Page 72 of The Duke and the Wrong Bride

He was looking forward to returning, and that should have been enough for her. Strangely, it had nothing to do with his more carnal desires. The truth was, he missed his wife. Something that he wouldn’t have dreamed possible just two weeks ago but was now a fact, as far as he was concerned. And what was more, he got the suspicion that she missed him also.

Just the thought of returning to Charlotte tomorrow… well, he didn’t think too much about it because his mother was sitting right across from him.

“At least you’ll make it home for the ball,” his mother continued, speaking as if he was involved in the conversation. “Tell me that you’re at least looking forward to that.”

“If I do, will you drop it?”

She pressed her lips together and eyed him. “You know what your problem is?”

“Please, tell me.”

“You’re spoilt—don’t deny it.” She held up a hand to silence him. “A classic case of not knowing what you have until it’s gone. And I should know better than anyone. Oh, I used to love going to balls and galas. When I was a young woman, I would lie awake the night before, unable to sleep because I was so excited.”

“Can you remember back that far?” he muttered under his breath.

“Careful,” she warned him. He smiled, and she nodded. “The regality. The opulence. The grandeur.” Her chest seemed to swell from the memories. “I’ll be honest with you, Henry. When you first told me of this marriage, I wasn’t entirely certain you’d picked the right woman—a travesty waiting to happen, it sounded like. But the fact she has you agreeing to attend social events such as this…” A wry smile. “Maybe I underestimated her.”

At that, Henry couldn’t help but smile. “As did I.”

The truth was he had no interest in attending tomorrow night’s ball. None. Even the idea of showing the ton that he was officially a part of it, that his marriage was in full splendor, that the man he used to be was a thing of the past, didn’t concern him the way it once had. But that didn’t really matter.

He looked forward to tomorrow night simply because he knew how happy it would make Charlotte. Gone from her for four days. Finally, back in her arms. She would be thrilled to be able to show him off, and he would be thrilled to let her. And what was more, he was certain she’d thank him in ways he’d become accustomed to.

“What’s that a smile?”

“What?” Henry straightened up and pretended to cut his lamb shank. “What smile?”

“You know what one,” she said knowingly. “Mr. Grumpy Pants finally allows himself a smile. I can’t imagine what at.”

“I’m sorry for my mood, Mother.” Henry sighed. “But you know the reason. And as much as I’d love for you to be the cause, this time I’m afraid I have to let you off the hook.”

“Ha!”

“It’s these damn tenants,” he groaned. “Four days. Four! And still, I’m in the same place as when I started. I’ve spoken to over half my tenants. I’ve put more money in more hands than I can count. And nothing!”

And that wasn’t even the half of it. Henry had traveled north with two aims. The first was to assure his tenants that they were safe and that he had no intention of selling his land from under them and kicking them out. The second was to find out where these rumors about him came from. So far, he’d achieved neither of these goals.

“You know what your problem is, don’t you?”

“Please tell me,” he said dryly.

“You take yourself too seriously, dear. These men you’re trying to speak with, they see you coming through the door, and the last thing they want to do is open up.”

“I’m aware,” he groaned. “Why do you think I brought Oliver—that’s where he is now. A last-ditch attempt to convince one of them to speak honestly with me.”

“And if he can’t?” she pressed. “You’ll still head home tomorrow?”

“I might as well.” He sighed and slumped down in his chair. “Staying here will just be a waste of my time, otherwise.”

“Isn’t that what all mothers want to hear?”

He was about to respond to that, something dry and scathing, when he heard the front door suddenly fly open. They were in the dining room, so they couldn’t see who it was that was barging in unannounced, but that didn’t matter. Henry knew immediately who it was.

“Henry!” Oliver called, storming through the house, appearing in the doorway a moment later. “I have good—Oh! Evening, Your Grace,” he said with a bow. “Sorry for disturbing you.”

“You could never disturb me, Oliver,” she said with a genuine smile.

Oliver grinned as he turned to look at Henry. “I have good news.”

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