Page 37 of The Duke's Return
The look she sent him was one of exasperation as she crossed her arms. “We both live here, do we not?”
“Yes, not only during daylight hours. Is something wrong?”
She brushed a loose curl from her cheeks and shook her head. “No, nothing is wrong. I’m simply hungry. That’s all.”
“Hungry?” He echoed. The memory came to him of them on the terrace where she had eaten early in the day beside him. Butthat was several hours ago, even before the light supper provided before the garden party ended. During that portion, he hadn’t sat with her. “The supper wasn’t as delightful as the afternoon tea?”
There was movement at her throat as she followed. “No. Not exactly. I didn’t… eat.”
“You didn’t eat anything?”
“I was seated with another duchess and three matrons, none of whom took more than three bites each. It was intimidating,” she admitted with a grim frankness.
He offered a short chuckle and leaned in close as though to share a secret to lightly tease her. “Did you forget that you yourself are a duchess? With an older family than most of theirs, mind you.”
“An older title, certainly, but I’ve hardly the presence or experience they have. It was rather overwhelming.”
“You have been to balls before. Almack’s, certainly.”
“Hasn’t everyone?” She sent him a look of annoyance before nodding toward his candle and turning to have them start walking. “I’ve been to every ballroom made public in London. But that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable in every one of them. These weren’t people I had met before, and it was a new environment. It’s strange being here in the country, I’ll admit.”
Although Genevieve continued speaking about the differences of parties here compared to London, Julian had difficulty in focusing when his gaze dropped down her dressing gown and he noticed she was barefoot.
It’s the middle of the night and she forgot her slippers. What on earth compelled her to do such a thing? She’ll probably catchthe plague with those perfect toes of hers out in the cold. How does someone have perfect toes? It isn’t right. The way they peep right beneath her dressing robe. Think straight, Julian!
They reached the kitchens at last, slowly descending the stairs in near darkness together. Once he opened the door, she walked in to open the nearest shutters so moonlight could shine through.
“Are you comfortable in here?” he asked, noting her comfortability moving around there.
“I am, yes. I’ve spent a lot of time getting familiar with the household. It’s important that I know the space as well as the staff,” she added, her voice lighter and calmer as she moved about. Her gestures were graceful and smooth. More so than she had been at the garden, he noted.
He nodded, setting down the candle on the table. It only took him a moment to light two more candles to grant them a little more light. “Very well. What will it be? Bread? Sausages? Carrots?”
That garnered a light chuckle. “I don’t need anything fancy. I just want…”
His eyes followed her over to a cupboard that was as tall as she was. Above it were several baskets, a few layered on top of one another. That didn’t stop Genevieve from reaching up her hand. He couldn’t see her face, but he could see the struggle. Even with her height, she couldn’t get to what she wanted.
“Would you like some help?”
“Not particularly,” she responded in a muffled tone.
That didn’t stop Julian from moving forward to assist his wife. He came around to her side to help her, their arms brushing.Tension charged between them when her breath caught loudly enough for him to hear. But he managed to keep moving, to lift his arm up high enough so he could reach into the bowl.
“Apples?”
She turned her face to him. Though she was cast in shadows, he swore he could see every angle. The two freckles on her left cheek. “Apples.”
One was brought out for her and then he grabbed one of his own. Genevieve took hers before taking a step back. She hesitated, glancing at him, and then took a large crunching bite.
“How is it?” Julian asked, trying to tear his gaze from her face.
“Perfect,” she reassured him as she walked around the table to take a seat. She settled in, leaning back, her eyes dark. “I know what I’m doing here, Julian, but whatever are you doing in the night like this?”
Nothing I could actually say aloud, that’s for certain.
He gave a shrug before taking a bite of his apple, the juicy sweetness spilling over his tongue. “Sleep oft eludes me of late. It helps to pace the halls until I tire. It was always my boyhood dream to become a specter.”
“This place is too beautiful for ghosts,” she said with a shake of her head.
