CHAPTER 48: UNTOUCHED HEAT

Eva’s POV

​The moonlight streamed through the tall stained-glass windows of the master bedchamber, casting long, silver shadows across the carpet.

​To keep my racing mind occupied, I spent the late evening organizing the grand wardrobe, folding silks and straightening linen. I changed into a soft, high-collared cotton nightgown, tying the ribbon loosely at my collarbone.

​While arranging the drawers on Lucian’s side of the mahogany wardrobe, my fingers brushed against a small, unmarked amber glass vial tucked behind his cravats. I pulled it into the light, frowning as I shook it gently. Dozens of small white tablets rattled inside.

​Medication? Is he ill?

​Before I could inspect the label, heavy, unmistakable footsteps echoed in the hallway outside.

​My heart shot into my throat. I quickly jammed the vial back into the dark corner of the drawer, shut the wardrobe door with a quiet click, and hurried toward the massive canopy bed. I slipped under the heavy velvet covers, pulling them up to my chin and closing my eyes, forcing my breathing to remain slow and steady.

​The heavy oak door swung open and shut.

​Through my barely parted eyelashes, I watched Lucian unbutton his heavy dark coat, tossing it carelessly onto an armchair. He undid his cravat and unbuttoned his crisp white shirt, slipping it off his shoulders and dropping it to the floor.

​I sucked in a silent, sharp breath.

​I hated him. He was a cold, arrogant, manipulative tyrant—yet, as the silver moonlight washed over the sharp, sculpted lines of his bare chest and shoulders, I couldn't deny the sudden, traitorous spark of heat pooling in my stomach. There was something infuriatingly captivating about his presence. The physical attraction had never been the issue; he was undeniably striking. His darkness was simply the wrapping on a very dangerous gift.

​Lucian walked over to the wardrobe, his bare feet silent on the rug. He pulled open the drawer, extracted one of the white tablets from the amber vial, and walked over to the nightstand. He poured a glass of water, swallowed the pill in one smooth motion, and set the crystal glass down with a soft thud.

​He leaned over his side of the bed, his dark blue eyes locking squarely onto mine in the dim light.

​"I know you are not sleeping, Eva."

​I opened my eyes fully, sitting up against the headboard and adjusting the covers over my chest. "I was sleeping."

​Lucian raised a single dark eyebrow, an amused, skeptical smirk touching his lips.

​"What are you doing here?" I asked defensively.

​"Do I need permission to enter my own bedchamber?" Lucian murmured, his voice smooth and low in the quiet room.

​"No," I replied, crossing my arms tight. "But you have not set foot in this room at night since I arrived. I am naturally confused."

​"I simply wish to spend the night with my wife," Lucian said, slipping under the heavy covers beside me. "My mother is suspicious, as are half the servants in this house. We are married, after all."

​"Right," I muttered, shifting slightly away.

​Without warning, Lucian reached across the small space between us, wrapping his long arm securely around my waist and pulling me tight against his side. The sudden, intense heat of his bare skin seared through my cotton gown.

​My breath hitched. "What are you doing?"

​"You are my wife, remember?" Lucian purred into the dark, his breath warm against the top of my ear.

​"So?"

​"So... I am attempting to cuddle," he whispered teasingly. "It is quite chilly tonight. I thought I might share some of my body heat with you."

​I grabbed his wrist, stubbornly prying his heavy arm off my waist and shoving it back onto his side of the mattress. "Absolutely not. Remember, this is a contractual arrangement—one where you needed my help. If you are cold, put a shirt on or stop walking around half-naked."

​Lucian let out a low, breathy chuckle, settling back onto his pillow. "You are truly the first woman to ever command me to put a shirt on. Most appreciate the view."

​I rolled my eyes into the darkness. "You are utterly insufferable. Please do not speak to me further. I need to sleep. I have an early morning meeting with your mother."

