Page 69 of His Duchess' Mischief

“You are stunning when you are jealous, Duchess. I might take a mistress simply to enrage you.”

Alicia moved to shove him aside and leave the room, but his hands gripped her wrists, in an echo of their time in the woods, and she gasped sharply as he pushed her back.

His scent enveloped her again, and her eyes fluttered, her head falling back against the wall.

“I remember telling you before that you should not lay a hand on me if you do not want it returned,” he said darkly.

Alicia struggled against his grip. “Let me go.”

For a frozen moment, neither of them moved, his weight heavy against her. He moved forward, his lips brushing lightly over her jaw, one side and then the other, until they slowly moved to her mouth.

He hovered above her, inches away, the heat of him all-encompassing, driving her mad.

Then, slowly, he pulled back, his eyes softening.

“The letters are from a friend of mine,” he murmured. “Long gone now. I am trying to find something I am sure he told me. It is taking longer than I thought.”

Alicia stopped struggling. Seth’s eyes had turned from dark brown to almost black, and there was such deep sadness in them that she felt an icy chill race down her back.

He stepped back, tugging at his coat as his eyes swept over the room. “It is late, and I have been in here for too long. Come, let us go upstairs.”

He offered her his arm, and she felt a shiver of anticipation at the change of topic.

Seth seemed to throw off his grief with a shake of his head as he slowly led her out of the study and up the stairs to their bedchambers.

Alicia’s heart was thudding so hard that she could feel it against her ribs. A frisson of excitement skipped over her heated skin as she glanced at him.

Is he expecting me to invite him in tonight? Is that what he wants?

But as they reached her bedchamber, he did not pause for long. He released her arm and bowed solemnly, his eyes lingering on hers for a powerful second, before he nodded, turned around, and walked to his chambers.

Alicia watched until he was out of sight, unsure why his leaving her tonight made her more disappointed than relieved.

CHAPTER 21

The following night, Alicia was in her sewing room, laughing at how ludicrous her latest creation was.

She did not want to analyze why she had chosen to alter her nightgown of all things. Nevertheless, it was her latest project.

It was late, and having been unable to sleep, she had come to see if she could tire her mind with some sewing.

The resulting creation was unfit to be seen. The neckline was far too low, and the alterations she had made were not so much unusual asindecent.

Her waist was cinched painfully with the pieces of fabric she had replaced with others, and the neckline plunged halfway down her breasts.

She laughed as she looked at herself in the mirror, glad she was alone and the servants would never see her in this. Even Rose would be scandalized.

Alicia sighed, spinning in place and putting her hands on her hips. She was not tired at all, despite the late hour.

Glancing at the clock, she pulled her robe from the chair where she had left it and decided to go to the library and find the most boring book she could think of.

The house was silent as she tied her robe tightly around her so as not to startle any unsuspecting footmen, and she went down the stairs to the library.

It was her favorite room in the house—tall and wide, with the musty scent of books and leather in the air.

As she closed the door behind her, she was considering which section would make her as tired as possible when she leaped back, slamming against the door in shock when a shape rose from before the fire.

The soft chuckle made her glower at her husband, who bowed, placing a hand over his heart.

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