The Inconvenient Duchess

and beating in harmony with his.
    The music ended, but she wanted more. She sighed. ‘And we will not need to do this at the ball? How sad.’
    ‘Not at all. For then I might have to share you with other partners.’
    ‘Perhaps some other time, then?’
    He leaned close, and whispered in her ear. ‘Tonight? If you come to my room after the ball I will dance with you all you wish. And teach you other steps that will give great pleasure to us both.’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Go upstairs and ready yourself, wife. Rest. For there is a long night ahead of us.’ And he dipped his head forward and his lips touched her neck before he released her.
    She hurried to her room, requesting that Polly deliver a light meal, and make arrangements for her bath and toilette .
    She tried to rest, but sleep was impossible. Her blood sang in her veins. The ball and the accompanying worries were all but forgotten. It was only a place that she would spend the intervening hours before returning home with her husband. Any fears associated with that had burned away as he’d danced her around the floor. His touch was firm but his voice was soft, and the kiss on her neck had been warm and promising.
    She no longer worried about not finding pleasure in the marital bed. He had been nothing but accommodating in all other things, and attentive to her moods. And he would be so tonight as well, she was sure of it.
    She still wore the heavy necklace that symbolised her house, but it was not such a great burden, if Marcus had placed it there. He could remove it later.

Chapter Twenty-Two
    P olly supervised her dressing, which was just as well since Miranda was in such a state as to hardly know her own body. Every part of her felt new and tingling. The gown set off the emeralds. Her hair was piled high on her head and dressed with tiny diamond clips that sparkled in the firelight.
    When it was time to go, there was a knock on the front door of her room. Polly opened it and her husband stood, framed in the doorway, staring at her.
    She turned in a circle before him. When she faced him again, his eyes devoured her. ‘Magnificent.’
    ‘Do I please you?’
    ‘Very much so.’ He took her hand and stroked it before bringing it to his lips. Then he escorted her to the carriage, handed her in and seated himself across from her.
    She glanced at the seat beside her and wondered why he chose to be so far away.
    As if reading her mind he answered, ‘Polly’s handiwork will be safer if I keep my distance from you, my dear.’
    ‘In what way?’
    ‘In the privacy of this carriage, I do not trust myself. Given the chance, I would pull you into my lap and show you what I think of my new wife, and we would have to turn around before we ever reached the ball.’
    ‘And what do you think of me?’
    ‘I think you are overdressed.’
    She looked in alarm at her gown. ‘Is it too much?’
    He laughed, low and sensuous. ‘Any gown is too much, my dear. You are lovely as you are now, but to see you stretched naked across that seat would be infinitely better.’
    ‘Naked?’
    ‘Perhaps I shall let you retain the emerald necklace, for warmth.’
    ‘And what will you be doing, while I am freezing to death?’
    ‘I shall lie close to you, so you do not get cold. And I will tangle one hand in those fine curls at your neck, and another in the fine curls between your legs and warm everything between them with my lips.’
    She trembled at the thought of him, taking her in the carriage on the way home this very night.
    ‘Is that the way it is to be with us, sir?’
    He nodded. ‘With me utterly besotted and glaring at any man that will partner you this evening. Barking in a rage at the young puppies that will be crowded around, plying you with champagne, frightening off your admirers and making an ass of myself. And the other ladies laughing behind their fans at how you have me so thoroughly under your spell in such a few short weeks.’
    ‘I have bespelled you?’
    ‘Most completely. I find I can think of nothing else but you in my arms, and you by my side. I am yours to command, Miranda, whether you want me or no. I hope that the vicar and his wife are there to see. They will be most disappointed to find me reformed.’
    She smiled. ‘Do we have to stay so very long this evening?’
    His eyebrows arched. ‘You would rather be home?’
    She smiled. ‘With you. Yes.’
    ‘Oh, Miranda, you were put on this earth to tempt me from my duties. Courtesy demands that we