Page 60 of The Duke and the Temporary Bride

“Uncle Leopold?” Selina asked. “He is still refusing to open his coffers?”

Lady Langham sighed. “Indeed.”

“Who is this?” Benedict spoke up. “Viscount Langham? Your uncle?”

“It is fine,” Selina assured him. “Nothing to?—”

“I did not want to mention it, Your Grace,” the Dowager Viscountess cut her daughter off. “But ever since he inherited my late husband’s title, he has refused to pay us the allowance that was promised in my late husband’s will. It has been a trifling mess which has me at odds with what I might do.”

“Oh…” Benedict blinked. “That is most worrisome.”

“I do not wish to bring the mood down…” the Dowager Viscountess trailed off. “But he will be at the Mayfield Ball next week, and while I intended to speak with him…” She looked pointedly at him.

“Mother,” Selina sighed.

“It is quite alright,” Benedict assured her. “And I will happily speak with him if you want. It is not right that he treats you this way, and seeing as I am family now…” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Perhaps he should be reminded.”

“That would be wonderful.” the Dowager Viscountess sighed with relief. “Truly, Your Grace, I cannot thank you enough.”

“It is I who should be thanking you.”

The Dowager Viscountess studied him curiously. “Yes, it would seem that way.”

Benedict caught Selina watching him again. He met her eyes, and she said a silent ‘thank you,’ the relief clear on her face. To Benedict, the gesture was no big thing, and if they were to show the ton that they had a strong, everlasting marriage, then he should take an interest in family matters such as this.

No small thing…

Yet, why does it feel otherwise?

“A toast, perhaps.” Lady Langham raised a glass. “To our two families coming together and what looks to be a strong, happy marriage.”

“Agreed.” Benedict picked up his glass and raised it, as did the sisters.

Selina was last to do so. She eyed her glass with a furrowed brow, and Benedict’s chest tightened because he thought for a moment she was going to make a scene. Only then, she smiled and lifted her glass, and together they toasted to their marriage.

The evening should have felt more awkward than it did. He and Selina were treating one another so lovingly, as if they had genuine feelings for each other. No fighting. No bickering. No sexual tension used as a crutch when things became serious. Benedict should have hated every minute of it, and yet… he did not.

Why this was, he could not say. But suddenly, he was not counting down the days until the Dowager Viscountess left so that he and Selina could go back to their old ways. Even if he knew deep down that he should be.

“She is unbelievable!” Selina paced the bedroom as she felt her anger build. “I knew there was a reason she was so eager to come and visit! I knew there was!”

“She wanted to see you,” Benedict said calmly as he sat on the edge of the bed, wearing an amused smile. “Her daughter. That is all.”

“She wanted to ask you for a favor,” Selina continued hotly. “When I invited her, I only expected my sisters to come. When she said yes… well, I thought it was because she wanted to make sure that I was happy. That she wanted to see me!”

“She does.”

“No.” Selina shook her head. “And you heard her tonight. All those questions! As if she cares! She was just prying—testing us so that she could ask you for a favor without being turned down.”

Benedict laughed. “I really think you are reading too much into it.”

“I know my mother,” Selina insisted. “She is a schemer. The very reason she wished for me to marry your brother in the first place was because of Uncle Leopold. And now that I am married to a duke!” She threw her hands in the air.

“I am happy to talk to him,” Benedict explained calmly. “Really, he should not be withholding their allowance. It’s not right.”

“That is not the point!”

“What is the point, then?”

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