He must have risen early.Knowing him, he must have found something to do.
Rachel exhaled, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling for a moment. She had never woken up feeling like this before. Last night had changed something—not just between them butinsideher.
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, standing slowly, her muscles still pleasantly sore. As she moved across the room, she caught sight of herself in the mirror and stopped.
She looked…different.
Her skin seemed to glow in the morning light, her lips still slightly swollen, her collarbone dusted with the faintest hint of color where Simon’s mouth had lingered.
She felt like a woman.
Not just in the way she had shared herself with Simon but in the way sheknew herselfnow. A soft blush crept up her cheeks as memories of the night before came rushing back. The way he had touched her,worshipedher, as if he couldn’t get enough. He hadwantedher.
No, that was not enough to convey what had happened last night. He hadneededher.
Just as achingly bad as she needed him. And for the first time, Rachel let herself believe that maybe he had begun to care for her in the way that she had begun to care for him.
The thought of it alone sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” the maid greeted her as she carried in a tray.
Rachel quickly composed herself, smoothing her robe with her hands. “Good morning,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
“His Grace asked that I bring you breakfast.” The maid set the tray down on a nearby table.
”Simon… sent this?”
The maid nodded, her hands folded neatly in front of her.
A warmth bloomed in Rachel’s chest.He thought of me.It was a small gesture, but after last night, it meant something.
She moved to the tray, lifting the lid of one of the plates. Warm toast, fresh fruit, and a pot of perfectly steeped tea. She smiled to herself, shaking her head. Of course, he had sent breakfast—but why had he not opted to have the breakfast with her?
“Could you send His Grace a message that I would appreciate his presence over breakfast?”
The maid bit her lip before answering, “His Grace left early this morning, Your Grace.”
“Left?”
“Yes,” the maid said carefully. “He asked that a carriage be prepared at dawn.”
”Did he say where he was going?”‘
The maid hesitated again. “No, Your Grace.”
Rachel’s initial surprise quickly settled into understanding.Of course, Simon had left early. He was a man of duty, always preoccupied with something that required his attention. But it wasn’t like before. This time, he hadthought of her.
He would return soon. And when he did, she wanted to welcome him home properly.
“Could you inform the kitchen staff that I would like a special dinner prepared for this evening?” Rachel said, opting not to read too much into her husband’s absence. “Something extravagant. A feast, like a celebration.”
“As you wish, Your Grace. I’ll inform the cook at once,” the maid agreed. “If I may ask… what is the occasion?”
Rachel felt warmth rise to her cheeks.
She turned away slightly, busying herself with pouring tea from the pot Simon had sent. “There is no occasion,” she murmured.
The maid, to her credit, didn’t press, but Rachel caught the knowing glint in her eye before she curtsied and hurried off.
