Page 53 of A Night of Passion with the Duke

“Eddie, do you remember that lovely field overlooking the lake at the southern edge of the property?” Harriet asked, cutting him off.

“I do. Why?” He looked so skeptical that Arabella almost wanted to laugh and admit to their charade.

“Have you taken your lovely bride to see it?” Harriet asked suggestively. “It’s a beautiful day to familiarize your bride with the land she now owns. You’ve been too busy to spend time with her.”

“But, Mother, there are letters I must reply to. And?—”

“And they will be here when you return,” Harriet finished for him in a no-nonsense tone. “Besides, all the children would pay attention to their lessons if you two weren’t arguing every second.”

Arabella hid her giggle behind a bite of a yummy biscuit. One of the many things she’d come to love about her new home was the food. The chef, apparently of French origins, was well-trained in diverse cuisines and spices and knew how to bring life to each dish she made. More than once, Arabella had sent her compliments to the chef.

“But, Mother?—”

“I will hear no further arguments from you.” Harriet’s sharp blue eyes glittered dangerously as she gripped her butter knife menacingly. “Youwilltake her, and youwilldo so today.”

Arabella’s eyebrows rose of their own accord, impressed by the woman.

The Dowager Duchess had her son well and truly cornered with only a few sentences. Arabella really did admire the older woman’s elegant manner of handling and resolving issues. Seeing her work now made her realize how she’d been able to run her household so efficiently.

“You win this time, Mother,” Edward conceded with a sigh. “I’ll take her.”

Arabella pouted at his dour tone. “You don’t need to sound so glum about spending time with me,” she complained.

“I’m not glum.” He frowned.

“Your tone says otherwise.”

“Ara…”

“They’re doing it again,” Emily groaned.

“Doing what?” Edward asked.

“Arguing. And I see this time that it is your fault, Eddie.” Emily frowned. “You should be excited you’re taking the day off to spend time with your new wife. You’ve done absolutely nothing to make her feel welcome here. You haven’t even shown her the lands she rules over now. Tsk!”

This time, Arabella couldn’t hide her giggle at Edward’s perplexed expression.

“It’s not his fault, Emily. It’s mine,” she interjected, if anything because this time their argument was her fault. “Edward’s been trying to take me on a tour of the property for days, but I have been under the weather.”

“But you seemed fine all this time,” Emily pointed out, looking concerned.

“I hide it well.” Arabella feigned a grimace. She was getting too good at lying.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, dear,” Harriet soothed. “Do you want me to send for the family physician?”

“No,” Arabella answered almost forcefully. “I mean, no. There’s no need for that. I’ll be fine when I take some fresh air.”

“Are you just doing this to escape spending time with your husband?”

“Not at all.”

“Are you sure?” Harriet pressed. “Because if you must know, it was Bea and Noah who asked us to make you two stop fighting.”

“They did?”

“Yes, they did.”

“That’s so?—”

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