Page 75 of The Love Potion
“I believe so, but I don’t think my aunt—”
“Leave that to me. I’ll speak with Zoe’s father as soon as I can. They’ll treat you with respect or I’ll know the reason why.”
She winced. “Even a duke can’t declare such a thing about another man’s house.”
“You’d be surprised what a duke can accomplish when he puts his mind to it.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he continued. “I’ll pay for your court gown, of course. Make sure it is worthy of your association with a duke.”
“A gown!” she gasped. She was so startled that she pulled out of his arms to look at him more directly. “You cannot think that I’ll be allowed to go.”
“On the contrary, you will go with Zoe as her cousin. You will be introduced to the Regent—”
“No!”
“Yes.” There was no leniency in his voice. “You will do as I say in this.”
She gaped at him. “I can’t. My aunt will refuse.”
He touched her face with a long, gentle stroke. “She will not. Leave that to me.”
“Because I am your mistress now?”
He shrugged. “If that’s what it takes to get you there.”
She shook her head. “You cannot manage it,” she stated flatly. “But if by some miracle you do, I will go.” Her lips curled. “And I will wear a dress fit for a princess.”
“I expect you to hold to your word.”
“I expect you will apologize for your failure in a most gracious manner.”
She had no idea what he could do. “You must learn to not be afraid of good things happening to you.”
Her expression softened. “And you will learn that sometimes a guarded heart is necessary and reasonable.”
He pulled himself upright and imitated his stuffiest relative. “I am not a reasonable man. I am a duke.”
She laughed and kissed his upturned chin. “You are both, Your Grace.” And when he shot her a hard look, she quickly amended her words. “Ras. And I couldn’t be more pleased to be your paramour.”
She was going to be a great deal more than that, but at the moment, he let the word pass. “I’m going to order the servants to set up a bath for you in the morning. It’ll be in here.”
“Here!”
“I do not want them to wake you before time. Filling a bath can be a lengthy process.”
“There’s no need—”
“There’s every need. You may feel good now…” He let himself caress her hip to emphasize how good she felt to him. “But in the morning, there may be soreness.”
“I will be fine.”
“You will listen to what I say. I will have them set up a bath for you. Take your time in it. I have some things to discuss with my steward. And Mr. Barnes. And…” He groaned as he dropped his head onto her shoulder. “Damnation, if I allowed myself to think of all the people in line to speak with me, I shall go mad.”
“I can help you with that, you know,” she offered quietly. “I often helped organize things for my father. And when he grew ill, he left many things to me.”
He didn’t think she could be more perfect, and yet here she was proving him wrong. “I should like that very much.”
She grinned, kissed him deeply, then when he was about to press her into the sheets again, she scrambled backwards and grabbed her dress. “If I am to leave this chamber before dawn, it should be now.”
She was right. And yet, he was man enough to regret the necessity. Indeed, his cock was becoming increasingly manly by the second.
