Page 26 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity
“If it makes you feel better, I slept quite well,” Aaron chimed in. He pressed a kiss to Theresa’s temple as she tasted the corner of a blueberry pastry.
“And where is your guest this fine morning?” Leo asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
He had thought he would be the last one to come down for breakfast.
Of course, Margaret would avoid him and any reminder of last night. He should not have taken advantage of her that way. She must have never been kissed before, at least not like that. Not with the passion and the intention he had put into that one kiss.
A chaste kiss might have been fine. But Margaret was about to be a nun. She had shunned any hope of a man’s touch. Her commitment to her vows was already written in stone, no matter how many times she inquired about his book clubs.
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
“She must be exhausted. The first days in London do not pass without an adjustment. I remember when I came from the convent for the first time,” Theresa said thoughtfully. “I shall check on her after breakfast.”
“No need,” Leo said smoothly, rising from the table. “I will go see how the lady is faring.”
Theresa rose to join him, her belly brushing the edge of the table and almost sending her plate flying.
“Sit, Duchess,” Leo said. “Do not worry about your friend. I will leave the door open so that the servants may chaperone us.”
Theresa nodded and sank back down with a sigh. “I thank you for inviting her to your house party and for your discretion.”
Leo turned away from the table, bacon in hand. The girls would likely be somewhere around here, getting ready for breakfast. He should try to find them while he was at it, taking responsibility from Joan. Perhaps Margaret could assist him in finding them.
He knocked on her chamber door, and she granted him entry. When he came into the room, she was perched on the window seat, gazing out through the glass. Her hair was still mussed from sleep, her gown a bit creased, but her face lit up with joy as she surveyed the grounds.
Leo came to stand behind her, leaving an acceptable distance, so that he could see what she saw through the window.
“The convent does not have such beautiful flowers,” she said after a while. “Nuns plant things you can use to heal, or things we can eat. They never plant flowers for aesthetics.”
“There is nothing wrong with practicality. My gardens are likely too extravagant. It takes the gardener every spare moment to maintain them. But the girls do love them.”
“I like your gardens,” she said, tearing her eyes away from the window to look at him.
She gave him a smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling. It was as if the kiss did not happen and she still enjoyed his company.
“I would be happy to take you around the gardens later,” he said.
She pointed to a corner of the garden where hydrangeas bloomed, and he caught what she was looking at. “The girls are having great fun with the old gardener over there.”
“Yes, I once happened upon them calling him Garden Grandpa. At least, I hope they call him that only when they are alone.”
Leo smiled at the memory. It was so difficult to chastise the girls when they were so adorable sometimes.
“Margaret,” he said seriously.
She turned to look at him, all traces of mirth erased from her features. Instead, she looked alarmed at the sudden shift in his tone.
“I am sorry for what happened last night.”
“I am not.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I would not have had the chance to experience whatever that was otherwise. But it must not be repeated.”
“Of course.”
Leo felt like a large rock had sunk into his stomach. He desperately wanted to kiss her again—and again and again. But she was quite clear that she would not have him. He would not force himself on her if she did not want him.
“I will make it up to you,” he said lightly, as if her rebuke did not bother him. “I will take you to the opera tonight to watch from my private box. I gather that you are not so familiar with the opera, so suffice it to say that it is a famous play I think you will enjoy.”
“Thank you.” She looked at him, her eyes piercing through his soul.
