Chapter 6

M arina's feet were aching by the time she reached her chambers. All she wanted was a hot bath and her bed after such a taxing day.

There is still the wedding night.

The thought made her freeze with her hand on the door. What would it be like to consummate her marriage with the duke? She certainly felt attracted to him, there was no denying that. His very being exuded an aura of power that pulled her in, making her feel as if she were sampling forbidden fruit.

The pit of her stomach knotted in a delicious melody of attraction and fear. Would he be gentle with her, or would he demand what was his and leave the room soon after? She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth at the thought of his muscular figure looking down at her on the bed.

"Your Grace!"

Marina almost jumped back as the door was yanked away from her fingers, revealing a startled maid in a black dress.

The girl quickly backed up and curtsied so low that Marina was afraid her legs would fold in half. Her bright blonde hair and charming green eyes seemed very pretty. "I beg your most humble pardon, Your Grace. I have often been told that I should think before I act. The housekeeper has warned me so many times not to open doors like a bull in a china shop!" The flurry of information that came from the girl's lips, made Marina's mind whirl.

"I think you had better take a deep breath." Marina raised her hand to her head and adjusted her eyes, wondering who the strange maid was.

"Of course, Your Grace!" The girl came up straight and took a deep breath, holding it for a little too long before Marina nodded for her to let it out. Her cheeks had begun to fill with color by the time she breathed.

"Now, let's start over with your name?" She encouraged the young girl, hoping that she would not pass out beforehand.

Clearing her throat, the maid tucked a loose strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "My name is Isolde Hewit, Your Grace. I am to be your lady's maid." The proud look in her eyes, along with her uncalculated mannerisms, let Marina know that it was indeed the very first time that the young girl would be attending to a lady.

"I see," Marina nodded.

Panic now filled the young girl's eyes. "I do apologize for my abrupt behavior, Your Grace. I want to please you ever so badly. It is just there was not any time for training, or to hire a lady's maid. We have never had a lady, you see." Yet another flurry of words filled the air before Marina could stop it.

"You may calm down, Isolde. There is plenty of time for us to get to know one another. I am not about to send you back to…" Her words trailed off as she hoped that Isolde would fill in the rest.

"Oh, head housemaid, Your Grace. I have been in service since I was sixteen." She held her head up high, speaking of the work and dedication she placed in her job.

"And how old are you now?" Marina sized her up, placing her somewhere in her early twenties.

"Nineteen, Your Grace." Isolde curtsied again.

A child.

Marina wondered why a girl so young was allowed to take on such an important role in the house. "Only three years of service. That is quite a climb."

"I can assure you that I am very well trained, Your Grace. Maybe not as a lady's maid, but I am certain that you will not find me lacking in any of my other tasks."

Marina looked over the girl's shoulder and noticed how impeccably clean her chambers appeared. Nothing was out of place and a fresh nightdress along with a robe and slippers had already been placed on the chair in front of her dresser. "Well, I think we should get on just fine then; we can learn together."

Isolde's bright green eyes widened with grateful shock, making Marina wonder if the girl was about to run up and hug her. "Thank you, Your Grace. You are a kind person." The look of restraint in her eyes almost seemed too painful to bear.

"We can start by taking off these shoes and doing something about the ache in my feet." Feeling amused by the bubbly young girl, Marina walked to her large, four-poster bed and perched on the edge, waiting expectantly for Isolde who continued to smile at her.

"Shoes! Of course!" Isolde rushed forward after a brief moment of hesitation.

It is going to be a long road to learning.

Marina pursed her lips into a hidden smile as the girl lifted the layers of fabric and began to remove her shoes. The girl's behavior provided her with a great deal of amusement if nothing else. At least she would have one friendly face in the manor if things did not go well between her and the duke.

The duke…

Her husband suddenly came to mind once again as her heart fluttered. Would he be coming to her room, or would he give her a few nights to settle in first? He did state that siring an heir was one of the conditions of their marriage, and there was only one way to achieve that, as far as Marina knew.

