Page 81 of Winning Her Duke

“Of course, miss.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Kempt.”

Upstairs Gia showed Lord Melville to his room first and then escorted Jeremy to the room closest to her own.

“I am right next door in case you are frightened by all the country noises and need assistance.”

He glanced down the hall before wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. He captured her lips and trailed kisses down her neck. A noise from her room forced them apart. Bess would be setting out things for her bath.

“I will most definitely take you up on your offer,” he said before placing one more quick kiss on her mouth. “As soon as your maid has retired.”

With that, he went into his own room.

She pressed her fingertips to her lips that tingled from his touch. Her cheeks were still warm when she went into her room and of course, Bess noticed.

“You and the duke seem quite close. I have a feeling there will be no match with Lord Melville,” Bess smiled. Of course, she would have noticed how closely Gia sat to Jeremy, even leaning against him.

Bess could be trusted to keep her secrets and in truth, Gia wanted to confide in someone about what had happened.

“The night … After Hera delivered… Well… I was intimate with Jeremy. That is, the duke.”

Bess’s eyes went wide and then a smile spread slowly over her face.

“You’re to be a duchess then? How exciting, miss.”

“Oh. No.”

Bess frowned. “He took your virtue and didn’t offer for you? I thought the duke to be better bred than that, even for a Scot.”

“No. He did offer. But only out of honor.”

“As he should.”

“I refused his offer.”

“Refused? Miss, pardon me for being so bold, but you could be increasing this very moment and what then?”

Gia had of course known the way of things and the risk she’d taken.

“If it comes to that, I would certainly reexamine the situation, but so long as I’m not in the family way, I would prefer not to marry. You know that isn’t what I wish for.”

“You wish to remain here at Elmhurst with your horses.” Bess didn’t say the word “still” but Gia heard it nonetheless.

“Yes.” Though as Bess said it, the thought didn’t have the same satisfaction it once held. It sounded rather… empty.

She shook her head and focused on her future. The one she’d always planned on.

“Yes,” she repeated, more forcefully this time.

Bess was not convinced if her raised brow was any indication.

“It is a long life ahead of you. And a lonely one if you get your wish.”

“But it is my life, is it not? And I have a right to live it the way I want.”

“With horses instead of a husband and children?” Bess shook her head as if the idea was absurd.

“Yes.” Gia gave up on sounding convincing.