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The Duke And I Thirty-One
Lord Hartford was a devilish charmer, even at the age of six and fifty. He was roguishly handsome, slick hair pulled back so his face appeared more prominent. Aunt Adeline said the reason he did that was so his dimples would be the first things one saw when meeting him. "I don’t understand the obsession of people with a little indentation in my cheek," he said to Cassy when they were first introduced, "but I can assure you that this little, seemingly insignificant things have gotten me out of many a tight corners."Cassy smiled at him, not bothering to point out that the numerous wrinkles on his face were starting to blend into his dimples. His hair must have been thinning in the middle, which was why he made sure to cover the evidence of his imperfection diligently. The ballroom was somewhat crowded, and Cassy had pulled aunt Adeline to the side so they could silently observe the comings and goings of the ton. Lord Hartford was a famously wealthy man, and his sons William and Michea
The Duke And I Thirty-Two
"But I told you, I didn't know!" Cassy said, her anger beginning to overpower her. Jonathan towered over her, demanding answers to questions when her head ached, and her heart was hammering loudly in her chest. Adeline sat in a chair in the corner, her face stern, making Cassy wonder why everyone seemed to be against her."There's nothing for it, Henry," the duchess said after several minutes had passed. "She's been compromised by you.""Compromised?!""Why on earth did you think it would be a good idea to drag Cassandra to the porch and kiss her?" she demanded crossly. "Now Cassandra's name will be on the lips of everyone in London, from kitchen boys to scullery wenches. Everyone will know that you and your ward are having an affair.""I'm sorry to hear that," Henry said evenly, "but I would hardly call it an affair. It was just a kiss.""I'm quite sure of that. But do you think the ton will see it that way?" Adeline asked testily."I don’t care what the ton thinks," he said crossly.
The Duke And I Thirty-Three
They were married at ten o'clock in the morning. It had been a private ceremony at Eastland's insistence and had been performed in the small chapel on the county estate. Only a few servants had attended, and when Cassy turned to walk back down the aisle of the chapel, she happened to catch Sheldon's eyes. He seemed pleased, as did the others, who were all smiling, and she managed a shaky smile in return.Eastland had agreed to the ceremony of wedding breakfast but insisted that it be before tenants and servants, with the gates thrown open to allow the villagers in to partake of whole roasted sheep, oxen and cows. There was even a multitiered bridal cake on one table, intricately decorated with festoons of icing and small pink roses. A variety of foods sat heavily on long tables on the broad lawns of Eastland's country house, and the gardeners had worked feverishly to trim grasses and bushes. An archway of roses cascaded over the chairs where Cassy and Henry were to sit, along with Adel
The Duke And I Thirty-Four
Excusing himself from Lord Craven, Henry strode to his bride, a faint, caustic smile curling his mouth when she flushed and took an instinctive step away from him. Did he look that angry? He wondered idly and thought that he probably did. It should do her some good to think he would give her the cruel treatment he was certain she deserved. Being forced into marriage was the most unpleasant thing that had happened to him in some time, and if he could derive any sort of satisfaction, he felt he deserved it."So, my lovely bride," he drawled, taking one of her hands in his and noting how cold it was even tucked inside her glove, "I trust that it has all gone according to your wishes?"She stiffened as the insinuation behind his words. "If it had," she said with a brief show of spirit, "I would be far away from here!"A dark brow lifted in ironic amusement, and Henry shook his head. "Somehow, I doubt that my sweet," he said softly. "I think you've had things your way since all this began."
