Page 124 of Stolen and Seduced By the Duke

"Of course not." He caught the pillow before she could strike him again. "They were merely exceptionally unpleasant."

"Pierce!" Margaret laughed, snatching at it. "You are impossible."

She finally surrendered the pillow and sighed. "I am sorry. Now that I know the truth, I feel foolish. You were travelling south to find Ophelia, and all this time I was imagining you had some mysterious woman waiting for you somewhere."

Pierce studied her for a moment, then gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Yes," he said gravely. "You have been foolish."

Margaret narrowed her eyes. "I have apologized."

"That does not alter the charge."

"Then what precisely am I to do?" she demanded, though she was already smiling.

Pierce's expression became suspiciously thoughtful. "How should such foolishness be punished?"

Before she could answer, he slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her effortlessly from the bench. Margaret squealed as he carried her a short distance before tossing her gently onto the bed. She bounced against the mattress, laughing breathlessly.

"Pierce!" she cried, reaching for another pillow. He caught her wrist before she could seize it and began tickling her side. Margaret shrieked with laughter and twisted away, desperately attempting to escape his hands.

"Stop!" she gasped.

"Never, this is your punishment," he replied, laughing as she tried to push him away. "You have been convicted of falsely accusing me of having a mistress."

"You are a tyrant!" Margaret managed between bursts of laughter, only to have Pierce lean down and press a quick kiss to her cheek. She laughed harder and attempted to retaliate by tickling his ribs, which produced the unexpected satisfaction of making him jerk away with a startled laugh.

"Aha!" she exclaimed triumphantly. "You are ticklish as well."

"Do not do that again."

"Too late," she said.

She attacked his side once more, and Pierce caught both her hands, pinning them gently against the mattress as he leaned over her. Their laughter slowly quietened, leaving them smiling at one another. Margaret's heart gave a soft, contented flutter when he kissed her forehead, then the tip of her nose, and finally her lips.

She kissed him back, still smiling, and when they parted, she whispered, "Am I forgiven?"

"For the jealousy?" Pierce asked.

"Yes."

"Maybe."

She laughed. "And for the foolishness?"

His eyes softened. "Completely."

Margaret rested her head against his shoulder, her smile lingering. Pierce had no mistress. His journeys had not been betrayals. He had been searching for family, protecting Hugh, and trying to uncover the truth that had haunted him. She slipped her arm around him and kissed his cheek.

"Well," she murmured, "I suppose I shall have to find something else to be jealous about."

Pierce gave a low chuckle. "I would advise against it."

"I make no promises. But I do believe I can repay you for being foolish with my accusations."

"How?" he asked.

She lowered her lashes and placed her hand on his trousers, over his bulge. He sucked in a sharp breath of air.

"If you tease me like that, I believe that is punishment, not reward," he said.