Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

W hen Victoria came down for breakfast the next morning, it was to see that her father, sisters and Theodore was yet to make an appearance for breakfast but she guessed it was quite early, she was only awake because she had become used to waking early growing up because her schedule required that she woke early of she wanted the household to run smoothly. Also she wanted to keep the duchess company while she had her breakfast.

The older woman might never admit it, but she was lonely and the more time she spent the woman she understood that that continuous isolation was one of the roots of the woman's thorny character.

"Good morning, your grace." she greeted with a courtesy.

A smile lit up the woman's face which she immediately hid.

"Good morning, Duchess." She replied sipping her tea daintily

Victoria bit her lip to keep her amusement at bay. The woman was determined to keep her icy attitude but it seemed her week old campaign was producing fruits because she could already see that the woman was already cracking.

She walked to a seat opposite from the Dowager Duchess. She pulled out a seat, sat herself.

The Duchess disliked having footmen around when she dinned alone. She insisted that their presence was suffocating even though they were as silent as well be grave.

That meant that she had to serve herself during breakfast. Victoria did not really mind but that just added to the many Idiosyncrasies of the Dowager Duchess and she must admit that it did have its own charm

Pouring her own tea, she sipped delicately determining that it was to her liking before taking a bite of the freshly baked bread iced with a helping of fresh thick cream. She nearly moaned at the combination but remembered it wasn’t proper to do so.

It was a luxury that she had been denied in recent years since her family's finances started collapsing, they had to be prudent with flour and that meant they couldn't afford to have freshly baked bread every morning.

She closed her eyes to savor the bite, appreciating the small pleasure. When she opened her eyes, it was to find the Duchess staring at her with an unreadable expression.

Victoria felt the burn of embarrassment in her cheeks. She was sure the duchess must be judging her for her unladylike reaction to the simple fare. Instead of scolding her, the duchess transferred the pot of jam to her side of the table.

"It tastes even better with jam, even though I prefer honey myself." she said simply.

"Thank you." she said quietly.

The Duchess nodded in acknowledgement and continued her meal.

"I hope there is some of that jam remaining for me."

Victoria looked up to see Anthony standing there. She stared at him in shock. For the week she had been married to him, she had never seen him in the dining room. She was beginning to doubt that he knew the way to the dining room. Since he rarely ate there.

When she recovered, she promptly closed her open mouth.

"I suppose there is still some remaining." she said in a mumble.

"I truly hope so, because I am starved." he said sitting himself.

"My apologies." he said seeming to remember his manners "Good morning Mother. Wife." he said with a slight bow to the both of them.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of your company this morning?" His mother asked drily.

"I apologize from my pronged absence this past week but I had a lot of meetings outside the castle walls. Forgive me."

His mother gave him a droll look from the side of eyes that showed she didn't completely believe his story.

"I do not require your apology, son. I think you should reserve those for your wife. Which newly married gentleman leaves his wife alone a day after his wedding to chase after some documents that could wait a little longer? I wonder how important it is that you would choose to neglect your wife to attend to them."

Victoria wished the ground would open and swallow her so she could escape the embarrassment, but the marble floor of the dining room was not cooperating so she had to seat there, the target of the pairs of eyes belonging to the two other occupants of the table.

Anthony cracked a smile

"My wife is not complaining is she?"

"That question is if you make a terrible husband. A dutiful husband does not wait for his wife's complaint to attend to her needs." the duchess snapped with a scathing tone.

"Do not worry wife." he said dropping his voice to a low growl. "I promise to be very... dutiful." he said with a suggestive edge to his voice.

The innuendo was so thickly applied that she could not miss it. She coughed to hide her embarrassment and the absolute lout cracked a smile of satisfaction. She would get him for that, just as soon as they left his mother's presence

"The Banbury’s are hosting a ball in a week time. We have been invited. It would be prudent to accompany your wife there. It would be your first outing as a married couple." Helen said addressing Anthony

"A good idea. I must say." he replied

At his positive reply. The duchess's face brightened with excitement

"You, my dear, need new gowns that suit your new station."

"Anthony already had some made for me before the wedding." Victoria replied confused.

"Well you can never have too many gowns, besides my modiste is the absolute best in the whole country. Take my word for it." she said.

Seeing the excitement on the face of the normally reserved Duchess, Victoria reluctantly agreed.

"I would love to meet your modiste. Your Grace." she said with a smile, clasping her hand in excitement

"It seems it is settled. We just have to decide when would go because the woman is sure pompous. She doesn't visit residences. Some odd business ethics of hers. I would say she had earned the right, going by the quality of her work."

"I happen to be free from all engagements this afternoon, so I can accompany you ladies to the modiste. We could take the carriage."

"You would be bored to tears at the modiste." Victoria said to him

"I think I can find something to occupy my time there. Trust me." he said with a wink of his eye.

