The Duke's Reform Read Online Free PDF

of his lips
increased. His tongue ran along her mouth demanding entry to the moist recesses
within. This was too much. She was overwhelmed by what was happening. Her body
was responding to his lovemaking whilst her head was screaming no.
          Suddenly she was
free, but her legs gave way and without his arms to support her she would have
sunk in a pool of green silk at his feet. 'Sweetheart, I beg your pardon, I did not mean to frighten you. Here, darling, let
me carry you to the sofa.'
          'No, I am quite
recovered thank you, sir, ' her voice was little more than a whisper but he
took heed and did no more than guide her to the seat.
          'Lady Isobel,
will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?'
          Shocked by the
abruptness of his proposal she almost refused. He had not bothered to go down
on one knee, but remained staring down at her as if impatient for an answer.
'Thank you, your grace, I shall be delighted to
accept.'
    'Excellent. I shall ride down to
Norfolk tomorrow to speak to your father and arrange the settlements. We shall
be married at Newcomb four weeks from today. I shall leave you to organize your
bride clothes. Four weeks is sufficient I hope?'
          Isobel wanted to
tell him it was not nearly enough time, that an
engagement of a month was far too short, that she'd hoped to get to know him
better before the marriage took place. It would be a fruitless exercise. She
had better become accustomed to being dictated to. The man she had just agreed
to marry would brook no contradiction to his orders. Had she made a dreadful
mistake?
    'I shall be ready in time. Are we to
have a wedding trip, my lord?'
          He cupped her
face and brushed her lips with his own. 'My love, did you not say you were
eager to spend time in the country alone with me?'
          'I did, and
April is the perfect month to spend in Hertfordshire.'
     
          'Come,
sweetheart, give me your hand, there's something I still have to do.'
          Obediently she
held it out and he pushed a betrothal band with a perfect square cut emerald
    on to her ring finger. She gazed down, her eyes
pricked— the ring was perfect. It also exactly matched the necklace she was
wearing. Her hand strayed to her neck and his eyes followed it. Before she
could retreat she was once more within his arms but this time his lips drifted
across her neck leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
          A strange
languor made her limbs heavy; she relaxed against his arms tipping her head
back to give him access to her breasts. She was released abruptly and her
future husband was standing with his back to her. Was he unwell? Instinctively she
stepped forward and touched his shoulder.
     'Lady Isobel, return to the
drawing-room to give your family the good news. I shall be with you directly.'
          How
inconsiderate— it would look decidedly strange for her to enter without him at
her side.
    She sighed and did as she was bid. Probably
best to start learning to follow his dictums. One she was his wife he would
have complete authority over her. She prayed he would
not be too authoritative.
    *
    The next four weeks flew past. Her parents
arrived from Norfolk and her bride clothes were completed. There was no time to repine, everyone told her she was the luckiest girl in
the land. As the day for her departure to Hertfordshire drew closer she hoped
her fears were unfounded. Bentley had rarely been alone with her, and then he
left for Newcomb to oversee the preparations for her arrival a week before the
wedding.
          'Mama, I have
scarcely had time to converse with my future husband. We have been acquainted but
a few weeks— how am I going to manage living with a stranger?'
          Her mother shook
her head. 'Isobel, child, you have the rest of your lives to get to know each
other. There is not a woman in town who does not envy
you. To be married to a duke who is not in his dotage is good fortune