The Duke's Love (26 page)

Sarah knew they were attending
the
Worthington
's soirée tomorrow evening
. One she had been invited to for the past few years. She had waited for the invitation
, but it had never come.
It was just another reminder of the injustice that was done to her.

“We are leaving now
,
dear.”
h
er mother called up the steps, not even bothering to make sure their daughter heard. Her parents were going out again this evening, as they
had
done
every evening for
the past few weeks. She listened as the front door opened and
then
banged shut. She waited about twenty minutes
,
before she went downstairs. She ate in the solitude
of
the sitting room without any interruptions. The servants were even careful about not getting in her way. She thought of a decent plan. She just needed to put it in action. This one would not fail like her other two plans.

Could she really bring herself to do it? Father used to love to hunt and had a large collection of guns. She was no longer concerned about the consequences her actions would bring. She had decided if she couldn’t have Jake, than neither
w
ould Ana. It was only fair
,
after all. The only way it was going to happen was to get rid of the girl once and for all.

S
e
tting her meal aside, she went into her father’s study and tore it apart looking for the particular gun her father always kept hidden in the room, for intruders mostly. She was throwing books and papers off the desk, objects were out of place and scattered about
,
when a servant walked in asking if she needed any help.

“When I am done, you can grab
some of the
other servants and clean this mess up
,
”
s
he snapped and went back to looking for the gun. An hour later, she found what she was looking for. She found it stashed behind some antique books high on a shelf. She studied the gleaming weapon in her hand. She had never shot a gun before. It
c
ouldn’t be that hard.

She heard dogs barking in the distance and she hid the gun in the folds of her dress
.
After telling the servants she wanted the room spotless before her parents returned
, she
went back upstairs
.
She would go to the soirée, play nice, lure Ana outside
,
and
then
attack her. By the time someone would come to the rescue, Sarah would be gone and no one would know it was she. She hid the gun under her mattress
,
satisfied that her plan was in place
,
and this time she would succeed. Her parents would not be home for hours and she was bored. She went to seek out the footman that had once provided entertainment so well. He would do to keep her mind off her troubles.

Jake was a little confused about Ana’s behavior during the two months they
had
been home. In the country, she wanted nothing to do with marrying him. Ever since
they
came back to the city
,
she was a different person. She threw herself in the wedding preparations and the redecorating of his townhome.
Of course, he
was not about to complain. He just wished he knew how Ana felt
about
him. He wanted to think she was marrying for him, but since he blackmailed her into it, he wasn’t so sure.

It was ridiculously easy to sneak into her house during the night, as he had been doing since they returned. He didn’t even have to take a carriage. He walked the two blocks and
to her town house
.
Generally, the
servants were asleep. One more month until he made her his wife, it was not soon enough.

Three months had put his mother in
a
frenzy, saying it wasn't enough time. Jake thought he was being more than considerate, since this
had been
in the making for two years. Ana was thriving in all the attention she was receiving. She was glowing and Jake was sincerely hoping she was pregnant, although it was too soon to tell. He wanted a little girl with Ana’s blond hair and eyes
,
and a little boy with his own looks and temperament. He was especially looking forward to making those children with her.

He thought back to Sarah. He was sure she had something to do with Ana’s illness and her fall. Jake was in the process of having a runner trail her. So far, he had not seen her around, which made him want to back off a little. The runner had no news, a good sign.

Jake opened the servant's door on the side of the house. He
passed
two of her servants, so much for sneaking around. They looked away, pretending he had not been seen. He bounded up the staircase and made his way to his fiancée. They were to spend the day shopping and strolling in the park. They had a soirée to attend tomorrow night and he wanted to give Ana her engagement ring. He wanted everyone to know she was taken and had been for years.

Years ago, he
had
spent hours finding the right one and
he
was extremely confident she would love her surprise. He was immensely glad he
had
kept it all this time. Jake also had the box
that
she had found under his desk
.
He
planned to give it to her and together they could go through it.

She was wearing a
lilac silk
gown that showed off her alluring figure. He met her in the dressing room, off from the main bedroom. He leaned in and kissed her with a smile on his lips.

“Hello
,
Ana, my love. You’re looking very beautiful
,
”
h
e said smiling at her. She leaned in and whispered
,

“Keep it up
,
sweetheart
, and we
won’t make it to the door,
”
s
he said daringly.
Jake’s eyes
had
widen
ed
and
she gave
him
a cheeky grin.

