Brynn made a note to tell Rob Benson to promote Goodfellow—after he dressed him down for his cheeky presumption. The corporal didn’t seem worried; he went on, “Of course, the fellow might have to step carefully along the overhang to that window, but—”
“He’s right, you know.” Brynn hadn’t heard the window open, but his heart soared when Maddy, his Maddy, leaned out and whispered to them. “You best hurry to it before the two of you wake the household.”
Goodfellow slipped away into the night, and Brynn pulled himself into the tree, climbing swiftly upward. All doubts fled. He heard the corporal, voice fading into the distance, say, “Don’t worry about your horse, Colonel. I’ll take care of it.”
*
Maddy opened thewindow as fully as possible and sat on her bed, clenched hands in her lap, pondering a new mystery.How does a woman welcome her lover when he climbs into her room? Should she put on her wrapper?She thought not. With luck, he would just remove it. She wished she’d worn something prettier than a plain cotton nightgown, one with a repair along the hem.
Her heart sped up when she saw his beloved form fill the window. He climbed up, stumbled over, and crashed to the floor at her feet, with a muffled curse. She covered her mouth with both hands, but whether to stifle a shriek or a laugh, she wasn’t certain.
When he sat up, his expression was rueful. “Not exactly a dignified way to greet a duchess.”
“I don’t need dignified.” Joy bubbled up. Definitely laughter.
She reached for his hand, but he didn’t budge.
“You had a question for me, Your Grace?”
Your Grace—drat the man. She pulled her hand back with an irritated sigh. “You told Jessop you bought a house.”
“Not exactly. I told him I’ve been looking,” he said.
Maddy felt heat ignited by his intense gaze rise up from her belly, across her chest, to her neck. “You said you could—what was it—putme there?”
He ran his hand through his hair, breaking eye contact. “Perhaps that wasn’t the best choice of words. You aren’t the sort of woman to be delivered like a parcel.”
“Or a mistress?”
His gaze flew to her face. “Never that. When I buy a house, it will be a home for my wife.”
A smile began in her heart. She felt it tickle the sides of her mouth and explode into bloom. “Wife.I like the sound of that word when you say it. Is this a proposal, then—you being at my feet? Although, knees would be more appropriate than your bottom.”
“Not quite.”
Her jaw fell open, and she groped for words, but none came.
He pulled off first one boot and then the other. He moved, and she expected him to go to his knees as her teasing remark had suggested. He didn’t. He rose to his feet and removed his coat, tossing it to the floor.
“There is one other issue to resolve first, Maddy.”
When he pulled the end of his shirt loose and lifted it, her mouth went dry. When he pulled it over his head and tossed it on top of the coat, she progressed beyond speech and could only stare up at him, fascinated by the ripple of muscle, where he loomed in front of her.
He unbuttoned his falls and a moment later stood before her, naked and splendidly aroused. Maddy, still seated on the bed, immobilized, only inches from him, tried to swallow. She could not. Her eyes, she suspected, were wide as platters.
“Look your fill, Maddy. This is me wanting you. Wanting but not taking. You don’t have to be afraid of me.”
“I know. It isn’t you I fear. I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you.”
His body relaxed subtly at that, and his gentle fingers brushed her cheek. “Never,” he whispered. “You could never disappoint me.”
She turned her face into his hand and kissed it.
*
The sight ofMaddy in that prim gown, eyes wide—curious but not fearful—had aroused him. When she lifted one dainty hand and put it gently in the hollow spot where his thigh met his hip, Brynn almost burst into flames. He clamped down on the urge to take what she so obviously offered. She may think she was ready, but his common sense reminded him to proceed with care. She needed to know she had a choice.
“Would you like me to join you on that bed?”
