Page 26 of A Night of Passion with the Duke

“It’s all right,” he answered gruffly, looking away from her.

She wondered then if this was to be her life for the next six months. Stilted replies and near-cold indifference. She thought they’d gone past this, but it appeared he still had some adjustments to make. Ones she didn’t intend to help him with.

She folded her arms over her chest, regretting she hadn’t brought anything to keep her busy, looking out the window at the sprawling countryside dotted with shrubs boasting wildflowers in an array of colors.

She smiled, excited that she was finally getting to explore England outside the home she’d been raised in, but she still missed the familiar woods surrounding her childhood home.

“We’re here.”

Edward’s voice startled her awake, and it took her a minute to realize that her head was on his shoulder.

How did that happen?

She wiped her face, hoping she hadn’t drooled on him, flushing at the thought that he’d seen her in a less-than-perfect state.

“Are you ready?” he asked again, his voice laced with concern.

In the dimness of the carriage, she couldn’t make out his expression.

Had she really slept that long?

Night had fallen around them all too quickly. She was rather grateful she had been asleep, or it would have made for a dreadfully boring trip with the uneasy silence that had hovered between them.

“I am,” she said when she realized he was still waiting for an answer.

She faintly saw him nod in the darkness, and then he opened the carriage door, stepping out to help her down.

Her eyes took in the castle that was to be her new home. Even shrouded in moonlight, she had to admit it was beautiful, with flower-lined stone paths leading up to large double doors.

It was almost intimidating to think she’d be the lady of all this soon and the responsibility of managing his household would be on her shoulders.

She bit her lip and looked away from the castle to her husband, who stood patiently beside her as she took in his home. His eyebrows were raised in question, as though he wanted to know if she was ready to go inside.

She nodded, before letting him lead her to the front doors.

The butler opened the door and immediately greeted Edward, not sparing her a glance.

“Your Grace, would you be wanting a hot bath?” he asked.

“No, but my wife would surely.” At the word wife, the butler’s eyebrows rose, disappearing into his hairline. “Have one drawn for her in my chambers.”

Arabella blushed when she realized that taking a bath in front of her husband was something normal for married couples.

“Y-yes, Your Grace,” the butler stammered out, before scuttling off, no doubt to inform the rest of the staff.

She ignored his behavior and wondered then if her husband had even informed his family of his marriage.

“Edward—”

“Let’s go,” Edward interrupted, as if knowing what she intended to ask.

Arabella followed him inside, taking in the floral arrangements and fresh rushes lining the halls. Those were a woman’s touch. She wondered if perhaps his mother lived there and how she’d take the news that her son was now married.

Once they were safely behind her chamber doors, she turned to him.

“Why did your butler have no knowledge of my arrival, Edward?” she asked, trying to keep the accusation out of her voice. But upon seeing his guilty expression, she frowned. “You said your family would be too busy to attend the wedding. Did you even tell them you were getting married?”

When he hadn’t answered after a long minute, she shrank back, not knowing how to feel.

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