Page 41 of Never Dance with a Duke

A tear slipped unbidden from the corner of one of her eyes.

“And maybe camels,” she managed to mutter. “The ones with two humps.”

“Anything you wish.” He pressed his mouth to the knuckles of each of her hands in turn. “Will you marry me, darling?”

“How can I possibly say no?” She blinked to clear the moisture from her eyes. “I love you.”

“Nooo!” A woman’s distressed cry echoed into the still night. “You cannot marry her.”

“Indeed, he can, Lady Calbraith,” Ansley said briskly. “Might I suggest now would be an excellent time for you to depart?”

Footsteps rapidly retreating, followed the viscountess’s angry huff.

Mathias regained his feet, and in full view of her brother, mother, and at least fifty of London’s most elite peers and peeresses, he kissed Nicolette soundly.

Most soundly, indeed.

“Can I assume that is a yes, my love?” he asked amidst scandalous applause and several “Huzzahs!”

“You can, my darling.” Shaking her head, Nicolette chuckled as she fingered his lapel. “I’m ever so glad I agreed to dance with a duke, after all.”

“As am I.” Mathias lowered his head again. “As am I.”

East India Docks

London England

28 June 1810

Mathias tossed his hat on the table beneath the circular window in the ship’s cabin that would be his and Nicolette’s home for the next few weeks. Two traveling trunks had been placed at the end of the berth, and another pair had been arranged on the opposite wall beneath the porthole.

He and his wife of three splendid days were on their way to ride elephants in Asia. Excursions in Greece, Morocco, Italy, and Spain were also on the itinerary.

Nicolette had wanted to add several other locations to their travels, but he couldn’t be away from his business ventures or his ducal responsibilities that long. Instead, he’d promised her another extended trip next year.

His duchess possessed quite an adventurous nature, both in and out of the bedchamber.

She removed her ivory and peach bonnet and her apricot-colored spencer and slowly turned in a circle. “I don’t know why, but I’d always imagined ship’s cabins were much larger than this.”

Mathias had no complaints. The smaller the cabin, the closer she’d be to him, although that bed might prove a bit crowded.

Giving him a saucy grin, she crossed the short distance and twined her arms about his neck, asking coyly, “Do you suppose we’ll grow tired of one another’s company by the time we arrive in Calcutta?”

“Hmm.” Wrapping his arms around her waist, he grinned and leaned back to peruse her beautiful face. “I suppose I could read a few of those books you insisted upon bringing. But I think we’ll be too busy, ‘exploring this beautiful thing between us and watching it grow.’”

His grin taking in a seductive bend at the double entendre, he arched his hardened member into her soft stomach.

“Ah, throwing my words back at me already, husband?” She reached between them, grazing her hand over his hardness, a siren’s promise in her sultry blue eyes.

“Hmm, mayhap.” He skimmed her muslin gown upward, exposing her shapely silk, stocking-clad legs and half-boots. Peach and coral roses adorned her stockings today.

“Mathias,” she breathed on a husky rasp as he backed her up against the bulkhead. “We haven’t even left port yet.”

“Ah, but I believe you told me you wanted more adventure in your life.” He flashed a sinfully, wicked smile as his fingers grazed her bare hips. “I do so like the current fashion of no undergarments.”

“Oh, I had several pairs of pantalettes made—”

“Which you will not wear unless we are in Siberia or Antarctica,” he said before nuzzling her neck. “I shouldn’t like unnecessary obstacles to curtail our explorations.”