The Duke's Wife (The Three Mrs #3) - Jess Michaels Page 0,56

a scene of laughter and fun, but Abigail felt very much on edge.

She knew what was about to happen. And she was practically jumping out of her skin in anticipation. Into the carriages the couples went, and as Ophelia went back into the house, Abigail and Nathan stood on the step, waving to their friends together.

“That was a lovely night,” she said with a contented smile.

“It was,” he agreed as they came back into the foyer. “Did you have a nice time?” he asked Ophelia.

She smiled. “It was lovely. I’ve always liked Leighton, the former Mrs. Montgomerys are both lovely and Mr. Gregory is fascinating. I enjoy all their company very much.”

“And you shall have a great deal of it, and I hope come to count us all as friends,” Abigail said softly.

Ophelia inclined her head. Her lips tightened a little, her hesitation plain. She sighed. “You know, I am tired. Perhaps I shall excuse myself and read for a while. I’m sure you two wouldn’t mind a little time alone.”

Abigail tried not to look at Nathan. Surely he would see her intentions in her eyes, and she wasn’t ready for that yet. “Goodnight, Ophelia,” she said.

Ophelia looked at her a long moment. “Goodnight, Abigail.” Then she kissed her brother’s cheek and left them.

Now they were alone in the foyer, and Abigail glanced up at him. “I do have something to speak to you about,” she said, trying not to bounce with nervous excitement.

His brow wrinkled. “Do you? Well, then that will give me an opportunity to show you something. Come.”

He took her arm and they moved up the hall together past parlors and other rooms. He led her into one and she looked around. She’d thought it was another parlor, but it wasn’t. It was a small study with tall, empty bookshelves and a cherrywood desk.

“It’s lovely,” she said.

“I thought it should be your study, and had the desk brought in and the shelves emptied in anticipation. Does it suit you?”

She stared at him a moment, emotions welling in her chest. Then she walked away and truly looked at the room. It wasn’t large, but it was the perfect size for her. And the desk faced the window, which looked down over the gardens below. “I love it,” she breathed. “Thank you.”

The thanks seemed to make him uncomfortable, for he was shifting when she looked back at him. He cleared his throat. “We can speak about the decorations.”

She worried her lip a moment, then refocused and meandered around the room further, always heading toward the door. She stopped there and closed it. His eyes widened a fraction.

“What you have to say must be very serious,” he said.

She nodded. “It is. But first, what can you tell me about the desk?”

He looked confused as he glanced toward the escritoire. “It’s…wood? It’s been in the attic for ages. I think it might have belonged to my grandmother. She loved to write.”

“I see. And is it sturdy?”

He blinked. “Sturdy?”

“Yes.”

He moved to it and pressed down on the top. The wood didn’t tremble or shake. “It seems to be. Why? Do you intend to put something heavy on it?”

“Perhaps.” She was practically bouncing now. He was so flummoxed, and it was just too much fun to cause it. “Will you lean on it?”

“Lean on it,” he repeated. “Certainly.”

He cocked his hip onto the tabletop and held out his hands as if to say there.

She nodded slowly. “Stay there, please.”

She pivoted back to the door and turned the key. When she faced him again, his pupils had dilated and his gaze was much more focused. She drew in a shaky breath.

“I am going to say this once to you, Nathan.” She moved toward him. “Just once.”

He arched a brow. “Say whatever you would like to say.”

She crossed the rest of the distance to him. With him half-seated on the desk, they were now of equal height. She licked her lips as she leaned toward him.

“You.”

She brushed her lips to his and placed a hand on his chest before gliding it down. Together they watched her fingers slide lower and lower until she pressed her palm into his muscular thigh, then cupped it between his legs. She slid it across the fall front of his trousers and he sucked in a hard breath.

“Were.”

She unfastened one button, then another, and then dropped the fall front down. His cock was half-hard already and bounced free. She glanced down at him and shivered. It was a very nice