The Disappearing Duchess (23 page)

‘That is truly generous. I did not expect so much and you have made me so happy, Justin.’

‘I fear we must keep up the pretence of her being your cousin’s child, though I have taken Mariah into our confidence. After her bravery and loyalty today I feel sure that she will not spill your secret.’

‘Of course, Mariah must know the truth. She has become a true and dear friend to me and I know I can trust her with my life. As for Angela, I shall gently explain that she must call me aunt or ma’am. If she is
loved and happy, she will soon become accustomed to the idea.’

‘Yes, it is a small price to pay. I should have accepted it from the start, but I fear my pride was hurt because you had not trusted me. I do hope you can forgive me and give me a chance to show you how much I adore you.’

Lucinda’s heart began to beat faster. As she looked into his eyes she caught her breath, hardly believing what she saw.

‘Do you?’ she asked, a faint flush in her cheeks. ‘I thought you might be disappointed in me after—you did not come to my bed a second time. I know that I failed you, but I shall try to do better.’

‘You have not failed or disappointed me,’ he told her and took her hands as her gaze dropped. ‘Look at me, Lucinda. I did not come to you because I thought you found the physical side of marriage not quite to your taste—that you needed a little time to accustom yourself to the idea, because of what you had suffered at the hands of that brute.’ His frown deepened. ‘Oh, that I had known sooner! I should have liked to thrash him for you, dearest. Indeed, I think I should have broken his neck with my bare hands.’

‘He is dead,’ Lucinda reminded him softly. ‘He can no longer harm us—unless we allow him to come between us.’ She reached up to touch his cheek. ‘I have lain alone every night and wished you would come to me. I thought I had given you a disgust of me…’

‘Never!’ He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to the palm. ‘How could you think it? I love you. I adore you. I burn for you, Lucinda—but when I touched you that night you held back. You did not touch me and I thought…but I have been a fool. You were young and shy and knew nothing of love, only of brutality. I should have shown you, taught you how to respond. You must never be afraid to tell me what will please you.’

‘Do you think…?’ Lucinda faltered and looked at him shyly, but with a glimmer of eagerness in her eyes. ‘Do you think we could begin tonight?’

Justin laughed. ‘If you feel well enough?’

‘I am perfectly well, but, Justin—I truly am very, very hungry.’

‘Are you, my darling?’ He smiled and stood up, reaching for the bell. ‘In that case I shall have supper served at once.’

‘It is but three in the afternoon…’

‘But I did not sleep last night and I should like to go to bed rather early this evening…’

‘A
re you too tired to go out again this evening?’ Justin asked.

They had been exploring the sights of Paris, finally able to enjoy their long-overdue honeymoon, spending the morning on the river on one of the little boats that plied its trade up and down the Seine. The previous day they had driven out to the wonderful palace of Versailles and before that had visited various museums and gardens, besides being invited to a grand ball on their arrival in Paris. ‘You have seemed a little sleepy at times recently, Lucinda. Are you certain you are not ill?’

‘I am perfectly well,’ she replied. ‘I believe I may be with child, Justin. I recall being very sleepy when Angela was first on the way, but I did not wish to raise your hopes too soon only to disappoint you. I have missed my courses twice now, so I am fairly certain, but—’

She got no further for Justin took her hand, raising it to his lips to kiss it. ‘Is it indeed so, my love? Would you like to rest for the remainder of the day? Should I take you home to Avonlea?’

‘Certainly not,’ Lucinda said and laughed. ‘I have an appointment with a doctor who was recommended to me. I may have more certain news then, my love. I am perfectly sure that he will tell me I am quite healthy and the tiredness is natural. We shall continue our visit and say nothing to anyone for the moment—though I may rest for an hour or so in the afternoons if my doctor advises it.’

‘You will certainly rest on your husband’s advice,’ Justin said and his eyes smouldered with passion as he looked at her. ‘I intend to take good care of you—and I shall brook no argument, Lucinda.’

‘I meant to offer none,’ she said and laughed softly. ‘I enjoy being made a fuss of, Justin, but I do assure you that I am perfectly well—and there is no reason why you should not rest with me for the time being. Only when the child is advanced some months shall I have to rest alone.’

‘You are a minx, Lucinda,’ he said. ‘A beautiful, charming, adorable minx—and I love you. I’m not sure if I’ve told you how much?’

‘If you have not, you may do so when I return from the doctor this afternoon…’

* * *

‘And so, my love,’ Justin said softly as he lay by her side, looking into her eyes. ‘I am to be a father, then?’

‘Oh, yes, the doctor was sure, though it is early yet, Justin, but he says my symptoms are clear indications. Many women experience sleepiness in the early stages.’

‘You are not feeling ill? Do not ladies in your condition feel sick in the mornings?’

‘Many suffer badly with it,’ Lucinda said. ‘As yet I have not—and since I hardly felt it at all with Angela I do not suppose I shall this time.’

‘And you are quite sure you wish to continue with the visit?’

‘Quite sure, my dear love,’ she said and touched his cheek. ‘I am enjoying my first visit to Paris and am relishing the chance to have you all to myself for once! You have become quite besotted with Angela and I find myself quite jealous. Now, put your concerns from your mind, my love—and kiss me. It is quite two hours since you told me how much you love me. I have a fancy to be told again.’

‘And so you shall, my love,’ Justin replied and obliged her in a way that brought nothing but pleasure to them both.

ISBN-13: 9781460349311

THE DISAPPEARING DUCHESS

© Anne Herries 2011

All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.

www.Harlequin.com