Page 69 of The Duke and the Wrong Bride

“Here I am.” She folded her book but didn’t make to stand up, hoping he would fall in beside her when he got close enough. “And what’s that?” she asked, spotting the envelope in his hand.

“A letter.” He waved it at her as he came to a stop, standing over her but not sitting down. “Addressed to the two of us, but I sensed you might want to read it.”

“How thoughtful of you.” She held her hand out for it.

“I can be nice.” He chuckled, handing her the envelope.

She took it, rolling her eyes at the way he grinned. “Oh! It’s from Agnes,” she said in realization as she went to open it.

Even without having to read it, she knew what the letter must be about. An invitation to the ball that Agnes had mentioned at her garden party, one that she had told Henry about but was yet to confirm the time and date.

“Urgh, that one,” Henry groaned as he sat down across from Charlotte. “I don’t know why you still speak with her.”

“She’s an old friend.”

“Who you hate.”

“Nonetheless.” She chuckled as she scanned the letter, confirming that indeed it was an invitation to the ball.

Her heart fluttered as she realized what this meant—another chance for her and Henry to be seen together, now finally in a place where there would be no question about how truly perfect their marriage was. A marriage of convenience, indeed.

“I’m glad that I found you out here.” Henry sighed as he shuffled closer to Charlotte. One hand automatically went to her leg, resting about halfway down her thigh. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Oh?” She looked up from the letter and then glanced at his hand. “It’s a little early, isn’t it?”

He frowned at the comment, caught where her eyes were looking, and smirked. “It’s never too early.”

“Or too late.” She smiled wryly. “If last night was any indication.”

He shrugged and squeezed her thigh, an act which sent a pulse through her. “I woke up in a mood and with you lying right beside me…” His eyes flashed at her. “Can you blame me?”

“I suppose I can’t.” She felt her body begin to flush, as it so often did when she was alone like this with her husband. Lately, his appetite had become insatiable, and it was all she could do to keep up. Once, she had been able to predict when he would take her, as it had required her to play her role and get him in the mood, which she was so very good at. But now that he was being more open and free with her, it seemed to come at all times of day… and night.

“Sadly for you, that’s not what I had in mind,” he said as if the idea upset him.

“How sad for me.” She stuck her tongue out.

He looked at her flatly. “You should be so lucky.”

“I feel like I’m lucky a lot these days.”

“Ha!” He laughed and shook his head at her—another sight she was getting used to, making her husband laugh. Such a simple thing, but something she never tired of seeing. “I need to speak with you about my plans this week.”

“Oh?”

“You know about the issues I’m having with my tenants?”

“Sadly, I do.”

“Yes, well, my solicitor seems to think it would be a good idea if I go and speak with them personally. A little face-to-face time with the boss, as it is.”

“But I thought you did that already?”

“That was a while ago now, and things are getting worse. What’s more, while I’m up there, I should hopefully be able to find out who started these rumors about me.”

“Oh, you did that to yourself,” she joked.

His expression was unamused. “Who is adding fire to them, then.” A sigh, and his shoulders slumped. “The point is, someone is spreading this gossip on purpose, and I intend to find out who. Hopefully, this trip should be my last, and then I can lie back…” He fell back suddenly, resting his head on her lap. “… kick my feet up, and enjoy the apparent advantages of being a duke. I was told it would be easy.”

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