Page 106 of The Governess and the Brooding Duke
Maybe some day. But not now. He wanted his brother to care for the child as he did Elizabeth and Michael. And he would protect the boy. Because, as his brother had pointed out, the true sin was if a person was wounded.
‘Write to me. If you make that decision.’
‘I will.’
‘Do I have your permission to speak of it to Grace?’
He nodded slowly. ‘It sounds to me, my dear younger brother, that you have a much more open relationship with your wife than I ever managed to have. And if I regret one thing about my years with Jane it’s that I never did figure out how to speak to her. You and Grace have honesty. Cling to that. And tell her. Everything. Even if some of those things are my secrets.’
‘A bit late to be receiving marital advice, but... You are correct. We have only ever been happier the more we share with one another.’
He would have to remember that. He would not share Mary, nor did he think she wished to be, but when it came to truth, he thought his brother had a point. He thought his brother was far more advanced than he when it came to the relationships in his life. West himself was only just learning.
But he would talk to Mary about her becoming his mistress.
The idea filled him with a sense of anticipation. He was set on his course now. And he would not be deterred.
Mary wished she had an easy way to procure new clothes but, living in the country as they did, it was difficult. What she had was the ruined chemise, torn partly down the centre, and a corset with very shallow cups for her breasts, which did not cover her nipples entirely.
The shadow of her intimate curls was visible through the diaphanous fabric. He might laugh. It was a silly combination of things.
But she thought that it had an edge of scandal to it that had the potential to light his blood on fire, and she thought his reaction would likely be incendiary. And she looked forward to it.
Concealing it under her dress meant pushing the edges of it down beneath the silk and revealing more of her breasts than she typically did, but she only made that change just before it was time to adjourn to his room. If she ran into Mrs Brown in the hall, the other woman probably wouldn’t think overly much about it.
Thankfully, she did not, and she made her way carefully to his room.
He was there, standing at the end of his bed, half naked already, his glorious torso on full display. That broad chest, covered in dark hair, his flat, hard stomach tensing as she walked in.
‘You started without me,’ she said, noticing the evidence of his desire through his breeches.
‘I’ve been thinking of you,’ he said. ‘It is difficult to keep my desire under control.’
‘I do not wish you in control, West. I wish you to be wild.’
‘I must ask you something.’
‘Before you take me? I find that I’m impatient.’
She began to undo the laces at the back of her dress.
‘Yes, before,’ he said, his voice hard. She stopped. ‘Continue,’ he commanded.
So she did. Beginning to peel away the layers, to reveal the garment beneath.
His nostrils flared, his eyes going wide.
‘What is that?’
‘Remember my ruined chemise? I decided to make something useful of it.’
‘You decided to make something that might well kill me.’
She laughed, feeling triumphant. ‘My intent is not to kill you, darling, that would quite defeat the purpose.’
His lips curved, and she could not quite guess what he was thinking.
‘What did you wish to speak about?’
