Nicole Jordan - To Bed a Beaty

“A stroll on a moonlit summer evening. We’ve never made love by the river in the moonlight.”

Roslyn laughed again. “I think Arabella and Marcus have. Lily and I once caught them sneaking back into the house, looking flushed and disheveled.”

“Fortunately for them, they don’t need to sneak around now to enjoy their pleasures, since they’re married and they have the master’s apartments all to themselves. We, on the other hand, must steal our private moments when we can. So will you accompany me on a moonlit stroll tonight?”

“Yes, gladly.”

“I will be counting the moments,” Drew murmured. “I think we should set about begetting an heir tonight.”

Roslyn’s eyebrow arched uncertainly. “Just an heir, Drew?”

Understanding her query, he shook his head. “Not just an heir. I don’t want a son merely to carry on the dukedom. I want children because they will be a part of you.”

Her enchanting smile returned. “That is a lovely sentiment. And I feel the same way about you. But I hope our children will have happier lives growing up than we did.”

Drew lifted their clasped hands to kiss her fingers. “I guarantee I will give it my utmost effort.” His eyes smiled down into hers before finally he recalled that she had summoned him to the library. “Why did you wish to speak to me, love?”

Roslyn held up the sheaf of papers. “Besides the chance to kiss you? This just arrived from Fanny. It is her manuscript.”

“Manuscript?” he repeated as she handed the pages to him to read.

“Yes. Fanny has written a book on the art of seduction, and she sent it to us to read and suggest improvements.”

“Seduction, hmm?” Drew’s mouth quirked. “What is it, an instruction manual for courtesans?”

“Not for courtesans. For young ladies who want to marry. She has entitled it, Advice to Young Ladies on Capturing a Husband .”

His amusement faltered. “This is for scheming husband-hunters? Is Fanny serious about asking for my help? She expects me to aid the enemy?”

Roslyn chuckled before her expression turned a little troubled. “It is for a good cause, Drew. Lily told me that some of Fanny’s friends are having financial difficulties. And selling this book could help them solve their problems.”

“That surprises me. I thought Fanny was highly successful in her trade.”

“She is. But she isn’t wealthy enough to pay their enormous debts on her own.”

Drew glanced down at the manuscript. “I am highly curious to know what Fanny put in her book about seducing a prospective husband.”

He thumbed through the pages, reading a passage here and there. “I see that she included a number of my tactics in addition to her own.” He smiled wickedly at one particular passage. “Hmm, so that is what you were attempting at Fanny’s house when you drove me mad with your tormenting?”

“I will never tell,” Roslyn retorted saucily. “We females must have our secrets, remember?”

“You can have all the secrets you want, as long as you use them solely on me.”

His gaze skimmed further down the page. “Will this book be published under Fanny’s name?”

“No, it will be authored by an anonymous lady.”

“I think that wise,” Drew said dryly, “since I rather doubt that gently nurtured females of the ton would willingly take advice from a renowned highflyer, even if it would help them catch a husband. Ah, here is one we never discussed. ‘Never nag or scold, especially when he deserves it. He will be enchanted by your forbearance, and his guilt will act in your favor.’ You should heed that particular advice, my sweet.”

“ I should heed it?” Roslyn’s blue eyes took on a gleam of laughter. “Have I ever nagged or scolded you, my dearest duke?”

“Occasionally…and I found the experience devastating. But scolding or not, you always enchant me.”

It was true, Drew thought, gazing down at her upturned face. Roslyn had the kind of enchanting beauty that made him ache just to see it, but it was her inner beauty that had ensnared his heart.

And the loving look in her eyes told him clearly that he had ensnared hers. Caught by that look, Drew reached up to touch her, his fingers wandering with delicacy over her face, her brows, her eyelids.

Roslyn sighed again, then inhaled breathlessly as he cradled her head in his hands and covered her mouth in a long, sublime, heart-stirring kiss.

She could scarcely credit her incredible good fortune, could scarcely credit the feelings she shared with Drew at merely kissing: this passionate need for each other, this hammering of the senses, this exhilarating, endless tenderness. This love. They were lovers, friends…and soon husband and wife.

Emotion, pure and powerful, flooded through her whole being. She felt hope and immeasurable joy. And she knew without a doubt that Drew felt similarly when he finally broke off kissing her.

Her dazed, tender look turned wondering as she brought his hand to her cheek and whispered, “I feel an almost fearful happiness, Drew. One I never even dared to dream of. Do you think it will last?”

“I know damned well it will last-if you promise to love and cherish me as I will always do you.”

“Of course I promise.”

“Good.” He grinned. “Now that I have gone to all this trouble to train you properly, I wouldn’t care to have to break in a new candidate for my mistress… or my duchess.”

Roslyn’s musical laugh rang out in the hush of the library before Drew silenced her for a very long time by capturing her lips again with his own.