Page 122 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“Alexander, I have spent my life trusting people who hurt me. Iwantto trust you—I think a part of me already did. But how can I when you will not even let me in? How do I trust that you will not push me away again at the first sign of trouble?”
Alexander stepped forward, reaching for her once more.
“I have been a coward. I was so wrong to think that protecting you means keeping you in the dark, that my secrets protect you. They do not, and, Heavens, Madeleine, I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I will do whatever it takes to earn it. Every single day of my life, ofourlife together, I will make sure I earn that trust and forgiveness, I swear it.”
Her distrust softened into something that was not entirely complacency but more understanding. An inch of space that she gave him.
She reached out to place a hand on his cheek, and he leaned into her touch, grateful for it. “Is this real, Alexander? Do you truly mean what you say?”
“With every beat of my heart for the rest of my life,” he swore.
“Then you will make up for it,” she whispered, murmuring. “Starting now.”
“Now?”
“Take me home, Alexander.”
Her eyes met his, and a small smile danced on her lips. Alexander’s stomach swooped as he scooped her up, holding her sideways in his arm.
“Whatever my wife requests.”
Before he walked her back to her horse, he kissed her. He had spent far too many days apart from her to wait another moment to have her mouth on his.
Madeleine clung to him, her body finally pressed to his in longing. She curled her fingers into his hair, and he groaned, his eyes slipping closed as everything fell back into place.
His wife in his arms, and their bed soon to be no longer empty.
Madeleine pulled back slightly, her eyes bright. “I love you, Alexander. I think I have had feelings for you since the moment you showed up on the doorstep that very first night.”
Alexander barked a laugh as he got her up on his own horse. He would have the other follow long.
“I remain firmly insistent that I was not ogling you. However, if I get you back home then I very muchwillbe ogling you.” He gave her a deep look, smirking. “I can also look upon you without your gown on, as well.”
“And yet our horse remains stationary,” she teased.
Alexander had never clambered up onto a horse so fast.
Chapter Forty
TWO MONTHS LATER
“You are ready?”
Her brother’s voice behind her had Madeleine turning. She stood in the sunroom, where glass doors led out into the garden.
“I am. At least I think.”
John smiled secretively. “Your husband has arranged quite a beautiful event. It matches you, sister.”
“I imagine Colin has taken this time to give Alexander a good talking to,” Madeleine laughed.
She wore the dress Alexander had chosen with her—a blue sapphire gown—and she had an idea of what awaited her out there but to know it was a proper surprise made her feel giddy with excitement.
“Oh, very much so. Alexander has been thoroughly admonished. And he took it all. Simply stood there and let Colin berate him.”
“The fact that he did not puff out his chest in stubbornness says a lot about how sorry he is,” Madeleine mused, even though her husband had worked very,veryhard to make it up to her.
Almost every morning, in fact. Especially that morning, when she had awoken to his face between her legs.