The Duke And I Thirty-Five
Bending his head, Henry captured her lips with his, one hand moving to tangle in her hair, pulling it free of the ribbons that held it atop her head, his fingers winding in the heavy strands to keep her from moving away from his kiss. His tongue coaxed her lips apart, easing inside with a velvety pressure that took her by surprise and made her jerk away. He held her still."No, please," she gasped out when he released her mouth for a moment, hearing her own voice as if from far away. It sounded drugged, hazy and she realized with a start that was how she felt all over. Everything about her felt weighted, her arms, her legs, even her eyelids. Henry's searing mouth found no opposition when he kissed her again, long and hard, his lips moving from hers up to the curve of her jaw to her ear, pausing to tease that small satiny patch at the base of her neck."Don't fight it," Henry muttered thickly when she lifted her head, her eyes smouldering with blue embers beneath the heavy fan of her la
The Duke And I Thirty-Six
"When do you intend to let her out of your bed?" Adeline demanded testily, fixing her nephew with an irritable glare when he appeared downstairs for breakfast alone. "No one has seen Cassandra in two days!"Lifting his dark brow in a mocking gesture, Henry looked coolly at his aunt. "I thought you were anxious for an heir, aunt Adeline. I don't know of another way to provide one for you.""Henry!" He was still angry, she could see that, and Adeline hesitated before asking cautiously, "Is she...all right?""If you mean have I given her the beating she so richly deserves, then no. But if you mean, have I hurt her, it's almost impossible for a virgin not to experience some pain in the first time," he said so bluntly the duchess coloured like a schoolgirl before she recovered her composure."Yes," she said stiffly, hoping to shock him into realizing how cruel he sounded, "we all heard her scream after you took her upstairs."Her words only amused Henry, and he shrugged. "I suppose that's n
The Duke And I Thirty-Seven
She left the house and went into the sunshine, not even stopping to grab a parasol to shade her face. Freckles would probably take over her face one day, she thought ruefully, but she was in so much of a hurry to stop. The stables were some distance from the house, and he might be gone by the time she arrived.For some reason, she wanted to see Henry again; to hear the deep, rich sound of his voice, and see the way his jade eyes rested on her with an aloof expression. One day, she mused, she would banish the aloofness from his gaze and he would tell her that he loved her.Cassy found Henry talking to Smith, who had become the head groom. As she approached, Henry half-turned, his brow lifting. He excused himself and walked toward her with a lazy stride that made her heart catch."Your grace," she murmured almost shyly, aware of the interested gazes in their direction. "I thought I might see if you were in the mood for a picnic."She'd had no idea what excuse she would use for looking fo
The Duke And I Thirty-Eight
Her riding skirts were much bulkier than her usual outfits, and Cassy found it hard to keep up with Henry's long stride. When they reached the top of the hill, she was breathing hard and sat down on the surface of flat rock to catch her breath. Henry had been right, it was a beautiful spot, with the loud splashing of water cascading over the rocks and down into a natural pool.Moved by impulse, she began to remove her shoes and stockings, flashing him an impish glance when he raised an eyebrow at her. "My feet are hot," she explained, and tiptoed to the water and perched at the edge, sticking first one, then the other foot into the icy depths, much like she used to do at the lake. Eastland said nothing but watched her with a lazy indulgence as she splashed her feet in the water and sucked in her breath at its chill. When she invited him to join her, he just shook his head, his gaze resting on her bare legs as she hitched her skirts up to her knees. Shapely calves and flashes of ivory
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The Duke And I 60.
April 25, 1822"Twins, your grace," the physician said, smiling wearily at the man sprawled in a chair in his study. "Boys. And healthy they are, bawling their lungs out."Henry stood up slowly, running a hand over the half grown stubble on his jaw. Twins? Boys?"How is my wife?" he asked after an instant of stunned silence."Very tired, as she's so small and it was a hard birth for her, but she's well. There seem to be no problems.""There better not be," Henry growled, fixing the doctor with an intent gaze. "You are to remain here until she has completely recovered. I've heard too many times about women who have died within a few days after a normal birth, and I won't have that happen to Cassandra.""But your grace, I have other patients who need me," the doctor protested. "Lady Auberly is nearly..."Henry wasn't listening. He strode across the room and out the door of his study, taking the stairs two at a time. He eased into Cassy's room, his eyes trying to adjust to the dim light.
The Duke And I 59.
"I love you so much. . . ."His kisses seared her flesh like glowing brands as his mouth moved around her lips. "You're the best thing to had ever happen to me," he murmured against her lips, before capturing them yet again in a searing kiss.It had never occurred to Cassy that he would want her to touch him as he touched her, and the knowledge was thrilling. She put her hands against his tanned chest, slowly spreading her fingers, amazed when her simple touch made his breath catch.Feeling as if her heart would break with the love bursting in it, Cassy answered him with a melting kiss. It was answer enough.Still holding her, he moved onto his side, then he combed his fingers through her rumpled, satiny hair and brushed a tender kiss against her temple. Cassy’s lashes fluttered up and he felt as if he would drown in the deep blue pools of her eyes."How do you feel?" she teased, smiling as she asked him the same question he had once asked her. With tender solemnity, he replied, "I f
The Duke And I 58.
Henry took her home that evening. Cassy smiled all the way back home, looking at him as though he would disappear from her sight. "What is it?" he asked, smiling at her. "Nothing," she replied. "I just want to look at you."His aunt was much too happy to see them returned, and she held Cassy for a bit longer than expected. Jonathan had a long talk with his sister the next day when he arrived, and for the first time since her marriage to Henry, he actually smiled at her husband. "Isn't she amazing?" Adeline asked as she stood beside him by the large hall, both of them gazing at Cassy adoringly as she spoke with the servants; Sheldon and Gabriel included. Ever since they came back, the atmosphere of the estate had changed to a cheerful chatter."She is," Henry agreed without a second thought, and he missed the smile that spread across Adeline's face. "I had no idea she would be this forgiving.""You think she has forgiven you?" Adeline asked swiftly, gazing up at his jade eyes filled
The Duke And I 57.
