Page 59 of Three Nights with the Beastly Duke

“Are you joking?” Arthur chuckled, squeezing Lavinia’s hand in his. “Not in the slightest. In fact, this one will be my favorite, to be sure.”

His eyes moved from the physician to Lavinia, who only rolled her eyes and shook her head as she smiled.

“As for you, Your Grace,” the physician said, turning his gaze toward Lavinia. “As I stated earlier, your baby appears perfectly healthy. But no more getting kidnapped, and no more unnecessary stress. Am I understood?”

“Perfectly, good sir,” Lavinia replied, her free hand immediately going to her belly.

“Congratulations to you both,” the physician stated with a smile. “I shall see you again in a month’s time to check on you. I trust you will keep each other safe.”

Lavinia and Arthur looked at one another again, their eyes full of love.

“You can be sure of that,” Arthur swore, not taking his eyes off wife.

With his work complete, the physical said his goodbyes and left the room.

The moment they were alone, Susan clapped her hands and looked from her mother to her sister-in-law. “So, does that mean we can move forward with my engagement party?” she asked excitedly.

Marianne laughed and patted her daughter’s knee. “Yes, darling, we certainly can,” she replied. “But we must invite Rebecca over soon to discuss the details. We don’t want your engagement party to interfere with hers. There is plenty of time to celebrate you both.”

“Yes, of course,” Susan agreed happily, standing up. “I shall write to her straight away and have a messenger deliver it promptly. With luck, she can be here tomorrow, and we can officially start making plans.” She paused when she almost reached the door, then turned and flounced back to her brother’s bed. “I’m so happy to hear you are better, Brother.” She beamed at him before kissing his cheek. “You shall be walking me down the aisle, will you not?”

Arthur smiled back at her, nodding. “I wouldn’t dream of letting anyone else do it,” he replied.

“I should go, too,” Marianne announced after Susan left. “If Rebecca is going to be here as soon as tomorrow, I need to coordinate a monstrous number of duties.” She looked down at her son tenderly, then at Lavinia, and then squeezed both of their hands. “Is there anything I can have brought to either of you?” she asked eagerly. “Some food? Or perhaps tea? How are you feeling, Lavinia? Is the nausea back today?”

“It has abated for today,” Lavinia replied reassuringly. “And I am perfectly fine, thank you.”

“As am I,” Arthur agreed cordially. “Please, Mother, go. We are fine here.”

Marianne looked from her son to her daughter-in-law, smiling with tear-filled eyes, and then kissed them both on the cheek. “I shall return soon,” she promised. “Remember, you both still need rest.”

Arthur waited until he heard his door click shut completely, and then he snaked his good arm around Lavinia’s waist and pulled her into bed with him. A burst of girlish giggles left her lips as he did so and were only silenced when he drew her close and kissed her soundly.

“Did you hear that?” Arthur asked, after a long, intense moment of kissing.

“Hear what?” Lavinia asked, still dizzy from the kiss.

Arthur grinned devilishly. “We’re finally alone,” he crooned, his voice thick with desire. “And with a clean bill of health.”

“Whatever shall we do with ourselves?” Lavinia giggled softly, kissing down the length of his jaw.

Arthur tried to roll her beneath him, but she pressed a hand to his good shoulder and drew her leg over his hip so that she was straddling him.

“We must still be gentle with your shoulder,” she teased, kissing her way down to his naked chest.

Arousal sparked in Arthur as Lavinia’s sultry kisses continued making their way down his abdomen, his cock already rock-hard and straining against his trousers. For the last month, they’d barely had any time alone, even if they had insisted. At any given moment, Marianne, Susan and even all members of Lavinia’s family had come to check on them or sit with them in the night. As if they were all terrified one of them may disappear again.

Arthur wanted his wife badly, and Lavinia was making it quite clear that she wanted him, too.

“Undress,” Arthur urged as Lavinia freed his cock.

Lavinia paused, looking at him with a surprised expression. “You heard your mother,” she replied in a whispered laugh. “We’re lucky if she doesn’t have someone come check on us in the next quarter of an hour.”

“Well then, we’ll give them a show, won’t we?” Arthur asked, his green eyes glazed with lust. His smile slowly dissolved, and the look that came over him next was enough to make Lavinia’s heart soar. “I have missed you insanely, my love. Please, undress so that I may see your full beauty. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”

“Oh, but I believe I do,” Lavinia replied coyly, sliding off of the bed. With quick hands, she unfastened her gown and let it fall to the floor. She quickly removed her chemise next and went to move back onto the bed.

“Wait,” Arthur rasped, his fingertips grazing over her lower belly.

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