Page 71 of His Accidental Duchess

“Only fair,” he echoed thoughtfully. “We are taking turns, then?”

She blinked. “Well, yes, I suppose so. Why not? You’ve been very good to me, and so…”

“Ah, now we get to the crux of the matter. You feel as though youoweme. This offer is fueled by duty.”

She looked thoroughly disconcerted now. She at least had the sense not to say something likewell, so what if it is?

“I don’t understand you, Theo.”

He took a step closer, and she bumped back against the wall. He lifted a hand to her cheek, and she tilted up her face, her eyes fluttering in expectation of a kiss. He let his fingertips ghost over her soft skin, his thumb running over her plump bottom lip—stained with wine and probably tasting of champagne, if his memory served him correctly.

“I am your husband, Anna. You are the Duchess, I am the Duke. It is my responsibility to protect you. I have a double responsibility, in fact—a husband must love his wife as his own flesh, as the Good Book says, and a duke must cherish his duchess as an extension of himself and therefore as valuable as one of his eyes. Not every man takes his marriage vows quite so seriously, but I certainly do. You do not owe me anything.”

Anna pouted, perhaps beginning to understand her husband would not be warming her bed tonight.

Regardless of whether he wanted to or not.

“But I would like to, Theo. I’m not obliged to do anything.”

“Aren’t you? You feel grateful, don’t you? It’s yourturn, you said, as if the great scales of justice are out of balance.”

She looked even more annoyed now. “That is not what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

He removed his hand, although the feeling of her smooth lip under his thumb lingered. He wanted to touch her again, taste her, see her head tilt back and her eyes close in ecstasy.

“Don’t take it personally, wife,” he said, grinning. “I thought you had a megrim, after all.”

She groaned at that. “Youwretch, you know we made that up. Why must you be like this, Theo?”

That took him aback a little. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that every time something happens between us, a… a moment, or something intimate, something happens. You walk away, or there’s a jest you take too seriously, or… or you see a wretchedletterfrom yourbrotherand decide that I’m secretly in love withhim, of all things!”

“That’s hardly a great leap,” Theo said, offended despite himself. “You were going to marry him first, remember?”

She plowed on as if he hadn’t spoken. “Why can’t you just be with me, Theo? Why all this complication, all these rules? Why can’t you just trust me?”

He flinched back at that. She was more upset than he had thought. He tried for his usual sardonic smile, but it wouldn’t come, and he was left with a faint grimace that looked like he was in pain.

“Trust?” he echoed. “No. I’m sorry, wife. Anna. Things are more complicated than you realize, and it’s better, in the long run, if we stick to the way things are. Rules give life structure, you know. It’s good to have something to rely on, don’t you think?”

He tried for a smile again, but once again, it fell flat. Anna was just staring at him, her brow furrowed, confused.

On impulse, Theo leaned forward. He half expected her to flinch away or turn her head so that he kissed her cheeks instead of her lips.

She did neither, only tilting up her chin to meet his lips a little better. He kissed her softly, almost chastely, stroking his thumb over her chin as he pulled away.

“It’s better this way, I’m afraid,” he repeated, trying not to look at the strained, hurt expression on her face. “Goodnight, wife. Sleep well.”

Before he could let himself change his mind, Theo turned and strode down the hallway. He didn’t have to turn around to know that she was still standing there, looking after him, full of questions for which he did not have the answers.

CHAPTER 20

“No, no, no, Lady Katherine. Like this… you see?”

The music tutor, a Mr. Errol, placed a graceful hand on the pianoforte keys and played a smooth, simple arpeggio.

Kitty stuck out her lower lip. “That’s what I wasdoing.”

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