And when they had rested, they loved again—the whole night through.
A shaft of sunlight streaming through the window woke Arabella the next morning. She looked around her to make sure that yesterday and last night had not been some wonderful dream. But the heavy gold wedding band upon her finger and the large warm naked body snuggled next to hers reassured her it had been real. ‘Good morning, Wife,’ he murmured and her gaze flew to his to find the clear brown eyes awake and watching her. ‘Good morning, Husband.’ She smiled and felt his hand move upon her breast.
The sound of small running feet sounded in the passageway outside the duke’s bedchamber in Shardeloes Hall.
‘Mama? Where are you, Mama?’ a small voice called.
Arabella laughed and rose, quickly pulling on her dressing gown that was lying across the carved wooden chest at the bottom of the bed. She threw the large dark coloured dressing gown by its side up to Dominic.
‘You had best prepare yourself for your son, your Grace.’ Then she hurried to the door and opened it to look out into the passageway where Archie was running. ‘Here I am, little lamb, and your papa too.’ She pulled him into her arms and kissed his forehead. ‘Have you run away from your grandmama again?’
‘Yes, Mama. I have been awake for ages and she is still snoring.’
So Archie came and climbed into the bed between Arabella and Dominic and the three of them snuggled down together.
‘Are you going to let me see Trojan today?’ he asked Dominic.
‘Not Trojan,’ said Dominic.
‘Oh,’ said Archie in a disappointed voice.
‘I thought you might want to see Charlie instead.’
‘Charlie?’ Archie was staring at his father with great wide eyes. ‘My Charlie, that Gemmell made for me?’
‘Your Charlie, indeed, and from where do think Gemmell carved him? The real Charlie has been waiting here for you all along. He is your very own pony, Archie.’
Archie threw his arms around Dominic’s neck. ‘Oh, thank you, Papa! Can we go and ride him right now?’
‘After breakfast,’ said Dominic with a laugh and ruffled Archie’s hair.
Arabella looked at her son and her husband and she knew that this truly was her happy ever after.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8215-5
UNMASKING THE DUKE’S MISTRESS
Copyright © 2011 by Margaret McPhee
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† Silk & Scandal
* Gentlemen of Disrepute
Table of Contents
Cover
Author Note
Title Page
Other Titles by Margaret Mcphee Available in Ebook Format
Dedication
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Copyright
Unmasking the Duke's Mistress Page 23
