Page 31 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

“Business, My Lord? I do not know what you speak of.”

The Earl’s cheeks turned red, but he did not lose his nerve. “You recall that you are in possession of something that is mine, which I would like you to return.”

“Ah, of course, yes,” Christian said, setting down his cup. “No. There is no business to speak of in that regard. I shall take care of my wife and her mother just as you asked. I expect nothing more from you on the matter. It is my pleasure to do it.”

Lord Northbridge’s eyes darted around the table briefly, but neither Louise nor her mother met his gaze. There was a painful silence as he recognized that he had been outplayed.

Now he knows I never planned to return the deed to him.

Christian leaned forward, picked amacaronfrom the stand, and popped it into his mouth, perfectly mimicking what the Earl had just done.

Slowly, the Earl sat back in his seat, dejected horror written all over his face. He fell silent, looking out over the grounds with a faraway look in his eyes.

Just as Christian was about to steer the conversation to lighter topics, the butler emerged from the house with several letters on a silver tray for Christian.

Careless of the Earl’s sour mood, Christian briefly sifted through them. “Thank you, Fenwick. Put them in my study.”

The butler nodded, before scurrying away.

Just then, Louise stood up rather abruptly and suggested that she and her mother take a turn about the gardens.

As the ladies moved off, Christian kept a watchful eye on his wife, noting the way her hips swayed as she stepped down onto the lawn. He glanced at the Earl, who seemed utterly disinterested in his wife and daughter, his gaze dark and angry.

If he wanted to befriend me, he shouldn’t have hurt my brother. It will not be long before I can get everything I need from him. All his assets are in my possession now.

CHAPTER 13

Louise and her mother walked slowly through the gardens, admiring the shoots that were popping up from the soil.

“That camelia is beautiful,” Lady Northbridge said wistfully as they passed a plant on their left that was entwined around the fence.

The trunk was dry and wiry. To the uneducated eye, it might look almost dead, but there was a riot of flowers all over the branches. The pale pink petals looked like a baby’s blanket in the weak spring sunshine.

Louise waited until they were a good distance from the table before she slowed her steps.

“How have you been, Mama?”

Her mother looked down at her, a flash of pain crossing her face, her eyes strained and tired. “You should not be worryingabout me, Louise. You are married now. You have too many obligations to ponder on your old life.”

“Mama, you know that is not why I am asking. How has Papa been since I left?”

Lady Northbridge tutted under her breath and then gave a small cry of delight as she spotted something on the path ahead of them.

“Oh look, Louise, a robin! He must be searching for worms in the soil. He will have his breakfast today, no doubt.”

“Mama.”

Lady Northbridge’s excitement faded. Her eyes followed the bird, which was hopping across the gravel path and pecking at the hard stones, its little wings fluttering madly as it searched for food.

Louise waited. Her mother’s whole body was tight with tension, her teeth worrying her lower lip, the skin dry and cracked.

“You must not concern yourself with me,” Lady Northbridge insisted. “I am quite well.”

“I will always be concerned about you, Mama. There is nothing you can do to prevent it, and youknowI would never have chosen to leave you. I simply want you to be safe.”

“I am,” Lady Northbridge insisted. “Truly. He has been preoccupied of late. He spends much of his time at the club or in his study. I have barely seen him. It suits us well. We pass each other very rarely, and that makes things easier.”

There was a stiffness to her expression that Louise found hard to interpret. It felt as though her mother was keeping something from her.

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