“Very well. You’ve had an eventful day, after all. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Livvy was about to escape when his rich voice floated after her.
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask one of the servants. Or come and find me. My suite’s right next to yours.” His tone was rich with amusement. “In fact, I do believe there’s a door that links the two. There’s a key on your side, of course, so you can lock it. But if you want me—for any reason—I’m entirely at your disposal.”
Her heart stuttered in her chest as his earlier words rose up in memory.If you want me, then you’ll have to ask.
Oh, God. The man was dangling temptation in front of her like the serpent in the garden of Eden. How on earth was she going to resist him?
And did she even want to resist?
“Good night, Miss Price. Sweet dreams.”
Chapter Six
The room she’d been given was gorgeous, with hand-painted wallpaper and a bed that looked twice the size of the one in the apartment she rented above the King & Co. Offices in London. A dressing room led off the main suite, with a padded seat and a large mirror, and a pretty dressing table beneath the window set with silver-topped glass bottles and hairbrushes.
Dev had been telling the truth about their rooms being connected; there was a door cut into the paneling on the wall to the right of the bed, blending in with the wallpaper, which presumably gave access to the master suite next door. Livvy made sure the golden key had turned in the lock. The thought of Devlin being just on the other side of the wall as she bathed and slept made her stomach swoop.
A large copper bathtub had been positioned in front of the fire, and she stripped off her damp clothes with relief. She sank into the blissfully hot water with a sigh, and tried to clear her head, but the events of the afternoon—and Dev’s extraordinary offer—swirled in her brain.
Dinner arrived just as she’d wrapped herself in one of the luxurious banyan robes that had been hanging in the armoire, and she smiled her thanks at the friendly maid who delivered it.
A second maid followed and laid a flat cardboard box on the bed. “His Grace asked me to give you this, Miss Price.”
Livvy glanced at it, mystified, but thanked her, and the two women bobbed a curtsey and left.
The leek and chicken pie was exactly what she needed to warm her; she hadn’t eaten any lunch on account of the funeral, and she sipped the accompanying cup of tea with a happy sigh. Perhaps Dev wished to ensure her capitulation by feeding her so well she’d accept his proposal? If that was his plan, it was working.
The box bore the printed name of Madame Lefèvre, one of London’s most exclusive dressmakers. Livvy had never felt rich enough to order anything from her, but Tess, Ellie and Daisy had bought numerous dresses from her over the years.
She opened the lid with some trepidation and found the most beautiful cream silk nightgown nestled inside the tissue paper wrapping. It was clearly unworn. Did the scoundrel keep a whole cupboard of such beautiful things to give to his visiting paramours? The thought made her cross, even though she had no right to jealousy.
Of courseDevlin had invited other women to stay here with him. The gossip mill had linked him to half a dozen mistresses over the past few years, all beautiful and accomplished, although none had seemed to hold his attention for more than a month or two.
You’re the only one I want to take to bed so badly that I’m willing to marry you for it.
His words rose up, unbidden, and she shook her head, unable to truly believe it. Had he gone mad? Was this all some elaborate hoax designed to mock her? And if so, to what end?He might have avoided her for years, teased her, even, but he’d never been deliberately cruel. His offer seemed sincere.
Perhaps he was telling the truth, and itwasdesire that motivated him, in addition to practicality? Being married to him was something she’d barely even dared to dream, but in that hypothetical situation she’d always imagined that he loved her back, or at least held some deep affection for her, in addition to their undeniable physical attraction.
He seemed convinced of the potential for passion between them, and she had to admit he had all the experience in that arena. She’d only ever been properly kissed once; by Samuel Richmond during a game of hide and seek, back when they’d both been sixteen, and it had been a slightly disappointing event. He’d lipped her like a slobbery horse, then swirled his tongue in her ear, which had made her shiver, but not in a good way. She certainly hadn’t felt her whole body tingle and heat, as it did whenever Devlin glanced her way.
Just the thought of him touching her, kissing her, was enough to make her stomach somersault in excitement, and she could only imagine the pleasurable sensations she might feel if they actually made love.
But what if he was wrong? What if he took her to bed, and it wasn’t as good as he thought it would be? What if he was disappointed when he saw her naked? What if there simply wasn’t the spark he imagined?
She gave her head an impatient shake and slid the nightgown over her head.
Worrying about such things was pointless. The only way to find out for sure would be to kiss him; if she and Devlin were hopelessly incompatible, she’d find out soon enough.
Chapter Seven
Livvy hadn’t thought she’d sleep a wink, knowing Devlin was only a few feet away on the other side of the wall, but the stress of the day must have caught up with her, and she woke to the same maid from the previous night bringing her breakfast on a tray.
She sighed in happiness at the fresh scones, jam, and steaming cup of hot chocolate. To have them delivered to her bedside felt truly decadent, a luxury it would be all too easy to become accustomed to.
The question of whether to put her drab black crinoline back on was solved by the arrival of no less than three different dresses, all in shades that were anything but gloomy. And as if Devlin could read her suspicious mind, they came accompanied by a note in his distinctive, slashing script.
