The Mad, Bad Duke (Nvengaria #2)(55)
“Of course, sir.” Nikolai sounded shocked Alexander would even ask. Dominic gave a stoic nod.
“I know you are loyal,” Alexander said. “But there are those who would exploit the knowledge to gain power over me or Nvengaria.”
Both men nodded. They understood about spies and intrigue. From what Myn had told Alexander, von Hohenzahl and a flunky had met in a tavern in Wapping and discussed Alexander and Nvengaria. Von Hohenzahl had even set men to watch this house. They were easy to spot and Alexander let them watch, instructing his own men to follow them when they departed. Von Hohenzahl was wasting his money.
More troubling was Anastasia’s behavior. Myn had said he’d gone to her and asked her to translate the conversation he’d overheard between von Hohenzahl and his underling. Myn then had reported to Alexander, but Anastasia had not mentioned one word of the incident.
“Where is Myn?” he asked abruptly. “I want to speak to him.”
“Disappeared again, sir,” Dominic answered. “I last spied him this morning, after you came back from getting married. No one’s seen him since.”
“Damn.”
Nikolai gave a little cough. “Are you ready to go back, sir? I’ll fetch water to wash you up.”
“Yes.” Alexander clenched his hands. “I will sleep in my chamber, not my wife’s.”
With regret, he thought of Meagan’s bed, a warm nest with his beautiful wife in it. She’d smell of her perfume and lovemaking. Alexander wanted nothing more than to sink back into her warmth and lose himself. But the thought that the logosh inside him might emerge and hurt her was unbearable.
“Let us be quiet,” Alexander said abruptly. “See that the Grand Duchess does not wake. And when Myn returns, send him to me immediately. Even if I am asleep.”
“Yes, sir,” Nikolai said.
The two men flanked him as they walked back to the house. Alexander stepped inside with regret—it had felt so right to be out in the darkness. A small part of the garden that remembered its wildness called to him, urging him to remember his wildness, too.
They moved through the silent house, Nikolai catching up a candelabra to light their way upstairs. Alexander found he didn’t need the light. He could clearly see every molding, every garish gilding in this lavish hired house even without Nikolai’s candles dancing on them.
Dominic returned to his duties of guarding the house and Nikolai escorted Alexander to the bath chamber and left him to soak.
Sitting up to his neck in the steaming water, Alexander recalled the first vision he’d had of Meagan, the two of them naked and wet and enjoying each other against one of the monstrous marble pillars. How wonderful it would be to open his eyes and see her sliding into the bath with him, her red hair curling with the steam, her smile wide and welcoming.
His cock began to lift. Alexander would never get enough of her, never. The love spell was killing him, and yet he didn’t want it to fade. To lose Meagan now would be one of the most difficult things he’d ever faced.
Alexander heard a soft step and opened his eyes, but it wasn’t Meagan. Myn stood on the other side of the steaming bath, his simple linen shirt and trousers a sharp contrast to the very formal suits of Alexander’s servants.
Myn said nothing, his blue eyes nearly glowing in the steam-filled room. Alexander hauled himself out of the bath and reached for his dressing gown.
“Myn,” he said in a rapid voice. “I want you to teach me. Teach me about being logosh. Teach me how not to hurt Alex and Meagan.”
Myn regarded him silently for a moment or two, those eyes missing nothing. Then he gave the faintest nod. “Yes.”
* * *
Meagan decided in the morning that something had to be done about the garden. She viewed it from her window as Susan laced her into another new gown, this one a dark golden silk.
Like the house, the garden was ostentatious, attempting to imitate a huge formal French garden in one-tenth of the space. The result was a series of very short, tight walks bordered with yew hedges, small bushes tortured into the forms of animals, and an actual maze in the middle of the garden with four turns in it.
“Would it not look more inviting with roses, and perhaps a small lawn, with a single path and benches?” Meagan said as Susan clasped a string of emeralds around her neck. “One could not have a garden party as it is now, because half the guests would be hidden behind shrubbery, the other half lost in the toy maze.” She grinned at the thought. “I will have to consult His Grace, of course. I will discuss it with him at breakfast.”
Although Meagan already missed home, she looked forward to her first breakfast with Alexander. She’d speak to him about redoing the garden while he ate his toast and drank his coffee and looked at her over his newspaper. She could smile at him, sending him a secret reminder of the passion they’d shared the night before while the oblivious servants refilled their cups and took away plates.
Meagan understood now why ladies wanted to be married. The cozy sharing of a life with someone was much to be desired.
“His Grace breakfasted some time ago,” Mrs. Caldwell said, entering the room in time to hear Meagan’s last words. “He is now on his way to Carleton House.”
“Oh.” Meagan’s domestic vision burst into disappointment. “Why did no one wake me? It is only gone nine. I certainly could have risen to take breakfast with him.”