Page 72 of A Deal with her Forbidden Duke
“You must rest,” he told her quietly. “I will escort you upstairs.”
“We did not finish our tea,” she giggled, her face flush with pleasure.
“I found a much more inviting thing to fill my night,” he told her with a grin.
Madeleine put her robe back on, and they left the parlor. Alexander had the strange urge to laugh, as though they were doing something secretive in their own home.
They stole up stairways and past dark rooms and closed doors, until he reached their adjoined chambers.
He turned to her, kissing her cheek. “Good night, Madeleine.”
She ducked her head in a smile. “Good night, Alexander.”
The following morning, Madeleine woke up in her own chambers, wincing at the sunlight trying to sneak in through her closed curtains.
There was a pleasant, welcome ache in her body, evidence of hers and Alexander’s night.
Adjusting the nightdress she’d changed into upon retiring to her chambers, she snuck over to the connecting door. However, when she pushed it open, expecting it to be locked, the door gave way, leading her to Alexander’s empty rooms.
A piece of paper lay on his pillow, a fine script addressed to her.
I imagined you would sneak in to find me. I am awaiting you on the south terrace, near the music room. Breakfast awaits you, darling.
Madeleine’s heart swooped. She had resigned herself to a life of solitude and coldness. Even with Alexander, at the very start, despite his protective streak she thought he could not come to want her truly.
And yet…
She held the parchment to her chest, a giddy feeling rising in her, and called for Emily to dress her for the day.
When she entered the south terrace, a wide balcony that overlooked the gardens, Alexander waited for her, as promised.He wore a black shirt and equally black jacket. Around his neck was a navy cravat.
Madeleine swallowed, recalling the tingling pleasure of the silk on her skin the night before.
“Good morning,” Alexander greeted her with a knowing smile. “Did you sleep well?”
Lowering herself into the chair he had prepared for her, much closer together than they often were at dinnertime, Madeleine nodded. “I did. And you?”
“I slept better than I have in quite some time.”
He gave her a charming smile but Madeleine cocked her head. “Do you often find yourself mentally preoccupied? Do you worry about everything?”
Alexander shrugged as he leaned forward to pick up a piece of toast with silver tongs, presenting it on the empty plate before her. Around them, servants waited for his instruction.
“Let us not concern ourselves with such things,” he said, and she frowned, feeling dismissed.
“I wish to know if something worries you,” she pressed lightly.
“It is nothing.” He gave her another smile. “A boy grows into a man, and when that man becomes a duke, bearing his past as well as a duchy. I find myself awake with my thoughts. That is all.”
“You may come to me,” Madeleine insisted. “Any time you cannot sleep, you may approach my chamber.”
He cleared his throat, nodding once. She knew her husband was still guarded. She was not naive to think one night of coupling would make him open up to her, but she still tried, regardless.
“Does anything keep you awake at night?” he asked.
She tried to focus on buttering her toast. She was not sure if the question was in jest, but all she could think of for a moment was the blood-soaked cloth they found in the warehouse when investigating Donald.
Madeleine shook her head. “Nothing at all.”
