Page 39 of The Lady’s Guide to Deception and Desire
Instead, the duke relinquished his hold, stepping away. His tone was abrupt. “Return to bed the way you have come. Your maidenhead must be intact, my dear, though you may think to tempt me. The moon shall soon be full: portentous for new beginnings. We must wait.”
So, he did wish to marry her!
And within only a few days.
Were there not bans to be read, or a license to procure? Of course, he was Lord Studborne; whatever was necessary, he would arrange.
A quiet ceremony, witnessed by those already in the house. Flowers from the garden. She’d wear something from her existing wardrobe.
She had only to stand before him at the altar and consent.
In a daze,she collected her lantern. Wrapped in her thoughts, she did not see Mr. Studborne; not until she turned the corner at the end of the gallery and bumped headlong into him.
Her lamp fell from her hand with a clatter, the flame extinguishing. “What are you…were you here, all the time?”
He surveyed her coolly. “Long enough. I heard footsteps pass my door—yours, as it happens. I don’t make a habit of spying, but I was awake. It seemed sensible to follow and make sure everything was alright.”
“Very considerate of you.” Rosamund couldn’t help but sound snappish.
It was embarrassing to think of him watching while the duke embraced her. What must he have thought? That she’d arranged to meet his uncle on purpose?
Shame heated her cheeks.
It had been the last thing on her mind.
Mr. Studborne held aloft his own lamp. “Let’s get you back to where you should be.”
“No. That is, not yet.” Rosamund looked back towards the long gallery. “Whatever you may think, I wasn’t having a tryst with your uncle.”
Mr. Studborne’s expression remained implacable. “It’s no business of mine.”
Rosamund rubbed at her temple. It rankled that he was willing to think badly of her—but what did that matter? Nothing would, if she married the duke.
Clearly, she reminded Lord Studborne of the wife he’d lost—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t grow to care for her too.
And how easy he was making this!
He’d set his mind on marrying her within the coming few days, knowing full well her mother would agree. As they’d hoped, he’d made no reference to a dowry or gaining her father’s blessing. But Rosamund could not suppress her unease.
She remembered why she was here, rather than tucked in her bed.
Bessie!
She’d been hoping to discover some clue to her whereabouts, and the duke had appeared. His Grace kept unusual hours, to be sure. If she were to agree to the marriage, she needed, at least, to see this place, beneath the chapel, that so fascinated him.
And, to reassure herself that Bessie wasn’t there, fallen or injured.
“Your uncle has made me an offer.”
Rosamund noted, with some satisfaction, that Mr. Studborne looked less than pleased.
“And I wish to see the chapel.”
“At this time? Don’t be absurd!” Mr. Studborne frowned. “Beside which, the doors are kept locked. Only my uncle has the key.”
Rosamund had suspected as much but, thinking back, she was sure there had been two inner doors. One, the duke had told her led to the crypt. What of the other? Its position would indicate it could be used to re-enter the main body of the house.
Was it possible the duke had been in the chapel when she’d looked down from above, and used that same door to come upon her in the gallery?