"I can't tell you how glad we are that His Grace has found someone to fall in love with!" Isolde broke through her train of thought.

"We?" Marina asked when the girl had removed her shoes and came up straight.

"All of the staff, Your Grace. There were prayers for His Grace to find someone to fall in love with." She explained before taking the shoes to the door and leaving them outside in the hall.

"I can assure you that love was not part of our arrangement." Marina found her comment strange, yet not so strange that it caused her any amount of alarm. It was endearing to know that the duke's staff wanted him to be happy.

Isolde turned around with her eyes wide as if Marina had sworn at her. "Oh, but you must fall in love with him, Your Grace!"

"And why is that?" she asked as Isolde came forward to help her undress.

Color filled the girl's face once again as she chewed on the inside of her cheeks. "Well, all of us have been hoping that His Grace would fall in love. He is quite difficult to deal with at present, Your Grace. If you do not mind me speaking in such an open manner." She quickly remembered her place.

"Is the duke cruel to the staff?" Marina's throat suddenly felt dry as she thought of the scar on his face and the dark look in his eyes whenever he challenged her. Had it been a mistake to marry someone she had not even known by reputation?

"Not cruel, Your Grace, but certainly strict and demanding, would perhaps be a better way of stating things." Isolde held her breath when she realized that she had said too much.

Marina could see by the look in the young girl's eyes that she was afraid of saying too much. Or perhaps she was too afraid to speak out against her master. "You do not have to fear, Isolde, you may speak freely in my presence."

The girl let out a breath of relief as she began to pick up the wedding dress and undergarments that Marina had just been wearing. "Thank you, Your Grace, I knew you were a kind soul. Please do not think that the duke has ever been cruel to any of us, he is just… just…"

"Just difficult and grumpy?" Marina offered.

Isolde's lips curled into an understanding smile. "Yes, Your Grace, difficult and grumpy are definitely suitable descriptions."

A moment of understanding passed between the two women before Isolde broke the silence. "I had better get these garments to the wash, Your Grace. Will there be anything else this evening before I leave you?"

Marina turned to the floor-length mirror and examined her reflection in the new night dress before answering. "No, I think I have everything that I need." Her pulse raced with doubt as she passed her tongue over her lips.

"I am sure that His Grace will find your appearance most satisfactory, Your Grace," Isolde replied as if she could read Marina's mind.

"Thank you, Isolde." She forced a smile before waiting for the maid to leave the room. Out of everything that she feared, her appearance in front of the duke was not one of them.

Hours had passed as Marina lay on her bed, staring hopelessly at the ceiling.

It does not seem like he is coming.

Her heart raced with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. Had she wanted him to come to her bed? She tried to reason with herself that it was better if he was respecting her time to settle in.

Turning over with a sigh, she was about to blow out the candle beside her bed when the door suddenly opened.

"Your Grace?" Her heart began to race as the large figure remained in the shadow.

Why hadn't he brought a candle with him?

She felt herself backing up until the tips of her fingers touched the solid wood of the bed's frame.

"Blow out the candle." His voice was ominously low.

"I beg your pardon, Your Grace?" Her voice was breathy as her fingers curled around the hardwood of the poster.

"I said blow it out." He raised his voice to a commanding tone.

Does he not want me to see his face?

Her breathing deepened as her chest rose and fell, making her hard nipples brush against the fabric of her night dress.

"Your Grace, I do not care if…"

"You are to obey my commands." His voice was low but commanding, sending a shiver of fear down her spine.

Doing as he commanded, she made her way across the room and blew out the candle, unsure of what to expect next.

The sound of his heavy footsteps made her gasp for breath as he came into the dark room, shutting the door behind him. She was about to turn around when his strong arms suddenly encircled her shoulders, pulling her body against his rock-hard muscles.

