Read Online Romance: Regency Romance: In Bed With The Duke (A Regency Romance) by Emily Teska, Historical Deluxe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emily Teska, Historical Deluxe
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the fine underthings I had arranged on my bed earlier that morning. She helped me roll my most expensive and delicate pair of silk stockings up my legs and fastened them to the buttons on my chemise. My stomach was full of butterflies as I stepped into the heavy silk dress the Duke had sent me. It was exquisite, and the white feathers on the tall collar caressed the back of my neck softly. Sophie came into the room just as the maid was doing up the crystal buttons at the back of the dress.
Sophie was a vision in her white dress, her pale skin glowed and her fantastically styled blond hair was festooned with dark purple feathers and crystal accent pins. She had attached a large diamond brooch to her purple silk sash, and pear shaped diamonds dripped from her ears accentuating the length of her long delicate neck. Sophie’s hands were full of silk flowers and feathers, and another maid bearing Sophie’s hear styling tools followed close behind. Sophie gestured at the dressing table with her elbow, and the maid put the combs and curling tongs down on the table while Sophie dropped her handfuls of precious things onto my bed.
“You would not believe the noise in these hallways, silks and stockings and flowers are flying around everywhere! There’s a rumor flying around that one of the Duke’s unmarried cousins is coming to visit – one closer to the crown than he is, and there will be a whole host of other titled guests coming as well. We’ll be performing for real royalty tonight, Charlotte!” Sophie clapped her elegantly gloved hands and I felt my stomach drop down to my knees.
“Real royalty? Titled guests? Oh, Sophie, I don’t know if I’m ready for that!” Sophie dismissed my panicked ravings with a wave of her hand.
“I shouldn’t have told you. Just… try not to think about it. Now, sit down and let me deal with your mop of hair. We have to look exquisite tonight.” She looked at me appraisingly, “Thankfully, the dress has done most of the work for me, so let’s just make your hair match.” I sat obediently at the dressing table and watched at Sophie worked her magic. My hair rose above my head in an elaborate style that I was sure had never been seen in our village. She threaded clear crystal strands through loops and braids, and tucked and pinned large white feathers in such a way that complimented the collar of my gown and also managed to give the illusion that I was a little taller at the same time. I smiled at Sophie in the mirror, she really was talented with those curling tongs. She smiled back, pleased with her handiwork. Suddenly, she made a face, “I only wish you had some kind of jewelry to wear. That George of yours doesn’t spoil you enough.”
In response, I opened the drawer of the dressing table and removed the black velvet bag containing the Duke’s necklace. I pulled it free from its soft bed and laid it on the top of the dressing table. In the mirror, Sophie’s eyes were wide with surprise and I heard the maid gasp as she caught sight of the jewel.
“Where… where did you get that?” I looked up at her questioningly, before fastening the necklace around my throat. It rested chastely on the curve of my bosom, the diamonds winking in the candlelight. “Charlotte! That’s the Devonshire Star. How did you get it? What have you done?” I stood up from the dressing table and faced Sophie, she was my friend – my best friend in the world – but I had heard the jealousy and the accusation in her voice.
“I did nothing. It was sent to me. The Duke asked me to wear it tonight, and so I am. I’m not the only woman he has bestowed favors on, surely.” Sophie didn’t say anything for a moment, her eyes fixed on the necklace resting upon my cleavage. But then, she smiled, finally meeting my eyes.
“It suits you perfectly.” All accusation was gone from her voice, but I wondered what she had replaced it with. “Come, let’s go to dinner now
Sophie was a vision in her white dress, her pale skin glowed and her fantastically styled blond hair was festooned with dark purple feathers and crystal accent pins. She had attached a large diamond brooch to her purple silk sash, and pear shaped diamonds dripped from her ears accentuating the length of her long delicate neck. Sophie’s hands were full of silk flowers and feathers, and another maid bearing Sophie’s hear styling tools followed close behind. Sophie gestured at the dressing table with her elbow, and the maid put the combs and curling tongs down on the table while Sophie dropped her handfuls of precious things onto my bed.
“You would not believe the noise in these hallways, silks and stockings and flowers are flying around everywhere! There’s a rumor flying around that one of the Duke’s unmarried cousins is coming to visit – one closer to the crown than he is, and there will be a whole host of other titled guests coming as well. We’ll be performing for real royalty tonight, Charlotte!” Sophie clapped her elegantly gloved hands and I felt my stomach drop down to my knees.
“Real royalty? Titled guests? Oh, Sophie, I don’t know if I’m ready for that!” Sophie dismissed my panicked ravings with a wave of her hand.
“I shouldn’t have told you. Just… try not to think about it. Now, sit down and let me deal with your mop of hair. We have to look exquisite tonight.” She looked at me appraisingly, “Thankfully, the dress has done most of the work for me, so let’s just make your hair match.” I sat obediently at the dressing table and watched at Sophie worked her magic. My hair rose above my head in an elaborate style that I was sure had never been seen in our village. She threaded clear crystal strands through loops and braids, and tucked and pinned large white feathers in such a way that complimented the collar of my gown and also managed to give the illusion that I was a little taller at the same time. I smiled at Sophie in the mirror, she really was talented with those curling tongs. She smiled back, pleased with her handiwork. Suddenly, she made a face, “I only wish you had some kind of jewelry to wear. That George of yours doesn’t spoil you enough.”
In response, I opened the drawer of the dressing table and removed the black velvet bag containing the Duke’s necklace. I pulled it free from its soft bed and laid it on the top of the dressing table. In the mirror, Sophie’s eyes were wide with surprise and I heard the maid gasp as she caught sight of the jewel.
“Where… where did you get that?” I looked up at her questioningly, before fastening the necklace around my throat. It rested chastely on the curve of my bosom, the diamonds winking in the candlelight. “Charlotte! That’s the Devonshire Star. How did you get it? What have you done?” I stood up from the dressing table and faced Sophie, she was my friend – my best friend in the world – but I had heard the jealousy and the accusation in her voice.
“I did nothing. It was sent to me. The Duke asked me to wear it tonight, and so I am. I’m not the only woman he has bestowed favors on, surely.” Sophie didn’t say anything for a moment, her eyes fixed on the necklace resting upon my cleavage. But then, she smiled, finally meeting my eyes.
“It suits you perfectly.” All accusation was gone from her voice, but I wondered what she had replaced it with. “Come, let’s go to dinner now
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