" That is settled. I will just go back to my chambers to change clothes. I will come back down in no time" with that she rose from the seat and left the dining room. Victoria excused herself and left as well to change her dress to one more suitable for outing.

By the time she returned below stairs, the Dowager Duchess and the duke were already dressed and waiting

" My apologies for keeping you waiting"

" No need my dear. I just got here myself" The duchess reassured her.

" Shall we?" Anthony said leading the way. He helped them into the carriage but for some reason his hand lingered on hers as he helped her into the carriage sending the butterflies in her stomach into flight leaving her flustered and she remained that way throughout their journey since she was stuck beside him on the carriage seat.

When they arrived at the modiste shop and they alighted from the carriage she breathed a sigh of relief but her relief was short lived when she felt his arm around her waist. She instantly froze

" Be at ease wife," he said to her in that deep voice of his sending shudders down her spine. " We do not want to alert mother on the true state of our marriage now do we?"

" I am afraid that ship has sailed, husband, especially considering your week long absence"

" That can be easily explained but it won't be very easy to explain if we are seen to be openly uncomfortable around each other" he explained

" Besides," he said his voice taking on a teasing tone " It seems that you have missed me. Haven't you kitten?"

" You wish" she said in a vehement whisper.

Instead of being affronted by her reply, he chuckled darkly then leaned towards her ear

" The lady protest too much, Doesn't she?"

At the sight of her frustrated expression, he laughed even more.

She walked faster to meet up with the Dowager Duchess who was already inside the modiste greeting the dressmaker. Anthony's arm around her could as well be a metal band with how it restricted her movement.

When they finally got into the modiste shop. The modiste a buxom French woman with a ready smile welcomed them warmly herding Victoria to the back of the shop to choose from the abundance of materials there. She had an abundance of exotic clothing material ranging from the softest silk to the richest brocade.

Taking up a lace made of pure gold she laid it on Victoria body nodding with satisfaction

" Tres Bien" she said with a satisfied node " The color makes your eyes brilliant no?"

She didn't wait for Victoria agree already rapping out instructions of the best designs to be made for the new Duchess to her girls.

Victoria had to endure several long minutes being pinned and prodded as she was fitted for several clothing materials ranging from the most beautiful ball gown to the charming day dresses.

Victoria was in no way the fashion enthusiast that Diana was, but she agreed that the modiste choice on colors and material were spot on and made promises for extraordinary gowns.

A small part of her was excited to take the ton by storm wearing some of the daring creations of the talented Frenchwoman. She secretly wondered what Anthony would think of it. She should guess that he would find it interesting even though he was making a studious effort to ignore her in recent times.

" What about the undergarments your grace?" The woman's heavily accented voice came startling her out of her reverie

" None of that for me. I have enough " she said feeling her cheeks heat up as she remembered the sheer scraps of lace that rested in the deep recesses of her wardrobe.

" One could never have enough," she said leaning in conspirator, her voice turning sly " Especially with that Virile gentleman out there. It is safe to say that they usually dwindle in numbers. If you know what I mean" she said waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

Victoria's blush only deepened with her embarrassment. Every happily married female in her acquaintance seemed to think that a sheer nightgown was the key to making a husband crave his wife.

While she agreed that Anthony had looked interested when he saw on one on their wedding night, he had hardly turned into the primal man that were rumored to tear their wives night dresses in their desperation to become one with them.

" I do not require any. Thank you Madame " she said with a reassuring smile and with that statement.

She strode out of the fitting area to the reception area where Anthony sat one long leg on top of another. His eyes were glued to the newspaper in his hands, a finger prying a page open every now and then. The thought of those long fingers on her body, did interesting things to her belly and she adjusted uncomfortably.

She must have made a noise because he looked up from his newspaper fixing her with his midnight blue eyes. His serious expression turning into one of surprise

" That was remarkably fast" he said folding the newspaper and uncrossing his feet to stand to his full height.

" It is a well known fact that modiste fittings could be a whole day adventure for ladies."

" Well not for this lady" she said drily coming to sit beside him on the long bench.

He sat down before answering her

" I would agree that you are not the typical lady. You have my mother eating from your palm. That in itself is a miracle in itself. What sorcery do you possess. I just might need some of it for the future " he said a sly smile curving his lips

She let out a surprised huff if laughter.

" There is no sorcery involved I assure you. I just happened to spend more time conversing with her that's all"

The way Anthony looked away at her statement told her that he had not missed the slight jab at him for his continuous absence at home leaving his mother perpetually lonely. The air on the room became tense with the weight of his guilt and she sook to break the tension

" Your mother seems to want to join Society again and reclaim her status among the ton, but she had not hosted a society event for so long that she is afraid that if she throws one, she might not attract the kind of guests she want. So I came to a compromise with her" she said pausing to allow him understand her request

" May I ask what this compromise entails" he asked as the silence prolonged

" I have decided to change how a societal ball as the new Duchess of Devlin

Apart from making the estate alive. We could also introduce ourselves to the ton as a new couple and change the narrative about us as a family. I believe this is my duty as your duchess"

" Well, I agree that it is a marvelous idea, I also happen to think," he said leaning closer to her and dropping his voice to a deep silky whisper " You have other... duties as a duchess that you are presently neglecting "

With the tone of his voice and the luminous glint of mischief in his eyes it was difficult to miss the innuendo his statement implied.

