Chapter 9 #4
Curled body, pink and warm.
An occasional soft purr amid even breaths.
She must have sensed him watching, for she opened her eyes and stared first at the empty spot beside her on the bed. When she turned and looked up, she saw him standing by the foot of the bed and graced him with a glorious smile. “Good morning. Did I oversleep?”
“No, I was up early.” The mattress dipped as he sank onto it to sit beside her. “You looked comfortable and I did not want to disturb you. Did you sleep well?”
“Divinely.” She purred and stretched, then stopped herself upon remembering she had nothing on beneath the covers.
Gasping, she drew the sheet up to cover her chest.
“Here’s your chemise.” He handed over the delicate garment that was too sheer to be of much use. But if it made her feel more comfortable to have it on, then so be it.
It was not going to hide her perfect mounds or the rest of her beautifully shaped body.
Blessed saints.
He wanted her again.
But there wasn’t time.
The memory of last night’s coupling would have to do for now.
“Shall I leave you to your privacy?” he asked, now donning his boots and the rest of his attire. “Mrs. Gayle will arrive soon and I’ll have her come up to assist you.”
“Yes, that would be appreciated.”
He walked downstairs and unlatched the front door, then took a moment to walk down his front steps.
The breeze was pleasantly light and cool since it was not yet seven o’clock in the morning.
The street was mostly quiet save for the vendors rolling their carts into place.
The shops and taverns were closed, but several would open within the hour.
He noticed a milkman’s cart and saw the milkman delivering eggs, butter, and milk to the neighboring houses.
He was about to return indoors when he noticed his carriage coming down the street. Trent, as instructed, had picked up Mrs. Gayle and brought her here at the appointed hour.
He waved to her as she descended the carriage. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Your Grace.” She wagged her finger at him as she approached. “I see by your grin that you had a good night.”
He chuckled. “My wife is awake and will need some assistance in readying herself for our journey.”
“I’ll attend to her at once,” she said then ran upstairs while he remained standing outside.
It wasn’t long before there was more activity on the street.
Students started heading to classes, a few shopkeepers opened their shops, and the tavern across the street that was brisk with activity last night had opened again this morning, this time providing coffee and tea to their patrons instead of ale.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee reached his nostrils.
He noticed that the men he had hired as porters to assist in loading their trunks and other belongings onto his carriage and the luggage cart had arrived a few minutes early and were now seated at the tavern, having their cups of coffee.
All that remained missing for their journey was the luggage cart.
He expected it would arrive shortly, for the man he’d hired to drive it was Trent’s brother who was as reliable as Trent.
Since Mrs. Gayle’s priority was to assist Tulip in getting herself ready, there would be no coffee made or breakfast ready for him this morning.
This was no problem.
If Tulip was hungry after last night’s exertions, he would escort her to the tavern for a quick bite once she came downstairs.
They would have time while those porters loaded their trunks and other belongings.
His watch was attached to the small pocket of his waistcoat by a fancy fob he had purchased shortly after inheriting the dukedom. It wasn’t anything too ornate, but seemed appropriately pretentious to wear now that he was a duke.
He checked his watch.
That cart was due at any moment.
His carriage was already out front since Trent was ever efficient and had delivered Mrs. Gayle here exactly on time.
Trent was now feeding and watering the horses in preparation for their journey.
A few minutes later, the luggage cart came around from the mews and made its way to the front of Alex’s home.
The porters rose and walked across the street to begin their assignment. “Mornin’, Your Grace,” their foreman said in greeting as they approached.
“Good morning, Mr. Cullin. The trunks and furnishings are in the parlor. I’ll see if my wife has anything more she wishes to pack away.”
Tulip emerged from the townhouse just then.
Her hair was done up in a simple bun at the base of her neck, and a few stray curls fell over her brow.
She had on a pert hat and wore a muslin gown in a shade of dark green that was sturdy and sensible for travel.
She carried a matching pelisse over one arm and held her gloves and reticule in the other.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” she said, coming to stand beside Alex and the porters.
Her smile was pure sunshine.
