillows and headboard. He looked lost for words and a bit sheepish, as though caught at something he did not want seen.

“It varies from time to time,” he said, walking toward her. “The physicians say it is simply the change in seasons.”

Something in his tone or expression told her there was more to this that he did not wish to reveal. The nonchalance he affected did not cover all his concern. She remembered hearing several outbreaks of coughing while they were at Windmere Park, and at least one other here.

“Is there ought that can be done? You have seen the physicians?”

“I have seen them, as recently as last month,” he said. “Their recommendations included carrying out my normal activities and leaving the city when the heat and smoke in the air are at their worst.” Reaching the bed, he crawled back into it, sliding in next to her. The thin linen of his small clothes did nothing to mask his intent. “I am to avoid those substances that cause my cough to worsen, such as feathers and hay.”

“So that is why, even though you ride often, you never enter the stables.”

“Just so. My grooms know to wipe down a horse before bringing it to me. And the housekeeper has made pillows stuffed with cloth and not feathers.”

Miranda realized that was the reason his bedding felt different from hers—there was no feather-stuffed pillow top on his mattress and not as much puffiness to his pillows.

“And that is enough? The doctors are in agreement with the prognosis for your health?” she asked.

“My health is quite fine, thank you. And,” he said as he reached for her and pulled her against him, “they said that a strong appetite is a sign of health.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.