" I..I do not believe I take your meaning " she spluttered

" But you do wife. You do" he said in an amused tone.

And she did know. He was speaking of the kind of duty that involved twisted sheets and naked limbs and mind numbing kisses. The same duty that he did not seem to be interested in. The same duty he was resolved to torture her with.

" I hope you got your trousseau complete. I would expect more of those lacy night rails of yours. An abundance of them in fact" he continued close to her ear his voice lowered in that infernal whisper that did terrible things to her composure.

Clearing her throat, she shifted a little hoping to separate herself a little from the sheer intensity of his presence, so she could think clearly.

" I believe I have enough night rails. You grace"

" But clothing of that sort could never be too many " he replied slyly obviously enjoying the crimson color of her face that deepened with embarrassment.

" Come, " he said standing and offering his outstretched arm

" I am sure the modiste would have something that you like".

She took his hand reluctantly standing up and following him back to the fitting room.

" Is there any problem, Your Grace?" Katarina asked obviously surprised to see her back in the fitting room

"" My duchess requires some pretty undergarments " Anthony said.

The modiste exchanged questioning look with her clearly remembering their first conversation and her insistence on the adequacy of her undergarments. At her subtle nod of approval, she turned back to the duke with a wide smile

" Certainly your grace, we have several samples here, I f you could give us specific designs, we promise to deliver the best way we can"

Nodding, Anthony turned in the room inspecting the samples in the room. The fact that he was inspecting women underthings with no hint of embarrassment was proof enough that the man was a veritable rake in his former life before he became injured.

He stopped at a sheer black creation that seemed to have just pieces of lace at some strategic spots to give a semblance of modesty.

" This he said. I want it made in crimson and gold" he said to the woman patiently waiting beside him.

The blush on her face spread farther down and she was convinced that she would die of embarrassment

When she had imagined marriage, she never imagined that it would include having a husband who follows her to the modiste and make requests for her underthings.

If there was one thing she have understood since she met her husband, it was that things never went as expected, especially when it had some thing to do with this particular duke.

* * *

Anthony fought the urge to adjust the crotch of his pants to accommodate the arousal that seemed to be growing the longer he stood beside Victoria and it did not help that he was now imagining her in the obscene creations in the modiste shop that passed as night rails.

He had started this to tease her and throw her infernal control out of flux, but instead he ended up putting his precarious self control to test and it was dangerous, very dangerous indeed.

It had taken iron will for him to leave her chambers on the wedding night over a week ago when he had walked in to see her in that sheer night rail that sent all the blood on his head downwards towards his arousal.

He had been so aroused and excited that he wondered how on earth, he had walked out from that room after watching her strut around her room with the beautiful charms of her body on display for him, just for him.

Over the next days, he had become haunted by those erotic images, they became continuous haunting both his night dreams and his day ones too.

He lost count of his many time he have woken up in a sweat, his member harder than wood while the only possible chance of relief slept peacefully on the room next door.

He had spent several of his days at the wrestling salon hoping that the physical exertion would bring his unruly body to heel.

He had to if he didn't want to break his promise and end up being the one to beg her for her touch on his perpetually overheated body.

It helped for the most part because by the time he returned home late at night, he fell into a deep slumber that was conveniently haunted by a certain brown eyed witch.

He had only joined breakfast this morning because he felt he had control over his body but that was proved wrong when he set eyes on her at the dining table and the arousal surged back, like it never left

He heard himself agreeing to take her and his mother to the modiste.

He had used that as an excuse when he just simply craved her presence and now he was standing in a fitting room in a modiste choosing a lingerie for his wife that he would prefer to remove off her with his teeth, before he licked her delectable body to completion.

He could even have her against this wall, his hand finding her warmth under her dress in a trice. He could touch her, swallowing her moans with his mouth while he rubbed himself on her thigh -

Anthony had to halt his imagination when he heard the sound of a door closing as the dressmaker left and he realized that he had been staring at his wife for the better part of ten minutes imagining ways to devour her forgetting the presence of the modiste.

It was dangerous this attraction between him and Victoria and with each day, it was getting harder to remember the reason why they just couldn't indulge it.

But the way things were going, he might just be the one to beg for her touch because his craving for her was sharpening into a need that strained at the reins of his self-control every time he was in close proximity to her.

He had never felt attraction this encompassing before. It made absolutely no sense but it did not change the fact that he wanted her and he wanted her badly.