Page 41

This was something altogether different.

And he liked it. More than a little. Not that he would let the sun into his house. That he would never allow, but he liked that she challenged him and didn’t shrink away.

In fact, the rosy sheen upon her cheeks as she glared at him made her look even more beautiful. He wished for nothing more than to raise his hand and cup her face. He would not have minded pulling her toward him and inhaling her scent once more, for it had been utterly intoxicating.

But this was not the time.

He rolled his shoulders back, conscious that he was still wearing nothing but his banyan.

“I have already told you, the curtains must stay closed. But if you wish, you may open the curtains in Emma’s room. Of course, it will prevent me from spending time with her.”

“I dare say it will not,” she said, scoffing as though he had just uttered the most ridiculous thing in the world. “You will simply let me know when you are coming. You can stand in the hallway and knock to announce yourself, or, if I am not there, you can tell one of your many, many servants.”

She was not finished.

“The same shall be true in any other chamber in the house. We can agree to dine with the curtains drawn, but I wish to take breakfast in the light. If there is a room you use, we can come to a compromise. Of course, in my chamber the curtains will always be open, day and night. I love the moonlight, as any good witch does.”

He smirked at this and saw his opportunity.

“Pray, are you under the impression that you should have your own chamber?”

That wiped the smile from her face at once.

“You gave me the duchess’ chamber to use. My belongings were brought there.”

“For the time being,” he replied. He saw her swallow, and the redness in her cheeks faded, making her look even paler.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Well, you are a duchess now, and I am a duke. Customarily, you get your own chambers, but an estate generally needs one thing more than anything else. An heir. Otherwise, this entire estate will pass to my father’s second cousin’s third son, or some such travesty.”

Her lips parted, and he knew he had her.

She wet her lips.

“An heir? From me?”

He held her gaze, keeping as serious as he could. He let her stew a moment longer, then shook his head and smiled.

“You need not fret. You are welcome to keep the curtains open all day and all night, so you can be certain that I shall not intrude upon you unannounced. As for the heir… none is required.”

She swallowed once more.

“You mean this?”

“I do. In fact, once I die, the estate will go to my cousin Nicholas. I have never met him, but I have reports that he is a decent fellow who would do right by the servants and the tenants. So you need not fret.”

She paused, her tongue running over her lips, leaving an inviting shimmer.

Once more, he wondered what it might be like to kiss her more passionately. To draw her in, to feel her body against his…

He turned slightly, because it was not only his mind that was utterly occupied by such thoughts.

“You never wished for an heir?”

The question alone took care of his physical reaction to her nearness.

“I never wanted a child,” he said. “No, that is not true. I would have liked to have had a child, but given my condition, I could not risk it. I would never burden another soul with the curse that has been placed upon me.”