Page 33 of The Duke and the Unwanted Bride

“When my daughter is around, I would appreciate it if you did your best not to purposefully frustrate or bait me. I meant what I said about us being friends, you know. But if you insist on using snark whenever we speak, especially around my daughter, I don’t see how even that will be possible.”

“And what about you?”

Frederick frowned. “What about me?”

She sighed and folded her arms. “You wish for me and Amelia to get along? Is that right?”

“Of course.”

“And how is she going to do that if every time she sees us together, you pretend as if I do not exist?” Hannah raised an eyebrow at him, and Frederick, about to respond, was forced to reckon with the reality of her observation. “I understand that sometimes I can be a little…”

“Immature?”

“Combative,” she offered instead. “But that is only because if I did not act that way, you would treat me as little more than a houseplant. If you wish for me and Amelia to get along, you need to make it clear to her that you don’t hold me in such disdain that you would rather I sleep outside with the horses.”

Frederick winced and looked down at his feet. “I do not hold you in such disdain as that…”

“Then prove it,” Hannah said sincerely. “It is still early, there is still plenty of time for Amelia and I to get to know one another better. If that is what you wish for, it’s going to fall on your shoulders.”

“And you?” Frederick asked, his head snapping up to look at her. “Do you promise to behave?”

She touched her chest as if insulted. “I do not know what you mean. But,” she added quickly when he opened his mouth to argue, “I will promise that when your daughter is around, I won’ttry to…” She scoffed. “I cannot believe I have to promise this. But I promise I will not try to seduce you or whatever it is that you think I am doing.”

He chuckled at that. “There, was that so hard?”

“You tell me.”

She could see him visibly relax, only for his eyes to flick over her dress. “And about that dress?”

“What about it?”

“My daughter is six. She does not need to see you walking around in… in something so scandalous.”

“You did not seem to mind,” she shot back with a smirk and popped her hip out.

His eyes dropped to her hip, and he licked his lips, only to look up and shake his head. “What did we just agree to?”

“I do not see your daughter anywhere, do you?” A smirk next and she stepped closer to him, sensing a moment between them that she had to capitalize on.

He hurriedly took a step back, keeping his gaze fixed on her face. “Please, change, then meet me outside, and we will try again. How does that sound?”

Truthfully, it sounded better than Hannah had thought. In a way, it felt like a truce between them, a very strange step in the right direction of what was turning out to be a very strange marriage.

The Duke would treat her with respect when his daughter was around, even being nice to her and friendly! It was a chance for them to actually get to know one another better, and even Hannah had to admit that was sorely needed.

And when his daughter wasn’t around… well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it. Clearly, and despite what her husband claimed, he was having second thoughts about this so-called arrangement they had made. From the kiss to the way he could not stop looking at her, there was no doubt in her mind that his self-control was being sorely tested.

And as for her… She had not forgotten how she felt when she thought that Miss Temperton was the Duke’s mistress, and those feelings of jealousy and relief followed her as she headed upstairs to change her clothes. But then again, so did Frederick’s eyes.

She could feel them on her back, and she could not help but smile. This might have started as a marriage of convenience, but it was very quickly turning into so much more.

Chapter Ten

Hannah was doing her best, and for that, Frederick was beyond grateful.

Admittedly, he was also surprised. Introducing Hannah to Amelia was always going to be a risk. Knowing his daughter as he did, he was prepared for her to treat Hannah as a threat and spurn her.

Amelia was not naturally a rude person, but she and Frederick had a special bond, and no doubt she now worried about what might happen to said bond, with another woman in the house. And then there was the issue of her feelings toward her mother…

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