The men were at first surprised by her friendliness, not certain what to make of her. Then they eased and smiled back, obviously pleased to have been noticed by the duchess…or the fact that she was beautiful no matter her rank.
Alex led them inside, showed them what was to be loaded, and then returned to Tulip’s side as she waited for him by their carriage. “We can have coffee and a light breakfast while they work,” he said, motioning to the tavern across the street.
“I’d love that, if it won’t hold us up.”
“It won’t. We can sit at an outdoor table and watch them work. I know it won’t take them long, but what does it matter? We are the ones to decide when we leave London.”
Tulip had tea and a scone while he had his usual coffee and eggs.
It would have been a pleasant start to the day had Lord Caruthers not suddenly appeared before them, his shadow darkening their table.
Alex immediately rose and placed himself between Tulip and the oaf who looked as though he had been carousing all night and not yet found his bed. “What are you doing here, Caruthers?”
“Seeing you off properly, of course,” he said with false cheer, his voice obviously slurred and so bellicose, everyone seated around them took notice. “You did not think I would forget, did you? Should I not be a good sport and wish you well on your journey, even though you stole my wife?”
Every patron was now looking at them, and several gasped.
The oaf’s insincere smile turned venomous. “I wish you and your Jezebel safe travels…or perhaps you’ll get what you deserve along the way.”
Was that a threat?
No doubt an empty one because the man lived on borrowed funds and would not squander the precious little he had on paying scoundrels to accost them on the road to Somerset.
Alex was armed and so was Trent, if it came to that.
But he doubted it was anything more than the idle ranting of a sore loser because no scoundrel was going to agree to attack a duke for anything less than a king’s ransom.
Caruthers had to borrow funds to have his boots shined.
“You are unmarried, Caruthers,” Alex said in his most intimidating tone. “So how can you lose a wife you never had? But if I ever catch you near my wife or ever insult my wife again, I’ll introduce your face to the cobblestone street before you catch your next breath.”
Caruthers raised his fisted hands. “Just you go ahead and try it.”
“No, Caruthers,” he said with a sigh. “You are not worth the trouble.”
“And your pretty wife? Was she worth the trouble? Or did she refuse to pleasure you last night?”
Several patrons gasped again.
“That tears it,” Alex muttered and was about to toss him out of the tavern, but Tulip stood up and placed her hand on his arm to hold him back.
“He truly isn’t worth it, my love. He is no gentleman, just a petulant loser. Punching him will only create scandal. This is what he hopes to achieve, although heaven knows why he is still bothering with you or me.”
She now turned to Caruthers and spoke loud enough even for passers by to hear.
“I rejected you, my lord. Everyone but you realizes it. Are you that deluded to believe I would ever marry a worthless fortune hunter such as yourself? What were you hoping to accomplish by coming here to see me and my husband off? To shame us? How can I ever be shamed when I have married the best man of all? Ours is a love match. You, on the other hand, are meaningless to me, so your effort is wasted. I would sooner marry a worm than ever marry you.”
Well, that was a verbal kick in the nuts, Alex thought with some amusement.
He did not realize Tulip had it in her to stand up to the oaf, but was pleased he was mistaken.
Caruthers cursed them and stormed off.
Several patrons laughed and others began to clap.
Tulip nodded to acknowledge them, and then sat down again.
Alex sank into his chair and watched her with interest as she calmly finished her tea, although her cheeks were pink with ire and gave her away. “Are you all right, Tulip?”
She nodded. “Are you?”
He laughed. “Yes, little gladiator.”
“I’m not all that brave,” she admitted. “I would not have said anything were you not standing beside me. I knew you would protect me.”
“Always, sweetheart.” He leaned forward and caressed her cheek. “Tulip…”
“Truly, I am all right. You needn’t fret about that cur upsetting me.”
“It isn’t only that.” He regarded her with an investigative eye, his gaze sharp and intense. “You called me ‘my love’ and mentioned ours was a love match. Did you mean it? Or was it because you thought the situation called for it?”
“The situation called for it. But…would you mind if I did mean it?”