Page 44 of A Bride for the Forbidden Duke
It was a teasing comment, but Veronica felt for the Duke.
She nodded.
“I would like that,” she agreed.
They both stood to retire, although Lady Sheridan continued talking about her friend, Lady Lindbury, and updating her on women whom Veronica did not know well enough to be interested in.
Soon, her mind strayed back to her husband. When they passed by his chambers, the door shut, she could imagine him pacing. Perhaps already undressed.
Veronica once again thought of the touch of his hand up her calf, the groan of his pleasure against the back of her thigh, and the brush of his mouth.
What more pleasures might he wreak upon me if he so deems it?
She could only imagine the full act. How rough he might handle her, the words he would say…
She craved intimacy from him once again, but it seemed he was in control of when that would be initiated.
Still, she could not stop her imagination running away with her. She had seen his muscles through his clothes. What would he look like fully bared to her? Or perhaps, he was still tightly rigid in his clothes, unable to relax. Perhaps she might help him in a way he would guide her through.
Her cheeks flaming, she pulled back from his door.
She wished she could go to him, but she understood that their arrangement was not like that.
Still, as Veronica got back into bed, she could only wonder: had she begun to care for the Duke?
Chapter Fourteen
“It feels so good to be doing this, does it not?” Veronica asked cheerfully, kneeling in the flowerbeds in the manor’s front garden.
It was not something they were accustomed to: the sight of a duchess hiking her dress up a little to kneel in the dry dirt with them, getting her hands dirty, but they let her do as she wished.
“I did this with my mama occasionally,” Veronica said, chattering to one of the maids who followed her, holding out pouches of seeds for her to plant.
There were two aisles of flower beds running up to the back entrance of the house, and Veronica felt as though they could do with some new life and color.
“You are very skilled, Your Grace,” the maid said, smiling. “I like the ones that will bloom pink.”
“Me too,” Veronica agreed. “Tulips are my favorite.”
“They will look stunning on a summer’s day.”
“And if I am to have my sitting area set up properly the way I envision, then the Duke and I shall have a beautiful view of the countryside in the background and the flowers right here.”
“Indeed,” the maid said, and they went further along with Veronica being handed the tools to dig her small holes for the seeds and then bury them in the compost. Within weeks, the plants would bloom, and indeed, she would have something beautiful to look upon.
“I suppose I should not really envision the Duke’s involvement in my relaxing out here,” she muttered to herself. “It is not likely he will sit with me in the evening or to break our fast.”
It was quite true. Ever since the day two weeks ago when his aunt had stayed overnight for her visit, he had once again avoided her. She had invited him several times to dine with her, but he had only given her a hard look before walking past her. The two had barely uttered two words.
“He shall not share a garden with me when he will barely share a greeting,” she sighed, standing up.
She felt flushed from the heat, swiping at her forehead. Despite wearing a bonnet, she was rather warm.
“Heavens, it is a very hot day.”
“I shall ensure there is lemonade, Your Grace.” The maid set down the pouch of seeds before scurrying off.
Veronica sighed, and her thoughts of how to approach the Duke, especially since their last encounter over dinner with his aunt, and Veronica learning what she had. It seemed to change a lot of things.
