Page 40 of Notorious

There was a soft knock, and Parker opened the door. His gaze slid between Drusilla and Gabriel, and he froze like a hare startled by a bright light.

“What is it, Parker?” Gabriel asked curtly.

“This just arrived for Mrs. Marlington, sir.” He came forward with a salver.

Gabriel took the note and handed it to Drusilla without looking at it. She recognized the handwriting as belonging to Theo and shot what she knew was a guilty look up at her husband. His lips curved in a sardonic smile.

Parker lingered.

“Was there something else?” Gabriel asked.

The butler cleared his throat. “The messenger was instructed to wait for a reply.”

“Is there a reply, my dear?” His expression and tone were light, but his green eyes had taken on the color of a killing frost over the new growth of spring.

“No, thank you, Parker.”

Parker disappeared almost before the words were out of her mouth.

Gabriel eyed her from beneath lowered lids. “Perhaps you might like to discuss your letter with me? Who sent it? What information it contains?” He paused, the silence threatening, his smile growing—but only more cynical. “Or perhaps you wish to tell me what answer the messenger was waiting for?”

Drusilla stood frozen, the letter clutched in her hand, memories of Theo’s accusations against Gabriel and his wild, frantic pleading still echoing in her mind. She hated to think what words the distraught man might have written on these pages, but if Gabriel insisted on reading the letter, she knew she would have to give it to him.

He gave a bark of humorless laughter. “No, I thought not. That letter is your private affair so I will not pry. Perhaps you might extend me the same courtesy when it comes to my own private matters?”

Drusilla swallowed, trying to think of a way to reassure him she was not carrying on some romantic intrigue behind his back—even though she was receiving hand-delivered missives from another man on her wedding day. The same man her new husband had seen holding her hand yesterday. She winced at what he must be imagining. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out, her wits scrambled by his proximity, not to mention the situation. Besides, who knew what drivel Theo had written on these pages? She could hardly assure her husband it was harmless when it might not be. So she merely nodded.

His eyes burned as he leaned lower, until she could feel hot breath on her cheek. “Oh, and one other thing. Your correspondence is private, Drusilla, but I would caution you to have a care in your dealings.” His eyes glinted, and she knew that he knew who had sent the letter. “Yesterday you were not my wife; today you are.” The planes of his face were hard and merciless, making him look more like a falcon than ever. “While I wish you to be contented and to thrive in our marriage, I will not tolerate infidelity or intrigues—”

Drusilla gasped. The hypocritical nerve of the man. She opened her mouth, but he gave her no opportunity to speak.

“If you think to shame me, wife, know that I will react both swiftly and punitively. And also know that you will not be the one I punish. Do we understand one another?”

Fury and something else mingled within her at his blatant display of masculine dominance.

She ignored the unknown emotion and seized on the fury, giving an ugly laugh. “Thank you for telling me in such barbaric terms who is the master in this marriage. I never expected any less from you—regardless of what you promised when you proposed; nor does your hypocrisy surprise me.”

Drusilla swore she heard a crack of thunder at her words.

Impossibly, he took a step closer, his body emanating volcanic heat. “How relieved I am to hear neither my barbaric nature nor hypocrisy surprises you. It also pleases me that you understand whose hand holds the whip in this marriage. Let us hope you do nothing to make me use it.” His lips twisted into a cruel smile at the sound of shock that slipped out of her. “Now that you understand what our respective roles are—mine to give orders and yours to obey—I expect this will be the last time we shall have to discuss this particular subject.” Behind his barely restrained anger, Drusilla thought she saw something else: Had she wounded him? Or at least wounded his pride?

She dismissed the thought. So what? She didn’t care. After all, he’d wounded her over and over for years with his flirtations and careless, blatant amours.

“So what are you ordering exactly? That I end my association with Mr. Rowland?”

“Not at all, my dear. I am only telling you what will happen if you do not.”

Drusilla’s eyes widened as he stared down at her, his face carved from stone. Good God! Did he mean he would call the other man out just for being her associate? Was this what she could expect? A husband who would kill any man she spoke to? Who would—

“You’ve had little rest these past few days, Drusilla, so I will leave you to sleep tonight. I’ll have your dinner brought to you and shall satisfy my own appetite elsewhere.” His cold green gaze flickered over her, dismissing her—letting her know that going without bedding her was not a hardship—the words satisfy and appetite and elsewhere ringing in her head.

“Sleep well,” he said, turning abruptly on his heel. And then he was gone. Her husband. A stranger, and now a hostile one.

He was leaving her alone—on their wedding night? She stared down at the piece of paper, reeling at her husband’s cold dismissal.

And why do you think he is leaving, you little fool? her conscience goaded. He was behaving toward you in a courteous and generous manner until you began questioning him about the duel. And what man would like to see his wife receive a missive from another man on their wedding night? How would you like it if he’d received a missive from his mistress in front of you?

Drusilla ground her teeth. Why had she let him provoke her into combative, shrewish behavior? She’d suspected the letter had offended him, and yet she’d pushed him even further instead of simply admitting Theo had become rather hysterical. Instead of reassuring Gabriel, which was what she would have wanted if the situation were reversed. Drusilla stared at the door—should she go after him?