The Sherbrooke Bride - Catherine Coulter [103]
She sought out Melissande, who looked like a princess, dancing with a young man who looked ready to collapse at her feet and pant.
Douglas, having finished his struggle, said finally, sounding just a bit shocked, “Are you trying to tease me, Alexandra?”
She smiled up at her husband. “What were we speaking about? You took so long to reply. Oh yes, it is your choice, Douglas. You insist that all I feel for you is lust. Well, then, since you’re older than I, and far more experienced, I expect you’re right. I accept that now. You’re staring down at my bosom and it is only lust you feel. Now I am staring at your mouth and you must know that I want to kiss you, to feel you with my hands, all of you, especially over your belly and down to touch you, you’re so hot and alive and smooth. All of it is lust. After all, you told me to be reasonable and that you are a man with vast experience in everything, so yes, lust it is.” She gave him a wicked smile and held out her hand. “Dance, my lord?”
He wanted to smack her.
He was breathing hard. He was seeing her white hands stroking down his chest, her fingers splayed on his belly, her fingers curling around him, caressing him, and his muscles spasmed. “I’m going to the cardroom,” he said and left her with a sharp nod.
Alexandra smiled. Let him taste his own turnips, she thought. Just let him believe that she felt nothing for him except his precious lust.
Lady Juliette seemed to enjoy herself, Alexandra saw. She’d established herself and her own court far away from Melissande. She laughed rather a lot and loudly, but Alexandra didn’t care. The chit would leave on the morrow.
When Hollis whispered in Alexandra’s ear that the dinner buffet was ready to be served, she was startled at how quickly the time had passed. It was Tony who led her into dinner and Douglas who escorted Melissande. Juliette was on the besotted arm of a local squire who had been complaining at great length about his gout until he had seen Juliette.
“Douglas is still in a snit,” Alexandra said to Tony as she forked down a bite of delicious salmon patty. “And all because I finally agreed with him about my feelings, rather my lack of them.”
“Just lust, hm?”
“Yes. He puffed up like a haughty cardinal and took himself off to the cardroom. His mother isn’t pleased with him. She blames me for his defection, of course. I am tempted to tell her exactly why he defected. I vow it would make her look at Douglas in a different light.”
“And you as well, hussy.”
Alex laughed. “True, but the look on her face would be worth it, almost.”
“Are you pregnant yet?”
She dropped her fork. “Goodness. I have no idea. Oh dear, Tony, I hadn’t thought about it. Pregnant. Why ever would you ask me that?”
“I heard the dowager speaking of it to Aunt Mildred. She just hopes you will do your duty before the year is out since that is the only reason Douglas was willing to marry in the first place. The precious heir, you know.”
She gave him a stark look. “I suppose if I do not produce the precious heir within a year, Douglas will toss me out on my ear and try to breed with another female?”
“You make it sound like livestock on a farm. And no, Douglas will keep on trying manfully, I doubt not.” Tony fiddled with a slice of bread, saying finally, “I know this is difficult for you to believe, but it’s true. I’ve never in my adult life seen Douglas lose his control. In battle he was a cold-blooded bastard, never faltering, never losing sight of his goals, never forgetting a detail that would make a possible difference