His gaze fastened on me, searching me with unguarded intensity. “You are sure?”
I nodded, and a swift warmth coursed through me. I leaned against his chest, breathing in the smell of balsam and pipe smoke. The smell of home. My heart filled with so much happiness in that moment that my chest ached. “I love you,” I whispered, enjoying the feel of his chin resting atop my head.
“And I you.” His arms tightened around me. We stood there for several moments before he spoke again. “But I fear I must warn you of one of the disadvantages of marrying a duke.”
“Oh?” I pulled back, trying for a look of concern, but a smile broke free. Try as I might, I couldn’t seem to stop.
Halstead’s face became severe. “It seems a duke is always surrounded by overbearing female relatives who think they know what is best for him.”
I nodded my head. “Yes, your mother might have some very choice words for me once she knows we are engaged. She warned me to stay away from you, you know.”
“Yes, so I heard. But she’ll come around.”
“And what about your grandmother?”
“I know she comes across as a bit opinionated, but underneath she has a heart of gold.”
“Does she?”
He must have heard the doubt in my voice. “Perhaps you’ll forgive her overbearing manner when I tell you what she said when you walked out right before the banquet.”
I angled my head, waiting.
“A moment after you’d gone, she appeared at my side. She gave me a highbrowed look and said, ‘Halstead, I’ve always thought you were a fool. But if you don’t go after her, I’ll know for certain.’”
I laughed, a full laugh, and laid a hand on his chest. “I like her better already.”
“Good.” He nodded. “Perhaps I won’t banish her to another of my estates.”
I sighed happily. “Do you want to know another disadvantage of spending time in the company of a duke?”
“By all means, enlighten me.”
“I’ve grown more bold in your presence. You know the effect you have on my tongue. I hope you will not regret marrying me when it runs amok.”
He shook his head. “Never. Your sharp tongue is what first caught my attention.” He brushed my bottom lip with his thumb, setting my insides ablaze.
Every inch of me yearned for him. I leaned forward and pulled him closer, the love and desire I saw in his eyes enough to undo me. My lips brushed his, anxious and coaxing, as passionate fervor raced through me. The answering strength of his mouth was all I had hoped for. He crushed me to him, and I knew he had no intention of letting me go.
Epilogue
Two months later
My eyes fluttered open for a moment before I saw the clock resting on the mantel. I squinted to make out the time—half past ten. We could easily stay abed for another half an hour. I let out a deep breath and pulled the covers a little higher. Halstead’s hand rested across my middle, the weight of it warm and welcome.
I turned my head just enough to take in his sleeping form, forehead smooth and untroubled, dark eyelashes forming half crescents against his cheeks. Without thinking, I reached out and brushed my hand along his jawline.
“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘Let a sleeping duke lie?’” Halstead’s voice was rough from sleep. He pulled me closer.
I rested my chin on his shoulder, a smile cresting my face. “I see you are just as irritable this morning as you were last night.”
He grunted. “More, even, for then I had a whole night’s rest to look forward to.”
I craned my neck a little, reaching up to kiss his cheek. But his mouth met mine, pulling me into a deep, hungry kiss. He brought his hand to my neck and caressed the patch of skin just below my ear. He kissed me again, his lips tender but insistent. I finally pulled back and gave a breathless laugh. “You have a very difficult life indeed, Your Grace.”
“Perhaps it is not so very bad,” he conceded. “Are you sure we cannot cancel all our appointments for the day?”
A slight knock at the door sounded, and a maid carried in a breakfast tray. I sat up at once. “I think not. You promised to take me and Harry to see the hot-air balloons.” Harry hadn’t lost his interest in going to sea, but we were doing our best to distract him. “And then you are committed to that vote in parliament.”
“Juliet, you are quite a taskmaster.”
I turned back and gave him a cheeky grin. “It is one of the disadvantages of being married to a duchess, I’m afraid.” Halstead reached for me, but I twisted away and reached for a scone from the tray that had been set on the table near the bed. “And don’t forget, Hugh and Ellen are coming for dinner.”
He sighed. “Have you no mercy?”
“Yes, I do, which is precisely why Robert and Aunt Agnes aren’t coming. Robert leaves to accept his commission next week, and I knew they were engaged tonight at a farewell dinner with the Rowleys.”
Though Robert had attended our wedding, there was still some awkwardness, and I was grateful the army would put some distance between us. Hopefully time would heal his heart and the discomfiture on both sides.
Halstead crawled up behind me and laid a kiss on the nape of my neck. The maid ducked out, pretending she hadn’t seen. “You are merciful indeed,” he said in a low voice. “And much as I might pretend otherwise, I consider myself a very lucky man to have you for a wife.”
I smiled. His warmth at my back, the soft tones of his words, filled my heart. “Good, because I don’t intend to let you go. I find there are many advantages
