Page 42 of The Jilted Duchess
He pressed a kiss there—right in the center of her hand, as if he was giving it to her as a gift. He even wrapped her fingers aroundit and held her hand like that in his for a moment, as if to ensure that she held onto that gift.
Her heart beat madly, but she did her best to school her features, to keep him from seeing her reaction. She didn’t know how successful she had been at that, but if she’d had to guess, she would have said not very.
He smiled slightly, and that all but confirmed it—he’d seen. He knew exactly how affected she had been by his kiss.
He kissed me.
It wasn’t the same as the passionate kiss she had anticipated in his study the other day—the one he’d pulled away and left her wanting. But it was still his lips against her. She kept her hand fisted tight, feeling as though the kiss might somehow escape and fly away if she wasn’t careful.
“I should return to Penelope,” she managed.
He gave her a grin and said nothing.
Alexandra turned and hurried away from him, her heart still pounding, and ran into the building. She had to find her sister—Penelope would wonder what had become of her.
She had to get away from her husband.
Allowing him to have this much power over her—it was simply too dangerous. She was safe as long as she maintained her perspective, as long as she remembered what his feelings were for her and what the nature of their marriage was.
The moment she allowed herself to forget that was when she would begin to hope for something more—and she couldn’t let that happen, because they could never be anything more than what they were.
She had seen what men could be like in marriages.
She would not allow herself to place her trust in the hands of a man. Not now, and not ever. She would protect her heart at all costs.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“I’ve arranged a picnic,” Hector announced over breakfast one day.
Alexandra stared at him. “A picnic? I didn’t know that was the sort of thing you were interested in.”
He chuckled. “Ye thought I dinnae like food? Or the outdoors, perhaps?”
She kept her gaze fixed on his. “Not exactly. I thought you didn’t care for being social. You’re not exactly fond of people, from what I can see.”
“Perhaps, but me wife is.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “Or do ye mean to tell me that ye don’t wish to have a picnic? To see yer sisters and their husbands—who after all are me own friends as well?”
“Oh, no, I’d like it.” It sounded lovely to Alexandra, truth be told. “When is the picnic to be held?”
“This very afternoon. Our guests should begin to arrive in no more than an hour, in fact, so you may like to go and get dressed.”
“Oh—” She looked down at the simple dress she was wearing. She’d chosen it thinking that today would be an ordinary day spent doing nothing remarkable, but he was right. If there was to be a party—even a simple picnic with only her family in attendance—she’d want to wear something a bit nicer. “I’m not sure what to wear.”
“Daenae fear. I’ve had some dresses sent over. Ye should find them in your room. Margot will help ye,” Hector said. “If ye’d like to go now, feel free. I’m sure ye want to be ready for when our guests arrive.”
Alexandra had had enough to eat, so she rose from the table. She hesitated for a moment. “Hector…this is wonderful, that you’d do this,” she said. “I’m truly so excited. To see my sisters, to spend the day with family, and enjoy the fine weather—I don’t know how you guessed that this was exactly the sort of thing that would make me happy.”
He smiled at her. “Ye’re not the only one who can be surprisin’, lass.”
She was so touched by his behavior that she didn’t even bother to tell him not to call her that. She hurried up the stairs to herroom and found her lady’s maid standing in front of the open wardrobe.”
“Well,” Margot said, “it will be nice to see you looking the part of a duchess, for once.” She pulled out a yellow dress and held it up. “I suggest this one for today.”
“Oh, Margot, I’d hardly be able to move in that!” The skirt was full, and the bodice was so structured that she could tell by looking at it how it would pinch at her every time she tried to sit down. “Isn’t there anything a little less…”
“Less what? Less appropriate for your station? Did you think His Grace would send you something like that?”
“Oh, just let me look.” She went to the wardrobe and began to look through the new dresses. “Well, here, what about this one?” She held up a pale pink. “This is lovely, and doesn’t look at all uncomfortable.” The fit would be loose, and the skirt was simple.
