Page 21 of The Three-Month Duchess
“I do not understand… have I done something wrong?” She questioned, startled by his tone.
“No,” he shook his head. “Notwrong,per se. It’s … strange. Having you address me so formally. Although our marriagemight serve a purpose, you are still my wife and equal. At least by title and in the eyes of God. You can call me by my name.”
Jane swallowed with a nod.
“I understand… Thomas. Have a good night.”
He nodded and she quickly entered her room, exhaling deeply once the door was closed behind her.
She got ready for bed as swiftly as she could, eager to rest her exhausted body. But as she crawled under her covers, her mind returned to the kiss they shared and she groaned into her pillow.
“It was just a kiss. It doesn’t matter. Right?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Thomas watched the door close and he sighed softly.
“Good night, Jane.” He whispered, waiting for a moment before he turned around and returned to his art room.
On the way, he stopped by Reuben’s room, opening the door as carefully as he could in an effort not to rouse the boy. Then he walked to his son’s bed, relieved to find him sleeping peacefully with his hands clenched into a fist.
He really was as precious as Jane had said.
Some of his hair fell over his forehead and Thomas reached out to brush it away, but then he stopped halfway and lowered his hand. He watched the child sleep for a moment longer and then he exited the room.
Once he was back in his art room, he settled behind the easel and stared at his current work in progress. He had done the generaloutline of most of it, and what was left was to include the finer details.
He picked up a brush with a small tip of bristles and dipped it in some paint, using quick strokes to map out the flow of her hair. He continued to make out more details, her arm against the chaise, the folds of her dress, the curve of her smile…
Thomas’ lips twitched as he recalled their kiss. He had wanted to ravish her there and then, to take more and more, until he had consumed her whole.
He could still taste her on his tongue, could still smell her warm cherry scent in the air of this room that was usually filled with the smell of paint.
He had been captivated by how easily submitted to his need to fix her posture and when she had tried to play off the effects of their kiss, he couldn’t help but give in the need to touch her more. Her reactions, utterly sinful as they were had been a worthy reward.
He did not expect… this. Everything Jane was seemed to exceed his expectations.
He had chosen her because she looked just like his late wife at first glance. But mere moments in her presence had shown him how mistaken he was. She was nothing like Eliza, that much was certain.
He only hoped that his decision to enlist her help with his son would prove to be a wise choice in the long run.
“Ensure the duchess has everything she needs. If anything happens while I’m away?—”
“Are you perhaps fleeing the country, Your Grace? I cannot help but notice the thorough nature of your instructions have increased significantly this morning.” Mrs Greene mused dryly.
Thomas sighed, rubbing at his temple tiredly. He could not fault his housekeeper for her remark, because truly, he was being rather dramatic.
“You will only be gone a few hours, Your Grace. I understand that you are worried about leaving the duchess and the young Lord alone in that time, but from what I’ve seen, Lord Reuben is in utterly safe hands. Of course, I will check in on them ever so often as well.” The housekeeper assured gently.
Thomas intended to visit a friend that morning but just as he was trying to tell Mrs Greene to take care of the estate and its affairs, he was suddenly overcome with worry.
He couldn’t the sudden source of his anxiety but he couldn’t ignore it either.
“Where is the duchess?” Thomas asked after a moment.
“Having breakfast with Lord Reuben. He had come to find her as soon as he had woken up and she helped him get ready for the day. When it was time for him to eat, he refused to take a bite unless she did as well. It was quite endearing.” Mrs Greene explained gently. “Would you like to join them?”
Thomas thought about how Reuben had ignored him completely the day before and shook his head. He did not feel bad about his son’s actions towards him. He had grown accustomed to his irrelevance to the child — and even believed it was possibly his punishment for his sins.
