The Duke by Denise Patrick

Author:Denise Patrick
Language: ron
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The sound of a distant door closing awakened Felicia the next morning. Turning onto her back, she opened her eyes and surveyed the room. No one was about, but Brand entered from the sitting room carrying a tray as she sat up and pushed her hair out of her face.

“Ah, awake at last,” he grinned at her. He put the tray down on her dressing table, then approached the bed. “Did you sleep well?”

She nodded, even as she watched him with unsure eyes. He was still wearing the purple dressing gown, but now also had on a pair of what looked to be black silk loose-fitting trousers. He looked to be freshly shaven and his hair was neatly combed. Beside him, she felt decidedly disheveled.

Brand didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he stacked some pillows behind her, straightened the coverlet, then retrieved the tray, which he set on her lap. He even retrieved a ribbon from the dressing table, tied back her hair, and re-tied the ribbon on the front of her nightgown.

“Why…?” she began, but he cut her off with a swift kiss.

“‘Lead me not into temptation’,” he quoted with a grin, then sat beside her on the bed. Hearing him quote from the Bible might have been humorous if she hadn’t still been thinking about the events of the night before.

Felicia looked down at the tray. On it an array of meat, cheeses, scones, jam, and honey tempted her. There was also a pot of chocolate and two cups. Her mouth watered at the aromas and she realized she had eaten very little last night. Brand picked up a scone, spread it liberally with jam and presented it her. She took a bite.

“Mmmm.” She washed it down with a sip of chocolate. “How did you know?”

“Actually, I can’t take the credit. I asked your maid to make up a tray for you. She was ecstatic to find Mrs. Reeves had some apricot jam. She said it was your favorite.”

Breakfast was accomplished congenially. Felicia experienced a side to Brand she would not have guessed existed. He fed her choice bits of the meats and cheeses, spread copious amounts of jam on scones for her, and kept her cup filled with chocolate. And when she finally said she’d had enough, he whisked the tray away and took it back into the connecting sitting room to leave for one of the maids to clear away.

While he was gone, Lily arrived, helped her into a fresh gown and robe, and brushed her hair. It was Lily who informed her his lordship had said she need not get dressed. Felicia could feel her cheeks pinkening, but noting it was still raining outside, she was not adverse to remaining en déshabillé for the day.

Leaving Lily to straighten the bedroom, she wandered into the sitting room and found Brand there already. He was standing at the window, staring out at the dreary day beyond. Unnoticed, she took the opportunity to study him with new eyes. He

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