“I have made you a wanton. You asked for it
,
princess
,
”
h
e said as he closed the dressing room door. He
had
left her happy and sated this morning, he mused. With painstaking slowness, he eased the
lilac
fabric from her shoulders. He dipped his head and nuzzled her
neck
. Ana's breath had
changed
to fast pants and her hands
were
roaming over his back. His hands moved up the sides of her waist to
underneath
her breasts. He paused, teasing her for a second
,
before he squeezed her breasts in light motions. "Is this what you want?" He asked. Ana moaned and shifted closer to him.

"Help me get this off
,
"
s
he moaned impatiently.

Silently laughing, he undressed her. "Turn around and put
your
hands here on the wall and lean back some
,
"
h
e ordered. She turned around and did as he commanded. Jake looked her up and down,
and
placed his hands on her back, rubbing it soothingly. He eased her dress up over her
thighs
. He did not even bother getting undressed himself. He eased his trousers down to his knees. He found the slit in her undergarments
.
Before
placing his cock at her
entrance,
he made sure she was ready for him.

His fingers entered her from behind. Ana's hand came down to cover his. "
Try to k
eep them on the wall
,
"
h
e said. Ana was rocking back on him. He stopped the motion with his hand. He bent slightly and entered her with a quick thrust.

Jake relentlessly
thrust
into her repeatedly. Ana was matching him, rocking back
against
him. He
widen her stance
to allow himself to go deeper. His hands moved up from her hips to fondle her breasts. Jake nipped the back of
her
neck
,
whispering incoherently in her ear. Ana
released with an orgasm
,
and
he followed swiftly behind her. Breathing deep ragged breaths,
he
gently pulled out
of
her. He picked up her
slumping
form and went to the bed in the other room. He undre
ssed them completely this time.

"Are you ready to go again?" He asked
,
not giving her a chance to answer. Over an hour later, Jake was more than content lazing
away
with Ana naked in his arms.

“Well that was a good shopping trip
,
” Ana said impishly.

“It was very rewarding, if you ask me
,
” Jake grinned, leaning up
on his elbow
. “I have something for you.” He got up and strode across the room, not the least bit shy by his nakedness
,
and dug in his coat pocket
withdrawing
a small black box. He climbed back in bed and handed it to her. He watched her open it and hers eyes
lit
up in appreciation. Her hands shook as Ana took out the elegant ring and watched in fascination as Jake slowly put it on her ring finger.

Jake watched her silently as he did this and saw her eyes
misting with
tears.

“I love you
,
”
s
he whispered brokenly. It was the same ring he
had given
her two years ago. Jake pulled her close, his chest swelling with pride with her confession of love.

“I kept it because it reminded me of you and I couldn’t bring myself to part with it
,
”
h
e said
, gently
wiping the tears
from
her eyes. Jake got back up and retrieved his keepsake box and together they went through it piece by piece
,
recounting all the happy memories that were in there.

When they were done, Ana smiled and jumped out of bed
.
She
hurriedly dressed.

“Get dressed, we have shopping to do
,
”
s
he said. He lifted a brow.

“I thought we just did that
,
” Jake said with a gleam in his eyes.

“I want to look perfect tomorrow night when I’m by your side
,” she said.

Jake’s chest swelled with even more pride. He got up and did as she
had
asked. Jake generally hated shopping
,
but with Ana, he did not seem to mind too much.  He realized he had not told Ana how he felt about her after her declaration of love. He would need to rectify
that
before the day was up.

Ana loved
shopping
, especially when it was for a good cause. She knew there was an announcement in the papers, but the soirée would be the
first party as an engaged woman
. She was looking forward to it. They went from shop to shop getting her slippers and a brooch that would match the gown she had picked out. Jake bought some new shirt cuffs.

“Come home with me tonight
,
” Jake leaned down and whispered in her ear. Ana pretended to think about this,
knowing
she would do anything that he
asked
. “You’ll force me to take drastic measures
,
my lady
,
”
he
said when she remained silent.

“What would those drastic measures be?” She laughed.

“I’ll tie you up, kidnap
you,
and make
you bend
to my wishes
,
”
he
said
straight-faced
. Ana erupted in laughter at his outrageous comment.

“Sounds interesting, I think I would have to let you
.
”
She laughed.