Chapter 42

"MAGNOLIA!" FLORENCE REJOICED WHEN SHE SAW THE DUCHESS. She rushed to her friend and hugged her tightly.

"Oh Florence, I have missed you."

"I have missed you too."

Daniel watched with a smile. He had hoped that the trip would divert his wife's mind from her family matters and help her forget about the dreams she had been having. He was relieved to see that meeting her friend had been a welcome distraction. She did not mention the search ever since she received Florence's letter.

Daniel would share any findings with her as soon as he got them from Marcus. But he was happy to see that his wife was enjoying herself right now.

"Daniel," Richard called as he stepped closer to him.

"Richard, how have you been?" They shook hands.

"Not bad at all, business is good," he answered.

'Leave it to Richard Kalwen to mention business not even ten seconds after meeting his friend.'

"I hope the journey was not too tiring," the earl added.

"Not at all." They made their way to the ladies.

"Your Grace," Richard greeted Magnolia.

"Lord Kalwen, how do you do?" She shot him a polite smile while her arm was still entangled with his sister's.

"Please, allow me to present my mother, Dowager Countess of Vanplas."

"Lady Kalwen, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Magnolia smiled.

"The pleasure is all mine, Your Grace."

"Let us go inside." Richard ushered them in.

The entrance was grand. Expensive materials of the best quality were used in every corner. Richard guided them to one of the many sitting rooms. The afternoon sun filled it with light completely, the white sheer curtains served only to accentuate it. The wallpaper, a mustard color with leaves drawn all over it, made the room bright even on the gloomiest of days.

Like everything else in the house, the furniture in the room was all new and lavish. Only a few months earlier, the Dowager Countess had decided to renovate the whole castle. Except for the inconvenience of having to stay in the capital during the months of the renovations, Richard never complained.

Even after the excessive spendings of his mother on the project. It made his mother happy, and he had the money for it.

They sat on the comfortable cushioned sofas, which both Magnolia and Daniel welcomed happily. It was a nice change from the hard seats of the rocking carriage they had spent hours in.

A few minutes later, Lady Kalwen rang for tea, which was brought immediately. It was also welcomed by the couple.

The men talked in the corner about current affairs, and the ladies mingled about the splendid events that the dowager countess had planned for her daughter's birthday.

"Every room in the castle will be occupied," the older woman mentioned proudly. "We even had to have some guests stay at my sister's manor a few miles away." She was more excited than Florence herself.

In fact, Magnolia noticed that her friend seemed uninterested in her mother's enthusiasm. She even looked annoyed. She decided to ask her what the matter was later, when they had more privacy.

"Please, rest until supper is ready," Lady Kalwen said. "I will notify you when it is, Your Graces."

Magnolia and Daniel gladly left. They could use a nap, or at least a bath before dinner. They were guided to their room silently. When they entered, Magnolia immediately crashed on the bed.

"Would it be rude to ask for a tray instead of joining everyone for dinner?" Magnolia was hopeful that her husband was as tired as her and lacked enthusiasm to socialize with dozens of people tonight.

"It would be rude, love," he answered, making her pout.

"But I am so tired."

He contemplated the bathtub for a moment, then grinned.

"What if I had a way of getting rid of your fatigue?"

Magnolia peeked up, leaning on her elbows. She watched her husband's expression with interest.

After a maid prepared the bath, she found herself soaking in the tub, sitting between Daniel's legs.

"I should have known," she said. "I should have recognized that look on your face."

He chuckled. "Trust me, love, just give me a few minutes and you will feel much better."

Daniel started with her shoulders. He massaged them gently but with enough strength for Magnolia's muscles to feel it.

"Oh my," she uttered.

She closed her eyes and felt her shoulders relax. A moan escaped her lips, getting the duke's attention. He continued his kneading while the sounds that his wife made were getting louder.

"My love, I understand you are enjoying this, but we might have a situation," he told her sheepishly.

"What do you mean?" Magnolia asked with a whisper, her eyes still closed.

Daniel wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to him. "This," he breathed in her ear. She smiled with a blush immediately.

Magnolia maneuvered in the cramped tub until she was facing her husband while kneeling between his legs.

She drank his nakedness with a darkness in her eyes. Daniel's throat went dry at the sight. It made him more aroused–anticipating what his wife was planning to do.

She bit her bottom lip playfully. She had her maid secretly sneak a book into the castle a few days ago, 'The Secrets of a Happy Bedroom'. Since the suggestion came from none other than Countess Fennels, she did not expect it to be that scandalous, but it was.

Daniel's breath hitched when Magnolia's eyes met his. He had never seen that look before, her gaze was quite mischievous.

She placed both hands on his chest and leaned closer until her lips touched his neck. He could not move, he could only watch with unblinking eyes.

Magnolia traced hot kisses down his chest until she reached the water. Then, looking into Daniel's pools again, her hand dove underwater.

The duke's body jolted when she touched his erection and water splashed around the tub. Magnolia smiled.

As instructed in the book, her strokes were slow and gentle. His lips were parted and his breathing fast. He did not dare look away from her eyes. He did not dare ask her how she came to learn such erotic moves either. He just stayed still as pleasure built up against the touch of her hand. He only lasted a couple of minutes before his body spasmed as he found his release.

"By the Gods," he finally exclaimed, breathless. "What was that?"

Magnolia beamed, satisfied. "A wife does not reveal her secrets." She shrugged.

"One must surely appreciate secrets of the sort," he said between laughs. "My turn," he teased, pulling her upward in the tub.

They both lost track of time, indulging in each other and competing to give the other more pleasure than received.

They were finally brought back from their world with a knock, informing them that dinner was to be served in half an hour.