Page 42 of A Bride for the Rakish Duke

Ever since he had returned from Hyde Park, he had known she was right about thebreakingof his rules. Technically speaking, she had not. She had slightly bent them, perhaps, but she had not broken them. And that meant the challenge was still in place, and he had no grounds upon which topunishher.

You would enjoy your punishment, kitten.

He had such ideas, such delicious notions in mind to tease and torment her in the most pleasurable ways until she was crying out his name so loud that it would awaken the entirety of Mayfair. All for naught, for as she had said herself, he was not allowed to touch her.

“What rule?” Anthony asked.

William shot him a pointed look, as if to say,Is it not obvious?

“Ah, she has forbidden… relations?”

William sighed. “For a month.”

With anyone.

He did not add that part, knowing he would get an earful from his brother if he did.

“Was this before or afteryousaid you were going to retreat to London for an entire month?” Anthony asked.

“Before,” William replied.

Anthony nodded, that maddening smile still on his face. “So, you thought you would cheat and remove yourself from temptation?”

“Have you spoken to her?” William narrowed his eyes. “You sound like her. What you both say is cheating, I say is wisdom. She did not say I had to remain at Stonebridge in order to endure the month, and as I did have business to attend to here, I decided to kill two birds with one stone.”

Anthony laughed, sipping merrily on his drink. “But she followed you! Ah, she is a wily one, my dear sister-in-law! I knew I liked her. I have always thought that the reason you did not marry sooner was that there has never been a lady crafty enough to keep you on your toes.” He nodded, still chuckling. “It appears you have met your match, Brother.”

William returned his attention to the private park and the dogs chasing one another. For reasons unknown, every time the dog behind almost caught up, it stopped and let the other run ahead. Perhaps, it enjoyed the chase more than the capture.

“I might ask whyyouare here,” he said, his gaze drawn to Anthony’s reflection in the window. “You are supposed to be at Stonebridge, too.”

Anthony shrugged. “Everyone is in London. I would be terribly bored at Stonebridge on my own. Besides, who would I tease?”

“I do not know, but might you take yourattemptsat riling me elsewhere? It will not work, but itisruining my celebratory afternoon somewhat.” William returned to his armchair and put his feet up on the small table in front of him, emulating the very picture of casual relaxation.

Yet, Anthony did not leave. “What were your rules?”

William explained them to him briefly.

“Well…” Anthony gave a low whistle. “Is it any wonder she sought to get a modicum of revenge? At least one of those makes no sense whatsoever. You cannot tell her that she may have a lover and then inform her in the same breath that all the children she carries must be yours. After all of your… adventures with ladies, I would have assumed you knew that.”

William smiled darkly. “I know that, in all my ‘adventures,’ I have never sired a child. There are ways to prevent it, and if she is confused by that, she may ask me how it is done.”

“And why not allow her to listen to Mother?” Anthony argued, moving on with a slight pinkening of his cheeks, squirming in his chair. He had always been something of a prude, despite occasional attempts to pretend otherwise.

“You know why,” William replied, downing what was left in his glass.

To his surprise, Anthony laughed.

“It is funny to you?” William asked, raising an eyebrow.

Anthony put up a hand in mock surrender. “No, but whatisfunny is you pretending you care a jot about your wife following your rules. It is not about the rules at all. It is about control because you are afraid.”

“I beg your pardon?” Anger flared in William’s chest.

Anthony did not back down, leaning so far forward in his seat that one more shuffle would see him topple right off it. “You are afraid, Will. You have no reason to be, but you are. You are afraid that Lydia will be like Mother, but they could not be more opposite. Why, you were probably secretly thrilled when she gave you her own rule, for if you were to consummate your marriage, there is every chance you might—heaven forbid—grow attached to her! Love her! Be happy with her!”

“You are ridiculous,” William muttered, putting on a sly smile of his own. “I often forget just how naïve you are. How innocent. How wet behind the ears. Still, as the younger of us two, I suppose it is natural that you would be the wide-eyed daydreamer who believes that love is real.”

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