Page 75 of The Haunted Duke

Helena’s love for him deepened at such words, and she gave him a soft smile.

“You may care properly for me later,” she promised. “In our bed.”

Evander’s frown shifted into a wicked smile, and after giving her another quick yet passionate kiss, he grabbed his gloves and hurried to the door, opening it just enough so that he could slide through before closing it again.

For a moment, Helena stayed on the desk, letting herself revel in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Then, when she heard their voices fade from outside the door, she slid off the desk and adjusted her dress.

She was smoothing her mussed hair back into order when her gaze dropped to the two rows of desk drawers, and she stilled. Her eyes flicked up to the closed door, then back down to the drawers.

I only want to know he is not hiding anything from me, she told herself. That is all. Nothing more.

She wanted to trust Evander. Wanted to feel safe in his promises. Yet Letty’s warning nagged at her. Giving in to her moment of insecurity, she reached down and pulled open the bottom one.

It was not the one Evander had swept his papers into earlier. Instead, a neat bundle of letters, tied with ribbon, sat alone in the otherwise empty space, and something about the soft blue of the stationery tugged at her before she could say why. She lifted the bundle out and untied the ribbon, and when she unfolded the top letter, her breath caught in her throat.

I know this hand.

It was her own handwriting looking back at her. Her own words, written years ago to a man she had never met, who had never come the day he promised he would.

These are mine. Every one of them.

She sank into his chair and read further, needing to be certain. It could not be. It could not possibly be. But by the time she reached the bottom of the page, there was no more room left for doubt.

It was you. It was you all along.

Chapter 27

“What business could you possibly have that is so urgent to interrupt my honeymoon period?” Evander snapped.

He strode away from his study. Adrian and Damien followed closely behind.

“Someone is in a foul mood,” Adrian teased.

“Someone is sweat-slicked and in a foul mood,” Damien quipped. “I wonder what we could have possibly interrupted in there?”

“Oh, hell. Damien, you were right. He was naked. Are you hiding your wife in your study? Is that why you would not open the door?”

Evander drew to a stop and turned, glaring at his brother and friend.

“You are my family. But you will watch yourself when you speak of such things,” he warned.

For a moment, a tense silence settled around them, then, to his surprise, Adrian and Damien burst into laughter, startling him.

“Look at him, blushing and getting angry like a schoolboy caught in the act!”

“What has gotten into you two?” he asked. “Since when did you start being such goons? I remember you being far more serious in your youth.”

“The love of a good woman invokes such change,” Adrian replied. “One finds that life can be far more enjoyable when loved properly by the right woman. Do you not agree, Damien?”

“Most certainly,” Damien agreed, shrugging his shoulders. “Look at me. I used to never smile. Yet Caroline has transformed me into a love-struck fool who finds joy in mundane moments.”

“And based on the scent you are wearing, it seems like your new wife has brought you such joy as well,” Adrian teased.

“Enough of that.” Evander swatted Adrian on the back of his head, but he did so with a grin he could not hide.

“All right, all right, we will cease our jesting,” Adrian huffed, rubbing the back of his head.

“We will not stay long, old boy,” Damien added. “We were just passing by and wanted to see how you and your wife were faring. Now that we know that all is well, we will be on our way.”