Page 50 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
Iris laughed. “Nonsense. Philip adores you.”
“He does,” Percy agreed. “Which is why he does not mind so much snapping at me. Aware that he can apologize later and all will be forgiven.”
“I take it that you are not so worried then,” Iris asked. “Have you two spoken since yesterday?”
“Not yet,” Percy said with a shrug. “But it will be no bother. He knows I meant nothing by it, just as he knows he overreacted.” A rolling of the eyes. “Which he did, mind you.”
Again, Iris laughed. “Perhaps. But it came from the right place, so I am inclined to forgive him.”
“Inclined to? Or already have?”
Iris felt her cheeks flush bright pink. Although she doubted that Percy meant to elicit memories of the previous evening, that was precisely what had happened.
It had been that way all last night. As she readied for bed. As she tried to find sleep. Time and time again her mind went back to earlier, on her knees, the duke’s tongue buried inside of her, and the noises she had made as he’d brought upon her a type of pleasure that she had not known to exist but now knew she could not live without.
“As I said, all has been forgiven.” She shook her head, attempting to dispel the memories.
“Thank God.” Percy laughed to himself as he took a sip of his tea. Looking more relaxed than when Iris had first started speaking with him, she was touched to see how much he cared.
Indeed, where some might have thought that Percy’s presence in the home was a detriment, seeing as Iris and Philip were only just now starting to get along and might have liked their privacy to further confirm their feelings and where this marriage was headed, Iris could not have disagreed more with the notion.
Percy had a way of making Iris feel comfortable. As if she were as much a part of this family as he was. And when she had arrived just now to find him already breaking his fast, she’d smiled and joined him happily, thrilled by the idea of getting to know her husband’s brother a little better.
“So, tell me, what have you planned for today?” Percy asked.
“Today?” Iris blinked as she considered. “Truly, I have not thought past breakfast.” With that, she tore off a piece of toast and took a small bite. “Which is going rather well, I must say.”
He laughed. “Good thinking. Starting the day on a full stomach. After that, I find everything else comes rather easily.”
“What of you?” she asked him.
To that, he pumped his eyebrows. “You mean after Philip comes down from his room and begs for forgiveness?” They laughed together. “As I said, I am here only a short time, and I was hoping I might use some of it to annoy my brother. And now his wife, seeing as the two of you are paired together.”
“Oh. And what did you have in mind?”
“Perhaps a walk after we feast?” he suggested. “The day is lovely and should be taken advantage of. And maybe even a picnic? You still have so much of the estate to explore, and we can easily make a day of it.”
Iris liked the sound of that. “Assuming that Philip agrees.”
“I wouldn’t worry about him,” Percy winked. “I know my brother well and I can tell already how taken he is with you.”
“Truly?” She found her cheeks flushing again.
“Oh yes,” he said seriously. “In fact, I might suggest that you ask if he not come, just to see how upset it makes him.” Again, they laughed together. “But I would not push him too far. Not yet, anyway,” he finished with a cheeky wink.
It was then that Mr. Tibbitt came rushing into the breakfast room. He looked somewhat concerned and confused, and when he saw that it was just Iris and Percy alone, he hesitated.
“Mr. Tibbitt?” Iris asked when she saw him. “Is something the matter.”
“Ah…” He hesitated. “Is His Grace about?”
“Sleeping still,” Percy sighed. “Typical.”
Mr. Tibbitt’s worry increased; the aged lines on his face deepened. “That is a shame. I was hoping… well… it is not so much a bother as it is a situation which he will likely wish to be made known of.”
“And what situation is that?” Iris asked.
“We have an unexpected guest,” Mr. Tibbitt said.
