“I have been very diligently tending to all my duties as the Duchess of Wheelton,” Bridget said primly. “I feel that I am entitled to a small respite.”
Lewis arched an eyebrow, finding it difficult to believe that she had already so quickly found her place in the household. They had only been married a week, and there must be more pressing matters for her to attend to than torment him in his study.
“And you have chosen to use your time to prevent me from fulfilling my ducal duties,” Lewis said dryly.
Bridget smirked. “Perhaps you might learn something from me.”
“Oh?”
“I have completed all my tasks, while you still labor over yours. You might learn how to be more efficient.”
Somehow, he doubted that Bridget had managed to complete all her duties as a duchess because she was more efficient than him. Lewis did not know enough about women’s work to know for certain, though.
“You are too optimistic,” he said dryly.
“Clearly.” She heaved a deep sigh and slowly stepped away from the door. Bridget walked to him, her hips swinging in a manner which seemed deliberate. “What is it that has so enraptured your attention, husband mine?”
“Tenants’ complaints.”
“Fascinating.”
“You are welcome to review them in my stead,” Lewis said. “I am certain they would be content with a duchess’s response as well as my own.”
“I will refrain. I am certain that my replies would not be to your liking.”
He caught the flash of a challenge in her eyes, as if she was daring him to be contrary and to argue that she might offer responses which were as elegant as his own. Lewis clenched his jaw, his mind working quickly.
Bridget is playing with me. This is another scheme of hers.
Lewis turned his attention to the papers but was unable to resist a quick glance at Bridget’s face, as she reached his desk and placed her palms flat on the polished rosewood.
“I find it difficult to believe that your papers are more appealing than I am.” Her voice pitched high in what Lewis surmised Bridget thought was a seductive tone. She did not entirely succeed in achieving that, but Lewis still found that her closeness set his blood aflame.
“I do.”
Lewis was fortunate that she could not see his trousers, or the lady would know he was lying. It occurred to him that he was her husband and could possess her right then and there if he so desired. He could consummate their marriage over his desk, and no one would think ill of him for it. Indeed, most men would have already consummated their marriage to such a lovely, young woman.
But he was planning for the future. It was not enough to marry Bridget. He must mold her into a proper wife, which necessitated denying her some pleasure until she proved that she was worthy of being the Duchess of Wheelton.
“And what if I take your papers?” Bridget asked. “Then, you will be forced to pay attention to me.”
Her slender fingers inched forward along the polished wood, as if she intended to seize the documents without warning. Maybe the young woman’s plan was to vex him so thoroughly that he broke. Lewis wondered if such schemes had been effective against Elias. The man had always been far too indulgent with his sisters. He was brilliant with his Dukedom and spineless where his sisters were concerned.
“I would think that you were behaving like a child,” Lewis said. “I suppose that is the penance I must pay for marrying such a young woman.”
“What an unkind thing to say to one’s wife!” Bridget cried.
He glanced up, just as she put an offended hand to her chest. Lewis’s eyes fixed upon her generous bosom. As frustrating as Bridget might be, he doubted that he could have found a more beautiful wife in all of England.
“You are interfering with my work,” he said, lifting his eyes to her face.
Bridget smirked. “Am I?”
She wastryingto be frustrating! To what end?
Lewis stared at her for a moment, trying to understand why his wife might be trying to vex him when he had made it apparent that he intended on training her to be a perfect wife. Should she not be behaving more properly than this?
“Yes,” Lewis said. “And youknowit. What are you playing at?”
