Page 1 of Christmas with the Duke
ChapterOne
The bedchamber of the Duke and Duchess of Strathmore
Strathmore House, London
December 1817
Lady Caroline Radley tossed the piece of paper onto the bed and sighed. “Including us, we shall have at least twenty people staying in the keep this Christmas. I don’t know where I am going to put them all.”
Christmas was always a bit of a stretch at Strathmore Castle, but this year three of her own children had found their life partners, and several nieces and nephews had also taken on spouses. The Radley clan was ever growing. It was early morning, and Caroline hadn’t slept well. While Ewan snored beside her, she had lain awake staring at the ceiling, trying to sort out accommodation arrangements in her head.
“We have managed every other Christmas and Hogmanay,” replied the duke.
Seated in the bed next to his wife, Ewan Radley picked up the list and ran his gaze over it. “Hmm. I see the problem. Until now we have been able to bunk single people in the same room, and when things got a little tight, the same bed.”
“Yes, well, we can’t do that with all these newly wed couples, can we? They will demand their own space.”
Ewan shook his head. “Are we sure that all the people on your list are actually coming? I mean, have you checked?”
Caroline took a slow breath in. She had been making confirmations all week. Hopefully her disapproving side-eye would be enough of an answer to that inane question.
“Right,” Ewan muttered.
“I suppose we should be grateful that not everyone is going to make the trip to Scotland this year,” offered Ewan.
“That’s a mixed blessing,” sighed Caroline. Having everyone gathered at the ancestral home was a highlight of her year, but as the family grew larger so did the problem of finding rooms and beds for them all.
“I still think we should go ahead with the family gathering here in late January. It will give us all the opportunity to catch up with one another, and share our news,” he added.
“Agreed. Though we may need to delay it. Much will depend on when Clarice and David’s baby arrives. I know they will want to be here in town for the get-together, but we can’t expect her to travel too soon after having given birth.”
The coming weeks were going to involve juggling family commitments as well as travelling up and down the country.
The Duchess of Strathmore’s busy day was about to begin.A good night’s sleep would be welcome. This midlife insomnia is a challenge. But I mustn’t linger abed any longer. I have work to do.
Caroline reached for the paper, intending to take it out of her husband’s hand, but Ewan turned and gently deposited the guest list on the table next to his side of the bed.
“But I need that list,” protested Caroline.
Her devilishly handsome husband brushed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Later. You have wifely duties to fulfil first, your grace,” he murmured.
A thrill flushed through Caroline’s body. Her husband was fifty-four years old, and his hair speckled with gray, but he still woke most mornings with a hard, demanding need. Her duty was to ensure that his need was well and truly taken care of while at the same time finding her own pleasure.
After twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight years of marriage, their hunger for each other hadn’t dimmed.
Ewan threw back the bedclothes, gifting Caroline with an uninterrupted view of his erection. Her pulse quickened as he crawled over the blankets and down to the end of the bed. He turned to face her. His green eyes shone with the promise of heated mischief.
I can’t say no to this man ever.
The edge of her nightgown was lifted, and he gave atskof censure. “You weren’t going to deny me now, were you?”
She really ought to get on with the Christmas preparations. They were due to leave for Scotland in the next few days. But when it came to Ewan and his sexy ducal commands, she was powerless.
“What would you have me do, your grace?” she purred.
A sultry grin formed on his lips. “I think you should lie back in the bed, close your eyes, and imagine you are being ravished by a wild Scottish highlander.”
Oh, that is always the best. My favorite fantasy.
