The Portrait of a Duchess by Scarlett Peckham

Author:Scarlett Peckham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Had she ever been so thoroughly pleasured? Cornelia felt like she was made of moonlight as she lay still and spent, enfolded in Rafe’s arms, and watched Rory dress. He was shorter and slimmer in build than Rafe, sinewy and muscular. His skin gleamed in the bright light of her studio—pale save for the pink marks where Rafe had scratched his back.

“I’ll leave you to recover, my queen and her consort,” he said as he redonned his coat. He kissed them both on the cheek and left the room, leaving her entwined with Rafe.

Without Rory here, the intimacy of his embrace felt less like a game.

She should get up.

But her disobedient body was heavy and relaxed, refusing to give up the comfort of his warmth just yet. Instead, she lay still as he held her, lightly stroking her arms and nuzzling her neck.

It made her nervous enough to stir.

“How very pleasant that was,” she said brightly, shimmying away. It had been quite a bit more than pleasant, but she felt compelled to speak in an arch tone to keep the mood light.

“One of the better afternoons I have spent at Gardencourt,” Rafe agreed, his tone equally affable. He let go of her and stretched.

Was he also deliberately affecting distance? Or was he genuinely unmoved by what they had just shared?

“Perhaps we’ll play again,” she said. If there was any mercy in this world, they would do so soon, before their time together ended.

He smiled at her, reached up, and tweaked her nose. “I hope so.”

Tweaked her nose?

Was he better at this game than she was?

Well, if he was: good. How unexpected and welcome.

She’d promised not to let him get attached, and it would be far easier if he viewed her as an erotic playfellow, rather than a romantic lover.

He shot her a lazy grin. “Are you ready to be my ardent ladylove tomorrow?”

She gestured down at her nude body. “It would appear so.”

He chuckled. “How shall we handle Mr. Hugue?”

She considered this. “Honestly, I think. We’ll tell him how we met. How I diverted you at parties.”

“You did do that, didn’t you?”

“Oh, every chance I got. You were very handsome, Rafe.”

He gestured down at his well-built chest. “Still am.”

“Still are,” she laughed. “Though you’ve grown more vain.”

He put his hands behind his head and arched his back, displaying himself for her benefit. “I deserve it.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Get dressed.”

He sat up. “So we’ll tell Hugue the tale of our elopement. Only we’ll make it . . . romantic. Is that right?”

“Star-crossed lovers,” she agreed. “Reunited, finally, after decades.”

“Paramours whose passion cannot be denied.”

“And finally, that rarest thing—happily married spouses.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “The wildly in love duke and duchess.”

The words made her shiver with nerves. She covered it up by picking her chemise up off the floor. “I’m cold.”

He stood. “I would warm you, but I must go. I am due for a tour of the wheat farms with Eden.”

She nodded at him, hoping she seemed casual, and looked beautiful.

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