Page 65 of The Beast

“If ye wish, I will speak to him.” Caelan met her gaze. “Where is he now?”

For some reason her eyes became watery. “I mentioned that we will be leaving in three days and he did not reply. Then he hurried to the stables, saying he was going for a ride.”

Caelan was pensive. “He may be doing it to clear his head and consider the upcoming trip. Duncan understands it is imperative he goes to see yer father. If he is hesitant, there is a good reason for it. Do not worry, I will ensure he clarifies things.”

Feeling somewhat better, Beatrice stood. “Thank ye for everything.”

Caelan kissed her cheek. “All will be well. Do not fret.”

The day progressed quickly, Beatrice and Orla were excited when the seamstress arrived with their dresses. They spent an hour trying them on, while the woman made last-minute adjustments.

When Duncan arrived, Caelan asked to speak to him, and they went back outside. From the great room windows, Beatrice caught glimpses of them. Both seemed calm until Duncan pulled his hair from the plait and raked his fingers through it.

Caelan held up both hands, as if exasperated.

“I wish I could read lips,” Beatrice said to Orla, who came to stand next to her. “It seems as if my husband is not happy.”

“Neither is Mister Caelan,” Orla added.

Duncan paced while talking, while Caelan crossed his arms and leaned on the stone wall.

During last meal, it was as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Duncan was mostly quiet, but that was not unusual, whilst Caelan regaled her with a story about his time away at boarding school.

Beatrice didn’t linger after the meal, as she was not in the mood to listen to a conversation about the last game’s competition.

Once in her bedchamber, she became annoyed. She and Duncan had not made love in days, mostly because the last two days she’d been too exhausted to remain awake. She’d heard the adjoining door open but hadn’t been able to gather the strength to wake fully.

This day, she wasn’t as exhausted. The family had left after first meal, leaving the rest of the day to pack some things and she’d even napped.

As she undressed, the adjoining door opened.

A shiver of excitement traveled up her spine and she turned to find Duncan stalking toward her.

He lifted her off the floor, their mouths joined, his tongue immediately probing past her lips. Beatrice lost her breath when he lowered her to the floor and tugged the gown off her shoulders. It slipped down and pooled at her feet.

Between kisses, she helped him remove his clothing until he too stood fully bare before her.

He was magnificent. From his broad shoulders and muscular chest that tapered to slender hips. His thighs were thick and toned from horseback riding. What took her attention was the thick erect shaft between them.

“Ye are perfect,” she said trailing her gaze up to meet his gaze. “I need to feel every inch of ye against me.” Too excited to wait, she tugged him toward the bed.

Duncan picked her up and placed her on the bed and then climbed in and lay next to her. Facing each other, he ran a hand down her side from under her arm to just below her hip. “I have never seen a more beautiful sight than ye here with me.”

It was as if every place his gaze landed came to life, the skin tingled and she shivered in anticipation of what was to come.

She was not disappointed. They made love in a way that was new. Uninhibited, tumbling into different positions until they were breathless and drenched.

Sprawled across Duncan, too spent to move, Beatrice lifted her face and peered up at him. “I believe to have fallen in love with ye,” she admitted. “Is it too soon?”

His body quivered and he blew out a breath. “No. It is not. I fell in love with ye a long time ago.”

The idea of it gave her strength to climb over him, she looked down at her husband. “And ye did not think I needed to know?”

His lips curved. “Ye are enticing like that.”

“Ye annoy me,” Beatrice informed him with a playful nip to his bottom lip. “Say it.”

“What?”