the Secret Duke (2010) by Beverley Jo

Author:Beverley, Jo [Jo, Beverley,]
Format: epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2011-01-14T19:19:27.390000+00:00

The sun had set and shadows were deep when the chaise rolled into Upstone. He told the postilions to take him on to the best inn in town.

“The Hart and Hare,” he said as they alighted. “We must hope they never attempted a mating.”

Bella suppressed a giggle. She was given custody of the closed cat basket as he arranged rooms. When they went upstairs, however, Bella realized that he’d taken a parlor and a bedchamber.

One bedchamber.

Part of her sizzled with excitement, but she still had her wits. “We need two bedchambers.”

“Don’t turn squeamish on me now, valiant lady. We’re an ordinary couple of no significant wealth. Why would we take two bedchambers?”

“Because I snore. Or you do.”

“We’d endure. People do.”

Bella narrowed her eyes at him. “I am not sharing a bed with you, Captain Rose, wedding ring or no.”

“It’s a very big bed,” he pointed out, gesturing toward it.

And reminding her vividly of the Goat. Parts of her threatened to melt.

“We can sleep mostly clothed,” he coaxed. “Or you can sleep on the floor.”

“That,” she said, “is a gentleman’s duty.”

“But you’re the one objecting to sharing the bed.”

She threw up her hands at this outrageous way of looking at it. “What if anyone were to find out?” she demanded. “I’d be ruined.”

But that, of course, was no weapon at all.

Bella paced the room, truly angry now. Clearly he’d always intended to make her his whore. Never a wife, oh, no. Not Bella Barstowe.

“You had this in mind all along,” she accused, facing him.

“No, on my honor. I only thought of the detail when we arrived. It’s a real concern, and you can trust me.”

“Ha!”

She prowled to the bed as if she could change it by force of will. Split it into two, perhaps.

That made her pause. How odd that sharing a bedroom with a man seemed tolerable if there were separate beds. She was sliding slowly down into hell.

“It is a very large bed,” he said again. “It could probably sleep five.”

Bella had heard that sometimes many strangers did share a bed in an inn, and indeed, this would suit the purpose.

She turned to face him again. “Very well. But you will keep your shirt and breeches on.”

He inclined his head. She knew he was amused and victorious, but he was doing a very good job of hiding it.

“Will you sleep in your stays?” he asked. “I don’t advise it, but it’s your choice.”

She smiled triumphantly. “I’m not wearing any.”

A slight flare in his eyes was alarming, but deliciously satisfying at the same time. She’d never known that being without stays might excite a man.

Bella. The last thing you want at this moment is to excite him!

“I’m wearing jumps,” she explained, “for comfort while traveling.”

“What a very sensible woman you are.”

Bella turned to the mirror and removed her hat. “A woman traveling alone has to be, Captain.” She considered her very long hat pin and placed it on the stand beside the bed, then turned to smile at him.

His lips were twitching.

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