For a long while, Cassy simply stared at him. She could hardly believe that he was actually here, standing before her with his darkened eyes and his tousled hair. "May I come in?" he asked. Cassy stepped aside, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop him. The ruse was over; Zack must have told him where she was. The bastard! How could he betray her like this?Henry walked behind her slowly, unable to take his eyes of her. So she had been at Zack’s this entire time. Zack, who should have had the decency to inform him at once that his wife was hiding here. Zack, who had taken Catherine from him, had also succeeded in taking his wife this time. Fury lashed at his thoughts, but his murderous thoughts were halted immediately whenever he blinked and she came into his view. Cassy lead them into the drawing room she had just vacated with Colin. This time however, she didn’t sit. Neither did Henry. He stood at the doorway, watching her hungrily. He couldn’t soak in the sight of her en
The Duke And I 56.
"Colin?"His name was a whisper on her lips, too light and feathery to be real. It had been too long since she last said the name; too long since she last saw the rugged smile and those beautiful eyes staring down at her. "Colin." She said the name again, as if repeating it would make his presence more real. He looked different, and yet somehow the same. The familiarity hit her like a train, sending her world spinning off its axis. "May I come in?" he asked, a nonchalant smirk perched on the edge of his lips. "I hardly think this is the right spot for old friends to entertain each other.""Of course," she said breathlessly, stepping aside. "Forgive my manners. I’m just so surprised to see you here of all places.""I’m surprised to see you here as well," he said, passing the threshold and stepping into the hallway. "Hardwick never told me about you.""Well I only just came to stay with him a few months ago," she replied, leading him to the drawing room. She could feel his eyes on her
The Duke And I 55.
Jonathan growled as though he would punch Henry without hearing from him. He had a defensive stance, waiting for the best moment to strike."I have no idea," Henry began, his voice cold. "Perhaps you might know where I can find her, Levington?"Jonathan was seething with rage. "Now you see why I was so against the wedding!" he snapped angrily before punching Henry on the face.If Henry heard him, he gave no sign. His attention was on the door. He didn't bother to reply Jonathan, he didn't care how angry he was. He wanted to fight. It had been a long time since he'd felt this fierce urge to battle another man, but he did now. Few of the duels he'd engaged had been of his choosing and fewer still had he anticipated. Most of the time, he had simply refused to back down when pushed and had given his challenger every opportunity to gracefully extract himself from a fight.But now, Henry wanted a fight desperately. He wanted the satisfaction of clashing blades, not the more detached aiming o
The Duke And I 54
Cassy mounted one of the sedate.The raw pain had eased slightly and was duller now, more easily dealt with now that she wasn't expecting anything, now that she wasn't expecting him to follow her. She had given up already on their love.At first, nothing had helped, then for the past week, she had begun taking her life one day at a time, making it through the day and then congratulating herself for it, spending as much time with Zack as possible. Finally, she had begun taking pains with her appearance again and had begun wearing the new clothes that fit her fuller figure. Her breasts were larger, and her waist, though still small, was not as small as it had been. Her hips were fuller, too, swelling in a curve that would hardly be mistaken as boyish now. She had definitely matured, and pregnancy surely did agree with her.But what good did it do to her if Henry was so far away? And why did she miss him so much when it was obvious he did not miss her? He was with his mistresses, and she
The Duke And I 53
"Why wasn't I told?" Adeline seethed angrily. "Why do I have to find out when things are worse? Henry, do you any idea how helpful I might have been in looking for her?""I don't care to discuss it, Madam," he said coldly, causing her to shiver. "And I'll find my wife myself.""You don't feel it necessary now when she has left already? With a baby? Your baby?" Adeline injected a note of scorn in her voice that made Henry's eyes blaze with fury as she said, "You're a coward, Henry Blake, and I never thought that of you before.""You have no idea what you're talking about!""I most certainly do. You're afraid to admit that you love Cassandra, and you're afraid she doesn't love you back as much as you do. I can tell you that she does."Clasping his hands behind his back, Henry said in a biting tone, "I can tell you, madam, that you are quite mistaken in the matter. Not only does she not care for me; she hates me. If you don't believe me, ask her. I'm certain she will be as free with that
The Duke And I 52
As he held Rebecca in his hands and watched his wife leave, Henry quickly pushed Rebecca away from him. He had no idea why he had done it, no idea why he had felt the compelling urge to hug Rebecca and kiss her as soon as he saw her standing in his study.Maybe he was confused at the words she had said, maybe their argument last night had done that. Point is, he had only caught her in the hands of his cousin, and she was drunk, which meant he might have possibly only helped her like they both said. But now, she had caught him kissing another woman, right in their home.He had wanted to hurt her as much as he was hurting, but definitely not the type of hurt he had seen in her eyes when she saw him kissing Rebecca."Leave," he growled angrily at Rebecca, and Sheldon wasted no time in dragging her out, despite her pleading. He had been pained to have seen Cassy seeing the sinful act, but he couldn't move, nor did he have the slightest idea that she had left. Only Ellen did, and it happene
