Page 37 of Yours Truly, the Duke
“Tell me,” she queried, unable to keep at bay her inquisitiveness about what happened after she went abovestairs. “Were you asked many questions about us when you returned to the party?”
His jaw seemed to harden. “No one would dare question a duke about his wife.”
Relief settled through her. “Good. The least said the better. I hope your dance partner wasn’t too distraught at being left so abruptly in the middle of the floor.”
His brows drew close together. “Not at all,” he answered pointedly.
That admission did nothing to make her feel different about the scene she had witnessed. She didn’t even know why she’d asked, other than extreme curiosity about the lady who looked so lovely and comfortable in his arms.
“We do need to talk about the party and the dancing,” he continued.
Yes.
“But I want to take care of the most important subject first.” His expression became more intense. He moved closer again and settled his gaze directly on hers. “Do you really think I could sleep until I heard what was so important it brought you to London well after dark in what you admitted was an unsafe carriage?”
“Oh, that,” she acknowledged, thinking it wasn’t the most important subject to her. But she was happy to put hers off as long as she could.
“Yes,that,” he emphasized with the rise of his well-shaped brows. “We haven’t spent a lot of time together, Fredericka, but enough for me to know you don’t make rash decisions, you don’t take things lightly, and you don’t run at the first sign of trouble. What happened with Jane that brought you to London when doing so put you and the children at risk?”
Her shoulders tightened at the truth of his words and she glanced away for a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking. Perhaps rushing to London was foolish. No, it definitely had been, but that was neither here nor there now. The deed was done and it couldn’t be altered or reversed. They had made it safely. That’s what mattered.
“All right, since you want first things first,” she said,squaring her attention on him with unwavering purpose, “I take exception to something you said. I would never knowingly put the children at risk. Second, the carriage is old, but my driver assured me it’s not unsafe. Third, the reason I came here is not small, or insignificant. Jane paid me a visit yesterday and told me she’s not going to give up her pursuit to gain guardianship of the children as we had hoped when I married you.”
His eyes narrowed with concern once again. “And that made you feel you couldn’t wait for daylight or possibly have sent a letter by messenger telling me this?”
“A letter!” she scoffed ruefully, remembering the one-sentence missive he’d sent to her weeks ago. “An offer of marriage can’t be settled by a simple letter, and neither can this.”
Wyatt’s expression turned into a full grimace. “Mrs. Tomkin wanted to vex and worry you, and obviously she did.”
Fredericka bristled. He could rile her faster than Jane.
“I married you with the belief I wouldn’t have to be concerned about her machinations anymore. You and I thought your title would intimidate her into withdrawing her petition. Since that hasn’t happened, nor is it likely to, I have an idea that might work and wanted to talk about it in person.”
His gaze swept down her face as his expression softened. She wished he wouldn’t look at her that way. It caused her stomach to feel jumpy and her breathing to quicken.
“All right. I’m listening. Tell me.” He reached over and brushed her hair just above her ear and let his fingers trickle down her cheek to her chin before moving his hand away.
The unexpected touch sent tingles racing across her breasts and quivers knotting her lower abdomen. She was suddenly aware of the warmth radiating from the embers in the fireplace a few feet away, and the heat from Wyatt, who had somehow managed to get within inches of her.
Wanting to settle the tingles caused by his caress, Fredericka pulled in a deep breath and released slowly. His touch had been soft, and almost consoling.
“Since Jane doesn’t believe we have a real marriage because we aren’t living together in the same house and seen walking arm in arm in the parks, at parties, and other social events during the week, I thought perhaps I could stay here in London with you for a time so that we could attend some affairs together. It would be good for us to be seen in the parks and walking around Town with Elise, Bella, and Charles.”
He shook his head immediately. “No, that’s not what we agreed on, Fredericka. I have other things to do and cannot accompany you and the children around Town. You will go back to Paddleton as soon as I have arranged for a suitable carriage and guards for your safe travel.”
Her chest constricted. For a second or two, she felt as if she were six years old again and Angela and Jane were telling her she was in their way and bothering them. Only now it was her husband telling her she needed to go away. He didn’t have time for her and didn’t want her around. Taking a deep breath, she forced the unhappy childhood feelings away. She couldn’t dwell on the rejection. She had to think about the children and what was best for them.
Fredericka rose above the hurtful memories and stinging words from the duke. Her suggestion was a good one and she wasn’t going to let go of it so quickly. There wasuncertainty in her voice, but she had to say, “Since I am here, it won’t hurt to try.”
“It won’t help.”
“You don’t know that. You are being unreasonable,” she insisted firmly. “It may quell some of the gossip about us and look good to the Lord Chancellor if we lived together as a properly married couple for a while.”
The duke stubbornly shook his head again.
It fueled her to keep talking. “It would prove to Jane and all the gossipmongers they are wrong about us. We will present ourselves as having the same solid and adoring relationship that Jane and Nelson, her husband, have.”
“Adoring?” He took a step back and stared at her as if he’d never heard the word before. Certainly not in connection with himself. “We don’t have to prove anything to your cousin, Fredericka. I don’t see how pretending anything will help in court. Many husbands and wives spend a great deal of time apart and live separately.”
