Page 64 of The Duke and the Temporary Bride

Benedict stood back and gave Selina space as she said goodbye to her mother and sisters. They hugged and cried beside the carriage, all animosity that had existed between them over the past three days completely forgotten.

As sad as Selina was to see her family leave, Benedict could not be happier about it. Three days was a long time to spend with any in-law, and the Dowager Viscountess was a particularly difficult case. But as promised, Benedict had behaved himself the entire time, not once giving in to his anger or raising his voice. He had been, by his estimation, the perfect husband.

It is over now, which means that things can return to normal. Although that word ‘normal’… I am not entirely sure what it means anymore.

For three days, he and Selina had pretended to be in love. The perfect couple. Proving to themselves that they could behave in public and thus convince the ton that there was nothing scandalous about their marriage or its circumstances.

That was the entire reason for this charade, which was why the implication now was that once left alone, they would go back to how they had been.

Fighting as a means to stir passion. Arguing so that their tempers would flare and Benedict would take such tempers out on his wife… and she would do the same to him. A ravenous, debauched carnal delight that they had put aside for the past three days but would now surely return to.

He was still certain that was what he wanted. This marriage had an end date, and despite how well these past few days had gone, there was no reason that he could see that it needed to change.

But what if Selina wished for more? That was the fear that rose inside Benedict. He had done so well to play the doting husband these past few days that there was a good chance she might have begun to believe he wished for their marriage to turn into something more.

That, he knew, would be a disaster of the highest order and one he could not allow to happen.

Benedict was not marriage material—it really was that simple.

“Your Grace!” Lady Langham waved him over. “We are leaving now.”

“Coming,” he said with a big smile as he swept toward them. He forced himself to hold the smile too, as this was the last time he would be seeing the Dowager Viscountess and now was not the time to let the mask slip. “Lady Langham, I must say it was a pleasure hosting you and your lovely daughters for these past three days. Truly, an unexpected delight.”

“As it was a pleasure being hosted,” Lady Langham agreed. “Further, I cannot express the happiness I feel at seeing what a fruitful marriage this has become. And to think, my daughter fought me tooth and nail to cancel it.”

“Mother…”

“What? Did you not?”

“It is quite alright.” Benedict chuckled and rested a hand on his wife’s shoulder as he kissed the top of her head. “Truth be told, I was not looking forward to it either. But sometimes, these things have a way of working themselves out, don’t they?”

“It would seem that they do.”

Tonight would be the ultimate test. Alone, finally, and free to fall back into their old habits, Benedict wondered whether Selina would tempt him or if she would continue as they had these past three days.

It has all been an act. Surely the moment we are alone, she will say something to anger me, expecting me to react? And react I will.

As the carriage pulled away and Benedict took his wife’s hand, squeezing it as the two waved the Dowager Viscountess and her daughters off, he smiled and continued to play the doting husband, knowing that this would be the last time he would need to do so.

Tonight, things would go back to the way they were. And that, he repeated to himself, was for the best. For both him and Selina.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“How is everything?” Benedict asked.

“It is lovely,” Selina responded. A beat as she considered the way he was looking at her, expectation written all over his face. “And your own?”

“Oh, the same,” Benedict agreed. “The kitchen staff have outdone themselves.”

“Agreed,” Selina said. She tried for a smile, which Benedict returned. They held it, but it felt awkward and forced, so she looked away. “The wine too,” she added quickly as she picked up her glass and took a sip.

“Yes, I almost forgot.” He laughed nervously, doing the same with his own glass. “It is lucky we still have some. I worried your mother might have drunk it all.”

“I think Harris hid a few bottles,” she joked. “Just in case.”

“Smart man.” Benedict chuckled.

“Yes,” she said. “Very smart.”

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