Page 19 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” the Duke demanded.

Beatrice started, flinching in her seat. She hadn’t realized he had caught her staring, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed. She blushed some more, worried that she was only causing more trouble.

There was more silence—an oppressive, angry silence. Even the coach was quiet, and the driver managed to keep them on an almost flat road with no bumps.

“I apologize,” the Duke said sternly.

Beatrice did not know what to say, but she looked back at him, a little unsure.

“I have been angry with you, and while this arrangement makes sense, you were still the one who forced my hand, and I do not like to have my hand forced. I don’t like to be trapped.”

Beatrice felt ashamed. “It was not my intention to trap you.”

“I know, but it was your intention to trap someone. The reasons don’t matter, even if they are understandable. You trapped me, and you trapped yourself. This is your fault, Beatrice, but we should dwell on it no longer. It is a match that suits us both, even if it brings us frustration.”

“I know it is my fault. I have spent a long time with guilt in my heart, and now I have more to replace it.”

“You speak as if you are not the architect of your guilt, Beatrice. You did not mean this, but you must admit it worked out much better for you than it could have. I have seen how you look at me and whisper to your sister. My reputation precedes me, but I want you to know that I will not hurt you.”

Beatrice looked at her husband, unsure how to respond to that.

“Do you believe me?” Edwin asked.

She held his gaze. “I do. What did you want to apologize for?”

The Duke sighed. “I am angry at what you did, but we are married now, and I should forget about the past as much as you should. I should not have snapped at you just now when you were staring at me.”

“I was not staring at you,” Beatrice protested.

“Then what were you staring at?”

Beatrice floundered. She could usually talk her way out of any situation, but the Duke was different—he was domineering. “I don’t know.”

“Either way, I apologize for snapping at you. This is not how a marriage should begin.”

“No,” Beatrice agreed, her thoughts turning back to how their marriage should begin. She tried not to stare again.

“I have expectations,” the Duke continued. “You are my wife now, and you must act like it. No more schemes or ploys.”

“I would never,” Beatrice gasped. “I will do whatever is necessary of me.”

Whatever is necessary for a simple life that won’t hurt my family.

“We will eat breakfast and dinner together. I might enjoy getting to know you better, Beatrice, and if the way we met is anything to go by, I hope you will have entertaining conversations. We will start a family, and we will have a governess, of course, but you will also raise our children, as will I. Children need the love of both parents. I expect you to attend events with me, and you will be on your best behavior at these events. You will be respectful in my home, and you will inform me if you wish to have guests over or make social calls. I don’t believe this is too much to ask after what has transpired.”

Beatrice thought it was too much to ask of her, but he was right. He had solved her problems, and she should be thankful even if her life were confined.

“I will do as you ask,” she conceded.

“Other than that, our lives will continue as they did before we got married. This is an arranged marriage, and those will be our arrangements.”

Beatrice did not like what she was hearing, but it was better than what she had expected. She imagined the cruelty he might inflict on her, but if they were to live mostly separate lives, she could avoid it.

“I defer to your judgment,” she said.

“Good,” the Duke replied as the coach stopped. “My footmen will unload your bags, and the housekeeper is waiting for you inside.”

“You are not joining me?” Beatrice asked.

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