Page 41 of The Duke and the Wrong Bride

“Not foolish. Necessary.”

His body shook, and he clenched his fists at his sides. “And what about what I told you? I specifically said that Oliver was searching for her. Is it that you don’t believe me? Or that you don’t trust me?”

“It’s not like that.” In the face of his anger, she did her best to remain stern and sure.

“What, then? Perhaps you’re bored? Perhaps this is some sort of thrill that you need to keep yourself busy?”

“No,” she said again, forcing herself to meet his eyes, pleading with him to see how sorry she was. “It has nothing to do with that! I do trust you. I do believe you! I just… I… I have to find her!”

He sucked through his teeth as he tried to calm himself. “I asked you not to do this again, Charlotte. And you promised.”

That stung more than she realized. Even if she believed what she was doing was right, she had promised her husband, and she had broken that promise.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.” He looked right at her, down at her, the look behind his eyes beyond anger. Disappointment was what she read. That… and something else. Something that made her heart begin to flutter and her mind begin to wander…

“You enjoy testing me.”

“I don’t!”

“You enjoy seeing how far you can push me.”

“Please, I never meant to?—”

“It would seem…” He sucked through his teeth, coming to a decision, hesitating, trying to stop himself. But then, he grabbed her. “It would seem that you need to be taught another lesson.”

At his touch, a fire suddenly erupted inside of Charlotte. The fear she felt was gone, replaced now by a sensation that she recognized well, even if she’d only felt it one other time. She hadn’t understood it properly then. She hadn’t truly fathomed how it came about or why it gave her such a thrill. But when Henry grabbed her roughly, when he made to drag her, she knew then exactly what she must do.

What Henrywantedher to do.

“You’re right,” she said, raising her chin and meeting her husband’s eyes. “I need to be taught another lesson.”

He started, leaning back in surprise. His brow creased as if he didn’t understand what she meant… only for it to sink in and for a smile to spread across his face.

“Is that right?”

“I deliberately disobeyed you.” Her chin trembled. “And I need to be punished.”

“Don’t tempt me, woman.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she fired back.

His smile grew, and then, without another word, he dragged her out of the room.

Charlotte had completely misread this marriage. These last two weeks, she had thought that obeying her husband and doing as he pleased, not frustrating him, was what was needed to keep them both happy. And they had been happy. Content was how she would put it. Relishing one another’s company and building a companionable relationship that might have been the envy of half the ton. But it also wasn’t enough.

She wanted what he had given her in the stables all those weeks ago. She craved it. Only, until now, she hadn’t known how to get it. She thought if she did as he wanted, he might treat her that way again. That he might spoil her for being such a good wife to him. But Henry didn’t want a good wife. What he wanted was fire and chaos and disobedience that needed a firm hand to keep it under control.

Now, finally, Charlotte knew what she wanted. Now, finally, she was going to get what she most craved.

“You’re going to be sorry you went against my orders,” Henry snarled as he dragged her into his bedroom. “Believe that.”

“I had no choice,” she shot back. “You weren’t doing anything.”

“How dare you!” He threw her onto the bed. “I told you, I would find your sister.”

“I don’t believe you.” She spun about and raised both her eyebrows as a means of defiance. “So, I took matters into my own hands.”

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