Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,60
feet. Fortunately, her hair was still pinned into place. If he’d had his way, he would have removed all the pins and run his fingers through it. “Why don’t you ring and have the children brought downstairs? I’ll read to them a bit from their new books.”
Her fingers came to her lips. “Do I look different? As if we’ve been kissing?”
“Well, your lips are a bit swollen. Summon a servant and go wash your face. I’ll ask for the children to be brought here.”
“All right.” Her hand fell but her gaze met his. “You were right. Using our tongues made it very pleasurable.”
If only she knew how much more pleasure could be found. All in good time.
She pulled the cord and then excused herself. Weston wandered about the room until a servant appeared and he requested the three children come to see him. By the time they arrived, Elise had returned, her lips still slightly swollen but not as noticeable.
They greeted him and Elise dismissed the governess who had accompanied them downstairs, asking her to return in an hour, and then said, “Come and see what His Grace has brought you.”
Eagerly, they rushed over and clapped their hands as he distributed the packages to them, leaving the last one on the table.
“May we open them?” Joseph asked and Weston nodded.
Immediately, all three ripped into the presents with glee, holding up the books to show Elise.
“Read mine first,” Claire demanded, placing the book next to Weston and then crawling into his lap.
He reached for the book and opened it, liking the feel of this little person in his arms. He read the story to her and then Josiah asked to be next. Weston read the second book aloud as the boy also sat in his lap. When it came to Joseph, he said he would sit next to the duke. He also would read his book aloud to His Grace and not be read to.
By the time Joseph finished, the hour had passed and the governess returned to collect her charges. Elise had the children thank him and they left to have their dinner.
Weston lifted the final brown parcel from the table and handed it to her. “I also came bearing a gift for you.”
“You didn’t have to do so.”
“I wanted to. Open it.”
She placed the package in her lap and untied the string before ripping at the paper. When she’d removed enough to see what lay inside, she paused, growing very still. He saw tears fill her eyes and cursed silently for thinking to replace the atlas her husband had given her.
Then Elise looked up, her violet eyes a darker shade than normal, thanks to the tears brimming in them.
“You couldn’t have given me a more perfect gift,” she told him. “I used to look at my atlas every day, dreaming of all the places to go.”
“Where would you go first?” he asked.
“Paris,” she said dreamily. “It’s supposed to be the best city in the world.”
“I only hope you have that opportunity. Bonaparte has escaped and is said to be marching toward Paris. Hopefully, England and her allies will defeat the little monster and lock him away for all time. My friend, Sebastian, is part of the forces who better bring the dictator to heel.” He thought a moment. “Perhaps you could go there on your honeymoon if Bonaparte has been put down. It’s supposed to be the most romantic city. Where after that?”
She shrugged. “So many places. The Swiss Alps. Tuscany. Sailing along the Rhine or Nile. Or across the ocean to America.” She stroked the book in her lap. “Even if I never go to any of those places in person, I can always look at them in these pages and go to them in my mind.”
Weston vowed he would take Elise wherever she wanted to go.
When they were husband and wife.
Chapter Nineteen
Elise brushed her long hair and smoothed it, winding it into her usual chignon. She hadn’t had a lady’s maid since her sister-in-law became the new Countess of Ruthersby and laid claim to everything in the household, including Elise’s maid. When she dressed every morning, she did so with the help of a parlor maid who did her best. The girl knew nothing about doing hair, however, and so Elise had to forego any fashionable, elaborate hairstyles. It would probably make for a bit of gossip among some of the women in the ton. Her dress made up for it, however.