Yours for Christmas by Lilian Monroe

Author:Lilian Monroe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lilian Monroe

THIRTEEN

ADA

A few hours later, Richard, our house manager, knocks on the sitting room door. When he introduces the Duke of Blythe, all heads lift in surprise.

My heart takes off, carrying my breath away with it. Kiera lets out a squeal, clapping her hand over her mouth. Maggie stares at me, asking a thousand questions with her eyes.

But it’s my mother who shoots me the heaviest glare. It’s gone in an instant, when she stands up to greet the Duke.

“Your Grace,” she says, expertly hiding the surprise in her voice. “How lovely of you to visit.”

As if this isn’t completely out of the ordinary. As if he visits all the time.

The Duke bows to my mother and father, then moves to shake my father’s hand. His eyes find mine, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. My head is spinning so hard I don’t even hear the pleasantries exchanged.

The Duke is here. In my living room. Talking to my family.

When he told me he wanted to meet me tonight, I thought—actually, I don’t know what I thought. I didn’t think he’d walk in and start talking to my father about the weather. Maybe I expected him to stop the car outside and honk the horn, or something.

But he wouldn’t do that. He’s a Duke. My family is noble. There are conventions to adhere to.

My mother straightens up. “Your Grace…” She glances at me, frowning ever so slightly. “To what do we owe the honor?”

“Ah,” the Duke replies, his soft lips curving. I want to kiss them again. I want to taste his tongue against mine and curl my fingers into his shirt. He glances at me. “I thought Lady Belcourt would have told you. I offered to show her the last piano my parents built before they”—he clears his throat—“before they passed. She had expressed interest in seeing it at the Christmas ball last weekend.”

“Oh.” My mother’s eyebrows jump.

A flush rips up my neck and bursts into flame over my cheeks. I hate that I’m blushing right now. I’m a young woman in my mid-twenties. I shouldn’t be blushing because a man wants to spend time with me.

But he’s not just a man, and I’m not just a young woman. There are conventions in our society, and this visit is…unusual. Or at least, it’s unexpected.

My father nods. “Well, we won’t keep you. Do you need us to send a car, Ada?”

I shake my head. “That won’t be necessary, Father.”

The Duke extends his arm, and I slide my hand into the crook of his elbows. As soon as I touch him, a rush of heat spins through my insides. He’s close enough to smell. To feel the heat of his body. To remember what it felt like to be naked together.

When we get to the front door, Heath helps me put a jacket on, smiling as I stuff a woolen hat over my ears. Richard, now wearing white gloves and a crisp jacket he hadn’t been wearing before, bows to us and opens the front door.

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