Page 106 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“It’s not.”
“Then you missed me?” She slid a hand against his waistcoat and his heartbeat sped. His body warmed in anticipation.
Sometimes, when Bella took a break from her work for lunch, they didn’t repair to the dining room but to their bedroom.
“I did miss you, but I also have something to show you.”
“Do you indeed?” She scanned him from brow to boot, and then ran her hand across his chest, patting at his waistcoat pockets.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to take you up to our room before I give you your present.”
Bella chuckled in a husky way that was new and knowing. He absolutely loved it. “I might agree.”
“Good. But first, can I entice you into joining me in the drawing room?”
She glanced back at the table where she’d spread drawings and notes, then turned to smile back at him. “Entice me.”
He bent and kissed her cheek and then swept her hair back behind her ear to kiss her neck. “Will you join me in the drawing room, Duchess?”
“You have me curious now.”
Rhys tucked her hand under his arm and led her back down the hall. He could sense her eagerness as they drew closer. She sped the pace of her footsteps and eventually ended up tugging him along.
Walking through the door she let out a little gasp of surprise.
“Meg, you know the secret too?”
“I do.” Meg beamed and spread her hands to indicate the display she’d arranged.
Rhys could only shoot her a look of surprised admiration. In the minutes since he’d departed to find Bella, she’d gathered all the candles in the room, lit them, and set them around the box as if it was a kind of offering. She’d also found a ribbon someplace and tied it around the box in a pretty bow.
“Is that for me?”
Meg stepped back, hands clasped in front of her. Rhys gestured for Bella to open her present.
Bella tugged at the satin ribbon with an eager smile on her face, but she turned a confused look Rhys’s way. “It’s not even my birthday.”
“A birthday of sorts.”
That made her frown but she continued, lifting the painted cardboard lid off the box.
Rhys’s pulse had begun racing the minute they stepped in the room. He knew how important thiswould be to her and he couldn’t wait to see her reaction.
They’d included a wrap of colored paper, and she peeled that away gingerly.
The gasp she let out was exactly what he’d expected, but he hadn’t anticipated the tears. “It’s so beautiful.”
Rhys placed a hand on her shoulder, rubbing gently. “You did this. It’s all you.”
“Congratulations, Bella.” Meg stepped forward and gave Bella a kiss on the cheek. “It’s an extraordinary accomplishment.”
Copies of Bella’s first puzzle and conundrum book were not due to be available for another week, but Rhys had arranged with her publisher for a special copy, bound in the finest red leather with gold engraving just for Bella.
She swiped at her cheeks. “Thank you, Meg. Would you excuse us for a moment? I’d like to have a word with your brother alone.”
“Of course.” Meg swung a bemused glance from Bella to Rhys and then exited the drawing room.
“Thank you.” Bella smiled at him, one of the warm genuine smiles that made her eyes sparkle.