Every chiseled line of his chest and abdomen was evident through the fabric of his clothes. A sharp gasp of surprise escaped her throat when his hands suddenly cupped her breasts, teasing her hard nipples against his palms.

She could hardly contain the excitement that flooded her body when he squeezed her breasts, pulling her body closer to her thighs.

Running the palm of his hands over her breasts, he made his way down her body, feeling her sides and abdomen before scrunching her dress up in his fists.

Why do I want him to touch me?

She began to envision his hands roaming beneath her clothes as she suddenly turned in his arms, catching herself by surprise as much as the duke. Her body seemed to be responding to his touch as if it possessed a mind of its own.

The duke seemed startled for a second before gripping her waist and running his hands over her firm buttocks. The roughness he displayed in gripping her waist, made her breath catch in her throat.

"Will you… kiss me?" Marina stood on her toes, tilting her head slightly back as she ran the tips of her fingers over his chest.

The duke ran his hand up her arm, gripping her chin before running his thumb over her jawline. "I will be the one calling the shots, Kitten. You will purr for me when I tell you to. Kissing will not be necessary for consummating this marriage." His voice sent shivers of pleasure over her skin as her nipples hardened even further, pressing into his chest as her breasts rubbed against his muscles.

Her lips drew closer to his as she pushed herself up on her toes, wanting his lips to consume hers with every fiber of her being.

Running his fingers down her neck, he paused at the base of her throat, gently drawing a line over her collarbone before encircling her neck with his thick fingers.

Why do I suddenly want him so badly?

Her core ached with desire as she pressed her body into his. None of the fear or questions that had been plaguing her mind seemed to matter anymore. Not when she gasped beneath the tips of his fingers as his free hand reached her breast.

She was about to respond when his lips came crashing down on hers, kissing her passionately as his tongue explored the depths of her warm mouth.

The confusion that his contradicting statement and action had created was soon washed away by pleasure as his hands hungrily moved over her body.

Her lips parted willingly, welcoming him in as he placed his hands on her hips and lifted her legs around his waist. She felt herself being carried backward before Aaron allowed her to fall onto the bed. Her body bounced slightly off the mattress as he quickly positioned himself between her thighs. Placing his hands on her hips, he roughly tugged her down until his body was pressing into hers. A gasp of pleasure escaped her throat when she felt his erection pressing into her most intimate parts. A whole new world was opening to her as she lifted her hips, wanting the duke to make her his wife.

"Your Grace, I…" Her voice trailed off in ecstasy when the fill weight of his body rested on hers.

Gripping her wrists, he tangled his fingers in hers before placing her hands on either side of her head. The unexpected gesture sent a rush of pleasure up her thighs as the pit of her stomach knotted furiously with a strange fluttering sensation of desire.

Moving his hand down her side, he gripped her buttocks and pulled her body closer to his with a deep groan that emanated from his chest.

"Please…" she whimpered as the aching between her thighs became almost unbearable. She wanted him to take her then and there without hesitation.

Aaron's body suddenly froze, stiffening above her as he paused with his mouth beside her ear. His hot breath ticked her skin before quickly turning to an icy chill.

"That is enough for now. We can continue this some other time." He pushed himself off of her body leaving a void that suddenly felt too empty.

Did I do something wrong?

Her chest rose and fell with every breath when the duke hovered over her for a second before, adding to the already overwhelming confusion.

"Your Grace, what…?"

"I shall not like to repeat myself. Good night." His voice was cool and distant.

Marina could hardly catch her breath as the duke turned away and shut the door behind him.

Had she not responded to him in a way that made it clear that she wanted him? Shame filled her chest as she thought of her hands eagerly snaking around his neck when he had lifted her. Had she seemed too eager? She had not planned on responding so intensely, yet her body had betrayed the fear she had harbored earlier in the evening.

Turning over, she shimmied her body up the bed and lay on her pillows. Her heart ached with confusion as she gripped the pillow and pulled it down to her chest, clutching at the only form of comfort she could find.

"What did I do to put him off?"