Back in My Arms Again by Cora Lee

Author:Cora Lee [Lee, Cora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Clean & Wholesome, Historical, Regency
ISBN: 9781944477066
Google: vmljDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 36633166
Publisher: More Than Words Press
Published: 2017-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

It was another week before James resided in the same chamber as his wife—a week in which he was by turns pleased and frustrated that he kept his body from dictating his actions. As much as he wanted to bed Cecilia, he knew that engaging in marital relations would complicate their already knotty relationship—especially if they conceived a child together.

And the last thing he needed was another complication before meeting the Duke of Alston.

James stood in front of the pier glass in the chamber the newlyweds had been given at Orchard Lake, looking for imperfections in his clothing and person. He could hear Cecilia murmuring to her lady’s maid in the adjoining dressing room and wondered if she had the same jittery feeling that was growing in his limbs.

The image of the lady’s maid appeared in the glass, and James turned just in time to see her disappear through the chamber door. Cecilia appeared a moment later clad in a pale blue gown that fairly floated around her.

She approached him and brushed imaginary dust from his shoulders. “Nervous?”

“Is it so obvious?”

“No, that’s why I asked,” she replied, turning him around to face the glass once again. “You look calm and confident.”

Her blue eyes peeked over his shoulder and he met her reflected gaze. “Good. Those are qualities I want your brother to associate with me. I’ve never met a duke before, and I am now related to this duke because of some less than savory circumstances. The blackmail, I mean,” he added quickly.

“Blackmail certainly qualifies as less than savory.” He could see the corner of her eyes crinkle in what must have been a smile. “Though Alston doesn’t know about that part.”

“That should help.”

She tugged gently at the hem of his coat and smoothed out the tail. “Do you remember when we first met and you found out I was Lady Cecilia?”

“I immediately wondered what I’d got myself into.”

“You could have turned tail and run, but you didn’t.”

“I was already besotted with you,” he replied slowly. “I didn’t want to run.”

She stepped beside him and threaded her arm through his. “Do you want to run now?”

“No.” He was pleasantly surprised to hear strength in his voice.

“Good. Alston likes to be shown the deference he is due as a duke, but hates being treated like an invalid—even when he is one. It’s a fine line to tread, but you managed it with me.”

Cecilia had made it clear all those years ago that she expected a certain level of conduct from him, but she’d also maintained that her relations’ interests weren’t necessarily her own. James had responded by acknowledging her social station to be above his while ignoring the implications of her surname.

Perhaps a similar approach would work with His Grace as well.

“Let’s go and find out.”

They entered the drawing room arm-in-arm and approached Alston, who was ensconced in a rather throne-like chair upholstered in cream with gilt carvings forming the supports and legs. He was dressed in expensively tailored clothing

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