The Inconvenient Duchess

bitter enough. ‘Not tonight, St John. I am rather tired. I think I will retire to my room and read.’
    ‘Come…’ he took her arm ‘…I’ll escort you.’
    ‘That won’t be necessary.’
    ‘Ah, but I insist.’ He stood and came to stand beside her, giving her arm an innocent squeeze, and she felt an unaccustomed tightening in her body. ‘You shouldn’t have to wander this great house alone.’
    ‘But, really, I prefer…’
    ‘To be alone? Bah. It is not healthy to be too much by one’s self. You will find that there are many enjoyable activities that are better in the company of others.’
    He led her out of the room and they proceeded down the hall and up the first flight of stairs towards her room. She made to break away from him then, thanking him again for unnecessary courtesy.
    ‘But we are barely halfway there, Miranda.’
    ‘I know the way. Honestly, St John, it is not as though I am likely to get lost in my own house.’
    His expression flickered in the candlelight. ‘It was my house too, once. Everyone forgets that I am a member of the family.’
    ‘Of course you are family, St John. To me at least. Just like a brother.’ The words sounded false in her ears and she hurried on. ‘I never had a brother.’
    ‘You certainly never had mine. But I will rectify this lack of family and make you welcome.’ And before she could pull away, he kissed her on the cheek.
    It was only a peck, but it burned against her skin and she stood dazed beside him, feeling the weight of his hand pressing on her shoulder.
    He touched her on the cheek and his finger traced the line of her nose, and to her shock she sighed.
    ‘My word. You truly haven’t had my brother. He’s gone, but left you untouched.’
    She blushed. ‘It is not proper to talk of such things.’
    ‘Not proper. But it’s true, isn’t it?’ He did not wait for her answer, but read it in her eyes.
    ‘My brother is a bigger fool than I thought to abandon a gem to chase after the dross he’ll find in London.’
    ‘He did not abandon me.’ But her voice did not sound as sure as she wanted to make it.
    ‘Perhaps not. He will no doubt come back when he tires of the sport where he is hunting, and expect to find his innocent waiting at home. It would serve him right if someone came and stole you away.’
    ‘I have more honour than that, sir.’
    ‘Of course you do, my darling Miranda. But you’ll find there are men who have no scruples against tempting a lonely wife away from her virtue.’
    ‘And I suppose you mean to protect me from them,’ she said tartly.
    ‘Perhaps it is not protection you need.’
    ‘St John, you go too far.’ She turned away from him and he took her shoulders and gently turned her back to face him.
    ‘Miranda.’ His voice was injured innocence itself. ‘I was only teasing. Your secret is safe with me.’
    ‘Thank you,’ she murmured.
    ‘There. Much better. Am I forgiven? I could not bear to see you angry with me. Who would I have then to talk to and to walk with?’
    ‘I was being foolish.’ He was right, she thought. It was better to be alone together than for the two of them to be alone separately.
    He pulled her to him and gave her a salute on the other cheek, another brief peck, and she felt the blood rushing to her face.
    He did not let go. ‘I would miss you, you know, if you were to withdraw your affection.’ His voice was ever so slightly hoarse.
    She looked up into his eyes, and saw the sadness in his smile.
    ‘Without you, I would be quite desperately unhappy. This is such a cold house, without the warmth of another human being, is it not? You must feel it yourself, at night when you are alone in that great bed in the duke’s apartments.’
    She did not want to think of the loneliness. Not just now, when she was standing too close to another.
    ‘And you, Miranda dear, should not be abandoned to the darkness that is our family home. You deserve better.’
    She closed her eyes against the words. Everyone kept insisting that she deserved more than she wanted. She could be happy but for the desire of those around her to improve her condition when she was content.
    ‘A flower like you must not be kept in the cold and dark, but must be given light and warmth so it may flourish.’ His hands brushed slowly up her arms as if to dispel the chill, but she shivered at his touch, realised their proximity and made to pull away.
    But his arms were strong and held her fast, and they seemed to