A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,100

excuse of more work orders that she’d received. Thankfully, there was no mention of Lord Abbott again. Katherine let out a silent sigh of relief when she escorted her friend to the door without running into another wife or Aunt Vee.

“Darling?” Helen stopped outside the front door on the portico. Her footman already had the carriage door open for her. “Someone said in passing they thought a midwife had visited your residence two days in a row.” Helen’s gaze bored into Katherine’s. “It isn’t for you, is it?”

“Of course not,” Katherine scoffed. “They must have had the wrong house.”

Helen nodded. “That’s what I thought.” She laughed gently. “What a silly thing to have brought up. I apologize. You have not been with anyone since Meriwether.”

With a wave, she continued to her carriage parked out front.

Katherine’s blood seemed to rush to her feet. Suddenly dizzy, she closed the door then rested her head against it with her eyes closed.

Someone had to have been watching the house if Helen knew the midwife had visited twice.

If Helen had heard about the midwife, who else might have?

Chapter Twenty-One

Christian stood in front of the mirror tying his cravat. How in the devil had Katherine slipped out of his arms and out of his house without him being aware? His military ways were fast deserting him. Back in the army, he slept so lightly that a mouse scurrying across his tent would have captured his notice. But undoubtedly, she had to return home before the others in her household woke.

In a manner reminiscent of an adolescent love-starved fool, he smiled to himself. Probably because he’d never felt so relaxed after a bout of lovemaking.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Enter.”

Morgan came to stand by his side without his usual brightness. Also missing was his huge smile. One thing about Morgan, he was a morning person. That was one of the reasons why Christian enjoyed his company.

“Your Grace, you called for me?” Morgan never called him that. His valet perused his appearance and nodded in approval.

“When did she leave?” Christian asked, sounding gruff.

“If you mean Lady Meriwether”—Morgan lifted one brow, making it clear he disapproved—“it was slightly after two o’clock this morning.” He pursed his lips for a moment, then continued, “She looked pale, and her clothes and hair were in complete disarray.” Morgan looked down his nose at Christian. “I only hope that Willa didn’t see her like that.”

Christian acknowledged the set down with a nod. “I completely slept through…”

“Her leaving your bedroom?”

Christian narrowed his eyes. “Are you judging me?”

“Of course not,” Morgan answered. “I’m merely making an observation.”

“One well taken.” Christian retied the lopsided knot of his cravat. “I’m going to see her.”

Christian’s valet raised that infuriating eyebrow again. “Indeed?”

He forgot his disapproving valet and thought about Katherine. He had no idea what he was going to say to her. I enjoyed our time together last night, especially the part where we made love. I’d like to do it again. He wanted her like none before. He wanted to see the perfect blush that colored her neck and cheeks when she was aroused. The whimpers that escaped her lips when he touched her.

It all sounded like a bowl of balderdash.

What did he really want to say? I’ve never felt such ease with a woman before in my life. You are the first woman who I trusted enough to share the truth about my family. I physically ache for you. I want to marry you. I want to be the man who lays a rose on your pillow in the morning, holds your hand in the dark, and kisses you as the sun rises.

Morgan scowled at Christian as if he could read his thoughts.

In response, Christian schooled his features. “I should have been the one to take her home. Why didn’t you wake me?”

His valet’s enigmatic visage reminded Christian of a frozen lake. You couldn’t see how much ice was below the surface, and you certainly didn’t want to find out.

“I tried, but it was like waking the dead.” Morgan studied the floor, and the silence echoed around the room like a cannon shot. “Captain,” Morgan bit out. “If I may inquire? When did you say you were calling on Lady Meriwether?”

He grunted noncommittedly. When he found the courage to apologize for not taking her home.

And for not meeting her first, before Meri found her.

“When I escorted her home early in the morning, she didn’t say a word, nor did she look at me.” Morgan lowered his