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Family Secrets
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LOVING HER DUKE Glad To Be Your Friend
Lady Beth turned and jumped, shocked to find him behind her. Charles reached out and caught her, pulling her to himself to prevent a fall. She freed herself quickly and stepped back, creating a few centimetres between them, jumpily rubbing down her skirt. When against all things sensible, he closed in on her again, she made no show of it, even though she had noticed. She cleared her throat. "Mother was friends with the late Duchess, her birth Mother. She brought her home." She said, almost whispering, but Charles was no longer listening.Without much knowledge, night slowly descended upon them as the wind became stronger, the air, colder. In the silent, moonless night, Charles could hear his heart pounding and he knew it had no relation to the cold air. From where he stood, he could almost feel her against him, he only needed to move one foot. They stood like that for a while.Her lips were before him, a breath away from his. When the wind troubled her hair, the mass responded, dancin
LOVING HER DUKE You Are Only Trying To Persuade Yourself
* * *For two days the council meeting ran and on both days, Charles battled to rid himself of the thoughts of Lady Beth. Her hair, the fiery, unruly mass invaded his thoughts over and over again. He wished he had defiled honour and reached out to them as they lay on her back. Wished he had felt how silky they were. Through his distracted thought, he heard someone note on the cost and manpower to push back the bandits and another suggested complete eradication, but Charles didn't care for that, he couldn't care for anything else. Brand had inquired if he was well and truthfully, Charles no longer was sure. On the first day, while the gentlemen discussed the bandits and how best to rid themselves of them, Charles thought continuously of Lady Beth, only coming back to the room when inquired to utter a word of agreement.When the discussion had moved further away from security unto humanitarian works and poverty eradication, Charles was even more uninterested. All that held his interest
LOVING HER DUKE Waiting For Him
The Duke wished for a simple conversation, an honest one, that was all.Beth sat at the table, holding onto a book of poems she had brought with her, absentmindedly flipping through its pages. The burning candle illuminated a part of the room with a faint glow and the fireplace kept it warm. It was nice and comforting.They were friends now – the Duke of Carlisle and her – as he had wished for long, still her heart was troubled. Two nights before, they had shared a series of honest truths between them and by note, he wished for another night of honest conversation which Beth was contemplating much about. Another honest conversation he had invited her out for, to the west balcony of the Castle.Still in the dress she had worn at dinner, she sat staring into her book, unfocused. They had been missing from the dinner table, the Duke, the King and all who had attended on their first night at the Castle. Although she was glad to have Cossington absent and unseen, still she wondered about t
LOVING HER DUKE The Dark Is Best For Confessions
Beth held on tighter to her light cover and continued. "A letter arrived today from Rosethorn Hill. Lord D'Averette has taken a fancy to my cousin; he wishes to court her with the intent of marriage." She smiled. "Lucy has never looked happier, I think." The Duke remained silent, his lips sealed. Beth swallowed. "I suppose another council meeting holds tomorrow, how was it today?" She asked. "It must be matters of extreme importance for the discussions to take so long." She repeated her statement, hoping he would finally speak, still nothing. "Are you not exhausted yet, My Lord?"A moment. "Are you?" The Duke finally spoke, calmly and quietly.Beth was confused. Why was the question returned to her? "No, I am not. As you said, I had been waiting." She flinched. Why had she said that? "I was surprised by your calling at my door.""I apologize for calling you out."Beth recoiled. Did he think her exhausted and annoyed at his call? "Your grace, it is silly to apologize. Had I not waited
LOVING HER DUKE Darkest Days Of My Life
She swallowed and clasped her hands together. His words further confusing her. "Thank you?" It was more a question than gratitude. The silence took over. With the Duke of Carlisle, Beth had learned to expect and enjoy the silence.He took another drag and crushed his cigar underfoot. He never seemed to finish his cigars. "Unlike with Alexander and Brand, in your company I want to say it all, and do it all." What did he mean? The Duke was far more misconstruing than Lucy and Gwen. "I have for years been taught to walk the paths of gentlemen, never revealing my thoughts to another. Sometimes, I wish for more than polite company."He was lonely and he admitted his loneliness to her.Did he mean to? Or was he unaware of his confession? Beth couldn't speak. Here the Duke was, seeking someone he couldn't see as a friend, someone he could tell even his deepest secrets and she thought he wanted her for more than she was willing to give. She was flustered, and her eyes shimmered with remorse a
LOVING HER DUKE On A Dark Hill
When he had asked for her company to the Castle, it had purely been out of curiosity. He wanted, needed, to know why in her presence he was relieved and free, eager to try and even dare to fail. After the horse ride, while she was talking about her return to her relatives' home and finally to Ireland, he had elicited a promise from her to meet him every day before the departure, and everyday unfailing, she had kept her promise.It was the fourth day after he returned from the Castle, and as the night before, Charles waited for Beth to join him for another nightly rendezvous as he drank his wine directly from the bottle. The windy evening did little to lower his body temperature, for the wine warmed him already. Sitting there, at the top of their hill – as she had called it – he finally agreed to himself that he would miss the Irish woman when she returned home.Beth had, for the past few days, been a kindred spirit, who, much to his surprise and delight, understood him and every word h
LOVING HER DUKE All Consequences Be Damned!
He cleared his throat. "You leave tomorrow still?"She nodded, her lips in a pout. "We leave as early as possible." Then her lips pulled into a smile. She sat upright, smiling at him. "But we return in two weeks for Lucy's wedding and farewell." She clasped her hands together and brought them to her chest in delight, still smiling. "How absurd to already look forward to the day we would return when I haven't left yet. It is amazing how Carlisle has grown on me." She chortled quietly.He became incredibly still; he couldn't look away. Her eyes shone with the reflection of the fire at the thought of returning to Carlisle, to his Duchy. "Do miss me, Beth." He blurted out. She froze up, surprised. "For I will miss you." He finally confessed.The night became still and quiet. The wind calmly troubling the grass and her hair as usual, dancing to the song of the wind. Beth's eyes remained on him and he held her gaze.He had began to refer to her given name rather than adhere to calling her w
LOVING HER DUKE Burning Desires
Beth had never felt that way before, not that she had had any sort of experience to compare with, still it was exhilarating. She felt consumed, though she was not sure which was consuming her. The wine, or the kiss? Lord Carlisle's hand moved to the small of her back, while the other went still, away from her body. Good gracious, he was a marvellous kisser. She was pressed against his side and when he pulled her to himself, her hand fell onto his thigh.The fire crackled and the wind picked up, but Beth felt nothing from the outside, the fire within her had her heated, and his lips had her completely engrossed. She was hot, and deep between her thighs, she was starting to feel an ache, a sweet and upsetting ache that somehow she knew only Lord Carlisle could ease. His hand upon her waist contributed greatly to the sweet ache. Unconsciously, she wished he would move the hand underneath her skirt to ease the ache.He sat up straight, bringing her with him, kissing her deeply and more se
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