The Secret Christmas Ciphers by Carolynn Carey Read Free Book Online

on the mantel. Two o’clock. She dismissed her maid, then settled down in a wingback chair in front of the fire to consider the future of her marriage.
    Although she was still hurt that Derek had refused to explain why he’d proposed to Melonnie, she was growing more and more convinced that he must have had a good reason, perhaps one that he would someday share with her. If he lived to do so. But what if he did not survive the war? If that should happen to be the case, she would always wish that they had been man and wife in every way. After all, if she didn’t give him an heir, the title would pass to a distant cousin who was universally disliked in the family.
    The fire was dying down by the time Abigail decided what she wanted to do. She was going to seduce her husband.
    She took a deep breath, gave a vigorous nod, and stared into the slowly flickering flames while trying to decide on the order of the steps that would be required. She briefly considered removing her long-sleeved, high-necked night rail and wrapping herself, naked, in a blanket so she could easily unwrap herself when Derek came into the bedchamber, but this mental image brought blood rushing to her cheeks.
    Sighing in disgust at her timidity, she pulled her cold feet up in the chair with her and tucked them under her long nightgown. Her first step, obviously, was to stay awake and wait for Derek to return.
    Then she would tell him straight out that she wanted him to make love to her. She wasn’t concerned that he would turn her down. After all, he was a man, and the sisters had told her over and over again about how easily men were controlled by their passions.
    Unfortunately, he didn’t appear to be in any hurry to return to the town house this evening. She leaned her head back in the chair and closed her eyes. She would rest just a few minutes, she decided, convinced that she would awaken immediately when Derek entered their chamber.
     
    * * *
     
    When Derek finally arrived home, the candle that had been left burning in the entrance hall for him was sputtering in its holder. Grabbing another that sat next to it on the table, he quickly held the wick to the dying flame and managed to light the second before the first went out.
    He sighed in relief. As tired as he was, he was glad he wouldn’t have to feel his way along the corridor wall until he could locate the library and light a candle from the fire there.
    He briefly considered making his way to the library anyway. A nice decanter of brandy was always left sitting on the sideboard, but he was afraid if he downed even one glass, he’d sleep too deeply tonight, and he had to return to his regiment in the morning.
    On the other hand, perhaps he’d be better off spending the night in the library anyway. If he made his way to the bedchamber he shared with Abigail, he would have to dredge up the willpower to subdue the desire he always felt in her presence. Thank god she’d be in bed asleep at this late hour. Perhaps he’d just make up a nice pallet in the floor in front of the hearth and try to pretend she wasn’t in the room with him.
    That would be easy enough surely. He wouldn’t allow himself to think of her dark hair spread out in an alluring fan on the pillow or of her night rail twisted around her torso. He wouldn’t allow himself to imagine the gown bunched up around her hips and her long shapely legs stretched out under the covers.
    And he certainly wouldn’t visualize the soft feather mattress cupping her firm hips or her soft belly and the—
    “Dear god,” he muttered to himself, pausing on the landing halfway up the stairs. The litany of images he planned to avoid visualizing had resulted in an arousal so strong, his head began to swim.
    He took a deep breath, consciously forcing his thoughts to other subjects. Tonight’s assignment after he left the ball had been more challenging than usual, he reminded himself, trying to think of anything except Abigail lying in the bed