​"You are no fun at all, Eva," Lucian sighed dramatically, though the dark amusement in his voice was thick. "We could both stand to benefit from the perks of this marriage... but you choose to be terribly boring, I suppose."

​"Yes," I snapped back, turning my back to him and curling onto my side. "I would much rather be boring than spend an intimate night with you."

​"Oh, you only say that because you have never spent a proper night with anyone before," Lucian taunted softly from behind me.

​My jaw tightened. I spun around to face him, glaring through the shadows. "What? That is not true! I have spent the night with men before!"

​Lucian stared at me for a beat, and then a deep, ringing laugh broke from his chest. He shook his head, a triumphant, wicked grin lighting up his sharp features.

​"That was remarkably unconvincing," he chuckled, rolling onto his side and turning his back to me. "You are a terrible liar, Eva. Get some sleep."

Eva’s POV

​The next morning, I dressed in a soft lavender morning gown, my heart still beating with the lingering irritation of my banter with Lucian.

​As expected, Lady Eleanor summoned me for my very first lesson on becoming the mistress of the De Witt estate. She led me down a winding, hidden corridor in the east wing into a long, quiet gallery I had never known existed.

​The high walls were lined with breathtaking, gilded portraits of former De Witt duchesses.

​"Most people believe a duchess's sole responsibility is organizing grand balls and managing guest lists," Lady Eleanor murmured softly, stopping before a massive oil painting of a sharp-eyed woman in velvet. "It is far more vital than that. If you give your husband peace of mind at home, he becomes a far better Duke."

​I tilted my head, looking at the painted faces. "Though the duchess does not handle international trade agreements or attend high-court council meetings like the Duke?"

​Lady Eleanor let out a gentle, melodic laugh. "No former duchess has ever wished to do so. But you are to be the duchess after my reign. If you wish to join trade meetings, I believe Lucian wouldn't mind at all. In fact, I bet he would find your ambition quite amusing."

​"I highly doubt that, my lady," I muttered under my breath, remembering his arrogant grin from last night.

​"Why not?" Lady Eleanor asked, turning to me with a searching, maternal look. "Are you not enjoying your marriage, Eva? You know I am eager for grandchildren."

​A nervous flush crept up my neck. "Oh, absolutely, my lady. I am enjoying my marriage. But... as for grandchildren, I think it is a little too soon. We haven't..."

​"You haven't consummated the wedding?" Lady Eleanor asked directly, raising an eyebrow.

​I choked on my breath, my face burning. "My lady, I... we have—"

​"You are a terrible liar, Eva," Lady Eleanor chuckled softly, patting my arm with deep affection. "It is quite alright if you wish to take your time. In truth, I find it rather romantic that Lucian is being patient enough to wait for you. Most noblemen never wait."

​"Most men are not Lucian," I replied honestly, a quiet sigh escaping my lips.

​Lady Eleanor smiled warmly, her eyes softening as she looked at me. "You know, since the very first time we took tea together in the garden, I knew you were destined to become my daughter-in-law, one way or the other."

​I blinked, taken aback. "You did?"

​"Of course," Lady Eleanor murmured, stepping closer. "The way your eyes followed my sons when they rode through the courtyard... I knew your heart was already tied to this family."

​I let out a strained, nervous laugh, smoothing down the skirts of my gown to hide my rising panic.

​Lady Eleanor’s smile faded slightly, her posture stiffening as she cast a cautious glance toward the empty archway of the private gallery. The warmth in her eyes was suddenly replaced by a cold, desperate fear.

​"Eva," Lady Eleanor whispered, stepping so close I could smell the faint lavender perfume on her skin. "I need you to accompany me somewhere private tomorrow. Just the two of us."

​I frowned, the shift in her energy chilling me to the bone. "All right, my lady. Is everything well? What is happening?"

​Lady Eleanor took a sharp, shaky breath, leaning in until her words were barely a ghost of sound against my ear.

​"I am with child," she whispered, her voice trembling. "And I must get rid of it before the Duke ever finds out."